Burn Into Me (19 page)

“Any more plates?”

Jimmy’s small voice brings me back to the task at hand: cleaning the dishes.

“One more plate, here you go.”
 

After he takes the plate from me and inserts it into a slot at the bottom of the dishwasher, I close it and let it run. We’ve had a non-stop stream of dirty plates and cups coming in, but we’ve managed to go through them all as well as clean up the kitchen. I’ve been impressed with little Jimmy, who’s been working hard alongside me without any complaints.
 

“That was the last load. Well done, kid. Give me a high five.”

His little hand slaps mine, and he looks up at me with a proud twinkle in his eyes.
 

“That was so much fun. When are you coming in again? I wanna help you.”

I ruffle his dirty-blond hair. “You’ve been the best assistant I’ve ever had. You can help me any time. And your hard work deserves a reward.”

A finger pressed to her mouth, Elle is standing behind Jimmy, a plate of cookies in her hand. She taps him on his shoulder, which makes him spin around, and he squeals when he sees the plate. His skinny arms wrap around her long legs.

“Thanks, Elle! You’re the best.”
 

Stuffing a whole cookie in his mouth, he takes the plate and ambles towards the dining room. I waste no time in advancing toward Elle, who looks hot with zebra leggings covering her shapely legs and a tight black off-shoulder top that hugs her body in just the right places.
 

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and trail my finger down her neck and onto her bare shoulder.

“Anything else you need me to do, master?”

She places her hand on my chest. “Looks like everything is done around here. But don’t think you’re off the hook so soon. The night is not over yet.”

“I’m game. What else do you have in mind?” I breathe into her ear, sliding my hands around her waist. I can think of a thousand ways to spend the night with her, all of which involve her and me with nothing between us.

“All this hard work has made my back sore.”

“Oh, really?” Pulling her towards me, I slip my hands under her top and move them around the smooth, warm skin of her back in slow circles. “Is this better?”

“Hmmm… yes...”
 

She closes her eyes, her long eyelashes resting on her cheeks, and I can’t resist brushing my lips over hers. Her eyes flutter open, and in them I read honesty, vulnerability, and something else—something profound. I don’t think anyone has ever looked at me like that before, and it turns my insides into a molten mass. Resting my forehead against hers, I savor this intimate moment between us.
 

“Mom, no!”

Jimmy’s agonizing scream accompanied by loud crashing noises from the dining hall make us both freeze up. We untangle ourselves before rushing into the hall where we find tables and chairs overturned as the backdrop for two women fighting each other. Cursing and swearing, they are pushing, shoving, hitting, pulling hairs. Jimmy is desperately trying to separate them by tugging on one of the women’s sweater, but he is not making any headway.

I step between the two women and drag them apart, holding on to the arms of one of the women from behind while Elle yanks away the other one. Even when they’re pulled apart, they’re still thrashing and writhing, pumped up by adrenaline and God knows what else.
 

“Get your filthy hands off me, you bitch!” screams the peroxide blond Elle is holding.
 

She’s skinny, almost emaciated, with yellow teeth and sunken, hollow eyes that are the same blue as Jimmy’s—this must be his mother. I swallow. A searing pain is burning in my chest. I can’t look at her. A memory that hasn’t plagued me for years is clawing its way to the surface. But then I notice the horror on Jimmy’s face, and I know I can’t afford to break down. I have to be strong, if not for Jimmy, for the little boy inside of me. I can’t let her win.

Thankfully, hearing Elle’s voice has a calming effect on me. “I’ll let you go, but only if you stop fighting.”
 

“You bitch!” Jimmy’s mother shoves at Elle, who releases her, and she stomps away to the exit. At the same time, I let go of the other woman, who trudges to the back of the hall and sits down at one of the tables.
 

Jimmy stands in between us, staring at the floor with his arms hanging at the sides.

Elle squats down next to him. “Hey, what happened just now?”

He shakes his head. “I dunno. They were having an argument over five bucks. Mom was holding it up and Marla snatched it off her. And then they started fighting.”

The poor kid’s voice is breaking, and I can tell he’s holding back tears, so I put my hand on his bony shoulder. “Will you help me clean up this mess? We’ll put the tables and chairs back.”

He nods, his gaze still fixed on the floor, and I guide him to the overturned chairs. While we are putting them upright, Elle emerges from the kitchen with a broom and a dust pan and sweeps up the cookie crumbs and the shards of the broken plate.
 

The dining hall is soon back to its original state, and Jimmy seems to have recovered, although he still hasn’t said a word yet. An idea comes to me that is going to wreck all my plans with Elle for tonight, but this is more important—that little boy needs us right now.
 

I ask her, “Are there any leftovers from dinner?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

I point at the table next to me. “We can eat here.”

She furrows her brow. “That’s what I normally do after work. But are you sure you’re okay with that? It’s not exactly gourmet food, you know. It’s very basic, not the type of food you’re used to.”

“It smelled pretty good. I don’t mind staying here a bit longer and trying it out.”

I wink at her, and she responds with an understanding nod. “Alright, why don’t you two sit down? Jimmy, would you like to have another plate?”

He nods his head, and Elle makes her way to the kitchen. “I’ll bring it out to you.”

The moment we sit down, Jimmy pulls out a bright-blue toy car from his pocket and runs it across the table: to and fro, to and fro.

“It’s a Porsche,” he says proudly.

God, he reminds me so much of myself when I was his age. I used to play with a red toy Ferrari that I found in a dumpster; it was my most precious treasure. My vow to buy my own one day kept me going all these years until I realized my dream, and now I own six.
 

“Have you ever seen a real one?”

“Yeah, I once saw a white one on the street. It was so awesome!”

Smiling from ear to ear, he waves at Elle, who is approaching with a tray. She puts down three steaming plates of rice with a chicken curry, and plastic cups of water. The three of us start eating in silence, and I realize I’m hungrier than I thought. The curry isn’t too bad at all; I’ve had worse in restaurants.

Jimmy finishes first, and he runs his toy car to Elle’s plate. “When I grow up I’m going to buy this car and then I’m going to go to your place to pick you up for a drive.”

“Oh yeah? Where are you going to take me?”

“To the mountains. Because that’s where you’ve always wanted to go.”

“Hey, hey, hey, you can’t do that,” I say jokingly. “I have to take her there first. She’s
my
girl.”
 

Elle looks at me in a strange way before her mood shifts and she narrows her eyes at me.

“I’m not
your
girl. I don’t belong to anyone.”

Slowly shaking my head, I lower my voice. “You. Are. Mine. If you want to or not.”

The red-hot fire flashing in her eyes betrays her intention of laying into me, and I tell her, “And I am yours, beautiful. You know that, don’t you?”
 

Her expression softens, and we gaze at one another for a few long seconds until Jimmy breaks the silence.

“I don’t mind if he takes you there first. I kinda like him.”

Elle continues staring at me, a sly smile touching her lips. “Hmm. I think he’s kinda obnoxious, but I guess he isn’t so bad. At least he seems to know how to clean dishes.”
 

While Elle and Jimmy burst out laughing, I pretend-scowl, but secretly I enjoy seeing the mirth on their faces.
 

“Jimmy! Get your ass out here!”
 

On hearing the piercing shriek, Jimmy startles, and his face falls. “I have to go.”

Elle presses a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

I put up my hand and he high-fives it. “I’m counting on you to help me out again next time,” I tell him before he dashes to the gaunt figure by the door.

It’s heartbreaking to see him go. I have to do something. I have to.

Elle takes my hand in hers, and it’s like she’s read my mind. “Hey. You’ve done enough for him already just by staying here and giving him that bit of attention that he needs.”

“Well, Jimmy’s a great kid.”

“Yeah, he is. And I can tell he really likes you. He hasn’t had any positive male role models in his life. He’s never known his dad; I doubt if even his mom knows who his father is.”

It’s a familiar story that I can relate to all too well.
 

Elle trails her thumb along the back of my hand. “And I really appreciate you staying. I’m sorry we didn’t go to that Korean place you had in mind tonight. But I’ll make it up to you. Come over to my apartment on Saturday night and I’ll cook you a meal.”

Damn, this is the first time she’s ever asked me out. And Saturday is the only day I can’t make it.

“I’d love to, but I’ve got a charity event which I can’t get out of. I’m involved in a construction project and I’ll have to meet some people who are crucial for it to move forward. I
have
to be there. I’m really sorry, beautiful. Will you take a rain check?”
 

Releasing my hand, Elle looks up to the ceiling, deep in thought, and I worry that she’s regretted asking me in the first place. Maybe I should have taken her up on her offer; I could always try to slip out earlier to meet with her. Just when I decide to tell her I’ve changed my mind, Elle’s liquid-brown eyes, shimmering with a hopeful glint, catch mine.

“How about—how would you feel if…”

I raise my eyebrows. “If what?”

“If I’d come with you to that event?”

My mouth almost drops to the floor. “Would you do that? Really?”

She nods.

“I have to warn you, it’s going to be boring. And the media will probably be there. It’s possible that they’ll get a shot of us.”

“Oh.”

Fingering her piercing, Elle averts her gaze. Perhaps I shouldn’t have told her that, but I don’t want any nasty surprises to come her way. I take her hands in mine, and her gaze shifts back to me.
 

“But I want you to know that I’d be thrilled if you came with me. You’ve no idea how happy you’d make me.”
 

Her lips curve into a smile. “Okay, it’s set then, Saturday. You can pick me up from my place.”

I tip back my head, a dizzying sense of joy rushing through my system. I don’t know what has happened, but something’s changed in her. When I notice Elle looking at me quizzically, I yank her against me, my mouth covering hers, devouring her sensuous, irresistible lips and relishing her sweetness. My tongue sweeps into the depths of her mouth, with a burning need to brand—to claim.
 

Whatever doubts I’ve ever had about making it work between us is melting away like an ice cube on a scorching summer highway. My old life seems so empty and pointless now I’ve experienced the depth of feeling I didn’t even realize I had inside me. It’s terrifying and thrilling at the same time, but I can’t walk away. I can’t get enough of her; she’s like an addiction I can’t shake.
 

I will do anything to make this work. To make
us
work.

Elle

“This is going to look fantastic on you.”

My sister Rose grabs a baby-pink peplum evening gown off the rack of exclusive designer dresses and holds it up in front of me.

“What do you think?”

I shove it aside. “No way.”

“Come on, just try a pink for once. It will look better than you think.”

Try pink? Is she for real? Surely she remembers how I’ve suffered through endless hours of ballet practice and a relentless stream of auditions and performances when we were growing up. It has put me off for life wearing anything remotely pink and frilly.

“Rose, cut it. I’m never going to wear pink.”

She snatches a red shoulder dress that cascades to the floor. “Red, then. Try it. Look, it’s a deep, valentine red with soft folds. Perfect for any date.”
 

“I hate this place,” I mutter.

We are in Saks Fifth Avenue, the type of store I’d never have entered in my life if it weren’t for that stupid mouth of mine. I still can’t believe I offered to accompany Ryder to a charity event, of all things. But I didn’t have it in me to ignore the crestfallen look on his face when he had to decline my dinner invite. At the time, I would have done anything to make him smile again—hence my idiotic, reckless offer. And now I have to suffer the consequences of my temporary insanity.
 

Shaking my head, I flick through the racks, and when I’m about to give up, I find an edgy, asymmetrical black dress that doesn’t look like it would be part of a 50-year old hag’s wardrobe.
 

“Hey, how about this one?”

Tilting her head, my sister feels the fabric between her fingers.

“Hmmm…that doesn’t look too bad. Why don’t you try it on?”

In the change room I ditch my black tiger-print leggings and white torn top, and put on the dress. I look in the mirror and I’m shocked—it looks great on me. The long slit at the front shows off most of my left leg and a silver chain pinches my waist in just the right places. But what gives it its edgy look is the thin silver-studded strap across my chest, leaving both my shoulders bare.
 

Rose lets out a squeal when she sees me. “It’s perfect! You have to get it. Now we just have to get you some shoes, and get your hair and your make-up done. And your nails, of course.”