Page 33 of Don't Call Me Daddy
“Pretending. They really like you.”
He dips me, then traces fingers up my leg, but is careful to stop just above my knee. My pussy clenches in excitement, and it’s all I can do to keep dancing. What the hell is happening to me?
Leo guides us through another slow dance effortlessly, and I only trip a few times, but thanks to his strong arms holding me upright, you can’t even tell. And when the song comes to an end, the lights slowly turn on, and I realize everyone’s staring at us.
“Good idea,” he whispers in my ear, his warm breath tickling the skin on my neck.
“I told you those dancing lessons were a good idea,” Mary says from behind me, then grabs my hand and tugs me away. “Come with me, Ivy. I want you to meet everyone.”
Once I get a few feet away from Leo, I’m able to shake the fog from my brain and finally think a little more clearly.
What’s in that cologne he’s wearing? Some kind of pheromone voodoo? Or is it this place that has me all turned around and inside out?
I follow her on shaky legs through the living room and into the kitchen, where a group of people are laughing around the massive kitchen island. It’s brighter in here, and I immediately recognize Dr. Stone and one of Leo’s brothers from the hospital.
“You remember Dr. Stone. This is his wife, Evelyn, our lovely mayor and my best friend since childhood.”
I shake each of their hands.
“And that’s Roman, our middle son. Who’s gone above and beyond helping me with this party.”
Roman waves, then pops the top of his beer. “It’s no big deal. You know I’m always happy to help,” he says with a grin.
I can’t help but notice how similar he looks to Leo, but in reverse. He’s all smiles while Leo’s signature facial expression is a judgmental scowl.
It almost reminds me of the way Fern and I were so opposite, but Ferny wasn’t grumpy like Leo, just intense and mysterious. Maybe that’s the happy medium.
“This is Silas, Dr. and Mrs. Stone’s oldest—a pseudo cousin, if you will,” Roman says as he points out the others.
There are so many names; I doubt I’ll remember everyone, but I do my best to make small talk.
“Mary, you’ve outdone yourself with this party! A true experience, as always,” a voluptuous, older redheaded woman says as she kisses her on each cheek.
Mary looks around and shrugs. “Thank you, Miss Scarlett. I’m just happy to be surrounded by all these friendly faces. This town really is special, isn’t it?”
“That it is,” she agrees before turning to Roman. “Now, a little birdie told me you’re still looking for someone to volunteer to plan this year’s Phantom Festival. Is that true? Please tell me you haven’t waited to start planning. It’s the hundredth anniversary and the biggest charity event of the year. We can’t disappoint all the organizations who depend on us for funding.”
Roman’s eyes widen as he looks at Leo in a silent plea for help.
“Not at all, Miss Scarlett. I don’t know where you’re getting your information from these days, but I assure you the PhantomFestival will be better than ever this year. We’ve got a committee of volunteers working on it, and there’s no need to worry.”
Miss Scarlett lets out a heavy sigh and nods her head in relief. “Good. I’m so happy to hear that. I have to tell you, when Shir—ahem, the birdie told me, I started to panic. It’d have been a disaster if that were true. No one could plan something that big in less than four weeks.” She taps Leo on the arm and laughs. “It’s the hundredth anniversary. I’d hate for the town to drop the ball on such an important date. Not to mention, we wouldn’t want to anger the Phantom, now would we?”
I catch the slight twitch in Leo’s jaw before he plasters on a fake smile.
“Let’s not ruin my mother’s beautiful party with silly ghost stories. I assure you, the festival will be a hit, just as it is every year.” His words come out firm and final, cutting the conversation off right there.
“Well then, I’m happy to hear. I’ll have to tell Shir—the birdie to stop with the fear-mongering rumors. Lord knows this town doesn’t need any help in that department,” she says with a laugh, and everyone joins in, though I’m not sure why it’s funny.
Consider my interest piqued.
“And don’t you look beautiful tonight?” Miss Scarlett nods in my direction, taking the conversation in a complete one-eighty. “I don’t think I’ve seen Leo take his eyes off you all evening.” She winks.
“At one point, I thought we were going to have to pull Leo off of her and spray him with a water hose to cool him down,” Frank adds teasingly.
“Well, with moves like that, how’s a girl supposed to resist? I had no idea he could dance that well,” I say with a laugh.
“Didn’t you two meet at a gala?” Roman snaps his fingers as he thinks. “The fundraiser for the children’s hospital?—?”
