Daddy's Girl Ch. 05

Annabelle grinned, "I'll talk to him and see when he wants to meet you but I'm sure it won't be long."

After her friend had gone home Lucy headed off to bed but she didn't sleep. Instead, she stared at the ceiling and thought about her former boyfriend, Jason.

She was sure the only reason he wanted to see her was that he was after something; money, somewhere to live, sex. It would be just typical of him to think of using her to serve his own ends.

'He certainly wouldn't expect to get back together with her after she had caught him fucking her ex-best friend, Georgina. Would he?'

Maybe Annabelle had a point though. She had no idea how to get in touch with Danny, no phone number, no address and, most importantly, no idea if he even would want to see her.

Perhaps fucking her ex would be good for her.

With that thought she turned over and, eventually, went to sleep.

She didn't give their conversation any further consideration when she got up the following morning and after getting herself ready went in to work.

There was a lot for her to do before she started properly on the Monday when the children came back and she was soon busy concentrating on what needed to be done.

'Ping.'

Sitting in her classroom Lucy's phone sounded telling her she had a text message.

Checking the screen, she saw it was from Annabelle, and her stomach tensed as she imagined what the missive might say. Putting her mobile down she spent several minutes deliberating on whether or not to look at it before finally opening the message;

Hi hon, spoke to Jason and he wants

to see you. Just to talk. He suggested

the Kings Arms tonight.

Love A

Xxxx

Reading it several times Lucy spent an age deciding on what she should do.

'Was her former boyfriend really trying to get back with her?'

'If that was the case why now?'

'What else could he want?'

Perhaps Annabelle was right. Maybe she should see him, even sleep with him.

'But what about Danny? It would be like betraying her feelings for him.'

Eventually unable to decide what she wanted she typed in a message to her friend telling her she would stop off at the pub at six, on her way home from work. Then she hesitated for another minute or two before pressing send.

'Shit'

As soon as she sent it, she regretted it.

There was nothing she could do now though so trying to put it out of her mind for the moment, with a tense feeling in the pit of her stomach, she got on with work.

She was so involved with what she was doing that five o'clock arrived before she realised. Then, with a sense of rising panic she hurriedly disappeared to the ladies to put on some make-up before setting off for the pub.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was almost midday on the Thursday when Danny's phone rang.

Picking it up he looked at the caller id then at his mother, mouthing for her to keep an eye on his daughter.

"Take it, I'll look after Jess." She confirmed.

Stepping out of the kitchen and into the living room for a bit of privacy he pressed the answer button.

"Sergeant Wells speaking." He could tell from the caller's name who it was and could take a good guess at what it was about.

"I'm sure you know what this call is for sergeant?" the disembodied voice on the phone asked him.

"Yes sir. You want to know if I'm coming back?"

"Exactly, you have two weeks to make up your mind sergeant. If you're coming, we need you back by the 23 ^rd ."

"Sir." He confirmed and disconnected.

Looking up he saw his mother gazing at him from the kitchen doorway.

"How long?"

He avoided her eyes, staring down at the floor unhappily, "Two weeks to decide what I'm going to do."

"No Danny, you just can't... what about Jessica?"

"It was just a question of time mum. They were always going to try to recall me unless I put my papers in."

"I know but if you go you've hardly had any time at home."

He shrugged, "That's the way it is. I don't want to go back and leave Jessica but what else am I going to do?"

"I know." Christine Wells hugged her son blinking away the tears that threatened to start flowing, "But there's another reason you want to go back isn't there?"

"You know there is mum. I can't get her out of my mind so maybe if I'm not here it will be easier."

"I doubt it son. If you really love her, it won't just go away."

He ignored her comment, "You'll take care of Jess if I go?"

She smiled, "Of course I will. We'll both be here when you get back."

Dinner was a subdued affair that night, both Danny and his mother preoccupied by thoughts of him possibly returning to his unit and going back overseas.

At the same time Danny kept letting his mind drift onto the subject of Lucy. He knew he should have told her he was in love with her and not just let her walk away from them at the airport.

'But would she have laughed and told him he was being stupid?'

"What if she had felt the same way about him?'

Once Jess had been put to bed he settled in the living room with his mother, neither of them saying anything for a while.

"I think I'll go and see Brett tomorrow. I need to tell him about my decision and see what he might have had for me." Danny finally spoke, interrupting the silence that had settled over them.

"That's probably a good idea. Then at least you might have another option to consider." His mother said with a sense of relief.

"Maybe." He frowned unhappily at her, "I know you don't want me to go mum but I don't really know what else to do."

"I'll make a cup of tea." She got up out of her chair, turning back to him halfway to the kitchen, "No I don't and not just for me.... you have to consider Jessica."

"I know. Let me call Brett now." He picked up his phone and selected a number.

A few minutes later Christine returned, two mugs in hand, "Well?"

"I'm seeing him tomorrow at four." He smiled and took the drink she offered him.

Chapter 15 -- Unexpected reunions

Jason was already in the pub, standing at the bar with a drink in hand, when Lucy pushed open the double doors and walked in. It was the first time she had seen him since she had caught him fucking Georgina Bray and the sight of him brought back a host of unpleasant memories for her.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and headed across to him.

"Hey babe. You look good." Smiling smugly, her ex-boyfriend leaned in to kiss her on the cheek, "What can I get you?"

Cringing silently, she turned her face away, "I'll have a gin and tonic please."

"You really are looking great." He told her as he called the barman over to order her drink.

"Thanks." Her response was blunt to the point of sounding rude.

"There you go, shall we have a seat?" Once he had been served Jason took her arm and, putting his hand on her back, propelled her towards a booth against the far wall, not giving her a chance to answer.

Trying to remain as calm as possible Lucy sat down and took a sip of her gin as he slid in alongside her.

"So, what do you want Jason?"

"How have you been Luce?" He smiled, ignoring her question.

"Fine thanks." She glared at him.

Picking up his pint he took a mouthful, his eyes travelling up and down her body, making her shiver and wonder what she was doing here.

"So, are you seeing anyone?"

"That's none of your business." Lucy snapped back angrily.

Immediately his question brought thoughts about Danny to mind and made her wish she could have told her cheating ex that she was.

"I'll take that as a no then, shall I?" His smarmy look annoyed her and made her want to slap him.

"Take it however you want, as I said it's nothing to do with you."

He ignored her response again, "Did you have a good holiday?"

"Yes thanks."

Picking up his drink he took another mouthful and leant back, slipping his arm around her shoulders.

"I missed you babe. We should have gone away together."

Lucy shrugged him off, "Well, I didn't miss you."

"We'd have had a good time." His leer made it plain what he was referring to.

"I doubt it."

"Aww come on, we were good together, weren't we?" His arm slid back around her pulling her against him.

This time she sighed resignedly but didn't resist and left his arm where it was. There was no point making a fuss she decided, she would just get this over and done with.

"What do you want Jason?"

"Well you're not seeing anyone and neither am I..... and we obviously miss each other...."

"For the last time who I am or am not seeing is none of your business Jason and I never said I missed you."

"You went away by yourself." His fingers caressed her shoulder down onto her arm.

His touch made her shudder with revulsion. He had cheated on her in their bed with her best friend, could she seriously consider getting back with him?

"So, what are you up to this week-end? We could go out and have dinner, see a movie or just.... cuddle up at your place?"

Suddenly it started to make sense to her.

"Where are you living now Jason?"

"Err... I'm back at my mum's.... why?"

Lucy just smiled knowingly and didn't answer. He obviously hadn't been able to afford the rent on his flat by himself and had had to move back home. Now he wasn't able to do what he wanted there and needed a place to live.

That was when she thought about what Annabelle had said to her. It wasn't as if Jason had never fucked her, although compared to Danny's 10 he wasn't even a 3.

'It wouldn't be that hard to sleep with him, would it?'

'What about Danny.'

The mere idea of him sent a shiver of arousal through her and made her feel nauseous at the concept of letting her ex bed her.

'Revenge would feel sweet though.'

Why not do what her friend had suggested sleep with him, let him think he could move back in and then tell him to go.

The idea of stringing him along and then pulling the rug out from under him gave her a warm feeling.

She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't have a chance to object when Jason kissed her, his tongue probing between her lips while his hand slid onto her breast.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!"

For a brief second, she forgot where she was and who she was with and responded, her eyes closing and her hand coming up to slip about his neck pulling his mouth to hers, while an image of Danny filled her mind.

As her ex gently groped her tit Lucy kissed him back, trying to justify her behaviour to herself. She really did detest him so perhaps the way to put him in his place would be to let him fuck her and then dump him.

She wouldn't enjoy the sex that was for certain, not after Danny.

It was then she realised just what she was thinking.

"Fuck off Jason."

Shoving him away she opened her eyes completely horrified at what she was doing.

It was then that she looked towards the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Cheers Brett. Thanks for the offer but I think on reflection I'm going back in. There's not a lot for me here apart from Jessica and my mum can take care of her." Danny told his friend as he got up from the chair he had been sitting in.

"Not a problem mate. I said there'd be a job for you if you wanted it but I understand how you feel."

"Well, it's appreciated and if I change my mind, I'll let you know." He said as they shook hands, "Got time for a pint?"

Brett Fowler checked his watch, "Don't see why not. Just give me a few minutes to shut up shop.

It was almost six-thirty when the pair of them strolled nonchalantly up to the nearby pub, chatting about their army days.

Pushing the door open Danny stepped inside and stopped dead, unable to breathe.

The sight that confronted him was straight out of his worst nightmare.

Sitting across the other side of the bar Lucy Maynard was kissing someone, his hand lightly cupping her breast as he pulled her against him. Just as in his dream on holiday she was clearly responding and obviously enjoying it.

He had been right all along. All she had wanted was to have a good time while she was away and he had been it.

His heart felt as if it was being ripped out of his chest and stamped into the ground as he stood, unable to take his eyes off of the girl he had fallen for on holiday.

That was when her eyes opened and stared straight back into his.

"I... I... have to go Brett... I'm sorry...."

Leaving his friend standing open-mouthed he turned around and walked straight out of the pub, his heart shattered as he started to trudge miserably home.

Trying desperately to hold back the tears that threatened to start he pulled up his collar and hurried away from the scene he had witnessed.

"Danny!" He hadn't gone more than a hundred yards up the road when he heard Lucy's voice, "Please.... Danny!"

Ignoring the shout from behind him he kept his head down and began to walk quicker.

"Danny, wait... please.... Danny!"

He swallowed hard and struggled to keep his voice calm as he turned to face her.

"Hello Lucy. How are you?"

"I guess I'm ok. How about you?" Her voice quivered as she stopped in front of him, resisting the urge to throw her arms around him.

For a moment there was a deafening silence between them.

"New boyfriend?" He asked sounding a lot more sarcastic than he intended, "Oh, sorry you don't do them, do you?"

Immediately he said it he regretted it.

"No. He's my ex, Jason... the one I told you about."

"Seriously? You're going back out with the cheating lowlife that you caught in bed with one of your best friends?"

Danny shook his head, his eyes staring at her in disbelief.

Lucy felt her stomach tighten. She had imagined bumping into Danny accidentally and having a touching, romantic reunion, nothing like now.

"He... he wanted to talk to me. That was all...." She stopped realising they had been kissing when he had walked in.

"Really?" He gazed at her miserably, "You could have fooled me."

"Danny...." She reached for his hand.

"I need to go.... Jess..."

Lucy smiled at the thought of his daughter, "How is she?"

He paused, trying to collect his thoughts. He wanted to grab hold of her, pull her into his arms and kiss her then tell her how he felt about her but she was back with her ex-boyfriend.

"She still talks about you all the time."

"I miss her."

Danny shook his head, "What do you want me to say Lucy? We had a good time in Greece but you're back with your boyfriend. I hope you're happy now."

He turned and started to walk away again.

"No, I'm not happy."

She grabbed his arm pulling him round so he was facing her.

"You certainly seemed pretty happy back in the pub. My guess is that if I hadn't wandered in you two would have been in bed together by now."

"I....."

Knowing what had been going through her mind just minutes before, Lucy struggled to answer.

"Thought so. It's just like you said, you wanted a holiday fling and I was convenient."

"Please Danny." She grabbed his arm again, her heart breaking as tears began running down her cheeks, "I'm not with him. I don't want him."

"What do you want Lucy? Because I as sure as hell don't know."

She stared at him as her feelings bubbled up inside her and she knew she had to tell him.

"I want you. Don't you realise that.... that I'm in love with you?"

"What?"

He stared at her, unable to comprehend what she had just said.

"I've been in love with you since that first day on holiday." She repeated crying quietly, standing and staring at him, "I know your worried about Jessica but... but I love her to."

For a moment he stood and gazed at her, clearly neither of them knowing what else to say or do.

"Say something, please." Lucy was sobbing now.

"I... I love you to." Danny whispered, "From the first time I looked into your eyes I knew you were the only woman for me."

"I know you're.... You... you do?" She looked up at him, her eyes widening incredulously, "Why.... why didn't you say something?"

He nodded dumbly, "You said you weren't looking for a relationship and I...."

Throwing her arms around his neck she pulled his mouth down to hers and kissed him, interrupting his sentence as he pulled her tight against him, his tongue darting between her lips.

It was almost a minute before they breathlessly broke apart and simply held each other, gazing into each other's eyes.

"I love you Danny Wells."

He couldn't help but grin at her, "I love you to Lucy Maynard."

"Can we go somewhere and talk properly?" she wiped her eyes, smudging her make-up, "Please."

"What about your date? Won't he mind?"

"Firstly, he isn't my date and second I don't give a shit about that cheating scum bag." She looked him directly in the eyes as she spoke.

He chuckled, "Well we could go back to the pub I suppose."

"We could go to mine if you want?" Lucy suggested biting her bottom lip coyly, "It's not too far and it might be.... be better than the pub."

"Sure."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They walked the short distance back to her flat in a contented silence, Lucy holding Danny's arm and occasionally glancing up at him barely able to believe he was there with her.

"Coffee?" She asked tentatively, once they were inside her small apartment.

"Please." He settled himself on the sofa, while she made the drinks, putting off their conversation for a few more seconds.

Finally, she returned with two mugs and sat next to him and he took Lucy's hand before making a move to speak.

"Wait!" Her finger went to his lips, "Let me say what I need to first."

"After Jason I decided that I was off of men and relationships. I told my friend Annabelle the last thing I wanted was a boyfriend. That was when I booked the holiday, after two bottles of wine, with the intention of having a stupid holiday fling."

Lucy squeezed his hand and took a sip of her coffee.

"Then I met you and Jess and...." She snuffled back the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes, "... everything changed. I.... I fell in love with the both of you."

"Lucy I...."

"No, let me finish. I wanted to tell you but you said you wanted to protect Jessica and I.... I couldn't. If you had rejected me, I don't know what I would have done. Then the longer it went on the harder it got to say something and...I had that stupid date and then you didn't want anything to do with me."

The tears ran freely down her cheeks now, her mascara forming big black circles around her eyes.

"God, I must look a real mess." She suddenly declared, standing up and heading off to the bathroom.

While she was gone Danny sat and drank his coffee as he waited, mulling over the things Lucy had said to him.

'How had he not realised what was going on?'

'What was he going to do now?'

He knew he loved her, without a doubt, and he wanted her as his girlfriend, if not more, but there was a problem.

She re-joined him back on the couch after a few minutes, smiling with her make-up re-applied, jerking him back from his thoughts.

"I'm glad you were there tonight." She told him quietly as she took his hand again.

"Oh, why?"

Blushing she looked down at the floor, "Because I was thinking of doing something really stupid."

"You mean you and.... him."

Lucy nodded, "It was Annabelle's idea. I missed you so much and she suggested it might.... might help me forget about you."

"And did it?"

"No, I was thinking of you when he kissed me and... and when I realised it was Jason, I pushed him away. That's when I saw you."

"Do you want to get back with him?"

The alarm on her face was evident when she looked up sharply.

"No, never. It's you. I love you and I want to be part of your life, part of Jessica's life if you'll let me. Even if it's just as a friend."