Page 8 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

I laughed at his whining then stopped abruptly as the door to the ladies opened and Matt walked in. What on earth was wrong with my man?

“Uh, I’ll see you in the morning. Gotta go.” I hung up the call and started in on Matt immediately. “Are you insane? This is the ladies.What if someone catches you in here?”

Matt shrugged and folded his arms, eyes quickly scanning the open stalls to confirm we were alone. “Talk.”

“About what?” I asked, hurrying over to him. Crazy ass gazillionaire.

“Why are you acting so standoffish with my parents?”

My eyes widened with disbelief. He was calling me standoffish? Of all the things under the sun to say. “They don’t like me, Matt.”

“Don’t say that, poppet. They’re trying to get to know you and you’re not being receptive to their attempts. You’ve barely spoken to them.”

My eyes widened further. “That’s because,” I stopped, biting my lower lip before I blurted out what had transpired prior to his arrival at the restaurant. But it was too late and his grey eyes narrowed. Matt scrutinized my face for a long moment while I glanced nervously at the door. What if someone walked in? Would we get into trouble with the management? Would we be asked to leave the premises at once?

“Because what?” Matt asked in a low tone. It was his ‘you’d better spill or there’ll be hell to pay’ voice.

“I’m just nervous.” I brushed it away. “I’ll try harder. I promise.”

Sacrifice. That was what you did in a relationship. You sacrificed whatever was needed to ensure your partner was happy. Right? But would you end up sacrificing so much that there was nothing of you left to give? Had I already sacrificed too much?

Matt unfolded his arms, one hand rising up to rub his chin slowly as he kept those pretty eyes of his on my face. “What did they say to you?”

“Pardon?” I feigned confusion. I was definitely going to sign up for some acting classes. As soon as things quietened down at the studio I was getting some classes.

“You’re not usually this quiet, poppet, even less so when you’re nervous. You babble when you’re nervous.”

“I do not.” I retorted. “That’s a slanderous thing to say. I converse clearly and-” I stopped at the eloquent look on his face. I was babbling right now.

“Tell me.” he commanded. “What’s wrong?”

My shoulders drooped. “They don’t like me, Matt, and I doubt there’s anything you or I could say to change how they feel about us being together. Look, I’m not comfortable with you being in here. Someone might come in any second.”

“Did they say something to you?” he asked again. “No secrets between us. Remember?”

I sighed and slipped my cell back into my clutch. Then raised my head to gaze into his eyes. “Your parents are under the impression that I’m a pawn in some elaborate game you’re playing to get them off your back about settling down.” I licked my lips, uncertain about his reaction “Is that true? They said they were pressuring you to get married and you’re using me…I just don’t know what to think anymore.”

Matt’s features were as hard as granite. He looked angry and this was exactly why I didn’t want to tell him.

“Don’t go out there and start an argument,” I pleaded. “Please. I don’t want you fighting with your family. That’s the last thing I want. It’s bad enough my family-” I paused, willing the instantaneous rush of pain away.

The words traitor and ungrateful jumped before my eyes and my mind put them into the correct order. I felt like an ungrateful traitor. I moved to brush past Matt and he held my arm, his other hand cupped my cheek gently. I leaned into the feel of his touch against my skin.

“I’m not going to fight with them, but I want you to understand something for once and for all. You walked away from all that you’ve known, from the only family you have left, forme,” Matt lowered his head to press a soft kiss over my lips then pulled back, his thumb lightly stroked across my cheekbone. “Do you honestly believe I wouldn’t do the same for you?”

I blinked a few times as he waited for me to respond. Would he give up his family if forced to choose? I didn’t know and I really didn’t want to find out.

Matt peered at me. “Answer me, poppet. Do you think I would do any less than you if placed in the same situation? Do you think our love is worth less to me than it is to you?”

“I don’t know.” I answered truthfully. “I don’t know, Matt, but wedon’t need to find out. I’m not asking you to choose, I would never ask you to do that. I’ll find some way to make them accept me.” I forced a bright smile to my lips. “You always say no one can resist me. It’s just taking a bit longer than expected.”

“Listen to me closely, young lady,” he said in a deep, stern voice. “Because I am only going to say this once. There is no choice. You’re mine and that will never change. There is no choice to be made because the decision was out of my hands the moment you stormed back into the pub after that little scene where you told me to eat shit and die, then called me a pompous old racist in public.”

I grinned at the memory. I had been livid that day.

Matt continued. “I knew then, well, my heart knew then that you were it for me. You’re all I want, poppet, and it’s tiring having to remind you of this. Trust in me, trust in us.”

“What if they disown you?” I asked quietly.

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