Steven looked at his daughter, her blue-grey eyes were smiling again. They hadn't been, six months ago, when she'd shown up at his door, crying and upset.
"Jim's cheating on me Daddy, he admitted it!" she practically spat, not bothering to hide the venom in her voice. "He's fucking some little bimbo in one of his Psyche classes!"
Natalia had cried in his arms while he stroked her long, dark-brown hair and let her cry it out. He'd never liked the much-older Jim, but Tally had loved him from the moment she'd taken her first class with the intelligent professor. His brains overwhelmed her, Natalia was a sucker for knowledge.
From the time she was a small child, she'd loved to learn. She didn't get it from her mother, Steven sighed. His own marriage had ended a few years earlier when his dimbulb of a wife ran off with her tennis coach. Alexis was sexual and wild, but there wasn't much to her beyond that. He was surprised their marriage had lasted nearly 25 years, but Lexi had only been 20 when she got pregnant with Tally. She was a good mother, she doted on their beautiful baby, who had gotten the best of both her parent's great looks. She had her mother's beautiful skin tone and those stunning eyes, she had Steven's height. Everything was in proportion, Tally had the most beautiful breasts he'd ever seen. She was a perfect 34-C and...
Steven shook his head. He shouldn't be thinking of his daughter in a sexual way. He looked over at Tally, whose eyes were still full of tears. "He's insane baby, who could be more beautiful then you?" he asked, giving her another hug. She beamed at him.
"Oh Daddy, you're just saying that, you're my father!"
"No baby, you're a beautiful young woman. You're smart, you're a joy to be around. Jim is a fool if he can't see that."
She sighed and quit crying. She carried her bags upstairs into the spare bedroom of her father's Condo and unpacked. Natalia settled in and made herself at home from that night forward. After a few months, the two of them settled into their daily routine.
For a while, they seemed to be ships passing in the night. Steven went to his job at McMillan books, Tally went to her job at La Vie En Rose most nights. He missed her company, she was such a pleasant influence, he missed seeing her smile.
It was Natalia that had the idea that cemented their relationship. "Let's go on a picnic Daddy!" she practically squealed at him. "You know, like we used to do when I was a kid. You used to love those!"
It was true, Steven was one of the few men who didn't object to eating outdoors. Lexi had hated that "That's why they invented houses, so we don't have to eat outside with the wind and the bugs!" she'd state emphatically. But Tally had loved being outside, running around in her bare feet and sundresses.
"Sounds like a great idea darlin'," he said to his beautiful daughter. "Why don't we make it extra-special? I'll call a caterer I know and have her make us up a basket?"
Natalia clapped her hands together, her eyes shining with glee. "Oooh Daddy, what a wonderful idea! Yes please, let's do that!"
Steven placed a call to his friend at La Pattiserie and ordered the basket. He got in his car and went to pick it up while Natalia readied herself. It was a gorgeous day, Steven noted, sunny, warm, perfect for a day outside with the daughter he adored.
He was pleased with the basket, picked out a nice bottle of Merlot he knew Tally would enjoy, and enjoyed the drive home. It had been nice to see her smile again, he hoped he would see much more of that.
Steven pulled into the driveway, came inside of the house and yelled upstairs "I'm back baby!" When Tally came downstairs, she looked so beautiful.
She was dressed in a light cotton sundress, it was sheer and he could see from the light behind her that she wore only a thong. She was also wearing a pair of sexy, strappy, heeled sandals that went halfway up her calf. Every time he looked at Natalia, Steven knew that Jim had to be out of his mind? Who in his right mind would ever cheat on someone so stunningly lovely?
Steven walked his daughter go out the door. She walked like a woman, with hips swaying ever-so-slightly, such an attractive package. He sincerely hoped that Natalia would find love again. She deserved to be happy, she had such a good heart.
He took her to Riverside Park, it had been her favorite place when she was little. He remembered her running around barefoot when he [ and, under protest, Lexi ] had taken her there for picnics. It was still lovely, the two of them sat by the river and lunched there. Natalia talked animatedly, it was the happiest he could remember seeing her in weeks. Everything was in bloom, the aroma of fresh grasses and flowers was in the air. It was a truly spectacular day.
They drank the Merlot and Steven took in the sight of the children playing. He remembered well how Tally had run around this park when she was small and it was difficult to reconcile that image with the beautiful young woman he was lunching with.
"Penny for your thoughts, Daddy?" Natalia asked him.
"Oh, I was just thinking about what a lovely child you were and what a lovely WOMAN you've become hun" Steven said to her with a gentle smile.
Her smile filled her face. "Thank you, Daddy" she said, leaning in to give him a kiss.
The first kiss was soft, like a daughter to a father. The second was sensual, with promises of more if he wanted it. He could smell the subtle scent of Natalia's perfume and he ached with want.
"Daddy?"
Steven couldn't speak. This was his daughter, for God's sakes, but his heart was racing. He knew whatever she was offering, he wanted all of it.
"Daddy, I think it's time for us to go home, don't you?" Steven was still without the faculty of speech, he merely nodded, helped Natalia pack up and drove home.
Her hand rested on his thigh the entire drive home. She spoke on occasion, but her words barely registered in his fogged brain. Somewhat was about to happen, something that both terrified him and excited him at the same time.
They went inside the house, she went ahead of him. Steven's eyes were on her the whole time. She turned a put a finger to his lips, speaking softly.
"Daddy, give me 10 minutes and then come upstairs, okay?" He nodded and watched her go upstairs.
