Page 31 of Desire

“Not funny.”

“We really need to loosen you up a bit. Come on. I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

Exiting the car, I go around to the other side and open the door for Elise. She’s dressed casually in a t-shirt and jeans. They hug all the right curves, and I can’t help staring at her stunning backside when she walks in front of me.

“What is this place, Leo?”

We join a small queue of people waiting to go inside. A couple turn to look at us—they must recognize us because they whisper to each other but don’t approach. That’s one of the things I’ve discovered since being back here in New Orleans, people leave you alone unless you approach them. It’s not always the same in Europe. I’ve heard a few unpleasant stories about some of the incidents that have happened to dancers in the UK especially. One even lost a tooth when he was attacked. I know it also happens in parts of America where celebrity culture is big, but New Orleans is much more relaxed.

The door opens, and a rhythm and blues jazz song floods out the door. Elise grabs my hand.

“It’s a jazz and craft festival. It’s held every year and comes highly recommended.”

“Seriously? God, I heard about this last year, and I really wanted to go, but everything had just happened with Simon. I was still covered in bruises and needed to hide out for longer. I didn’t realize it was here. I’m so excited now.”

“And you weren’t before?” I tease.

Elise rolls her eyes at me,

“I’m always excited when you’re close to me…if you put your hand in my panties, you’d feel how much.”

Fuck me.

I’m hard at the thought.

“You’ll pay for that comment later.”

Elise sticks her tongue out at me just as the security guard ushers us in through the door. Our tickets are checked, and our belongings scanned before we’re allowed into the main auditorium, but when we do gain entry, I can feel my whole body start to sway with the beat filling the room. A soul singer with a voice like the great Nina Simone belts out one of the singer’s greatest hits,‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’.

“This is fantastic,” Elise shouts at me over the music, and I lead her farther into the room. The first few aisles are full of traditional crafts, such as quilting and basket weaving. Next come colorful beaded necklaces. Elise stops and looks at a few. “I think I’ll get one for Izzy. She’ll love it. She’s started trying on my jewelry recently.”

I step back as the larger than life female vendor appears, and I watch as Elise discusses with her which color would be the best to get for Izzy. In the end, Elise purchases a couple and puts a teal colored one around her own neck.

“What do you think, Leo?”

I decide to tease her.

“Accentuates your breasts perfectly.”

“Leo!” she tells me off, and the vendor laughs loudly.

“Just what my husband says when I put them on. It’s why I keep making them.”

“Don’t encourage him. He really doesn’t need it.”

“Lovely, embrace it. He’s a cutie.”

The vendor winks at me, and I jokingly make a big thing of grabbing Elise’s arm to signify I’m a taken man.

Elise and the lady laugh.

“Thank you,” Elise says to the vendor.

We continue our path down the rows of craft booths, and all the while, jazz music plays in the background from a live stage somewhere in the building. We stop another couple times. I buy a lace tablecloth to send to mymamá. I know she likes them, and it will hopefully give her happy memories of the time she spent living here. Eventually we reach the food section of the booths. My nose is assaulted with all the delicious smells. I don’t know where to go first to eat, but my stomach rumbles, telling me it’s interested in the food and getting it quickly.

“What do you fancy?” I ask.

“I don’t know. It all looks so delicious and smells even better. I love Cajun cuisine. I really don’t eat it enough. It’s not the sort of food a Hollywood actress can eat and stay in shape.”

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