Chapter fourteen

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"It's so good to see you." Lori said as Steve released her.

"Yeah...you too. What are you doing here?" He closed the door behind her as they moved further into the living room.

"Let's just say the mainland got a little boring..." Lori turned and noticed Kono. "Hi Kono!"

"Hey Lori." Kono smiled back. The two worked well together but Kono had never really liked the other woman.

"Sit down, make yourself at home." Steve said as he unconsciously perched on the edge of the armchair Kono was sat on.

"Thanks." Lori's eyes followed Steve. "So are you two, you know?"

"No!"

"Of course not."

"We're just friends." Steve jumped up from his position on Kono's armchair.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I just-"

"It's alright." Steve crossed his arms. "Can I get you a drink?"

"Urm, you know, a bottle of water would be great. I forgot how hot it was here." Lori asserted with a huge smile.

"You get used to it." Kono said. Lori forced a smile.

"I'll be right back." Steve walked into the kitchen and immediately wished he hadn't.

Daniel had one arm on Charlie's leg and the other on her waist while he kissed her. Both Charlie's hands were placed on his face while their books lay abandoned on the kitchen table.

"Right you are leaving." Steve shouted. He grabbed Daniel by the collar and shoved his books and bag into his arms. "Let's go."

"Dad!" Charlie shouted as Steve dragged him from the kitchen.

"Steve! Let him go." Kono pried Steve's fingers off the teenager boy. "What are you doing?"

"What am I doing? This prick had his tongue in Charlotte's mouth!"

"Charlie..." Kono sighed. "Listen Daniel, I think it's best if you left."

"He was." Steve said as he shoved the boy out of the front door and slammed it shut.

"Charlotte what were you thinking?" Steve yelled ignoring a confused Lori.

"I was thinking that he was gorgeous and an amazing kisser until you-"

"Charlotte!" Kono said exasperatedly.

"What? He asked."

"He didn't actually want an answer." Kono said.

"Well it was amazing." Charlie crossed her arms exactly as Steve did.

"Go to your room Charlotte. We'll talk later." She made no attempt to follow Steve's order. "Go Charlotte or you will be grounded for an extra week."

Charlie groaned. "You are such an asshole!" She said before running upstairs.

Steve turned to face Kono in surrender. "I don't know what to say. Mary never did that sort of thing."

"Believe me she did." Kono smirked.

"Can you?" He asked.

Kono sighed. "Sure. Just next time, Steve, be more subtle." She went upstairs to Charlie.

Steve went to sit down and looked up when Lori cleared her throat.

"Are you going to tell me who that was?" She asked.

"That's uh my daughter."

"Your daughter...wow." Lori nodded. "I take it you only recently found out."

"Yeah, a few weeks ago."

"What about Catherine?"

"We're over. She and Charlie just clashed too much." Steve rubbed his head.

"And Kono and Charlie?" Lori moved to sit next to Steve. She put her hand on his leg and gently rubbed it.

"They uh get along pretty well..." Steve said as he turned to look into Lori's piercing eyes.

"I think she and I would get on pretty well too." Lori leaned in towards Steve. She placed her other hand on Steve's face. "I really missed you Steve." He didn't respond. But he was drawn to her. He knew he shouldn't. He knew that she wasn't right for him and that Kono and Charlie were upstairs but...he was a man. What could he say?

Lori kissed him. Deeply. Her tongue brushed against his lips and he let her in.

"Dad!" Charlie yelled. Steve immediately pulled away from Lori and stood up while rubbing his lips.

"Charlotte. Uh Kono." He didn't know what to say.

"You know what? Charlie was right, Steve. You are such an asshole. You and Catherine only just finished." Kono shouted before grabbing her bag and leaving.

"Kono-" Steve said trying to go after her but Lori grabbed his hand.

"Let her go Steve." She said.

Steve pulled his hand out of her grasp and turned to face her and his daughter. "Lori, I think you need to leave."

"What-"

"Lori please go." He said again. She strutted out of the house.

"You are such an asshole dad." Charlie said.

"Yeah? Funnily enough, I got that Charlotte."

"Just making sure. I mean, dad you obviously have feelings for her, so why don't you ask her out?" Charlie flopped onto the sofa and flicked the TV on.

"I do not have feelings for Lori." Steve said. He grabbed the remote from Charlie. "And you are grounded. No TV."

Charlie sighed but didn't argue. "I wasn't talking about Lori. I was talking about Kono."

Steve stared at his daughter. How did she know? "Don't be silly. I'm her boss. And she is way younger than me anyway."

"True...very true. But you still like her and she likes you too."

"Did she tell you that?" Steve asked with a tinge of excitement in his voice.

"She didn't have to." Charlie smirked at him.

Steve smiled back. "It wouldn't work-"

"Why not?"

"It just wouldn't, OK? Drop it babe. What do you want for dinner?"

Charlie thought for a moment and decided that because she was in enough trouble already, she would do as he asked.

"Urm...pizza." She said as she got up.

"Too unhealthy." Steve replied immediately.

She turned to look at him with puppy dog eyes and a pout. "I love you daddy..."

He couldn't resist. He knew he should but one pizza wouldn't hurt her. "This time only." He said pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"Yay! And oh my God, guess what?" Charlie grinned as she went to get a drink.

"Hmm?" Steve asked as he dialed the number for pizza.

"Daniel asked me to go to Wendy Brooks' party with him tomorrow."

"Wow." Steve said sarcastically. She beamed up at him. "Shame you can't go..."

"What? Why not?"

"You're grounded, Charlotte. Remember? And anyway, I don't like that boy."

"Well I do."

"Well I'm the dad and I make he decisions." Steve said strictly. "Hi can I order a pizza." He said as his call was answered.

Charlie scowled at him. Nothing was going to stop her from going to that party with the most good liking guy in school. Nothing.

So what did you think? I kind of like the idea of Lori trying to get her hands on Steve again. I think it will eventually make him and Kono closer. Hopefully. And Charlie, what do you think will happen to her in the next chapter?

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