Title: Sweeter Beginnings.
Summary: Sometimes Fate and Destiny have different plans. What happens when Bakery owner Riley falls in love with a sports reporter and his was sitting on the kitchen counter, nursing a beer while Lucas was cleaning the kitchen.
I also received a review that said they didn't like my language OR Zay's storyline.
I have decided to make Zay Bi...because I believe he likes both females and males and that it would add a new depth to my story. I am also usure as to what you mean by not liking my language. So if you could please message me and help me to understand and make this story better :)
Reviews and Feedback are welcomed :)
Lucas drives downtown with his new mission: get Luce's cookies.
It wasn't like he spoiled her on a frequent basis, but he had a pretty good daughter, and once in a while, she deserved a reward. And to be honest, he wanted a reward for himself as well; it certainly didn't hurt to see Riley again… hopefully.
He parked close to the shop and got out of the car, feeling the cold night breeze and making his way to the café.
The lights were on, but the place was closed. He sighs and was about to return to his car when he hears soft music coming from Riley's business, over the street noises and the murmur of the wind, so Lucas approaches again, and he was able to hear and see more clearly now the melodic voice along the music.
I might have to wait; I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life
Lucas smiles as he listened to the voice. It was soothing and somehow it showed some cheerfulness.
And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility
He was freezing just standing outside the bakery, but he couldn't stop watching. Riley was spinning around the shop, her move elegant and graceful. He added dancing and singing to the list of things that Riley was good at,
And somehow I know that it'll all turnout
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet
Lucas waits for her to finish that verse before to knocking on the door.
Riley was closing the coffee shop while Maya was going over the paperwork of the day in the office, trying to have everything ready for the next morning, while they listened to the radio.
While Riley was singing she felt herself lose herself to the music, her hips swaying and her legs and arms moving of their own accord. Times like this were when Riley let herself dance like she used to. But now she did it for herself, and if someday she thought it would make her sad, it didn't. She had realized that she didn't need to dance for anyone but herself, to express her inner feelings and not to please and when she accepted that, she'd changed.
Soon she hears a knock on the door and stopped dancing.
She looks through the blinds in a very familiar move and saw the same imposing figure of a man that had been looking for his daughter just two days ago. She opened the door and shivered when the chilly wind hit her skin.
"Lucas?" She calls softly, and she receives a warm smile in return.
"Hey," he swallows thickly, and he mentally curses himself for feeling like a teenager. "May I come in?" She steps aside and lets him inside.
"Is everything okay? How's Lucy?" She asks with concern. "I hope everything went well with her maths test.
Lucas chuckles and shakes his head. "She's okay. She's at home with Zay and Josh."
"Oh," Riley mutters and blushes a bit when he looks her in the eye.
"Well, actually there is one problem," he says, and Riley looks at him inquisitively. "Remember the cookies you gave her? My friends ate them all in a very douchey move, and she really liked them, so she was about to have a tantrum before I promised her to get her more and—"
"You want more cookies?" Riley smiles amused by his confession. It was sweet the way he cared about his little girl.
"Yes, I don't know why but she seems to be obsessed with you and the cookies," Lucas sees the way in which Riley avoided his gaze embarrassed. "She was Riley this and Riley that all day. I don't know what you did, but she really likes you."
"I think maybe because she reminds me so much of myself when I was younger, she is a lovely child and she loves you very much."
Lucas blushes.
"Lucas, you're doing a wonderful job with Lucy. She's smart and sweet, and an overall great girl and I'm sure she appreciates all your efforts, so don't worry. I can't even begin to understand how hard it is to be a single dad and you are doing an excellent job from what I can see."
"I've had help—"
"Even so. You should be proud." Riley takes a deep breath. "I'll go look for the cookies." She grins and he saw her going behind the counter and filling a paper bag with the famous cookies.
She admired him and even when he knew that his task of raising Lucy was hard, no one had ever said it like that, in a way that made his chest swell with pride.
Riley made him feel good. Add that to the list.
"You are a beautiful dancer," Lucas says and Riley chuckles and glances in his direction.
"Thank you. I used to work in the dance business."
"Really? How come you know run a bakery?"
Riley pauses before continuing to fill the bag up "Long story."
The paper bag was filled with the biscuits when Riley walks around the counter and towards Lucas. She hands the bag to him, and he felt the light brush of her fingers against his, enjoying her soft and warm skin against his still cold one.
"No one is more qualified than a child to tell you the truth about something, so I'm very happy she likes them so much." Riley smiles and Lucas smirks.
"Believe me; she loves them." He reaches for his wallet. "How much is it?"
Riley waves a hand in front of him. "No, nothing, Lucas. Don't worry. I'm happy to give these to Lucy. I don't mind."
"Riley, this is a business, you're supposed to make money out of this." Lucas raises an eyebrow.
"No," she grins brightly. "What I like the most about my business is to see someone like Lucy smiling because of something as simple as a cookie. And she deserves them and tell her to share some with you."
Lucas looks into her deep brown eyes, the honesty in them and how her smile reached her eyes. He knew, right then and there, that he had lied to Zay when he told him that he didn't like her enough to ask her out because, to be honest, he had never liked a woman that much at first sight.
He likes her, and he needs to do something about it, so he takes a bold decision.
"Okay, but then let me do something else for you," Lucas says, and Riley looks at him attentively.
"What?" She frowns inquisitively.
"Have dinner with Luce and me this Friday," he offers, and Riley opens her mouth and closes it before she could actually answer, but Lucas continues talking. "She would love to have you and—and so would I. I would like to know more about you."
"Lucas," she sighs. "I don't know—"
"Don't say no, I mean, you don't want to make me feel bad about almost stealing your cookies and all," he watches her biting her lower lip and he thought about how her lips would feel against his, how it would be to nip them… "C'mon; how about eight?" He prods.
Riley giggles softly. "I would love to, but I'll bring dessert. It's the least I can do." She smiles at him, and Lucas returns her smile and nods.
"Okay, then I should give you my address," Riley bobs her head and looks for her business card, a piece of wrapping paper and a pen to give to him, and he scribbles down the street and number of his place, plus his phone number. "Great, Luce will be happy with the cookies and your visit." He replies, putting her card in the pocket of his jacket and mentions towards the door. "I should go; she'll get mad at me if I don't give these to her." He shows her the paper bag.
"Tell her I said hi and I hope to see her soon, oh, and that she has a really awesome dad," Riley gives him a coy smile and Lucas can't help but smirk a little bit.
"Thanks, Riles," he speaks softly, "for everything." He smiles fully and chuckles. "See you Friday."
Soon he was leaving, and Riley exhales heavily as she closes the door behind him. She sits on the floor and leans her back against the door, resting her arms on her bended knees, clutching the piece of paper in one hand.
She was like that when Maya finds her.
"What are you doing?" The blonde woman asks, her voice laced with amusement and curiosity.
"I think Lucas asked me on a date," Riley replies looking up at her friend and Maya gapes at her and her eyes widened.
"Think? How? When? Wait, what did you say?" Maya interrogates a mile a minute.
"I said yes." Riley grins.
Lucas arrives home with an indelible smile on his face, and he tries to hide it because he doesn't need Zay and Josh mocking him or saying inappropriate things in front of Lucy, much less about a woman and giving her wrong ideas about what was going on.
He unlocks the door and hears the voices of his friends and Lucy from the living room, but after he shut the door, he feels the presence of a small girl grinning up at him.
"Hi, Daddy," Lucy greets him rocking back and forth on the balls of her heels. "Are those my cookies?" She points at the brown paper bag in his hands, and he arches an eyebrow.
"Now you're happy?" He says to no one in particular. "These," he shows her the bag, "are our cookies, princess." Lucy pouts. "Riley said hi and that some of these were for me." He smirks triumphantly when Lucy smiles again.
"You saw her?" She asks innocently, and soon Lucas notices the heads of Josh and Zay poking from the living room and he glares at them.
"Obviously," he hands the cookies to Lucy and makes his way to the bathroom to wash his hands while two men and a little girl follow him closely.
"And?" Josh prods even though he knows he will hear it all from Maya.
"What?" Lucas turns around and sees the expecting people staring at him.
"Daddy," Lucy whines. "Did she say anything else?"
"More importantly," Zay intervenes. "Did you do anything?"
"Dude!" Josh smacks Zay's back as a reprimand.
"Thanks," Lucas says to Josh, and he smirks. "I—It's none of your business." Lucas frowns and Zay let out a whistle.
"So you did do something," Zay wiggles his brow and Lucy looks confused between all the men.
"Babineaux," Lucas warns.
"Daddy?" Lucy looks at him, and Lucas sighs. He could avoid telling the truth to his friends, but not to his daughter. He would never do that to her because he didn't want her to hide anything from him.
He always made sure that their relationship was as honest as it could be.
He sighed and shot a glance at his friends before running a hand through his short dark hair. Now it sinks in. He has asked Riley on a sort of date. Sort of, because he was sure that dates didn't include kids or more than a few pictures of the little devil, but Riley had known Lucy before him. And she had said yes. Yes to having dinner with him and his daughter.
At this point, he freaks out a bit and feels how his heartbeat accelerated, and he had to swallow a couple of times to try to loosen up the knot in his throat. Shit! He has a date with a woman in his place and with his daughter as a witness. He had certainly not planned this out too well.
What if he messed up?
"Luke?" Josh calls out, a little worried about his friend's reaction and seeing as he didn't reply.
"I invited her to have dinner with Luce and me this Friday," Lucas blurts out, and Zay and Josh's eyes widened.
"Shit!" Josh mutters and Lucy glares at him, slapping his leg.
"Uncle Josh!" She scolds him before squealing happily and launching herself at Lucas.
Zay has a smug smile plastered on his face, and Lucas shoots daggers at him.
"I told you so," Zay folds his arms across his chest and arches an eyebrow to look slyer than before. "I don't like her, my ass." Josh just laughs.
"She said yes, right?" Lucy asks him, and Lucas bobs his head dumbly. "Yay!" She squeaks and runs with her cookies to the kitchen. "I'm gonna eat a few, Daddy, 'kay? Uncle Josh cooked dinner." She shouts as she disappears down the hall.
Lucas stares at her and then he exhales heavily and looks at his friends.
"What am I gonna do?"
Zay shrugs while Josh frowns at Lucas "You better look after her? And if you think it's going nowhere do not lead her on, I am very protective of my niece."
Lucas narrows his eyes "I would never hurt her, I know what it's like to have my heart broken ok?"
Josh just nods, knowing Lucas would never hurt Riley, but he needed to make sure.
He has two days to plan everything for dinner, but Lucas has never been more nervous about something in his life, except for when Lucy was born.
Lucas was freaking out so much that he kept on asking Josh all these questions at work.
"What if she's allergic to something?" Lucas panics and Josh just shakes his head "Dude she isn't, I have told you everything you need to know about her diet so just stop."
"Maybe I should cancel, I mean I don't even know if I am ready to start dating and-."
"Oh, no, no, no," Josh shakes his head. "You can't do this to her."
"Why?" Lucas asks.
"I won't get into details, but let's say she has made an exception by having a date with you and you can't just tell her that she was wrong. She has only had one relationship, and while they are still friends, it broke her heart. She has been through a lot with personal health, and it's been a struggle to get her to open up to someone."
"I don't know if what you said is good or bad," Lucas admits leaning against the desk.
"She's great, Luke. She has a heart of gold, and once you know her it's even better, so don't force me to tell her to stay away from you," Josh threatens Lucas, and he sighs and nods.
"Okay, so I get that. She's great with Luce, and she won her over in just a couple of hours, which is… fantastic, and she's—she's—" Lucas trails off when he doesn't know how to word his thoughts.
"Amazing?"
"She's beautiful," Lucas says. "But it's not only that." Josh gives him an inquisitive look.
"I know, there's something about her, I don't know what it is but—yeah," Lucas mutters and Josh grins.
"Just cook something simple," Josh advises. "Riley doesn't need to be wowed; she is a simple girl who just wants to spend time with you."
"So I just need to keep it simple and be myself?" Lucas asks and Josh nods.
"Also no funny business."
"Hey! Lucy's going to be there, and I don't want her to think that her dad is using her and her cuteness to get women to like me." Lucas adds.
Josh pats Lucas on the back "Seriously, just don't over think it and you should be all right," Josh tells him before walking back to his desk.
Lucas sighs. He sure hopes that things with Riley go amazing. He has even planned to call his mom and ask for a recipe but he was sure she already knew about Riley, thanks to a very sneaky tiny girl that call her Nana very often to tell her about her day.
And, besides his worries, Lucy was very excited about having Riley for dinner, and she has been talking non-stop about how cool it was and planning questions for her. It was cute.
"It's going to be fine," Lucas tells himself, trying not to worry about the impending night.
After work that Friday, Lucas was running around the kitchen while Lucy was playing with Zay.
"Dude," Lucas calls loudly from the kitchen and Zay shows up promptly. "Does this taste ok?" Lucas asks as he holds a spoon out to Zay. Zay takes it and licks it clean, smiling in the process.
"Are you sure I can't stay."
"No Zay!"
"But dude this taste delicious."
"No."
Zay pouts and continues to watch as Lucas prepares everything for the chicken. Lucas is praying that he doesn't burn anything. He would hate to serve Riley take away food.
After he placed the pot on the hotplate, he still had twenty minutes to shower and get dressed.
Zay was very amused by everything, and he didn't hide it every time he snickers when he saw Lucas running around the place to have everything ready until Lucy finally glares at him.
"Stop mocking Daddy," she warns him and Zay stares at her. "He's doing his best, and you don't help."
"But Lucy, baby girl, I'm here—"
"Now you have to go because I have to get changed and Daddy doesn't want you here meddling into dinner," Lucy pushes Zay towards the door while Lucas chuckles at the scene he witnessed when he had come out of the bathroom still buttoning his blue dress shirt.
"She's in charge, Zay," Lucas adds as he made his way back to the kitchen.
"But I want details!" Zay shouts at Lucas.
"No way!" Lucas yells back and Zay looks at Lucy.
She giggles. "At breakfast," she whispers, and Zay winks at her.
"Have fun, Lucy," Zay pecks her forehead and makes his way out of the place.
Then Lucy ran to take a look at her father in the kitchen. He was wearing dark jeans and the sleeves of his shirt were rolled up. She smiles when she saw him finishing his dish and getting everything ready to set the table.
"What's going on, princess?" Lucas asks without looking at her.
"You look nice," Lucy replies and Lucas chuckles.
"Thanks," he responds and then stares at her. "Didn't you say you have to get changed?"
"Yep, I'm going," she smiles and motions for him to lean down so she could press a kiss against his cheek before running to her room. Lucas follows her with his gaze and sighs.
His daughter was perfect.
Riley takes a deep breath and smooths her coat one more time before knocking on Lucas apartment door. He has barely said a word through the intercom and she was scared that he has regretted the whole thing. She just holds the tray with the triple-chocolate cheesecake she had baked and raises her mitten clad hand to knock on the door.
Inside she hears some noises but couldn't tell what was going on until she hears the deep voice of Lucas muffled by the walls.
"Luce, c'mon, Riley is here," his voice was pleading and Rachel knits her brow in confusion. "Princess, please?" He calls again and Riley smiles at the softness in his voice.
Soon she was met by the green eyes, the chiseled features of his face and the ample chest covered by a deep blue shirt. He was even more handsome than what she remembered.
"Hi," he smiles and sighs as he took in the image in front of him. Riley was wearing a white knitted hat and a matching white coat that accentuated the rich chocolate color of her hair falling in waves around her shoulders and her big eyes locked with his.
"Lucas," she replies softly and that was enough to get him out of his stupor and lead her inside. "Here's the dessert, I hope you and Lucy like chocolate. I forgot to ask you if you were allergic, now that I think about it but—" Riley starts to babble until she sees the amusement in Lucas's face. "Sorry."
"It's perfect," he takes the tray from her hands and Riley proceeds to take off her mittens, hat and coat.
"Where's Lucy?" Riley asks as soon as Lucas helps her to hang her coat and he sighs.
"She's having a little problem and she's not very happy," He replies and looks Riley outfit, her black knee length skirt, tights and boots and the ivory top. 'She looks beautiful' he thinks to himself.
"Does she need help?" Riley looks concerned and he smiles. "Maybe I can do something."
"I—I don't know, Riles, I couldn't ask you for that—"
"Don't worry," Riley grins at him. "Where is she?"
"In her room, she doesn't want to let me in," Lucas explains. "It's the first door on the left," he motions with one hand towards the hall and Riley nods in understanding. "I'll leave this in the kitchen." He shows her the cheesecake.
"I'll go and see what I can do." Riley walks slowly towards Lucy's bedroom and knocks on the door. "Lucy? May I come in?" She asks softly and after a few second she hears the strangled voice of the little girl.
"Riley?"
"Yes, honey, would you let me in?" Riley replies without noticing the gaze of Lucas over her.
"Okay." Soon the door cracks open and Riley smiles brightly at the little girl. "I wanted to look pretty for tonight and—" Lucy sniffs. "And I tried to do my hair but the pigtails are crooked and I look ugly."
"Lucy," Riley coos and smoothes her hand over the little girl's hair. "You're very pretty, beautiful, and if you want I can help you. Let me do your hair, okay?" She offers and Lucy smiles at her.
"Really?" Lucy looks at her with wide eyes and Riley nods.
A few minutes later Riley was seated on Lucy's bed while combing her hair and making the pigtails. Lucas looks at them leaning against the door jamb.
"Ready," Riley says as she brushes one of the pigtails for the last time. "You look very nice. Right, Luke?"
"Gorgeous," he smiles and Lucy snickers.
"C'mon, Riley. Daddy cooked and I helped him to set the table, I hope it looks nice because I tried to have everything in the right place like Nana taught me, but I don't know," Lucy takes Riley's hand in hers and leads her to the table while Lucas stares at them, like he would do many times that night.
He realizes he wanted that for Lucy and for him. Someone who knew how to fix those simple issues and bake a cake, someone who could bring a smile to his daughter's face and to his, someone who he wanted to keep at his side and it was difficult to process because he barely knew Riley, but he could imagine her in that role.
Lucas was thankful that the food didn't burn, but he was still unsure about the seasoning, so he apologized in advanced but Riley just smiles at him when he places the dish in front of her while Lucy was talking about basketball.
He thought Zay was right; a girl needs to know girly things and not only about sports but luckily for her, Riley just listened to her talk about players and statistics, which was very unusual for a six year-old girl, but it proved him that Lucy paid attention to everything he did.
"The Mavericks are the best, because Daddy is from Texas." Lucy says and Riley looks at Lucas.
"You are from Texas?" All Lucas can do is nod and Riley smiles "I would like to visit Texas one day."
Lucy gasps "We should take you. Pappy Joe lives their and he owns horses!"
Riley grins "Maybe one day." Lucas hearts skips a little at the scene.
"Who do you go for Riley?" Lucas asks.
"Well I am a massive fan of the Knicks. I nearly always go to all their home games." Lucas grins while Lucy pulls a face.
"What?" Riley asks.
"Riles, Luce hates the Knicks," Lucas explains and Lucy looks at him and shakes her head, quickly plastering a forced smile on her face.
"Nu-uh," Lucy mutters. "I – I don't. If Riley likes them—" She adds nervously.
"You say so, all the time," Lucas frowns, amused by the situation.
"Daddy! Shut up!" Lucy hisses and Riley chuckles "It's ok if you don't like the Knicks Lucy, because I will like you all th same."
Lucy sighs in relief "Oh good. Do you like the Yankees?"
Riley smiles at the young girl "I don't really follow baseball as much as basketball, but the Yankees are ok."
"Daddy LOVES the Yankees. He nearly played for them, but he had me instead. But he says he likes writing about sport more than playing it because he has me instead."
Riley can't help but melt at the little girl's words. "Well I can't wait to read some of his stuff."
"It's good." Lucy says as a matter of fact and Lucas chuckles.
"Did you know that Riley dances Luce." Lucas chips in and sees Lucy's smile get bigger and her eyes widen as she looks at Riley. "Really?"
"I –" Riley sighs and smiles. "I did used to dance, I lived in LA actually."
"Were you famous?" Lucy asks and Riley smile seems to falter.
"Yes," she replies softly. "I was often in music videos and on tours, I actually got offered to dance in a movie but I had to turn it down."
"Why?"
Riley gulps not having been prepared for these questions, Lucas notices her hesitation and quickly places a hand on Lucy's arm.
"I think we are ready for dessert princess. Would you like to help me?" Lucy nods eagerly and rushes to the kitchen while Riley smiles gratefully at Lucas.
He wanted to know more, however he also didn't want to push Riley to talk, he wanted to get to know her on a real deep level.
Lucas was glad to have dinner with Riley and his daughter, but now he wanted more, a one-on-one date without a chaperone.
After a while they were finishing the dessert and Lucy was grinning like crazy as she ate the cheesecake.
"It's really yummy," she mumbles with her mouth full and Riley and Lucas chuckle. Lucy swallows and blushes. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Riley smiles at her and then at Lucas. "Your dad's dinner was really good too."
He shakes his head, "Don't lie, Riles, it's not nice. But thanks." He stands up to clean the table.
"Let me help you," Riley offers and Lucas was going to say no but she shushes him. "Please, I can't just sit and do nothing, I never can, so just accept my help."
"Riley, would you watch a movie with us? Please?" Lucy asks and Riley looks at the time and despite the fact that tomorrow she had to open the café early in the morning, she couldn't say no to Lucy and her sweet face.
"Sure, pick a movie," Riley sees her disappearing in the living room.
"You didn't have to," Lucas tells her.
"Who said I didn't want to?"
When Riley sits on the couch, she didn't think that watching the movie was a good idea. Sure, Lucy was sitting between her and Lucas, but his relaxed posture with his arm draped on the back of the couch and the tip of his fingers just an inch away from her was distracting.
Lucas has an incredibly appealing confidence that he exuded through every pore, it was sexy. Everything in him screamed sensuality and she was very uncomfortable and aware of his presence and the way he looked at her with that smoldering gaze like he was almost ogling her didn't help.
During the movie Lucy leans towards Lucas and starts to drift off and soon she falls asleep in Lucas's embrace and Riley's looks at them and how sweet they seemed.
She wants that, exactly that. A strong man who cares about his family, and besides that Lucas was smart and funny. But she wants more, to know him alone.
The credits start to roll and Lucy let out a cute little snore that makes her chuckle.
"I have to go," Riley tells Lucas and he nods and attempts to free himself from Lucy's hug but Riley stops him. "No, don't worry. I know where the door is and she shouldn't be bothered." She smoothes a hand over Lucy's forehead and hair and Lucy sighs softly.
"Thanks for coming tonight," Lucas murmurs and Riley smiles. "I know she was happy and I'm glad too."
"I had a great time, Lucas," Riley smiles and drops a soft kiss on Lucy's forehead. "Bye and tell her she was an excellent host." She sighs and then leans forward and presses her lips against his cheek, lingering a second too long and Lucas felt how soft she was. "Sleep tight." Her breath hit his skin and Riley walks away.
"Good night," he mutters before seeing the last smile Riley directs toward him. And then he looks at his daughter in his arms and the small smile in her face told him that she liked Riley too.
When he hears the click of the door closing, he knew, he just knew he had to see her again. He hadn't gotten enough of her, not even close.