Authors: K Carr
Matt nodded. “Of course, just know I’m here if you want to talk.”
She regarded him for a few seconds, a guarded look seeping into her brown eyes as she said, “Why is it I’m the one doing all the talking? You never confide your problems to me.”
“Because I don’t have any problems,” he teased. “Haven’t you noticed how perfect I am, poppet?”
Madi shook her head, then bent forward to grab her iPad as Matt put the volume back on the telly. He secretly observed her. He was worried about her, knowing full well the enormity of what had transpired over Thanksgiving hadn’t set in as yet. She loved her family.
“Stop it, Matt,” she muttered, head down and eyes trained on the screen in her lap. “I can feel you staring at me. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
A low chuckle came from him. “I’m looking forward to our return home, poppet.”
She turned with a grimace on her face, holding her left hand up. “I’m not. Do you have any idea of how busy I’ll be with work? In a few weeks the production will be on and I don’t want you complaining about me not spending time with you, Matt.” she warned. “And I don’t even want to think of your parents’ reaction—”
“They’ll come around,” he interjected smoothly. “Everything will be fine as long as you adhere to my requirements.”
Madi narrowed her eyes at him. “Let’s hear them then. What do you expect of me, Mr Bradley?”
Matt slung his arm over her shoulders and pulled her closer. “Only two absolutes, poppet, the rest we can negotiate on. The first is you must love me, always.” He smiled when her grimace disappeared. “The second is to allow me free reign to do whatever necessary to keep you happy.”
She smiled at him. It started small but blossomed into a wide smile that made Matt feel as if he was the luckiest man alive.
“Oh,” he added as an afterthought. “And when we’re married, you’ll be taking my name. I don’t believe in all that dross where a woman retains her maiden name.”
Madi gave him a look and he chewed his lower lip. It was a fierce look.
“We’ll negotiate on that issue,” he said, and she nodded with a snort. Matt grinned and laid his head against hers, blowing wisps of her hair from his nose. He had asked and she had said yes. His life was complete.