The Billionaire Band Director

Chapter 23

            Martha could have stayed in the lounge kissing Landry all night.  No, she thought to herself, all week.  All month?  At what point would we need to leave for food and water?  Landry, however, had other plans. 

            Landry pulled back from Martha with a huge smile on his face.  He stood up from the piano bench and reached out a hand to her.

            “Come on,” he said.  “I want to take you somewhere.”

            Landry led Martha back to the foyer where they had come in to The Jefferson.  The same man who had greeted them earlier was at the desk.  When he saw them approach he stood up and pulled a large basket up onto the desk.

            “Everything is ready for you, Mr. LeBlanc,” he said politely before they had even reached the desk.  “Please let me know if there is anything else you need.”

            “Thank you, you have been a great help,” Landry said with a polite nod.

            Landry took the basket and led Martha down a different hallway than the one they had traveled before.  They passed an elegant restaurant that was full of well-dressed diners and what looked to be a wedding in a private banquet room.  At the end of the hall was a set of double doors with an “EXIT” sign above.  Landry pushed through the doors and took Martha outside.

            Martha could smell the ocean before she could see it.  A warm breeze blew salty air all around them.  They were standing on the white porch that wrapped around the building.  Ahead of them lay a small grassy lawn, then a sandy beach, and then seemingly endless water.  As far as Martha could tell, the beach was empty.

            Landry turned to Martha and smiled.

            “When we went out before you said that it was your first time seeing the ocean.  I thought, if you haven’t done so yet, maybe tonight you could touch it.”

            “Yes,” answered Martha.  “I mean, no, I mean… No, I haven’t been back to the ocean since you took me to dinner, and yes, I want to touch it.”

            Holding Landry for balance, Martha took off her shoes and shoved them into her purse.  She had a feeling they were not made for sand.  When she was done, Landry crouched down and removed his own shoes and socks, then rolled up the pants of his suit to his knees.  He left his shoes and socks on the porch to the side of the door.  Then, he took her arm again and led her down the stairs and across the grass towards the water.

            They stopped in the middle of the beach.  The sand felt soft between Martha’s toes.  Martha closed her eyes and wiggled her toes in the sand while Landry sat down the basket he had been carrying.

            “Enjoying yourself?” he asked.

            “Yes,” Martha sighed, keeping her eyes closed.

            She felt Landry’s arms encircle her waist from behind, and felt his warm breath on the side of her neck.

            “You’re not even to the water yet,” he hummed into her ear.

            Martha crossed her own arms over his and leaned back into his chest.  She took a deep breath in, inhaling his clean scent and the salty air.  She felt Landry nuzzling her hair.  He then trailed soft, wet kisses along her neck.  Martha moaned.  She lifted her head up to the side to give him better access, and he took advantage of the offered easement.

            “Martha,” he growled into her neck.

            Martha clasped her hands over his and, uncrossing his arms, guided his hands down to her hips.  Landry grabbed Martha’s hips and pulled them sharply back against his body. Martha let out a small gasp, then gyrated against him.

            “Martha,” he growled again. “We may never make it to the ocean.”

            Martha didn’t care.

            Landry’s hands traveled up and down the sides of Martha’s body as his mouth continued raining kisses along her exposed neck.  Martha reached her hands up over her own head and to the back of Landry’s, entangling her fingers in his thick dark curls.

            “Martha,” he said huskily. “Do you really want me to lose control right here on this beach?”

            “Yes,” she answered breathlessly.

            Landry grabbed Martha by the hips again and spun her around so she was facing him.  She opened her eyes and looked up at him through her eyelashes.

            “Are you sure?” Landry asked.

            He had a teasing smile on his lips.  Martha had no idea what he would do if she said “yes.”  She didn’t answer.

            “Let’s go touch that water first, ey?” Landry said.

            Martha nodded.  Probably best to not go to jail tonight, she thought to herself, even though she had a feeling it would be worth it.

            They walked down to the water and waded out to their calves.  The ocean water splashed up around their legs. They stood in the shallow water in silence for a while, watching the waves in the distance.

            “Is it like you imagined?” asked Landry.

            “It feels… rougher, than the lakes I’m used to.  More coarse.” Martha answered.

            Landry nodded knowingly.

            “It’s not at all like the bayou,” he said. 

            After a few more minutes they headed back to where Landry had left the basket in the sand.  He opened it and pulled out a large blanket, which he spread across the sand. 

            “Please, have a seat, ma chere.”

            Martha sat as modestly as she could given her attire.  The red dress was tight and short, and she had to awkwardly bend her knees and put her legs to the side to sit on the blanket.  Landry noticed this, and he took off his jacket and spread it across her lap. 

            “Thank you,” said Martha.

            “I’m sorry,” replied Landry.  “I really should have said something about beach attire.”

            Martha giggled.  Landry produced a bottle of champagne and two champagne flutes from the basket.  He popped the bottle open and poured two glasses, then handed one to Martha.  She sipped the champagne as she watched him continue to unload the basket.  He pulled out several plates.  He then pulled out and arranged bread, cheese, fruit, sliced meats, and little jars of sauce on the plates.

            “Bon appétit!” he smiled at her.

            Martha nibbled on a crispy piece of bread topped with a hard white cheese.

            “Mmm,” she said.  “This is perfect.”

            Landry sipped from his champagne glass and smiled at her.

            “We could have eaten inside,” he said, “but out here has a better view.”

            They watched the ocean waves as they ate. Landry told Martha more about what to expect for the coming school year, describing school events throughout the year and what he thought of other teachers there.  He was warning her about a lecherous old math teacher who offered to take young female teachers “under his wing” when they heard a loud cheer from the hotel behind them.

            “Probably that wedding,” said Landry.

            Martha thought about the size of the wedding, which had seemed pretty big, and the size of the hotel, which had not.

            “There were a lot of people there,” Martha mused out loud. “I bet they took every room in the hotel.”

            Landry smiled mischievously.

            “Not every room.”

            He reached into his pocket and pulled out an old brass key, dangling it from his outstretched hand.

            “Martha,” started Landry, “would you like to-“

            “Yes.” Martha blurted out before he could finish.  “Hell yes.”