Chapter 10 #6
How could she not want children with him?
She was his bloody wife and there were countless women out there who would sell their souls to have his child.
Of course, their motives would be of a financial nature, but still…
Matt pushed his resentment to one side and tapped his fingers impatiently over the armrest on the door.
It wasn’t as if she needed to work.
He was wealthy enough to take care of a future family many times over, and he would be 38 this year-
Matt ground his teeth together, annoyed at himself for not being able to put the issue out of his mind.
In his own defence, it was only – good grief.
It was only a week ago they’d discovered their conflicting views on starting a family.
Last Monday had truly been an eye- opener.
His unspoken desire to witness the beauty that she could be, stomach round and filled with his child, his desire would remain just that.
An unfulfilled desire.
She didn’t want a family with him.
How had he found himself in this perplexing situation?
Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
The woman yearning for a child while the man hesitates?
She should be dreaming of their unborn children, secretly eager to bear him a child.
Bollocks .
Matt realized in that moment he wasn’t as progressive as he believed when it came to this topic.
The baser male instincts inside him howled in anger.
He was ashamed to admit it but he did want her barefoot and pregnant.
Damn it.
He was a modern day man, extremely proud of her achievements and wanting nothing but success for her.
She was his equal and that was how it should be, yet he felt the seed of bitterness take root.
Her career was her baby.
Dance was her ultimate love, and her love of it would rob him of his chance to become a father.
The look on her face…
horrified, she looked horrified at the mention of a family.
Never had he thought this day would come.
He was the son of a Bradley.
Of course he had to carry on his family’s line.
It was expected.
The bastard thing of it all was she was the only woman he could ever imagine bearing his child.
The incident last Monday was more than an eye-opener, it was a painful blow to his ego; more than that…
it was a blow to his heart and soul.
And now this Monday, today, he had another problem to add to his plate.
By the time the driver pulled into the temporary parking bay in front the hospital he was in a foul mood and Madi, caught up with thoughts of her aunt, was completely oblivious to the darkening of his temperament.
She jumped out the vehicle, barely sparing him a backward glance as she hurried towards the entrance.
“Ryan,” Matt called to the bodyguard, motioning him out the Range Rover.
When the bulky man stood within suitable distance for Matt to have a somewhat private conversation away from the prying ears of their driver, he made a request of him.
Ryan didn’t bat an eyelid, he nodded once and assured Matt he would get what was needed within half an hour.
“Matt,” Madi was striding back, harassed at the delay.
“Come on.”
Matt grumbled under his breath and walked to her side.
His features were neutral as she grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
The corridors leading them to the elevators were busy and loud.
It was a stark change to what he was used to.
The certain looks he’d noticed some strangers giving them caught him off guard.
Things were definitely different back in England.
Oh, he wasn’t foolish enough to think his countrymen were all open-minded and devoid of racist tendencies, but they were much more subtle.
Much more politically correct.
The blatant and aggravating disapproval he’d spotted on the faces of some people had his ire rising.
Only his innate English reserve stopped him from speaking out.
It would be in bad taste to even acknowledge their offensive behaviour.
That and the fact the majority of these people had neither the proper social upbringing nor the intelligence to warrant a response from him.
As long as they kept their opinions to themselves because God forbid anyone dare voice their displeasure; good breeding be damned, he would punch someone.
“Hurry up,” Madi chided, her delicate hand tugging on his wrist.
“Uncle David is probably exhausted.”
Matt bit his tongue.
The immediate retort that she was exhausted would not go down well.
When they got inside the lift he observed her nervously scratching her pinkie once more.
He sighed to himself then noticed the appreciative looks being sent his way from the two women in the lift with them.
Matt arched an eyebrow at the brunettes and one blushed so hard he feared her cheeks would start leaking blood.
The other nudged her friend and tried to avert her gaze.
It was amusing, a welcomed respite from his previous dark thoughts.
Two seconds later she was stealing glances at him.
The corners of his mouth quirked up, but when he spotted Madi’s unamused expression his lips stilled.
She narrowed her eyes at him with a little shake of head and he flashed her a dazzling smile.
The blushing brunette gasped, openly staring at him without an ounce of shame.
Matt kept his grey eyes firmly on his wife, he was used to the flattering looks from women, some men even.
The lift dinged, they had arrived at the ICU floor.
Madi suddenly raised her left hand, drawing everyone’s attention to her bejewelled finger and with her right she pointed at him.
“Husband.” Then she stabbed her index against her chest.
“Wife. Happily married.”
Matt blinked in surprise as she stalked out the lift, muttering under her breath.
He bit his lower lip, strangely turned on by her behaviour, before moving forward.
“Ladies.” he drawled in parting to the shocked women and followed his annoyed wife.
The low whispers of the women cut off when the lift doors slid closed.
“Jackass.” she grumbled when he fell into step with her.
“Jealous?” he teased, wanting to drag a smile from her serious face.
The past few days had been hard on them all.
“No,” she retorted, heels stomping forward.
“I’m the one sexing you, not those random chicks.”
“I wish.” Matt replied without thinking.
When Madi came to a full stop he realized she’d misinterpreted his flippant remark.
With a roll of eyes he propelled her forward.
“You know the context in which I meant that comment, poppet.”
She snorted something unflattering under her breath as they walked towards her aunt’s room.
Matt grabbed her around the waist and spun her into his arms.
She craned her neck back, giving him a lethal stare and Matt was entranced, utterly entranced by her beauty.
Even with the noticeable circles under her tired eyes, she was exquisite.
And those bloody lips of hers, just begging to be kissed.
He traced the back of his hand over her cheek, marvelling at the softness of her skin and transfixed by the contrast of his skin against hers.
The fierce scowl gracing her face wavered then disappeared completely to be replaced by tenderness.
“I’m going to put a sign around your neck whenever we go out,” she mused.
“That way everyone will know you’re off the market.”
Matt grinned and lifted his hand off her cheek to wave his wedding band in front her face.
“This does the job, poppet, and I only want you anyway.”
He was gifted with a sweet smile and his grin widened.
“Come on, Mr Hot-stuff.” She wriggled out his hold and resumed walking down the less populated hallway.
Matt promised himself that the first opportunity he got to make love to her he would hold nothing back.
When they entered the hospital room all lecherous thoughts fled his mind.
David was slumped in the chair next to his wife’s bed, one of his hand clasped tightly around hers over the starchy white hospital sheets.
Madi went over at once, resting her hand on his shoulder and shaking him slightly.
Her uncle jerked into wakefulness.
“I’m here now, Uncle David.” Madi bent down to kiss his cheek.
“Go home and get some rest.”
“Maybe I should stay a while longer.” David said hoarsely.
“I’m alright at the moment.”
Reeking inflexibility, she patted his shoulder blade and stated, “You need your rest. Matt and I will be here and we’ll call you if anything changes.” Madi unbuttoned her coat, taking the few steps to the other chair to haphazardly throw it down.
David shifted reluctantly in the chair but finally stood up.
“Only for a few hours then.” He bent forward, kissing his unconscious wife’s forehead.
“There’s food prepared at home,” Madi instructed as she came up to him and eased his hand off Cleo’s to replace it with her own.
“Go on now, Uncle David.”
“You’ll call me?” he asked gruffly when she took the seat he’d just vacated.
“Yes, yes,” She pressed a kiss to her aunt’s inanimate hand.
“Go home.”
David lingered at the side of the bed, gently smoothing the covers.
A tired sigh left his lips then he lowered his thick eyebrows at his niece.
“Watch that sass, young lady, you’re becoming too bossy. Don’t forget I’m your uncle. I can still take a belt to that butt of yours.”
Matt’s mouth hung open slightly, a spurt of anger trilled through him at the thought of her bum being smacked by her uncle when she was a child.
Preposterous!
Madi shooed her uncle away, grinning at him.
“Please. You never spanked Jenny or me. Jamal, yes, but not us.”
David’s shoulders drooped.
“No, your aunt disciplined you two. She raised you right.”
Madi looked up at her uncle and a cloak of sadness surrounded them both.
Matt felt like an outsider.
Of course, he wanted her aunt to get better; but only for their sakes.
His relationship with Cleo Meyers was practically non-existent, and if he was honest, he was satisfied with that.
The woman rubbed him the wrong way.
She had hurt his poppet and that was unforgivable.
“I’ll see you later, Uncle David.” she said, then turned all her attention towards the figure on the bed.
Again Matt was struck by her behaviour.
The pointed and stern unspoken dismissal of her uncle reminded him of his own traits.
Had she learnt it from him?
Or had she always been in possession of this unyielding streak?
Hidden behind her sweet disposition?
This expectation that one should do as she required.
Yes, she would do well in a boardroom.
A shame it only came out in this situation.
If she applied the behaviours he’d witnessed over the last few days to every aspect of her life she would be an unstoppable force.
A tiny smile curled his lips up, of course that would mean more clashes between them…
“Matt,” David’s tired voice broke Matt from his quiet musings.
“How are you?”
Madi cleared her throat.
Matt walked over, saying as he closed the distance, “I’m fine, thank you. You should head home before your niece calls hospital security to have you forcibly removed from the grounds.”
David shot him a rueful half-grin.
“She’s just like my Cleo.”
“Ah,” Matt didn’t know how to respond to that statement.
Madi was nothing like her aunt.
Thank goodness.
Again she cleared her throat.
Loudly.
“I’m going.” David groused.
A minute later the door closed behind him.
Matt strolled over to the windows and peered out silently.
It wouldn’t be long now.
Five minutes later the low murmur of her pleas reached his ears.
She begged, bargained, threatened; she said any and every thing in an attempt to wake her aunt.
Then she fell silent.
He walked over to her and brushed a hand across her tumultuous hair before sliding the curls aside, revealing the graceful line of her neck.
Slowly Matt rub his fingers over her heated skin.
The muscles in the back of her neck were tense, as were her shoulders.
A loud knock on the door tore his attention away from Madi.
He checked his watch then quickly crossed the room with long strides.
“Here you go, Mr Bradley.” Ryan said as soon as Matt opened the door.
The bodyguard handed over a small packet.
“Two should suffice.”
Matt took the packet and nodded a thank you as Ryan also produced an unopened bottle of water.
“I’ll call you when we’re ready to leave.” Matt advised right before shutting the door.
Schooling his features into an obdurate mask he strode back to the bed.
Madi glanced up at him.
“This is for you.” Matt held out the bottle of water.
“I’m not thirsty.” she replied before turning back to her aunt.
“You’ll need it to take these.” Matt stated coolly, now showing her the packet of pills.
Madi frowned, her head swivelled between the pills and her aunt.
“What are those?”
“Sleeping pills.” Matt replied blankly.
“You’re a bundle of nerves and you haven’t been sleeping properly at all. This will ensure you do. Take two.”
Madi’s eyebrows shot up before she eyed him suspiciously.
“Drugs, Matt? You want me to take drugs? I always knew you had a drug dealer vibe going on.”
Matt ignored her comment and tucked the bottled water under one arm so he could pop two pills out the sachet.
“And you made such a stink about my funny brownies,” she continued as pure outrage crept into her expression.
“Now you want me to take downers!”
“Sleeping pills, not downers,” he corrected, holding them out.
“And these are medicinal not recreational, like those bloody brownies were.”
Madi snorted.
“I’m not taking pills. I’ll sleep when we get home. Besides, who’ll hold Aunt Cleo’s hand?”
“I will,” he ground out bad-temperedly.
He didn’t want to, but he was willing to do anything to ensure she got sufficient rest.
“Madison, this is not up for debate. Take the goddamned pills before I lose my temper.”
Her mouth twisted at his domineering tone.
Matt glared at her, making sure she noticed the stubborn set of his jaw.
She tried to challenge his steely gaze with one of her own.
Ten seconds, she managed to maintain a defiant pose for ten seconds; then her stance wavered.
She knew when he meant business.
“Take them.” he ordered, pressing his advantage.
“You promise to hold her hand?” Madi asked in resignation.
Matt felt a smidgen of guilt which he squashed immediately.
He didn’t like using that adamant tone with her but she desperately needed sleep.
“Yes,” he agreed.
Reluctantly she took the pills he held out.
Matt cracked the bottled water open and handed it over.
Once she swallowed the pills he smiled at her.
“Now go recline in that chair over there.” He gestured to the other comfy lounger in the room.
Twenty minutes later, after a few grumbles and her restless movements in an attempt to get comfortable; the sound of her gentle snoring battled with the constant beeps of medical machinery.
Matt sighed to himself, satisfied she would get some proper sleep at last.
He shifted in the chair, peering at the unconscious woman whose hand he held.
No, he certainly wasn’t fond of Cleo Meyers, but he held her hand because he’d made a promise to his dark beauty.
The minutes turned to hours and Matt used the time to check countless emails on his mobile and respond with one-thumbed dexterity borne of practice.
Ever so often his gaze landed on Madi.
A grin would tickle his mouth at the acrobatic position she was in.
How she managed to stay on the recliner without slipping to the ground, he had no idea.
She was his perfect ballerina.
Matt resumed typing out the latest email then froze at the slight tension on his left hand.
He narrowed his eyes at the sight of his large hand enveloping Cleo’s, before scoffing at himself.
“Fuck.” He jerked in surprise, dropping his mobile in his lap and coming half way off his chair.
He was certain he felt - bloody hell!
“Cleo?” he called anxiously while gently squeezing her hand.
Maybe it was just a reflexive action.
She squeezed back.
“Cleo, can you hear me?” He leaned forward.
She groaned around the tube used to intubate her.
God!
Matt immediately reached over to press the call button as she continued to make choking noises.
“It’s alright,” he said loudly, standing over her while pressing the button frantically.
Where in the blasted hell were the nurses?
The doctors?
What sort of hospital was this?
“Cleo? Can you hear me?” Matt called again while squeezing her hand.
Her eyelids fluttered.
He kept his finger permanently on the call button.
The door swung open right as Cleo opened her eyes to stare up at him.
“She’s waking up.” he notified the nurse rushing over to him.
“Step back please, sir.” the woman barked.
Two more people came in, then three more, one of them was Dr Yanic.
Matt stood back, allowing them sufficient room to deal with the waking patient.
One of the nurses removed her intubation tube after her vitals were checked.
The bodies around the bed meant he could no longer see Cleo’s face.
Matt moved closer to his snoring wife.
The pills had done their job, she was dead to the world and the bustling taking place not more than a few feet from her.
The doctor and nurses worked like clockwork for the next thirty minutes until they all stood back to observe a conscious, but still groggy, Cleo Meyers.
She looked, and it was completely understandable given the circumstances, but she looked unnerved…
scared.
Her dry lips trembled as she answered Dr Yanic’s questions to test her mental acumen and assess if there was any cognitive issue.
Once he seemed satisfied with her responses, she immediately asked for her family.
“Cleo,” Matt stepped closer and her gaze swung to him, shocked.
That shock gave way to a relieved recognition.
Matt moved even closer to take her hand.
“Hello there, you’ve given us all quite a scare.”
“My family?” she croaked out.
Matt swivelled his head sideways and her eyes followed as he said, “Your niece is here, she sent David home to get some rest. They’ve all been holding vigil at your bedside at one point or another.”
Cleo regarded him for a moment and suspicion clouded her features.
Matt hid his grimace, it seemed her dislike for him was ever present.
Dr Yanic beamed.
“I’m glad to see the treatment to repair your kidneys worked, Mrs Meyers. We’ll have you up on your feet in no time. Your family will be contacted and notified you’re awake. We’ll need to discuss the next steps but I’ll give you some time to adjust. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have other patients to attend to.”
Dr Yanic inclined his head in Matt’s direction before bustling out the room with the nurses on his heels as he issued orders for Cleo’s care.
Cleo glanced again at his snoring wife, her expression softened considerably.
A few minutes passed before she spoke again.