Page 22 of Desire

“Mama?” Izzy comes back to the table, looking perturbed.

“What’s wrong?” Elise leans forward but doesn’t move away from me.

“I want to go on the climber, but there are some big boys on there, and they don’t seem very friendly. I wish Issac was here.”

Elise cocks her head to look out of the window.

“Play on the other equipment. We’ll be getting dessert soon anyway, so you won’t be out there for long.”

Izzy’s face falls. I hate to see a woman upset.

“I’ll come on it with you.”

I let go of Elise and shuffling back out of the seat, I emerge next to Izzy. Elise looks at me with a ‘you don’t have to do that’ expression on her face, andI give her a wink.

“You choose dessert for the three of us and call us in when it’s ready. I’m sure you can remember what I like to eat.”

Leading Izzy outside, the older boys stare down at me from the climber when I start to help her get up it. They can’t be more than fifteen, but I remember being that age and wanting to intimidate the other kids around me because I thought I was so cool. I soon changed that opinion when I had my backside walloped by mymamáfor getting into a fight with an older boy after I’d scared his younger brother.

I give the boys a stern look as if to say they can stay sitting where they are, but I am going to let Izzy play on the climber. They seem to respect that and turn back to looking at their phones and ignore us as Izzy completes the climber assault course in no time at all.

“Will you do it with me this time, Mr. Leo? I bet I can beat you.”

“I dance professionally for a living, Miss Izzy. I’m pretty fit, you know.”

“I know. Mama was telling Miss Natalie that you’re pretty fit as well, but I’m smaller and can move quicker. I think I can beat you.”

“You’re on.”

We both climb to the top of the rope and wooden structure. Izzy is right—she’s smaller and able to maneuver over the ropes and through tighter spaces a lot quicker than I can. The boys, who’ve been watching us, start to cheer us both on when they see we’re racing. Izzy swings across the final gap before I even have a chance to reach out for the rope, and she wins. She does a little victory dance, and the boys congratulate her and then start talking about doing their own races.

“Ok, you did beat me, but don’t tell your mama. I don’t want her thinking I’m a loser.”

“Loser.” Izzy makes the sign of an ‘L’ on her forehead.

“Oh no you don’t.” I chase around after her as she screams pretending to shout for help.

Shortly after, Elise appears at the door to the restaurant and shouts to tell us dessert is ready, and we make our way back inside, both of us breathing heavily. I’m not sure I should have run around that much on a full stomach. I sit back down and take a sip of my water before looking down at the dessert Elise ordered me—beignets. I feel my mouth start to salivate at the traditional pastry. They’re more of a breakfast treat, but I could eat them at any time of the day. I can’t believe she remembered after all these years. I’ve always had a soft spot for them.

“Thank you.” I mouth at her while she helps Izzy with the mammoth chocolate cake they’re both sharing.

“Mama?”

“Yes, my darling.” Elise cuddles up to Izzy.

“I like Mr. Leo. He’s a lot of fun.”

“He is. I have to agree.”

“Do you think he could live with us? He could be my daddy rather than the one I’ve got…I don’t like him.”

Chapter 11

Elise

Izzy’s comment at dinner was sweet but worrying at the same time. I don’t think I ever saw Simon play with her in the way Leo did. I’m not surprised she likes him more. As I put her to bed, she reiterates her enjoyment of the evening and her reluctance for school tomorrow.

There’s no way she’s watching Leo and I practice the rumba, especially if he’s going to make it sexy. We only went through the steps today, so we’ve yet to put everything into a routine. I don’t know how I feel about it. I’ve watched some of the others perform it, and it calls for a lot of closeness. With the obvious growing attraction between Leo and me, I know it’s going to increase the sexual tension between us.

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