Page 96 of Lovers' Dance: Vol. 2

“Darling,” Matt put his cell away and slowly rubbed my back. “Madison, look at me. Please.”

I raised my face from the sanctuary of his neck and he made a low sound at my expression.

“She’ll be ok. I’m sure of it.”

“Don’t.” I whispered. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

Matt’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard then nodded. I took a deep breath, blinking fast. There were no tears, strange of course, considering I felt as if my world was on the brink of a cataclysmic event. Grumps’s harsh command reverberated inside my skull though.

“Matt, she hates me-”

“She doesn’t. Don’t think that way, poppet. Your aunt doesn’t hate you.”

“We fought and now I might not have the chance to make it right between us.” I took another deep breath to steady myself. “If anything happens to her – if she – I’ll never forgive myself, Matt. Never.”

Matt said nothing. What could he say? Not a damn thing. I think he saw into my soul in that moment during the look we shared. I think he saw my guilt, my pain, but the one thing I didn’t want him to see yet was unable to hide was my resentment. Unfair. Illogical. Just plain wrong. But my love for him was the reason I had broken tieswith my family. The tipping point that pushed me to choose. Something which I never thought myself capable of yet I had done it. I had put my family aside for someone else. Rat bastard that I was. My gaze slid away from his piercing eyes and I fidgeted on his lap, suddenly uncomfortable and wanting to not be close to him.

Matt touched my chin. “Look at me.”

I did, for two whole seconds before my eyelids lowered. He traced the back of his fingers from my chin across my jawline, over and over until I looked up and held his stare.

“No secrets. Remember?” Matt said with a forced smile. “It’s ok to feel the way you do, poppet. I understand.”

“Understand what?”

Matt gave me a look. His ‘I know what you’re thinking’ look. Then he confirmed his use of Vulcan powers by saying, “You’re distraught, conflicted, and it’s understandable that you also feel angry.”

“I’m not angry.” I denied quickly. It was time for me to move out of his lap. “My aunt is ill and I’m terrified. Miles away from my family and terrified.”

“I know you, wife.” Matt said softly. “And your eyes give you away.”

My mouth trembled. Damned mind reader. Stupid man, reading my eyes. I fought the urge to flee his tight hold on me and instead buried my face in his neck once more. “Just get me home, Matt. I need to be with my family. Take me home.”

They had been in the air for three hours and she had only fallen into a fitful doze ten minutes ago. Matt observed her, grave worry etched on his face as he pulled the blanket up over her shoulders. They still wore their dress clothes, not sparing the time to change when they had stopped home to get their luggage and passports. Belinda appeared, as if by magic, next to his seat; offering unwanted refreshments.

Matt waved her away, reaching over to tuck the blanket tighter around his wife. A miniscule frown pulled the edges of his mouth at the memory of the rushed conversation he’d had with her therapist.

Let her know you’re there for her, no matter what the outcome.Well, of course, he was going to be there for her! Matt had called the woman for some extra insight, not to be told something he already knew. His hands smoothed the blanket around her arms. He abhorred this sinking feeling of helplessness and the flicker of resentment he’d seen in the depths of her warm brown eyes had chilled him to the core. There was nothing he could say. Matt hoped for his sake her aunt would be ok. He didn’t want a life where the woman he loved harboured secret bitterness for the role he played in the current estrangement from her family. If Cleo didn’t recover, Matt dreaded to think the effect that would have on Madi. Again, he arranged the blanket around her.

“Matt,” she murmured, eyelids fluttering.

“Shhh,” Matt soothed. “Rest, poppet.”

Seconds later she drifted back off and Matt reluctantly refrained from touching her. He needed to plan a course of action in the eventuality that her aunt did not recover. His anxious gaze travelled her form once more. There was an air of frailty surrounding her as she slept and the protective streak he held for her came to the forefront of his mind. Whatever happened he would make sure she was ok. Both their mobiles chose at that moment to vibrate loudly across the table. Matt moved quickly to grab the offending pieces of technology. He glanced at Madi with bated breath as she stirred. When he was certain she had resumed sleeping, he checked his phone. It was a long-winded text from his brother-in-law demanding to know if Madi was ok and listing all the ways Matt should keep her calm thus avoiding another attack. Matt rolled his eyes and turned his attention to Madi’s phone. He knew the code, had seen her key it in numerous times, and he felt absolutely no guilt accessing her mobile. It could be something important.

Dante’s text was full of support, promising to take care of work in her absence and stating whenever she needed him he was just a plane ride away. Matt begrudgingly admitted to himself that Dante was indeed a good friend to her. Then he noticed the texts from McGregor. With a scowl he read them, snorting at the playful nature of the texts between his wife and the Scotsman. Not that he was worried about it. Madi’s responses were friendly, McGregor’s more flirtatious than expected considering he was texting a married woman. Matt simply shook his head in slight irritation as he put the phones back on the table before arranging his bulk into acomfortable position in his seat. He should also try to rest because from the moment they touched down at Teterboro airport he doubted he would have much opportunity to catch up on sleep. Placing a hand gently over her blanket covered hip, Matt closed his eyes. A few hours would do him well…

“Matt, honey, wake up. We’ll be landing soon.” I nudged his shoulder and he grumbled in his sleep. Something about insider trading or roller-blading. It was very garbled. “Wake up, Matt.”

I brushed my fingers through his hair, it usually woke him. Sure enough a tiny smile curled up the corners of his lips as he mutteredpoppetbefore his eyelids fluttered open. Awareness seeped into his face and he sat up abruptly.

“We’ll be landing in twenty minutes.” I advised, smoothing back the lock of hair plastered to his forehead.

He vigorously rubbed a hand over his face then blinked owlishly at me. “Have you heard anything more? Are you ok? Have you eaten?” he fired the questions at me as he straightened his long legs out.

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