Page 165 of Ice Darling
“Oooh! What’s this?” Gordie notices the bag in Cordelia’s hands.
“I was, uh, told it’s polite to bring flowers.” Her eyes dart to me and away. “But you seemed like the type who’d appreciate something else.”
My smile widens as I remember saying something similar when I picked her up the night she wore that glorious black dress.
Cordelia hands over a gift bag. “It’s nothing fancy.”
“A Hello Kitty tube purse? Aaah!” Gordie lets loose a high-pitched scream that has the neighborhood dogs barking. She flings herself at Cordelia again. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome,” Cordelia says, looking proud of herself.
“Gordie, why don’t you give Cordeliayourgift?”
“I left it upstairs.” She gasps. “I’ll go get it.”
As my daughter launches up the stairs, I push the door wider and admit Cordelia inside.
“Only Gordie got a gift?” I ask, faking a pout. “You didn’t get any for me?”
Cordelia looks both ways and then rises on her toes. Her sweet, soft lips press against my cheek. It’s a quick peck, but it’s enough to send warmth exploding through me.
When she pulls back, I slide an arm around her waist, ready to pull her in to me for a proper kiss.
Gordie’s footsteps thunder, and Cordelia pushes me back. She flashes her eyes at me as if to say “behave”.
I release her as my daughter approaches with the card she made.
“This is for you.”
“Oh! Wow! It’s lovely!”
As Cordelia gushes about the glitter bomb of a card that Gordie hands her, I reheat the sauce.
“Gordie, go wash your hands for dinner.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
Cordelia wanders into the kitchen, and I can’t help staring at her and grinning like an idiot. It’s no surprise that she looks amazing tonight. Her hair is pin straight and swishes whenever she turns her head. She’s wearing a bright red blouse under her leather jacket and tight leather pants. The outfit is a mix of hard and soft, dangerous and fragile, which feels exactly true to her.
“Whatever you made smells amazing,” she says, looking eagerly at the dishes on the counter.
“Thanks. I was wondering if the sauce needs something more. Do you mind…?” I dip a spoon into the pot and offer it to her.
She draws so close that I can smell her flowery perfume mixed with that ever-present scent of bike gears and sunshine. Even the way this woman smells is unique.
Cordelia leans forward. I watch her mouth open and close over the spoon, and my body buzzes. Did she mean to make that move so seductive, or do I just have a roaming mind?
Cordelia pulls back, licking her lips and staring up at the ceiling thoughtfully.
“Well?”
“It’s amazing. It doesn’t need anything else.”
“Are you sure?”
“Very sure. Here.” She dips the spoon in again. “What more could you add to this?”
I look at the outstretched spoon and then at her. Moving swiftly, I close my fingers around her wrist, pull her forward, and kiss her. She stiffens for a moment, but then she relaxes into me.
