"What's playing?" Dex asked in a sleepy voice.
I stopped and listened.
"Bill Evans 'The Sunday After'. Good isn't it?"
He didn't answer but reached around and turned off the burner before he turned me in his arms.
He put my arms around his neck as he held me tight to him and began to dance.
Dance.
Right there in my kitchen on a Sunday morning with the sun streaming in, the scent of coffee and French toast as well as the feel of a gorgeous man beneath my cheek, locked in my arms and moving with him to the wonderful music.
I had a Rock of Gibraltar sized lump in my throat and my eyes were getting suspiciously misty.
And, as fate would have it, the next song to play was the Cowboy Junkies, 'Sweet Jane', so I knew we would be dancing for a few minutes yet.
When the song was over, Dex moved to the breakfast bar and I brought him his coffee in an Ohio State mug.
I turned the burner back on and carried on with making breakfast, enjoying the quiet sounds of the music and the company, Dex's company.
"What's this song?" Dex asked sounding a bit more awake.
While I was enjoying the music I hadn't really been listening to it, so I had to stop for a moment and tune in.
"Lyle Lovette's 'Nobody Knows Me'," I replied. "Open up my laptop, honey and pull up the Excel sheet marked, 'Leila's Songs' and you'll see the playlists by who recommended them as well as the song and artist."
I was spooning the blueberry syrup I'd put together from a bag of frozen blueberries and added a couple of sifter shakes of powdered sugar before I set the plate in front of him with a napkin and utensils. Dex's eyes were still glued to the list as he began to eat.
I refilled our coffee before bringing my own plate over to the breakfast bar and began eating. Pretty soon, I felt Dex's left hand move to my right thigh as he continued to eat and read.
If you were to wish me the absolute best of Sunday mornings, then this one couldn't have been any better.
"Do you think you can tell a lot about a person by their playlists?" Dex asked closing the laptop.
"You mean, like Crystal's list versus Marianne's?" At his nod, I went on. "I guess you could but I was just figuring that the playlists were emailed with the music that they thought I'd like."
I felt him rub my thigh in answer.
"Like you in my shirt, Elle." he whispered leaning towards me and tucking my hair behind my ear before moving his hand to the back of my neck, thumb softly stroking the sweet spot behind my ear.
"What do you want to do today, princess?" he asked softly.
I thought about it as I took our plates to the sink, where he joined me.
"Could we maybe go for that motorcycle ride today?" I asked handing him a plate that he put in the dishwasher.
"Perfect," he said. "You'll need to dress warm, babe. And we'll need to stop by my place so I can feed Fred and Wilma and grab some clean clothes."
I nodded as I washed the pans and he began wiping down the countertops, which we both finished at the same time.
I was just about to make my way upstairs, when Dex came up from behind and took my hand.
"Let's go save some water," he said looking back over his shoulder at me as we moved upwards. I didn't know what that meant, until we were in my master bathroom and Dex turned the water on in my shower and starting unbuttoning the shirt I had on.
Oh, hello.
Shower sex.
I'd read about it in a couple of books, and it was hot to read about.
Hot to think about.
But to actually do it in a shower with Dex?
Oh. My. God.
*.*.*.*.*
"Ah, babe?" Dex said coming from the garage into his house where I was standing by the kitchen counter. "There's gonna be a bit of a delay with the ride, okay?"
I looked at his face and even though his voice sounded normal, his jaw was clenched.
"What's going on?"
"Someone got into my garage and trashed my Jeep," he replied. "I called Grantham P.D. so I can file a report. Seein' it's a Sunday, they have minimal staff available but said they'd get someone out in about an hour."
"How'd they get in your garage?" I asked, moving to him and wrapping my arms around his waist. I felt his arms wrap around my back.
"Don't know, babe. I checked and can't find anything to show how they got in."
"How bad is it?"
I felt him take a deep breath before he answered.
"All four tires slashed, all the windows broken out along with the headlights," he said but there was a tone in his voice I didn't understand.
"That's it?"
"Ah…no, babe."
"What else?"
"There's some spray paint on there, too." I could totally tell he didn't want to tell me.
"What does it say?" I pressed.
"It says, 'Stay away from her'", Dex said softly.
I tilted my head back. "You're kidding right?"
"Wish I was." I felt him start to rub my back as we just stood there.
The police officer came and took Dex's statement as well as taking some pictures of the damage. He said that he would file a report and gave Dex the report number so he could give to his insurance company.
After he left, I moved back to Dex and tucked myself against his side.
"Would you like to reschedule our ride for another time, honey?"
"No, Elle. Now I kind of need to ride, get my head on straight." He leaned down and gave me a nose stroke.
So that's what we did.
I'd never been on a motorcycle before and found it wonderful. The quiet, the landscape, the feeling of Dex pressed against my front was absolutely amazing and I knew now what he meant about needing to ride. It was the perfect way to de-stress and 'get your head on straight'.
I don't know how long we rode but soon Dex was pulling into a parking lot next to a huge cabin type structure. He snagged my hand as we walked towards it and said, "Welcome to Smithville."
When we went in, I saw that it housed a large restaurant on the right and a combination of gas station and post office on the left. The interior was fabulous, looking just like what you'd think the inside of a log cabin would look like.
Dex steered me to the restaurant on the right and we did a quick scan to find an open table, since the sign said, 'Seat Yourselves'.
I saw one of the hottest men I'd ever laid eyes on waving our direction.
"Jake!" I heard Dex exclaim before he put his hand in the small of my back and steered me to the table. I watched as Jake and Dex shook hands before doing a man-hug with the one-thump in the middle of the back to complete it.
I turned to look at who Jake kept turning towards.
"Caitlin?"
"Leila?"
Soon Cait and I were doing the girly version of a hug, which included a couple of bounces and some, 'Oh My Gods' after we clenched and squealed a bit.
It seems they'd just gotten there themselves and we decided to join them.
Caitlin and I were going about a million miles an hour as I brought her up to speed on the day of Beauty, etc.
But we were silent when Dex yelled, "Four medium habs and four ice teas," at the waitress as she was sliding by.
"You got it, gorgeous," she yelled back waving her hand over her head.
I turned wide eyes to Caitlin, who started giggling at my look.
"Don't worry, you'll love 'em," she said leaning to bump me with her shoulder.
While we were waiting for the food, Dex told Jake about the Jeep. Caitlin turned to me with big eyes this time when Dex detailed the spray paint.
"Sucks, man," Jake rumbled. Honest to God, I thought Dex had a deep voice but next to Caitlin's man, Dex sounded like a choir boy.
I pulled out my cell to show Caitlin the pictures of my outfits and asking for her help in creating more combinations when four plates of hot wings with four humongous ice teas hit our table. The wings were unbelievab
le, done in what I thought was a honey habaneras sauce. Not too hot and not too sweet, but wondrously tasty and messy as hell.
I finally had to push my plate away only having eaten about half of what was on it.
I saw Caitlin do the same, but soon our men were feasting on our left overs and deeply engrossed in their conversation regarding some piece of property.
I felt Caitlin push her knee against mine under the table as she turned to me with a wink.
"Ah, baby? I think I have about twenty girls that are really interested in taking a class at your gym, so I was wondering…"
"Fuckin' told you before, Pretty Girl, not gonna to have a bunch of tits and ass jigglin' through the gym. No way, no how," Jake growled before turning back to Dex.
But I saw him move his hand to capture her fingers.
"See, I told you," Caitlin leaned over and whispered.
"And he didn't beat on his chest once," I whispered back before we both started laughing.
We parted ways in the parking lot with lots of promises to get together soon and watched as Jake and Caitlin mounted his bike. Dex handed me my helmet and helped me secure it as they rode by us, Jake giving a finger flick with a nod in our direction and Caitlin waving.
I climbed up behind Dex as he started the engine and I wiggled my way closer to him. He reached behind and stroked my thighs with both hands before releasing the kickstand and then we were off.
It was late afternoon when Dex pulled into my driveway.
He didn't get off the bike when I did.
I took off the helmet and found him looking at me with a look I'd never seen before.
"Think I'm gonna take off, babe."
"Oh, okay. Thanks for today, Dex. I had a really good time," I said handing him the helmet I'd been wearing.
I stood there waiting for him to get off the bike or remove his helmet so I could get my goodbye kiss, but he just nodded and did the finger flick before using his feet to back down the driveway.
That was strange, I thought as I went inside.
It's true we had only known each other a couple of days, but I had the impression that we were kind of joined at the hip even though neither one of us had put any definitions on our time together.
I wasn't going to worry about it though.
I had classes tomorrow and wasn't quite done with my paper on the restructuring of elementary education for special needs children.
Chapter Twenty Two
I took extra time getting ready that Monday morning after Spring Break, knowing that I was going to be stared at just as much as I would stare at someone who had completely, drastically changed the way they looked in over a week.
I wore another one of my pencil skirts, this one in a medium blue, that I paired with a black sweater that was wrapped, creating a 'vee' neckline with knee-high black boots. I added a double strand of blue stones around my neck and my hooped earrings. The sleeves on the sweater were belled so I didn't add any bracelets.
I loaded up my new navy blue tote with metal studs and made sure I had everything in my red crocodile handbag before moving to the garage, a half of a toasted bagel in my mouth. I put my purse and tote in the back before getting in the driver's seat.
There was a piece of paper underneath one of my windshield wipers.
I got out and went to reach for it when my instincts told me not to touch it.
I went back into the house and grabbed a pair of kitchen tongs and a gallon size baggie before going back out to my car. It took me three tries to capture the piece of paper with the tongs. Mainly because I was shaking so hard, but I finally got it and put it in the baggie before sealing it and putting it on the passenger seat.
I don't remember the drive to the University because my mind was filled with the words on the paper.
"You looked better before" it said in big block letters.
I was glad I took the extra time on myself because I was right about the amount of attention I received on the way I looked. In fact, by lunchtime it was starting to get pretty old. I was making my way to my office and saw Carla, my T.A., waiting by my door.
"Hey, Carla," I said as I unlocked and made my way into my cramped office. "How was your break?"
"Not as good as yours, obviously," she said giving me the once over.
"Excuse me?" I asked setting down my tote and purse before turning back to her.
"Who's your man?" Carla asked.
I stared at her for a moment and noted that she had the courtesy to blush.
"Since when do we have the kind of relationship that we talk about our love lives?" I asked quietly but firmly.
"It's just that you look entirely different after just a week," she said looking at her shoes.
"And that means, what, exactly?"
She was quiet as she stood behind the visitor chair that sat in front of my desk.
"Is there anything else you needed to discuss with me?"
"No, Dr. McCarthy," she mumbled.
"I'll see you at the 3 o'clock, then," I said, sitting behind my desk and watched as she nodded then left.
I picked up my office phone and called the Grantham P.D. and explained about the note I had on my car this morning. They suggested that I come down and file a claim just to have it on record in case there was any further trouble.
I checked my cellphone and saw I had a couple of texts from Marianne and Crystal, but nothing from Dex. Oh well, he must be busy, I thought.
I went to the fast food place on campus and grabbed a burger with a diet drink and went back to my office to work on my paper, but my office seemed stuffy. I was trying to open one of the windows when I heard a long slow wolf whistle coming from my open door. I looked over my shoulder and it was Evan leaning casually against the door frame, but his eyes behind his smeared glasses were staring at my ass.
"Hello, Evan," I said quickly turning around and dusting off my hands as I returned to my chair.
"Leila," he said softly moving to sit in the chair in front of my desk. I raised my eyebrows at his presumption that he could just waltz into my office and make himself comfortable.
"As you can see, Evan, I'm kind of busy here. Is there something I can help you with?" I asked sharply.
"I thought we might have dinner together sometime," he said in that awful lisping voice. I was beginning to feel real revulsion for this bonehead, as Dex had called him.
"I believe we discussed this at the concert the other night. Evan, I'm seeing someone. That makes me not available to have dinner with you." I hated to be so blunt, but he wasn't getting the message.
"Oh well, another time, perhaps," he mumbled not making any move to leave. I glanced from my hamburger to him while wondering what I could do to get this ass-hat to go away and I saw that his eyes were glued to my breasts.
Oh, hell to the no, as Dex would say.
"It's time for you to leave my office, Evan," I stated firmly.
"Okay, then. See you later, Leila," he said, finally standing to go.
I just nodded and bent back over my laptop trying to pick up where I'd left off.
On Tuesday, I got a call from my colleague Emily to ask if we were still on for dinner on Tuesday night. Something that we had been doing every Tuesday night since we had both been awarded professorships.
It was interesting that Emily actually asked if we could eat at Henry's. That was a first since Enrique's used to be her only choice.
I was glad to hear she was changing.
I arrived there a bit before her and saw that Dirk was behind the bar. I stowed my jean jacket on a stool and ordered a glass of red wine.
"Leila, right?"
"Yeah, Dirk. It's me, the three drink wonder," I said with a rueful smile.
"Haven't seen you in a while."
"Well, truthfully, Dirk, I'm just now recovering from my hang over of the other night."
He laughed and I laughed along with him.
I felt a tug on my arm and it was Emily.
"See you
later, Dirk."
"Sure thing, gorgeous."
Emily and I were standing at the hostess station waiting to be seated when she turned and gave me a head to toe scrutiny.
"What was that all about?" she asked.
"What was what all about?"
"The bit with the bartender. Are you trying to break more hearts?"
"Excuse me?" I said, actually I found myself asking that question more and more over the last couple of days.
Did I used to be such a freaking doormat that people felt they could ask me the most outrageous questions and I'd answer?
I scanned the restaurant and saw Gloria. I waved and she held up a finger before making her way over.
"Hey, Leila," she said, giving me a one-armed hug.
"Nice to see you, Gloria. Have anything open in your section tonight?"
"Looks like seventeen is just being bussed. Go ahead and seat yourselves when Hector's done, okay?"
"So, what, you're like a regular customer here now?" I heard Emily say but I didn't respond as I watched Hector finish wiping.
"Did you have a good break?" I asked Em as we looked over our menus.
"It was fun. Looks like you did exactly what you said you were going to do," I heard her say. Had Emily's voice always been so nasally and condescending?
"Hey, Leila, anything to drink?" Gloria asked.
"I'm good, thanks. Thanks for the help with the…"
"Oh, honey, don't thank me. That’s just what girlfriends do, right?"
"I'll have a glass of the house white wine," Emily announced loudly, deliberately interrupting my conversation with Gloria.
"Okay, and would you care to hear the specials?" Gloria asked, turning back into the professional waitress that she was.
We had just gotten our main course when Emily's cell started bleeping. I don't think I'd ever even heard Emily's phone go off before. She stared at the text before storing it back into her purse.
"Looks like we're about to have company," she said casually picking up her fork.
"Really? Who?" I asked flaking off another wonderful piece of salmon.
"That's for me to know and you to find out," she said in a sing song voice.
Note to self: Will not be joining Emily for Tuesday night dinners going forward.
Human Hieroglyphix - Dex & Leila Page 15