Page 170 of Lovers' Dance

“What’s happening, Nathan?” Bella tried to ease past Nathan, who got shouldered back by Sol.

“Que paso?” she asked, eyeing Matt with suspicion.

“Matt, are you okay?” Nathan asked. “What’s going on? What did she do to you?”

I looked at Matt scowling on my kitchen floor with a lock of his silky black hair over his forehead and his shirt partly unbuttoned. Respectable business tycoon didn’t fit right at this moment. Pissed off hottie was more suitable. The giggle slipped out. Matt narrowed his eyes at me. The grey orbs sparkling with annoyance. I giggled again before taking it down from Defcon 1 to Defcon 3. No way would I be able to get Matt to Defcon 5 level, not after admitting my recent sleeping arrangements. I honestly didn’t know why he was stressing. Dante had a girlfriend, and we’d been friends forever. Sharing the same pillows didn’t mean anything, did it? It was like sleeping with Sol…well, kind of. Sol didn’t wake up with a—

“Okay,” I said loudly to quiet the words in my head and diffuse the drama. “D, I told you before, Matt’s not rough with me.” I smirked at Bret. “Dude, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times: You’re white, not black. And Matt is way stronger than you. No one is getting mad up in here.” I used air quotations. It was necessary when dealing with Bret.

Sol nodded in agreement.

I arched an eyebrow at Nathan. “What didIdo to him? He’s twice my size, Nathan. Get real.” Then I smiled at Bella. “I hope the food wasn’t too spicy, Bella. I can make you something else if you want.”

Everyone began to speak at once. I looked down at Matt and smiled. He always made me smile, when we weren’t yelling at each other, of course.

The annoyance on his face faded away as he watched me. I held a hand out to him and he took it. Seconds later, he was on his feet and I was topping up my quota of ‘Matt hugs’.

“We’re not going to fight anymore today,” he whispered in my ear. “But keep your schedule free on Friday, because we will be having words, poppet.”

I nodded into the crook of his neck—being on tiptoes gained me access—and I kissed his collarbone before pulling away. I would deal with Friday when it came. Surviving Wednesday was my main concern.

We trooped back into the cramped dining room and the conversation flowed easily, bar the threatening glances and tone Matt had whenever addressing Dante. He was possessive, and I didn’t know why. Then, I remembered that witch ex-girlfriend of his, and the way random women would sex him with their eyes whenever we were in public. I could understand it a little. The green-eyed monster dwelled within me, too.

By the time Nathan said he was taking Bella home, I hadn’t figured out how to convince Matt to give me my space. Bella was beaming at us, giving hugs to each of my friends and her posh voice got posher it seemed when she was buzzed. She’d been in the brownies again, and her perfect messy bun was more messy than bun, her cheeks had a rosy tint to them and she was eye humping Nathan. I tried my hardest not to catch the secret glimpses between them. Because Bella had driven here, Nathan was taking her car and leaving his for Matt. And seven became five. After an hour of Sol interrogating Matt in the nicest possible way—nice for Sol that is; there was mention of torture thrown in between her questions—I slipped upstairs to nab Matt’s discarded tie and jacket, then came back down with the clothing slung over my arm. Not very subtle.

Matt bit the corner of his lower lip. He did it out of frustration, but ended up looking sexy as hell. Sol looked over at me and mouthed “Hot stuff.” Yeah. Wasn’t he just?

“Everyone say bye bye to Matt,” I said walking over to where he sat on the couch. My friends bid him goodbye, and I tapped my foot slightly. Matt sighed and reluctantly stood up, hands held out for his jacket and tie.

“Walk me out?” he asked.

I nodded and slid my hand into his. We headed for the front door. Matt paused to glance at my friends, his gaze resting on Dante.

“Palmer,” he called, and Dante twisted his head, eyebrow raised in question.Oh crap.What was Matt going to say? “Your imprint better be on that sofa, and not Madi’s bed, when next I come by. Sol, Bret, nice meeting you both. Have a good flight home.”

He flashed them a killer smile and tugged me forward. I rolled my eyes as he opened the front door and we walked out together. My lack of shoes had gone unnoticed by Matt. He juggled his jacket on his arm, while plucking Nathan’s car keys from his pocket.

“Matt,” I murmured on approach to the flashy car. “I’m sorry for not—” The words stuck in my throat.

Matt waited silently, giving me a much-needed moment to get my thoughts straight. When that moment turned into a minute, he pressed quietly, “Sorry for what, poppet?”

“Not being the perfect girlfriend,” I muttered, before looking away from his intense gaze.

Matt sighed and reached over to grasp my chin, tilting my head back in his direction. “Perfection is highly overrated, poppet. If I wanted the perfect girlfriend, I would be with someone like Louisa.”

My eyes narrowed at that comment. Urgh. Louisa, previously known as Aphrodite, now named Medusa in my mind. “I’m far from perfect, Matt. Today proved that.”

“Yes,” Matt agreed with the tiniest of frowns. “But we’ll discuss that on Friday. How are your friends getting to Heathrow tomorrow?” He changed the subject, but the frown on his lips didn’t disappear. I was beginning to dread this upcoming Friday.

“I’m driving—”

“No, you’re not.” Matt cut me off in a tone that brooked no argument. “I’ll send a car around for your use tomorrow. It’s highly improbable you’ll be under the limit by the time they need to leave. If you get stopped, you’ll be arrested and it’ll be in the papers.”

I didn’t think I would be over the limit tomorrow, but better safe than sorry, and they did have an early flight.

“You have a point there, but you don’t need to send a car. We can get a taxi.”

Matt scoffed. “Heading to Heathrow on a weekday? It’ll cost a fortune. The car will be here at five am. Sol said their flight is at nine, right? Afterward, he’ll take you to work and bring you back home when you’re finished at the studio.”

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