Chapter 19.4
Matt smiled at his elder sister and brother-in-law. Hannah was recounting the latest battle with Trouble. Natalia was truly trying her mother’s patience. Matt remembered the time when she was as sweet as her twin sister. It felt like yesterday those two would toddle behind him, arms eagerly outstretched as they demanded to be picked up. He absent-mindedly patted his pocket, checking the keys to his sister’s Central Park West condo were there. The engagement party was in full swing. The Walthamstow family home in Berkshire was overflowing with guests and the staff hired to serve looked harassed. Matt let his attention drift as his eyes searched for Madi. Soon enough he spotted her, frowning up at Adam, who was obviously teasing her, if the devious amusement on his face was anything to go off. Matt’s gaze slowly travelled her delectable body. The soft yellow and black cashmere dress she wore was clinging in all the right places, and he was entranced with the contrast of the colour against her chocolate skin. He inhaled raggedly, needing the influx of air to appease the sudden feeling of light-headedness he always got when observing her. He watched as she playfully smacked Adam on his arm and he shook his head slightly, finding their behaviour comical. She had the strangest effect on people. Adam was not one for playfulness, yet there he stood, allowing Madi to ruffle his dark brown hair into a state of disarray.
Matt sipped his drink, partially listening to Stuart drone on about the difficulties of being a surgeon. His parents were somewhere about, their reserved greeting towards Madi had irked him. A tired sigh whispered past his lips as he saw Adam being drawn away by a couple, leaving Madi with a quick wave. Instead of going to her side, Matt remained with Hannah and Stuart. He’d been watching her interaction with the guests for the past couple of hours, and it pained him to see that she had been absolutely right in her assessment of their attitude towards her. The conversation they’d had on his return from the Netherlands replayed itself in his mind. She was trying to fit in, desperately trying he noted as she turned to a new group of people and, with a warm smile on her face, began to converse with the person closest to her.
Seven minutes. That was how long she managed to hold up the conversation before the group broke up and the others meandered away from her. A flicker of disappointment danced across her features before she forced a bright smile to her face and twirled the barely drunk flute of champagne between her slender fingers. Matt glanced at his watch. It was getting late and they were due to fly out in the early hours of Sunday morning. He turned to his sister and her husband.
“I’m going to grab Madi, say our goodbyes to the happy couple and head home,” he murmured, handing his glass over to one of the waiters moving past them. “Thanks for the keys, Hannah, and give the twins my love.”
“Matty.” She stopped him with a hand on his arm.
Matt hid his wince at her use of his nickname. “Yes?”
“Is there something going on between yourself and Grumps?” she queried curiously. Matt’s eyes narrowed instinctively and Hannah didn’t miss the action. “He’s been complaining about your lack of contact the past month and a half, maybe longer than that.”
Matt’s face hardened as he responded in a smooth but dark voice. “Has he now?”
Hannah’s mouth parted slightly in surprise at his tone. She shared a quick glance with her husband before patting Matt’s arm. “Yes, he has. You know you’re his favourite. He misses you terribly and you should call—”
“Has he explained the reason behind my lack of contact, Hannah?” Matt drawled, feeling his annoyance rise as he thought about the last time he’d seen his grandfather. Hannah shook her head slowly, her expression becoming perplexed. Matt scoffed derisively. “No, he hasn’t. When next you speak to Grumps, tell him I meant everything I said.” Matt leaned forward to press a kiss to her cheek. “You must excuse me. It’s late and Madi and I are flying out tomorrow morning.”
Hannah frowned at him, then said in her no-nonsense voice, “Don’t forget we’re having you both over for dinner when you get back. The girls have been pestering me to have her come to the house.” She glanced in Madi’s direction and sighed softly. “Poor thing. Our parents are being beastly in their treatment of her. Mum especially.”
Matt nodded in agreement, mouth compressed in a tight line. “That’s their problem, not ours.” He held a hand out to his brother-in-law. “Stuart, I’ll see you soon.”
After a handshake that morphed into a polite brotherly half hug, Matt strolled through the many guests until he stood quietly behind her. She had gotten rid of her drink and was unaware of his presence, engrossed in studiously peering at the painting on the wall. Her scent, delicate on the air around her, wafted up his nostrils. Wild flowers. He had decided since the early days of their relationship that scent was intrinsically her. He had as of yet to find any lotion or soap that she used with this particular scent. She was his wild flower.
“Would you like one, poppet?” he murmured, startling a tiny gasp from her lips. His hand landed on the small of her back and Matt had to forcibly stifle the surge of desire that threatened to overwhelm him.
Madi twisted around, a disbelieving smirk on her luscious mouth. “Who wouldn’t want a Monet?” She rested her hand across his chest, and Matt had to battle his body’s urges at her light touch. She smiled sweetly at him. “But because you want something doesn’t mean you can have it.”
Matt pulled her closer into his body. “If you want it, I’ll ensure you get it. Anything you want, I’ll move heaven and earth to get it for you.”
Madi leaned back, in the circle of his arms, and a pensive look cascaded over her face. “Matt, don’t you dare. It’s bad enough your mom thinks I’m trying to fleece you—”
“Pardon?” Matt frowned deeply. “Why would you say that? Did she say something to you, poppet? I swear if she’s said—”
“Calm down, you silly man.” She leaned forward to kiss the corner of his mouth. “I know your family are a bit worried about the nature of our relationship. I don’t want them thinking it’s something that it’s not.”
Matt pulled her closer, the contour of her body seamless against his, generating a hungry heat in him that could only be sated with their clothes off. Bloody hell. He needed to get her home and in bed before he lost his calm demeanour.
“I’ve told you,” he murmured into her hair. “My parents will eventually come around. Besides, my siblings adore you.”
“Ha,” she muttered. “Adam takes the piss, as you like to say, and Hannah is polite. Even if she hated my guts, I would never know. English people are like that, no outward show of emotion. Unflappable reserve. Cool as freaking cucumbers. It’s infuriating. For once, I would like someone to say exactly what they feel.”
Matt held her gaze as he drawled, “Like my grandfather for example?”
There was a second of pure alarm on her face before she schooled her features into one of nonchalance. Matt bent his lips to her ear. “I know what he said to you. I’ve known for some time now. You should’ve confided in me.”
She pulled away from him and Matt let her. It was with unhappy eyes she peered at him. “Can we discuss it later, Matt?”
Matt nodded, holding a hand out for her. “We can if you choose, but I’ve already made my feelings quite clear on that distasteful incident. Rest assured, poppet, the next time you see my grandfather, he’ll be apologizing and asking your forgiveness.”
Her face went blank for a moment, right before she burst into laughter. More than a few heads turned in their direction. Some curious, others with reproach. Matt ignored them, too entranced by the way her face lit up with humour. He couldn’t stop the wide grin from splitting his face.
“You don’t believe me?” he asked, feigning hurt.
She shook her head laughing, albeit not as loud. “It will be a cold day in hell before your grandfather apologizes to me. And ask forgiveness? Oh, Matt. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
Matt shook his head, hand slipping possessively to her waist. “Come on, poppet. Let’s go say our goodbyes to Nathan and Bella. We’ve shagged a grand total of three times this week since you broke me on my return, and I’m not happy about that. If I don’t get my minimum twice a day dose, I start getting grouchy. You don’t want that, do you?”
She batted her eyelashes at him in an attempt of seduction. She looked as if she was trying to blink an irritating fleck out of her eyes. Totally ridiculous and completely endearing.
“You’re always grouchy,” she retorted, clutching her purse in one hand.
Matt winked at her. “Now you know why.”
She gave him a tender smile as she shook her head. “You make me smile.” Her eyes narrowed for a second. “Well, most of the times. Sometimes you get on my last damn nerve—ouch!”
Matt grinned. The tap he’d delivered to her arse was a light one. His hand lingered, as if magnetized to, in his opinion, the best arse he’d ever seen.
“Matt,” she hissed, trying to slide away. “People can see.”
“Mmm,” he drawled, smoothing his hand over her bum before resting his hand on her lower back. “Apologies, poppet. I will behave in public. In private though...” Matt let his gaze linger over the outlines of her breasts before lowering. He traced his inner lip with his tongue and her eyes widened in embarrassment. Matt made no attempt to keep his lustful thoughts off his face. To hell with anyone watching.
“Stop it,” she whispered tartly.
He grinned, urging her forward. It was half an hour before they had managed to say their goodbyes to Nathan and Bella, plus the other necessary people who had to be acknowledged by Matt before leaving. His parents were dismissive of Madi—polite, but dismissive. He would need to have a sit down with them. They needed to accept the fact Madi wasn’t going anywhere. The sooner they accepted it, the better.
“Buckle up,” Matt reminded her when they were seated in his car. She flashed him an absent-minded smile while she did as ordered, attention fixed on her mobile. His curiosity eventually won out after he’d tried to draw her into a conversation and got monosyllables in response.
“Who are you texting, poppet?”
She didn’t lift her head in his direction. “Dante.”
He rolled his eyes at her one word answer before prompting with a polite, “Why?”
Finally she raised her head and glanced over at him. “He needs me to stop by his place to pick some stuff up. I can’t believe he’s not coming home with me for Thanksgiving.”
Matt ignored her obvious desire to have her friend accompany her on the trip home. What was he? Chopped liver? He checked the time on the dashboard.
“You do know it’s gone ten, and I’ve told my pilot we’ll be flying out at five am. You haven’t finished packing, Madison.”
She shrugged, fiddling with her mobile. “I’ve probably got clothes at Aunt Cleo’s anyway. I don’t need to pack much.”
Matt snorted and focused on the road ahead. “So we’re heading to Greenwich, then.”
She looked at him. “No, hon, you don’t need to do that. We’ll head back to yours, then I’ll drive to Dante’s.”
Matt arched an eyebrow at her. He didn’t like that plan. It was late and she drove like a boy racer sometimes. “I don’t mind.”
“You’re not going to let me go on my own, are you?”
Matt smiled, reaching over to pat her leg lightly. “No, poppet, I’m not.”
She sighed loudly, rolling her eyes at him, before turning her attention back to her mobile. Matt watched her out the corner of his eyes. This trip would be full of surprises. He simply needed to charm her family, and he had every intention of being successful in that endeavour. By the time this brief holiday drew to a close, things with his poppet would be different…