Page 42 of Love Undiscovered
“It’s going to get warm,” she protests, pulling me back toward the table. She’s surprisingly strong.
“I’ll get you a new one,” I say, trying to get her to once again move in the general vicinity of the dance floor.
She plants her feet and leans in the opposite direction of where I’m trying to get her to go. I think about letting go of her hand and watching her fall, but that’s definitely not going to get her to dance with me.
So, I try something else. I look her in the eyes. “Please dance with me?”
That does the trick.
Her face softens. “Don’t think I’m not immune to your puppy dog eyes. I’m choosing to dance with you.”
“Understood,” I grin.
We reach the floor and I pull her into my arms. Loving the feeling just as much as ten years ago at the party, and two weeks ago at the law enforcement ball. The song is sultry and bluesy, and the woman singing has a deep, beautiful voice.
“I love this song,” she sighs.
“What song is it?”
“It’s called ‘Misty Blue.’ The singer is doing a bluesier version, like Etta James. But my favorite is the version by Dorothy Moore. Nothing against Etta James, she’s a God as far as I’m concerned.”
“Is it bad form for our date that I don’t know who any of those people are?”
She laughs. “Not at all.” I’m glad we’re dancing to a song she likes. She’s humming and singing it softly; it’s like her entire demeanor has changed with this one song. Her body practically melts into mine. She seems almost relaxed.
I don’t know what the next song is either, but I do know that it changes her entire body language. The change is subtle, but it’s definitely there.
“I’m hungry. We should head back to the table and order.”
I offer her my forearm once again and lead her back to our seats. Harley is laughing at something Alex has said, and he’s leaned into her. Suffice it to say, I think their date is going very well.
“Have you guys decided on dinner?” I ask Alex.
“No,” he says. “We’ve been talking. I’ll look now.”
I open my menu and try to figure out what I’d like to order.
“Hey,” I say to Remi. “Look, they’ve got meals for two. Want to share?”
“No,” she says flatly.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m sure I won’t like what you like.”
“Do you know what I like?” I can’t help it, I wiggle my eyebrows at her.
A move I seem to do a lot around her. She rolls her eyes at me. A reaction she seems to have a lot around me. But I’ll take it. At least it’s a reaction, which is better than none.
If I’m going to get her to agree to go out with me beyond tonight, I’m going to need some kind of reaction from her. This has got to be the easiest way to make twenty-five hundred dollars outside of gambling or prostitution. I can’t fuck it up. I picture Mom and Dad on that cruise, and Mom is beside herself with happiness. I want to give that to her.
My mom has given to me and my sisters for our entire lives. Not only raising us while my dad worked long hours at the precinct. But also taking in sewing and alterations at night after we were asleep, for extra money.
This is our opportunity to give back. In a way that we know she will love. I turn back toward Remi in time to hear her say, “No, but I’m sure it’s rare beef of some sort combined with a fat slathered starch.”
Oh, right, we’re talking about dinner. And what I would order from the menu. Well, shit, she’s right. There’s not much that I like more in this world than a medium rare cowboy steak and a loaded baked potato.
“Well, what were you thinking of ordering?” I ask her.
