Page 21 of Desire

“I’m doing the rumba,” Elise responds to her daughter’s question.

“Is that the sexy dance?”

“You’ve done far too much research on these dances, young lady.”

“I just hope you aren’t going to stop me from watching?”

“That’s a good idea. I might get Natalie to bring a blindfold with her.”

“I’ll make sure it’s not too sexy for Izzy to watch,” I interject because the look of sudden disappointment on Izzy’s face is heartbreaking.

I’m sure she knows her mama is joking, but I’m not prepared to wait and see if it upsets her.

“No, you won’t,” both Elise and Izzy answer at the same time, and I flatten myself against the red leather of the booth we’re sitting in, pretending to be shocked by their joint protest.

“It needs to be sexy to win over Denzel,” Izzy elaborates. When I look at Elise, she’s gone bright red, but then a smirk breaks out on her face.

“What Izzy said.”

“Ok.” I hold my hands up in defeat. “We’ll make it sexy enough that Izzy has to wear a blindfold.”

The youngest occupant of the table groans loudly just as the burgers are brought to the table. We sit in a comfortable silence while we all eat. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was until the food was placed in front of me, and it tastes like a dream. I finish first and Izzy second. Elise leaves a few of her fries, so I reach over and pop them in my mouth.

“Mama, can I go on the play equipment outside?” Izzy inquires, looking longingly at the door.

“Go on, but be mindful you’ve just eaten. Take it easy and stay where I can see you.”

“Of course, Mama.”

Izzy disappears off to play, and I sit back in my seat and watch Elise as she finishes her water. Over the past few weeks, she’s changed back to the confident and smiling girl I knew in school. Her complexion is no longer pallid, and her eyes don’t dart around, constantly looking for the first sign of trouble. I can’t imagine what she went through. It breaks my heart to even try.

“It’s rude to stare unless you’re going to tell me what you’re thinking,” Elise interrupts my day-dreaming.

“I don’t know—maybe my thoughts are ruder than me staring at you,” I tease her, licking my lips

“What the hell were you thinking?” Elise looks alarmed.

“How good it was when you wore your short skirts at school. I got a lovely view of your panties every time I happened to drop something.”

“Perv!”

“I was an adolescent boy. Everything went straight to my dick.”

“And now?” She playfully raises an eyebrow.

“Let’s just say I’m excited to see you in your rumba outfit.”

“You’ve always been a terrible flirt, Leo Westwood.”

“And you, Miss Landry, wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“No. I wouldn’t, and that’s the frightening thing.”

A silence falls between us, and I shuffle closer to Elise in the booth. I wrap my arm around her, still not speaking, and she lays her head on my chest.

“I’m glad fate brought us back together, Leo. Even if it’s given me blisters all over my feet and an appetite like a pregnant elephant.”

I can’t help laughing. The comment about the elephant is something we learned in biology when we were at school. I like the fact it’s stuck with her.

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