The Billionaire Band Director

Chapter 21

            Martha went to the front door and looked through the peephole.  It was Landry.  And he looked good.

            Martha threw the door open and smiled.

            “You’re here early,” she said.

            “And you’re ready early,” he replied, eyeing her head to toe.  “You look beautiful.”

            Martha blushed.  “Thank you.”

            “I’m actually here to see Josie, if that’s ok,” Landry said.  “I thought, if it was ok with you, I could work with her on some music before we left.”

            Martha had been so distracted by her s****l attraction to Landry that she hadn’t noticed what he was holding.  Under one arm he had what looked like an oddly shaped silver box with some black circles on one side.  He was holding a pair of drumsticks up against it.

            “Of course!” Martha replied.  “Josie would love that.”

            Martha stepped back to let him into the house.  He entered, and she closed the door and followed behind him, admiring the view.  He was wearing a well-tailored suit again, although she could not tell if it was the same suit he wore last time.  I guess I don’t need my shorts and shirt, she mused to herself, unless I need something to wear home…  The idea of Landry ripping her red dress off of her excited her enough that she decided to leave the shorts and shirt in her bag.  Just in case.

            “Mr. LeBlanc!” Josie screamed when he walked in.

            “Ey, Josie!  I brought you something!” he smiled at her.

            Josie scrunched up her face studying the silver box.  It seemed she was as confused by it as Martha was.

            “It’s an electronic drum kit,” said Landry, clearly reading the confusion in the room.  “You can use just the middle drum pad to practice snare, and it has other drums and cymbals too.  When you’re ready, you can play it like a drum set.”

            Landry turned and smiled at Martha.

            “And because it’s electronic, the volume is adjustable.”

            Martha had not ended up complaining to him about the bell set, although she had been sorely tempted.  She decided that the noise-controlled drum set alternative was more than enough to make amends.  

            “Omigod omigod omigod omigod!” screamed Josie.

            While Josie and Landry set up the drum kit Martha walked to the kitchen area.  She noticed that Landry was watching her hips sway in the red dress from the corner of his eye.  She grabbed a bottle of wine and held it up so he could see it.

            “No thanks, ma chere, I’m driving tonight.  But you aren’t, so help yourself,” he said with a wink.

            Martha poured herself a glass of wine and lounged in a chair across from Josie and Landry.  Josie looked like a young kid on Christmas morning.  So did Landry.  Excitedly, they experimented with all the types of sounds the drum kit could make.  Landry showed Josie how to hold her sticks, how to move her hands and wrists, and how to count out different rhythms.  They took turns coming up with new beats and mixing the various sounds.  Martha even took a turn, though Josie and Landry both teased her for her complete lack of rhythm. 

            “Martita, you’re half Mexicana!  Where’s your sense of ritmo?” joked Josie.

            Martha threw the drumsticks down in mock disgust and tried to scowl, but she could not suppress her smile.  This feels good, the three of us together, she thought.  This feels natural.

            They kept playing and laughing until Landry suddenly jumped up.

            “I lost track of the time.  I’m sorry, Josie, I’d love to keep doing this all night, but I did make plans with your lovely cousin for the evening.  That is, of course, if you would be so kind as to let me borrow her?”

            Josie pretended to consider the request.

            “Well,” she eventually responded, “I suppose I will allow it, for now.  But only so that I can have the drum kit to myself tonight.  You two are just slowing me down.”

            Landry bowed deeply to Josie, who nodded her head back at him.  He offered his arm to Martha, who graciously accepted his help rising from her chair. 

            “Call me if you need anything,” Martha told Josie.

            Josie nodded and turned back to the drum kit.  Landry escorted Martha to the front door.  They stepped outside, and Martha checked the lock three times.

            “You really do look incredible,” said Landry as he walked her to his car.  “I mean, you always do, but tonight you really shine.”

            Martha smiled slyly.  The red dress scores, she thought.  A point to Betsy.

            “Thanks,” she replied.

            “I think it was seeing you with Josie,” Landry said.  “You’re just so affectionate and natural with her.  It makes you shine from the inside out.”

            That had not been what Martha thought she meant.  She had liked the idea of him complimenting her physical appearance, but she was definitely more moved by him complimenting her character.  In her head, she erased the point from Betsy and moved it decidedly to team Martha.

            “Thank you, really,” she said.  “That really does mean a lot to me.”

            Landry stopped her in front of the passenger side door.  Instead of opening the door, he reached out and brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. 

            “You are beautiful, Martha, but you’re so much more than that,” said Landry, looking deep into her eyes.  “You are smart, and funny, and caring.  Even if I can’t stop staring at you, especially in that sexy dress you’ve got on, I don’t want you to think that I only see what’s on the outside.”

            Martha did her best to give him a seductive look.

            “I don’t mind you staring, Landry, as long as that’s not all you do” she purred.  “After all, you told me that you’re a man of your word, and you did make certain promises about tonight, didn’t you?  About not stopping at kissing?”

            Landry’s eyes went dark with lust.  Wordlessly, he opened the door and Martha slide in to the car.