Page 191 of Lovers' Dance

But I was fucking happy right now, even with Matt’s donation that hadn’t been touched.

“Gloria, did all the parents sign those permission waivers? We need to update the website with the kids’ Halloween recital. It’s the 11th of November already, and I want it done by the end of today.”

My receptionist said she would check her paperwork and chase it up. I nodded and headed for the auditorium. We held all our sessions for the production there now, so when opening night came around, all our dancers would feel completely at home on the stage. By the time we called a lunch break, it was needed. I was seated in my office, eating a sandwich and wondering if I should text Matt. He was away on business with Nathan. He had left Friday night and wouldn’t be returning until next Monday. Today was Tuesday. I still had a whole week left to be without him. Someone knocked on my door.

“Come in,” I called, and Gloria popped her head around it.

“Madi, there’s a man out in reception for you, and he won’t give me his name,” she advised with a speculative look.

I frowned. “Not a reporter, right? Because they have been getting pretty persistent of late.”

Gloria shook her head. “I don’t think so, Madi. He came in a limo and he sounds Scottish.”

I wiped my hands quickly on a napkin. Did Matt have something to do with this? Was it another one of his many surprises? I uncurled myself from the chair and locked the computer screen before exiting my office and walking out to reception.

“Mr McGregor,” I exclaimed in shock at the man grinning in my reception area.

“Come now, lass, that’s too formal. I told ye to call me Dougie,” he said in a deep, Scottish drawl.

I walked over, extending a hand, which he took before leaning in to press a kiss to both sides of my face.

Gloria’s face was a picture as she reclaimed her seat behind the front desk. She acted like she was busy, but I knew her eyes and ears were wide open.

“What are you doing here, Dougie?” I queried with a tiny smile. “How did you find out where I work?”

Dougal McGregor ran a hand through his close-cropped brown hair. “Ye never called, Madi. Why is that?”

I was conscious of Gloria’s slow tap-tap-tap of her keyboard. She could type a lot faster than that.

“I lost your card, and you haven’t answered my question,” I said smoothly, wondering why the Scotsman was standing in the reception area of my place of business.

“If ye must know, I had business in London and I thought of our last encounter. Ye promised to dance for me, Madi.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No, I did not. Now answer my other question.”

He gave me an ‘aw shucks’ grin. “How did I find ye? Och, lass, I am a man of means. Finding a lass is an easy feat.”

I shook my head and eyed him. He was like I remembered: cocky and amusing. And wearing an expensive Brioni suit. I knew the maker, because Matt had quite a few of those suits in his closet.

“So you decided to stop by and say hello?” I injected as much cynicism as possible into my question. Gloria’s tapping had stopped completely. I glanced over to see her staring unashamedly at us while chewing a piece of apple. I would’ve invited him into the office for privacy but, honestly, my knowledge of the man didn’t warrant such an action. I didn’t know Dougie McGregor well, and Matt hadn’t liked me talking to him the night we met.

“Not just say to say hello, I want ye to take me to lunch,” he said, and my eyebrows shot up, way up. Dougie continued. “I feel cheated, Madi. Ye outbid me and I’m not a man who likes losing. I’m giving ye a chance to make it up to me since ye refuse to show me your dancing skills.”

I had to laugh. He was an amusing man. “Firstly, you stopped bidding of your own accord. It wasn’t my fault you allowed yourself to be intimidated by my unfortunate outburst. Secondly, as you can see, I’m at work. I don’t have the time to take unexpected strangers to lunch.”

Dougie gasped, clutching at his chest. “Stranger? That hurts, lass. I offered ye haggis, true Scottish haggis. I dinnae offer that to just anyone, ken?”

I laughed. His accent was adorable. “As much as I would love to listen to that accent of yours, I can’t, Dougie.”

“The others aren’t back for two hours, Madi. You’re free until then,” Gloria said loudly. When she saw my expression after her volunteering of unnecessary information, she ducked her head and the tap-tapping started up again.

“Ye have free time, and I’m starving,” Dougie said. “Where are ye taking me for lunch?”

“Nowhere. I told you I don’t have the time.”

“Then take me to dinner,” he persisted. The tap-tap-tap started slowing down.

“No.” I said firmly. “I can’t.”

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