“It’s so shiny,” I commented, regretting my vocabulary couldn’t describe the awe I felt.
“Livvy insisted on new equipment. Would you like a quesadilla? They’re my specialty,” he said, motioning to the open fridge.
“Sure,” I replied, perching myself on a stool at the bar.
I watched Dallas collect a tortilla, shredded cheese, and a handful of spinach. He buttered the pan and then started adding the ingredients, folding the tortilla expertly and letting it sit before flipping it over. Every motion was perfectly calculated. I admired how his fingers danced over the plate, adding a few finishing touches.
“Do you want sour cream?” he asked.
“With a quesadilla?” I asked in response.
“It’s pretty good. I’ll give you a small dab,” he said.
As he did that, I gave a small smile.
“I didn’t think you could smile,” he pointed out. “It looks good on you.”
My face flushed and I let my hair fall in front of my face to cover the red in my cheeks. Dallas reached over the counter and pushed my hair behind my ears, raising my chin with one finger.
“You look really pretty,” he said, peering deep into my eyes. “Your mother suggested a makeover. I think a haircut and a little make-up would really bring out the color of your eyes.”
“Thanks,” I whispered bashfully, as his finger traced my jaw.
“Take a bite. Tell me what you think,” he said.
I looked down at the delicious tortilla in front of me, inhaling the mouthwatering scent of melted cheese. It smelled heavenly. I took one bite and then another, getting lost in the delicious combination of flavors.
“This is wonderful,” I said between bites.
Dallas smiled in response and got me a glass of water. It wasn’t long before the entire quesadilla was gone and I licked my fingers, gulping down the water eagerly. I hadn’t realized I was so hungry. I gave Dallas my plate and hopped off the stool. While fixing my shorts, I looked out the French windows on the other side of the room, admiring the lush, green scenery rolling across the estate. A hand rested on my shoulder. The sudden touch caused me to recoil, sending waves of heat between my thighs. I didn’t understand why his presence did that to me.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, leaning over to peer through the window. “I inherited this estate from my father before he passed away. Since then, I’ve been proud to keep it in working condition.”
“It really is beautiful,” I said. “It makes me miss my home. We had such a lovely farm out in Raleigh. I wish I didn’t have to leave.”
The thought made me lower my gaze to the window sill. Dallas carefully wrapped an arm around me and pulled me into a hug, running his gentle fingers through my hair.
“I can’t imagine how you must feel, but I promise you’ll love it here,” he whispered, pressing his lips to my forehead.
I leaned into his embrace, feeling amorous as my skin mingled with his. The feeling of his fingers through my hair made me shiver, causing me to press my face into his shirt and inhale the scent of his cologne. It almost smelled like my grandfather’s cologne. The reminder made me miss my home even more and I wrapped my arms around Dallas, needing more than this hug.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine,” I whispered through quivering lips. “I just miss my grandparents.”
He rubbed my back and shushed me, telling me everything would be alright. I asked if he wouldn’t mind carrying me up the stairs. It was an awkward request, but one I’d become accustomed to through the years. All through my childhood and on into my teenage years, despite his age, my grandfather had always treated me like his baby doe. Picking me up for piggyback rides, and lifting me in his arms as if I were nothing more than a featherweight toddler. That had always been my grandfather’s way of ‘daddy-ing’ me, and his gentle way of trying to replace the loving and playful father figure I had missed out on as a child. At this moment, longing for some sort of familiarity from the past, I asked of Dallas the only thing that made me feel whole; To be treated tenderly by him, like the way my beloved grandfather had. To my surprise, he agreed and lifted me up into the air without hesitation. I wrapped my arms around his neck, savoring the tender gesture and intimacy. My eyes trailed over the vein in his neck. It vibrated to the rhythm of his heart, enticing me to lean up and kiss it. Without thinking, I did just that.
My eyes went wide as I realized what I had just done, burying my face deeper into his shirt. He promptly placed me on the ground. My thoughts spun around wildly, lamenting how I had done something so naughty as to kiss my mother’s husband.
Why did you do that, stupid? I thought to myself. Are you trying to ruin your chance at having a happy life?
“Listen, Madison,” Dallas began.
“I’m so sorry, Dallas,” I said quickly, cutting him off. “It was just a gesture of affection. My papa use to carry me up the stairs. It was a gut reaction.”
Dallas sighed, nodding.
“You can’t do that in front of your mother,” he said sternly. “You’ll have to walk to the rest of the way.”