Chapter 22

We entered the bright looking building, Emily tugging me along by the hand. I looked around, my professional eye noting the excellent security system. Emily tugged me again and I looked at her as she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me close.

"Remember, Dad'll probably challenge you. It's a man thing I think, he's done the same to Kate's boyfriends over the years. Don't let him put you off, and make some sort of good comment about his gym of the year award".

"No chance on being put off Em's. I'm going nowhere." I kissed the top of her head and held her close, loving the way our bodies just bloody well took over when were close to each other.. We'd just broken apart when I heard a deep male voice call out.

"Emsy! How's my little Fitch fitness fighter!" Emily turned an interesting shade of red as the body (and teeth) connected with the deep Scouse accent appeared in view. He smiled at me over Emily's shoulder as he gave his daughter a bear hug, sizing me up.

Emily managed to extract herself from his grasp and came to stand at my side, holding my left hand.

"Dad, this is Naomi." She held our linked hands up. "My girlfriend." I smiled. Not just to greet the man who'd had the good grace to father the wonderful woman next to me, but at hearing those words. I stuck out my right hand and gave what I hoped was a winning smile.

"Hello Mr Fitch, I'm pleased to meet you". He left my hand hanging there for a minute. I could feel my smile start to crack, the sweat started to make itself known. Fucking hell, how long was he going to keep me hanging.

His hand shot out and grasped mine painfully, shaking it in a rather vigorous way.

"So, this is the young lady you talk about all the time Emsy." I managed to shoot her a quick glance; she'd gone an even deeper shade of red. Bless her. Fuck, she talked about me all the time? "Pleasure to meet you Naomi, good solid hand shake you've got there. And its Rob, please, not Mr Fitch." And with that the manic teeth bearing smile eventually relaxed into a more natural smile which suited his face.

He finally let go of my hand after trying to remove my arm from its fucking socket and smacked me on the shoulder. "Cracking hand grip you've got there girl. Emily said you've got a posh residents gym to work out in where you live." He looked across at Emily. "Panda's in the studio upstairs, why don't you go chat to her while I show Naomi round love?"

I was guessing that wasn't a request. Emily made to protest, but I smiled at her and subtly shook my head no. I was more nervous than going head to head with a drug dealer, but meeting this man was important to her, and bugger me if I wasn't going to soldier through it for her.

I bent down and kissed her soft cheek, whispering a "It's OK, go. I'll see you in a few minutes" before watching her walk up the stairs. I looked at Rob as she disappeared with one last look. He had a strange look on his face, but soon enough that large smile reappeared.

"So, Naomi, let me show you my gym" and with a brawny arm slung over my shoulders I was dragged around his admittedly impressive gym. It was clean and spacious, but well used. He made a point of talking to each member that was there and offering encouragement even as he showed me around. Well, marched would probably be closer to the truth. I'd managed to get in that I knew he'd won 'Gym of the Year' and knew it was the right choice. He didn't fucking shut up about it and how he was pioneering Mambo Badminton. Whatever the fuck that was.

We stopped by the stationary bikes. I waited for the challenge. Pistols at dawn and all that. Actually that'd be better. I'd stand a chance with guns. Gym equipment? Maybe not.

"So, Naomi. Red or blue then?" I smiled, this was easy.

"Well Rob, I'm not a huge footie fan, but I'm a blue when it comes down to it." He beamed at me.

"Fantastic kid. Nice one. You can come to a game with me then." He took his arm from around my shoulder and looked at me. "This is the bit where I'd normally have a go at you and see if you're worthy of dating my daughter. You know, see if you're up for a challenge."

Pistols. See? Told you, here it came. Pity mine was in the bastard office. And just to really distract me, my phone started to buzz in my pocket.

"Thing is kid, I saw how you looked at my daughter as she walked up the stairs. Had a hard time of it that girl did. I know you know about her mother. She told me about how sweet you were, picking her up and taking her stargazing and all." He paused, looking at me as I felt a blush start over my cheeks. Thank fuck he didn't know how totally non sweet we'd been with each other last night and this morning. "As I said, I saw how you looked at her. Love in those eyes of yours. You're alright so far Naomi. I think you'll be good for her."

Love? What the fuck? Shit. No no no. Not yet. Lust, yep absolutely. Couldn't keep our hands off each other. The living room floor, the bedroom (numerous times), the bathroom (twice), the hall. You get the picture yeah? But love? Love? No. I so needed to talk to Effy. My phone buzzed again in my pocket. Letting me know there was a message waiting for me. Couldn't read it without looking rude though, and I couldn't let my good first impression go here. This was important to Emily.

He put his arm around my shoulders again, oblivious to the shock and awe he'd just created in my ever more paranoid and panicky mind. "Come on then. Let's go find that daughter of mine I bet she's pacing around like an idiot up there with Pandora." We made our way to the stairs and he dropped his arm and lightly trotted his way up the first few steps, stopping and turning around to look at me as I followed him. "One word of warning Naomi. You hurt her and I'll hunt you down like a dog, OK?"

Oooooohhhhhh fuck. He was quite serious.

I managed to make it upstairs to the studio without panicking over the conversation from the past 10 minutes and doing a runner, (Love. Seriously? Fucking hell.) and entered a large spacious studio. There was a red blur and Emily was stood in front of me, glaring at her dad.

"How long does it take to show someone round a gym dad?"

I put my arms around the little firecracker and tugged her closer to my side. "Hey Ems, its alright, your dad was just showing me around and stuff. It's cool". I kissed her head and looked over at him to see him smile and then my vision was filled with Pandora literally bouncing up and down on the spot, waving at me.

"Hi Naomi." I smiled and greeted the girl. She really was a sweetie. Even with the shit dress sense. Poor Emily ended up the jam in the sandwich this time as Pandora hugged the two of us. Crazy girl.

We left the gym after a cup of coffee and Rob and shocking Emily by telling her about the football match offer. Panda chipped in with her apparent usual 10p worth of wisdom.

"Blimey Rob, you're never invited any of Emsy's other halves to go the footie with you before. You must have noticed the sparks flying off them too. Blimming brilliant. I think they're made for each other"

I never did figure out who went the darker shade of red. Me or Emily. To be honest we made a very hasty exit after that. Panda had started to make some sort of surf and turf reference, but Emily hushed her up with a look. I'd have to ask her what the fuck all that was about.

As we reached the car she started stammering an apology to me about Panda and her dad. I just laughed it off.

"Ems, your dad's just looking out for you after your disastrous past." She punched me in the arm.

"Oi"

I laughed. "There was no harm done hun. He was quite sweet actually. Honest. He loves you babe. He's a great dad." I backed her up against the car and started nibbling my way up her neck "but, you know, if you WANTED to make things up to me, I could be persuaded".

She laughed and I took the opportunity to kiss my way up from her neck towards her lips. I nibbled at the corner of her mouth before sucking her bottom lip between my own lips and nipping at it.

She groaned and I felt her hands grasping at my jacket as I gently kissed the breath out of her. Fuck, she was like a fucking drug. I was addicted to Emily Fitch. It was official. I was regally screwed. This was it this time. Screwed. Regally. Ah, fuck, she tasted so fucking good as her tongue came out to play and gently tussled with mine. I was losing myself in her.

Things were getting even hotter between us as she suddenly pulled away from me. I realised that I was about to ravish Rob Fitch's beloved daughter in his gym car park. I reckoned he probably wouldn't be inviting me to the footie if he saw us. I'd probably be invited to my own funeral.

She looked apologetic. "Phone!" and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She answered and I took the opportunity to check mine.

2 messages. Effy and Tony.

"I've just finished work. Come round anytime Tiger." Thank you Effy, just when I needed to talk to her.

"Looks like we're going to pull you out of that shit hole by next week. We've been given 1 more week undercover. Will call later."

Emily put her phone in her bag and looked at me.

"That was Panda. She said and I'm quoting here, as hot as we look practically surfing and turfing in the car park, dad's on his way out to meet Katie cause she's on her way here."

I smiled at her, "well then, come on Cinders, I'll let you drop me off home."

We left the car park driving past a flashy convertible Peugeot. A right hairdressers car. I caught a glimpse of long dark hair, a leopard print coat and over-sized sunglasses as Emily booted her Mini away at speed.

"My fucking sister" she grumbled as we drove away.