Lovers' Dance

Chapter 10

THE HOUSE, AND I use the term lightly, was impressive. It was a bloody mansion with security gates and a ten minute-long drive. Ten minutes that had left me on the edge of a panic attack as Matt parked up.

“Are you okay, poppet?” he asked, twisting sideways to peer at my face.

“No,” I murmured, short of breath, and wringing my hands together. “I think I’m going to have a panic attack.”

Matt’s expression turned to one of worry as he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over. “Let’s sit here for a while, Madi. Try to breathe calmly.”

He held my cold hands between his warm ones and inhaled deeply before letting the air out slowly through his lips.

I stared into the mesmerizing grey orbs of his eyes and inhaled, deeply as he’d done, willing myself to keep it together. This was not the time to freak out.

Exhale.

A few more of those and I felt marginally better. Matt pressed a tender kiss over my trembling lips.

“It’s only dinner with my family, poppet. I promise it will be fine.”

I nodded slowly and slipped my hands out of his in order to unbuckle the seatbelt. “You won’t leave me alone, not for a minute. Okay?”

“I’ll stay by your side all night,” he pledged.

I nodded and we got out his car. A quick glance around caused my nervousness to return. The place was immense, and there was a shitload of cars out front.

Matt frowned as he too noticed the amount of cars lining the drive. He came over to take my hand and we walked up to the imposing double doors. Matt didn’t press the bell. He opened one side and ushered me in. I blinked in awe at the marble floors and shiny surfaces. This was a grand entrance, opulent. I could hear music and laughter coming from further inside and fidgeted in my heels. Matt tugged me forward, and I squeezed his hand tightly as he led me inside his parents’ monster-sized home.

“Wait here, poppet,” he said when we came to a stop next to a room which boasted an indoor pool. “It seems tonight isn’t just a family dinner.”

“Matt,” I hissed nervously. “You’re not supposed to leave me.”

He smiled chidingly and stroked my cheek. “I’ll be five minutes. Let me find my parents. That way I can introduce you without a crowd of people and, it seems from the noise, that there is one.”

“Five minutes,” I warned, clutching the purse tightly while letting go of his hand.

“Five minutes,” he agreed, then walked off leaving me alone next to the poolroom. After two minutes I slipped into the room, not wanting anyone to come upon me standing there like a lone gate-crasher. The pool was huge and lit. The tiny ripples across the surface calmed me as I stared at the water. There were numerous lounges spread around the space, and I could see a flat screen mounted over a bar area. Fancy.

I walked closer to the pool, heels clicking sharply over the ground, and groaned with pent up anxiety. Would I be judged by them all?

A low, menacing growl had my back stiffening in terror. I turned around and gasped as my gaze rested on what could only be described as a hellhound. A beast of a dog—oh God—there were two of them! My legs were frozen as the dogs growled low in their throats, shoulders hunched while they peered at me from canine eyes. Rabid. They looked rabid.

“Fuck,” I whispered.

One took a few steps forward, and I freaked.

You should never run, everyone knows that, but the size of those dogs, their threatening growls—I ran.

“Matt!” I shrieked in fright when the dogs gave chase. God. I would never make the door. They would eat my black ass and Matt would be in the papers again.

“Matt!” I yelled, darting back towards the pool. “Oh fuck. Matt!”

The sound of the dogs’ fierce barking as I legged it down the side of the pool made it clear they saw me as a threat and were going to deal with my ass. I didn’t want to die. Not here, not mauled to death.

“Matt...” I turned, checking the distance between those beasts and me—there wasn’t much. Then I slipped, and into the pool I went.

The water closed over my head as I sank. Struggling to breathe, I swam back to the top, kicking ferociously in my heels and spewing out curses with chlorine-treated water. One of the dogs jumped in.

I screamed, thrashing about wildly in an attempt to ward off the hound of Satan.

“Bloody hell! Wizard. Stop.”

A sharp, piercing whistle penetrated my screams and, spluttering out water, I turned to see Matt yelling commands at the dogs. My relief was so great tears welled up in my eyes.

“Poppet.” Matt was by the edge of the pool holding a hand out. “God. Are you all right?”

With shaking limbs, I swam over and grabbed his hand. “No. Do I look all right to you? I was almost eaten by those monsters.”

I planted my free hand against the edge and, with Matt’s help, hoisted myself out the pool. Only then did I notice the others, all staring at me in shock. I saw Adam, quietly chortling to himself, next to a man who looked like an older version of Matt and Adam. The woman clutching his arm was an immaculately dressed blonde woman, with icy reserve on her face. Behind her were twin girls, Matt’s nieces obviously, and I assume their mother, Matt’s sister, who was shushing their snickers. There was another man who kept opening and closing his mouth while shaking his head.

“Kill me now,” I murmured. The water pooled beneath my shoes.

Matt was too busy checking me over to pay heed to my embarrassment. “Did they bite you? Are you hurt?”

Dripping wet and shivering, I glared at Matt. He leaned back warily.

“Only my pride,” I whispered and straightened my shoulders. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your family?”

Matt’s mouth tightened, and his face started to go pink. The bastard was trying not to laugh.

“Ah, yes, of course.” He gingerly took my elbow and walked me towards the others. My feet were making squishy sounds in the heels and there was a trail of water behind me.

“Everyone, this is Madison.” He edged me forward, then began the introductions. “This is my father, William.”

“Hello,” I murmured politely, wet hand outstretched. I could feel the pins coming loose from my soaked curls. Matt’s dad eyed my hand. I smiled brightly and he shook it briefly.

“My mother, Portia.”

“Pleased to meet you.” My smile wavered at the look of distaste in her eyes, but I offered her my wet hand. She barely touched me before pulling away. Matt motioned to the chestnut-haired woman. “Hannah, my sister.”

“Hi,” I said, trying to fight back the tears. Could this night be any worse? Hannah took my hand and squeezed it lightly. I felt a bit better.

“Those are the twins, Terror and Trouble.”

“Uncle Matt.” They groaned in unison. I sent them a small wave, conscious of the water dripping from my dress.

“That’s Stuart, Hannah’s husband.” Matt pointed out the brown-haired gentleman. I managed a weak smile in his direction.

“And you already know Adam,” Matt said. His cheeks were stained red and he had a wide grin on his face.

“Hey, Adam.”

“Hello, Madi. You look quite fetching,” His eyes twinkled mischievously. “I heard the drenched look was all the rage this season. It suits you.”

I narrowed my eyes and Adam burst out laughing, making no effort to act with a respectable level of decorum. “Payback seems swift, does it not?”

Matt chuckled. I twisted my head up to glower at him. He pressed his lips together, choking back laughter. The twins peered over Hannah’s shoulders, giggling softly.

Matt finally gave in to his amusement, joining Adam in his boisterous laughter.

“Adam, Matthew,” his mother said coolly, “such childish behaviour I expect from the girls, not grown men. You’re embarrassing the young lady.”

I flashed her a grateful smile. She didn’t return it. Okay then.

“Uncle Matt,” one of the twins said. “She’s soaked. Natty and I will get her a change of clothes. We always have stuff here.”

“I knew there was a reason you two were my favourite nieces.” Matt took my elbow again and ushered me forward.

“We’re your only nieces,” the other one said softly.

The girls beckoned me over, and I glanced quickly at Matt. He nodded and pushed me forward, so with squishy steps I went over to the identical twins.

“I’m Natalia,” one said. “She’s Nicole, but everyone calls us Natty and Nikki.”

“Hi,” I murmured, smiling politely at them. How could anyone tell them apart? I let them lead me away from everyone else, following them in my soggy state until we stopped in front of an elevator. One of them saw my look and explained.

“Granddad had it installed for Grumps.”

“Grumps?” I asked. The girls were staring at me with teenaged curiosity shining from their sky blue eyes.

“Our great-grandfather. You’ll meet him at dinner. How old are you?”

“Twenty-six.” I grinned and plucked at my wet dress.

The girls exchanged a secret look before we entered the elevator. How pretentious was that? An elevator in their house.

They were silent until we exited the elevator, and they took me to an enormous bedroom with twin beds and every electronic gadget a teenager could ever want.

“Do you want a shower first?” one asked.

“Sure.” I pointed at her. “Natty?”

She shook her head with a shy smile. “Nikki.”

I nodded, feeling at ease for the first time since arriving. I was used to teenaged girls. Sometimes I felt like one myself.

“Grandma doesn’t like you,” the other one, Natty, said casually. “I heard her tell Mum earlier you were after Uncle Matt’s money. She called you a whore.”

“Natty!” Nikki exclaimed, hands covering her cheeks.

“What?” Natty sent her a bland look over her shoulders as she moved around the room. “It’s true, Nikki. You were there, too.”

I chewed my inner cheeks, slowly digesting the girl’s admission. I knew she was trying to get a reaction from me, testing me by her frank and cruel statement. Teenaged girls.

I shrugged. “She would be wrong in thinking that. I’m not after your uncle’s money. I work hard for my own.”

Natty snorted delicately under her breath and Nikki shook her head, obviously embarrassed at her sister’s lack of tact.

“She also said Uncle Matt is with you to spite them, and he’ll soon come to his senses and throw you away like the garbage you are.”

“Natty!”

I held the girl’s piercing gaze with an amused one, a little smile curling my mouth. “Why are you telling me this?”

She smoothed her hands over her knee-length, blue cocktail dress, giving the impression of a gawky teenager uncomfortable in her clothes.

“I don’t know. To shock you, I guess.”

My smile widened. “Consider me shocked. Where’s the bathroom?”

Nikki pointed to a door and I squelched over to it.

“There are fresh towels in the cupboard and we’ll find dry clothes for you,” Natty said as I entered the ensuite.

I closed the door and leaned heavily on it. Why? Oh why did karma hate me so? The look on Matt’s parents’ faces. And, stupid Adam cackling like a hyena at my sorry state. He was a grown man, older than Matt.

And, Matt, I would deal with him later. How could he laugh at that debacle of an introduction? I groaned, covering my face with shaking hands.

“Get it together,” I muttered sternly. So I fell into their fancy pool, big deal. These things happen…to other people. Why me? I was supposed to be the epitome of grace, cultured breeding, a strong black woman who could hold her own in any given situation. That had been my plan on the drive over here. Now, they were probably still laughing at me.

I undressed quickly and hopped into the shower. The hot water felt cathartic, washing away my embarrassment. Hell. I was a frigging New Yorker. Shit like this doesn’t faze us. I would go out there and schmooze my ass off. To be honest, I wished Dante was here with me. He always had a way of making me feel better about myself. My hands froze, halfway through shampooing the chlorine out my hair. What was wrong with me? I shouldn’t need someone to make me feel better about myself. I shouldn’t need anyone to validate my own self-worth. That was a loser’s way of thinking. I was an adult, a grown-up, with my own company and a level head on my shoulders. Resuming the shampooing of my hair, I strengthened my inner resolve and decided right there that, if Matt’s family didn’t like me, it was their problem…not mine.

Fifteen minutes later I dried off, wrapped another towel around my head and exited the bathroom. The twins were on the bed giggling over an iPad, and looked over at me with identical expressions of curiosity. Before I said anything, Natty—I knew it was her because of the blue dress—blurted, “I apologize for my earlier remarks.”

She glanced at her sister, who nodded, egging her on.

“It was rude. I was rude.” Natty sent me a small smile that I returned.

“Apology accepted,” I replied. “You girls said something about clothes?”

Nikki reached over and picked up a pile of clothes. “It’s just some jeans and a t-shirt. We don’t have any evening dresses here.”

I chewed my lower lip. Two worrying things were on my mind. Firstly, what was I going to do about underwear? No way was I wearing someone else’s panties. And, secondly, everyone else would be dressed up. Tightening the towel around my chest, I walked over to the bed.

“So,” I began in a friendly voice, “what’s it like being a twin? Do you guys instinctively know what the other is thinking?” I grinned mischievously.

They exchanged another shared look as Nikki held out the clothes. I made sure the towel was secure, then took the offered clothing. My eyes narrowed at the matching underwear.

“Sometimes,” Natty admitted.

“Sometimes I don’t know what’s going through Natty’s crazy head,” Nikki said dramatically. Natty poked her lightly on the shoulders.

I was eyeing the underwear. I had to say it. “Look, no offence girls, but I’m a bit squidgy about using your underwear. There’s something very wrong with that.”

Both girls laughed out loud. Their laughs sounded the same. Freaky.

“The underwear is new, I promise. The packaging is in that bin over there if you want to check.”

I glanced at the small waste bin she pointed to, and could see a bit of plastic sticking out from it. First problem solved.

“How many people are downstairs?” I asked, hugging the clothes to my chest.

“About twenty-five,” Natty said, with a bored look on her face. “We didn’t want to come, but Mum made us. It’s not like we care who Uncle Matt dates. Tonight is going to be a major chore.”

Nikki nodded in agreement, then flashed me that shy smile of hers. I decided she was the more reserved of the two. There’s always a more dominant one when it comes to twins, and Natty was definitely mouthy.

Natty continued to complain. “It’s Saturday. We should be out with our friends instead of socializing with old people.”

“Natty, stop,” Nikki admonished. “It’s not the end of the world.”

“And I’m not old,” I added.

Both girls looked at me.

“What?” I said in mock horror. “I’m not. Twenty-six is—”

“Old in comparison to seventeen. Everyone else is older than you are,” Natty drawled, then something on the bed beeped and she scrambled around for it.

I blinked, wondering if this was how Matt felt when I teased him about our age difference. I was going to stop that from now on.

“I’m going to get changed,” I murmured, before returning to the bathroom where I pulled on my borrowed clothes. The girls were around my height and as slender, so everything fit. The bra was lacy and had room in it. I shrugged my insecurity away and smoothed my hands over my jean-clad thighs. All that was left was sorting my hair out.

When I re-entered the room, there was a feeling of tension between the girls. Natty was glaring at the cell in her hand and Nikki was glaring at her.

“Do you have a brush I can use?” I asked.

Nikki jumped off the bed, scowling at her sister and strode over to the vanity.

“I hope this is suitable,” she said, handing over a soft-bristled brush. It wasn’t useful, but I had manners so I smiled a thank you.

“I love the States,” she volunteered as I peered at the brush. “Everything is frenetic and vibrant over there. Why would you want to live here? England is so drab.”

“I was born over here,” I explained, undoing the towel around my head. My damp curls would never be tamed by the brush. “England isn’t that bad.”

“Do you like my Uncle Matt? I mean, really like him?” Natty asked abruptly. The cell was in her hand, but she was focusing all her attention on me.

“I do.” My answer was genuine. Heck, I was jonesing for their uncle. Why hide it?

The girls looked at each other, then Nikki said, “Uncle Matt must like you a lot. He doesn’t usually bring women around here.”

Natty scoffed. “He never brings women here.”

I was getting a tad uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation.

“The media is always snooping around his life. They never leave us alone. Always printing stuff about the companies and our lives,” Natty continued.

“Must be hard for you,” I mused, squeezing excess water out of my hair.

“We’re used to it,” Nikki said. She was watching me dry my curls.

Natty’s cell beeped and she tossed it aside, violently. My eyes widened but I didn’t comment. Nikki, however, did. She’d seen my reaction.

“It’s her boyfriend,” she explained, shooting her sister a supportive look.

“Not for long,” Natty muttered.

I stayed silent and kept drying my hair. This wasn’t my business. I knew teenagers, and they always had drama. I had enough of my own drama. Plus, they had called me old.

The room descended into silence. I finished drying my hair and neatly placed the towel on the bed.

“He’s such a tosser,” Natty finally burst out. I said nothing and went over to the vanity. I didn’t know these girls, they didn’t know me. I was not getting involved. I peered at my face in the mirror. Without makeup, I looked young. Jailbait young. Damn it. The contents of my purse were soaked. Face powder, lip gloss and vex money. The money was in case of emergency. Always have cash to get your ass home if needs be. I began to brush my hair, deciding to leave it loose. In the mirror, I watched Nikki make her way over to her sister and rest a hand on her shoulder. Natty scowled at her, then her face fell.

Not getting involved. Not my business. I would go downstairs and plaster myself to Matt’s side until this night was over.

The look on Natty’s face though, it made me feel bad. I gritted my teeth together and kept brushing my hair. I had no advice to give. Before Matt, I hadn’t been in a serious relationship. I’d been on a few dates before, but they never panned out. It always felt like I was being untrue to Dante. And now I had Matt.

Nikki rubbed Natty’s shoulder and sat down next to her. “Forget about him.”

I put the brush down, then scrunched my hair between my palms. I looked all right. The cell beeped.

“I should get back downstairs,” I said, facing the girls. “Thanks for the clothes.” I had no freaking shoes on and was hoping they would spot it.

They barely acknowledged me, both staring morosely at the cell. I exhaled in a pointed manner. Someone needed to accompany me. I had no idea where to go. And there was the shoes problem.

Natty looked over, a conflicted expression on her face. “Boys suck.”

I nodded in agreement and glanced at the door. “Sometimes they do. We should head back down.”

Neither one moved. They stared at me. Maybe the heels wouldn’t be as squishy now. They were in the bathroom with my soaked, but folded, clothes. The girls were still staring at me.

I took a deep breath and asked against my better judgement. “What did he do? If you don’t mind my asking.”

Nikki answered, after getting the unspoken okay from her sister. “He’s been messaging one of Natty’s so-called friends on his social network page. He doesn’t know we have his password.”

Natty’s expression darkened. I glanced at the door.

“Last night she had a party. We didn’t attend, of course,” Nikki continued.

“Of course,” I murmured. Teenaged girls.

“There were pictures on her page, pictures of them together.”

“All cosy and smiling,” Natty ground out. “He’s a tosser. I know he’s cheating.”

I chewed my lower lip. Would it be out of place to offer advice in this situation? Shouldn’t they be talking to their mom about this shit? I pushed that ridiculous thought aside. Teenagers didn’t talk about their lives with their parents.

If my mom had been alive, I would have. God. My birthday was coming up. That was never a good time for me.

“First of all,” I said, all authoritarian—I was older, that had to count for something. “You shouldn’t be snooping around on someone’s page without their permission. That’s an infringement of their right to privacy and a bit stalkerish.” I shrugged, then added, “But I totally get why you did it. Guys be sneaky sometimes.”

Nikki giggled. “Oh my gosh. Your accent is so cute. I wish I sounded like that.”

I flashed her a smile before bestowing my wisdom. Ha, these seventeen year old girls probably had more relationship experience than me.

“Secondly, that friend of yours sounds like a snake. What sort of messages are they exchanging? If it’s normal stuff, then that’s fine and you might be overreacting, but if it’s inappropriate you need to call them out on it.” I chewed my lip. “But that comes with a price. You’ll have to admit you were snooping, and you’ll look like a psycho in training. Do you want people thinking you’re a bunny boiler? That shit sticks like glue to your reputation.”

Nikki nodded in agreement, while Natty observed me with unhappy eyes.

“Thirdly, you’re seventeen, beautiful and rich. Why are you worrying about stupid boys? You should be focused on your education right now. Leave the boys for later.”

Natty let out a loud, frustrated sigh. “That’s easy for you to say, Madison. Can I call you Madi?”

I nodded, and she continued with the teenaged anxiety I assured myself I’d grown out of. “You probably can’t remember what it’s like having your first boyfriend.”

“Matt’s my first—” I slapped a hand over my mouth. Jesus Christ. I had gotten caught up in the teenaged drama. There was no other explanation for my slip of tongue. Both girls stared at me, mouths hanging open. I lowered my hand and avoided their incredulous blue eyes.

“Matt? You mean—our Uncle Matt’s your first boyfriend? You’re twenty-six. That’s crazy,” Nikki shrieked.

I winced at the noise and tried to school my features into blandness. “As I was saying, you should enjoy being a teenager. Forget about—”

“Wait a moment.” Natty was kicking off her heels. “No way is Uncle Matt your first boyfriend.”

I swallowed hard and blushed. “I don’t think this is an appropriate topic to be discussing. Ah, shouldn’t we be going downstairs?”

They exchanged a long look, then Nikki said, “I like her. She’s cool.”

Natty nodded slowly. “She’s nice. And we should change.”

The girls jumped off the bed and ran to the closet. What on earth were they doing? Crazy ass—

“Why are you changing?” I asked in confusion as Nikki unzipped her sister, who then returned the favour.

“Do you want to be the only one in t-shirt and jeans at my grandparents’ dinner party?” Natty asked dryly. “If I know Uncle Adam, he’s probably told all the other guests about the poolroom incident.”

My eyes widened. The girls had a point. A brilliant smile stretched my face until my cheeks hurt. “You girls would do that for me? You don’t even know me.”

Nikki paused in slipping her dress off. “Uncle Matt doesn’t bring his girlfriends to this house. He must like you.”

“If he likes you so much,” Natty added, stripping down her dress and kicking it aside, “then we do, too.”

“It doesn’t matter if you’re black.” Nikki was standing in her underwear and rifling through the clothes. “We don’t care about that anyway. Only outdated people care about stuff like that.”

“Grumps is extremely outdated.” Natty grabbed the jeans Nikki held out to her. “But don’t worry about him. Uncle Matt’s his favourite and we’ll protect you.”

I arched my eyebrow at that as I observed their exuberant movements. In five minutes they were wearing jeans and t-shirts. I liked Matt’s nieces.