janey_clara-plays-cupid-3

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CLARA PLAYS CUPID by Janey

PART 3

The rest of the day dragged, Janine wanted to be with Nicky and Clara. It was so lovely being with them and Nicky was going out of his way to make her feel welcome. What she didn’t realise was that Nicky had genuine feelings for her. She was convinced that despite all his flirting, he wasn’t interested in her on a romantic level, and she was dreading not having intimate contact.

“Why don’t you get the door for me sweetheart?” called Nicky to Clara.
“Ok daddy.”
Quietly he followed her, wanting to see her reaction when she opened the door and saw Janine. He wasn’t disappointed.
“Hi ya princess! I thought I’d come and tuck you into bed.”
“Janine!” shrilled Clara, jumping into her arms. “Daddy never said that you were coming.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise,” said Janine walking in with Clara. “Nicky could you bring my bag please?”
“I’ll take it to your room,” he grinned, delighting in Clara’s reaction.

“So what have Tom and Jerry been like? Well behaved or naughty?”
“Good. They use their toilet and they’re asleep now.”

When Nicky joined them again Clara wanted to know why he hadn’t let her have her bath later so that Janine could do it.
“Because it would not have been a surprise if I did that poppet! I’m sure that Janine will be happy to put you to bed though if you ask nicely.”
“Will you please? Can I have a story?”
“Come on then.”
Nicky laughed watching as they both ran upstairs, laughing and joking all the way.

Clara gave Janine a big hug and kiss after brushing her teeth, then got into bed snuggling under the duvet.
“I’m happy you came, daddy is too, he likes you.”
“That’s good because I like you and your daddy, very much.”
“Will you get married and come and live with us?”
“Me and daddy are friends Clara.”
“Aww, but I like you being here.”
“You’ll see me sweetheart, don’t worry.”

“Why won’t you marry daddy? Don’t you love him?”
Janine was shocked, unsure of what to say but deciding that honesty was the best policy. “I love you and you daddy very much Clara. A man and woman can be friends without getting married. I’ll always love you and I love spending time with you. You both make me happy.”
Clara beamed in delight. “I love you Janine, very much. So do Tom and Jerry.”
Janine blushed and grinned. “I’m pleased but tell me something, why Tom and Jerry when Jerry was a mouse?”
“I just like the names,” the little girl giggled. “Story time!”

“Did my daughter keep insisting on more stories?” Nick smiled and handed her a glass of wine. “The food is almost ready. I’ve done vegetable lasagne with garlic bread.”
“Umm, smells lovely,” commented Janine on swallowing some cold wine. “And no, we just got talking.”
“What about?”
“This and that,” said Janine enigmatically. “We girls keep our secrets.”
“I’ll ply you with more alcohol, eventually you will spill the beans.”
“Don’t bet on it Nicky. I’m a hard nut to crack.”
“But my daughter isn’t!”

Janine woke in the morning to discover Clara in bed with her and the kittens cuddling each other, between them. The contentment of the scene made her smile and go tingly all over. How wonderful it would be to wake up like this most mornings. Sadly it was highly improbable.

When Nicky got home from taking Clara to nursery Janine was finishing putting the now clean breakfast pots away and the washing machine was busy whirring around.
“My daughter asked me something very interesting,” hinted Nicky switching the kettle on and getting things ready for making a cup of tea.
“Like she wants more cats?” giggled Janine.
“No.” Nicky stood back against the cupboards with a soft smile on his lips. “She wanted to know if we were going to get married. You told her that we’re friends and she has told me that we have to get married so we can all live happily. I have to make you love me. I have my orders!”

“Oh boy, sorry about that. I thought she may have forgotten.”
“So that’s what you were talking about! Told you she can’t keep a secret,” he tittered. “She thinks we’ll be a good family.”
Janine sat at the dining table, suddenly seeming very sad.

“Hey what’s up? I thought you’d be pleased.”
“I am,” she answered quietly. “I am so fond of her Nicky and I love being with you both. It’s going to be hard when things get back to normal after the tour. I won’t get to see her very much.”
He ran his long fingers through his short hair, sighing heavily. “You can see her as often as you want you know, and it would be great if you would stop over and spend time with us occasionally. I like having you around you know that. You told Clara that we’re friends and it’s true, so, as friends we keep in contact ok?”

Nicky wanted to kick himself before the words even left his lips. This was the perfect opportunity to let her know that he wanted things to progress between them and he’d missed the boat. What a jerk!

Janine forced a shaky smile. So there it was, confirmation that all Nicky wanted was a friendship, dashing her hopes in one fell swoop. Life was such a bitch!

At teatime Janine took them out for pizza, reassuring Clara that the kittens would be fine for a couple of hours alone. Clara loved being out but was itching to get back to Tom and Jerry.

Nicky’s parents Irene and Allen rang on the Saturday morning asking Clara if she wanted to stay overnight; unusually, she hesitated.
“Can Tom and Jerry come?” she asked Nicky.
“No darling. You go, you’ll have fun, you know that you will.”
“Tom and Jerry are still getting used to being here sweetheart,” said Janine softly, picking Clara up and giving her a cuddle while Nicky talked to his parents. “You know that we’ll take good care of them and think of how pleased they’ll be to see you when you get home tomorrow.”

“Will they really?” Clara mulled it over for a few moments. “Ok then I’ll go. Will you take me please?”
“Madam has said yes mum. No mum it’s ok, we’ll bring her round.”
“No daddy, just Janine, you stay with the boys.”
“I told you I was second best!” Nicky laughed into the phone. “Jan will drop her off. I’ve had my orders to stay with the kittens.”

“I’ve had an interesting conversation,” sighed Janine, flopping on the sofa watching Nicky flicking through the various sports channels.
“Clara talking weddings again?”
“Better than that; your mum asked if I was your girlfriend. I explained that I was your P.A. and would be helping with Clara during the tour and that’s why I’m spending time with you.”
“What did she say to that?” Nicky switched off the television, looking serious suddenly. “Or do I not want to know?”
“ ‘Oh well of course you would say that. That’s exactly the same as nice told us. I don’t know why he thinks we won’t approve’.”

“Oh bloody hell. I’m sorry about that. No doubt Clara’s insistence that you take her helped reinforce that opinion.”
“Yeah well, in the end I gave up trying to explain.”
“I can’t apologise enough, but the fact that Clara adores you means that my parents won’t stop mentioning it now. Then of course they’ll tell Pat and he’ll be on the phone wanting to know why I haven’t told him that I’m ‘involved’ with you.”
“I didn’t want to lose my temper and upset Clara.”

“That’s ok. I’ll talk with them tomorrow when they bring Clara back. I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable with them. You’ll be seeing a lot of them when you move in here for the tour.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m sure that everything will be fine. It’s understandable really and I’m flattered that they seem to approve of me. It’s important when I’m going to be taking care of their granddaughter.”

“They could have been more tactful about it though.” Nicky shrugged his shoulders. “Do you fancy a glass of wine?”
“Actually that would be really nice. Why don’t we be really decadent and get food delivered tonight? That way we can have a good natter without worrying about cooking.”
“Have I told you that you’re full of good ideas?” Nicky grinned; patting her knees then went to get the wine.

They laughed and joked their way through the meal and two bottles of wine, enjoying relaxing together on the sofa, soothing classical music playing in the background.
“Do you find it hard not being at home?” asked Nicky after opening another bottle of wine. “You’ve gone from being on your own to spending time with a madman and his very precocious child; talk about a culture shock!”
“I was dreading it. Getting on with you and Clara is very different to spending so much time with you, but you’ve both made me so welcome. I actually love it here though it will be different when you’re touring. She’ll miss you not being here so much.”

Nicky laughed. “She’ll love it! All that time alone with you, you giving her baths and putting her to bed. It will be one big adventure for her. I could get quite jealous."
“No need. She adores her dad and will miss you like crazy. The novelty of having me here will soon wear off.”
“All I can say is that my daughter has great taste. We’ve been lucky, things are going to work out well.”
“Let’s wait and see shall we?” Janine tittered, lolling her head on his shoulder. “No point in counting chickens before they’re hatched.”

“You and those sayings!” His blue eyes lit up when he smiled. “I love you for them.”
Janine sighed, completely caught off guard by his unexpected kiss. Instinctively she put her arms around him, responding to him straight away. Leaving the music playing to two tired kittens, Nicky picked Janine up in his arms, carrying her to his bed. They giggled like naughty kids afraid of being discovered.

They undressed one another slowly, moaning in regret when they had to break their kisses to remove items of clothing. Tenderly Nicky guided her beneath him on the bed, stroking her hardening throbbing nub whilst suckling on her nipples in turn. He stroked her to a powerful orgasm then slid his eager erection into her warmth, her walls still contracting from her spasms.

She wasn’t left wanting; as a lover he was magnificent, knowing how to alter the depth and speed of his thrusts to take her back to the point of orgasm once more. With her legs over his shoulders she began panting heavily, her legs quivering and twitching from the building spasms. When her orgasm roared through her, Janine opened her eyes and pushed her head back into the pillow. Nicky thrust a few more times then yelled her name aloud, the strings of warm cum spurting into her.

They kissed and stroked one another affectionately, waiting to return to reality. Nicky settled down on his back, pulling her into his body for a cuddle. That’s how they both fell asleep.

“Morning gorgeous,” smiled Nicky warmly, before kissing her passionately.
“Hi,” she beamed back, stroking the stubble on his face. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“Oh that’s too early for a Sunday morning. I wanna sleep some more.”
Nicky leaned over her, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Try saying that to Clara.”
“Well Clara isn’t here right now is she so please, can we sleep?”
“I’ve got a better idea,” he sniggered with a dirty grin.

“If it doesn’t involve sleep, I don’t want to know.”
“Yes you do so stop denying it.”
“And then will you let me sleep?” She nuzzled his neck, stroking his back lazily, whimpering at the beautiful softness of his skin.
“After the workout I have planned for you I think it’s fair to say that you will have deserved it.”
“Tell me more,” she winked at him.

“Do you have to go home later? Can’t you stay tonight as well and go to the office from here?”
Janine found it hard to concentrate; her thought’s muddied by the wonderful sensations he was causing by caressing her breasts with his hands. The breath on her ear was driving her wild with desire for him.
“Nicky,” she eventually managed to stammer. “I need to get my office clothes.”
“Go home, bring them here. Please stay.”
The pleading way he was staring at her made her melt.

Damn what that man did to her!

“You know that you want to!” His soft lips pulled at her ear lobe driving her into a frenzy of excitement.
“Only because you asked so nicely!”
Once more they made love, panicking when they had finished because they had less than an hour before Clara and Nicky’s parents would be back.

Clara rushed in like a tornado. “Tom, Jerry, I’m home.”
“Great,” sniggered Nicky raising his hands in the air, “I come behind Janine and the kittens in order of priority now.”
His parents laughed their eyes not leaving Janine, scrutinising the way she was gazing fondly at their son.
“She talked about you a lot,” winked Irene. “Well, the pair of you, should I say.”

Before Nicky could answer his daughter ran to him with outstretched arms, whooping for joy when he picked her up and cuddled her.
“You did remember to feed them didn’t you daddy?”
“Hello daddy, I missed you!” teased Nicky kissing her. “Yes honey I did. I got up during the night to check on them too.”
“Thank you daddy!” She rewarded him with a big kiss. “I did miss you and Janine but we had fun. Uncle Pat rang and I told him about Janine living with us now.”

Nicky frowned but noticed that Janine had started giggling and had to walk away so that Clara didn’t see. “Clara honey, Janine doesn’t live here, she stays because she’s daddy’s friend.”
“Why doesn’t she come and live with us? I’d like her to live here.”
Nicky sighed. “Honey you know that daddy is going on tour with Uncle James and Uncle Sean soon?” Clara nodded. “Well Janine will stay here then to help me take care of you but she’ll go back home when I’ve finished. You’ll still see her though, she’ll come and visit us.”
Clara began crying. “No daddy! She can’t go home, she can’t!”

Nicky’s parents decided that it would be better for them to go, leaving Nicky and Janine to talk with Clara and calm her. Although it had been obvious by the way Clara had talked about her that she was fond of Janine. Only now did they realise how fond.

Clara had exhausted herself by getting so upset, so Nicky put her to bed for an hour.
“Nicky I think it will be best if I go home when Clara wakes up. She’ll find it confusing if I stay tonight when she knows I’m supposed to be going home.”
“How?”
“You’ve explained to her that I’m not living here but if I stay tonight that’s going to seem a contradiction.”
“I see what you mean,” he replied thoughtfully. “This is so difficult. I guess we should put things on hold for a while.”

Janine felt like she had been stabbed through the heart that had been what she had been dreading. A huge wave of sadness washed over her; she was going to cry.

‘I won’t cry in front of Nicky, I won’t!’ she willed.

“Perhaps,” she sighed heavily, “it would be better for Clara if I went now. I’ll pack my stuff.”
“I’m sorry Jan but I can’t hurt her.”
“I know.”

She held it together until she got in to her car, then the floodgates opened. The first turning after Nicky’s house, she parked the car up, barely able to see the road through her streaming tears. Within twenty-four hours she had gone from exhilaration to despair and heartbreak. Why did life have to be such a fucking bitch?

Martin knew that all was not well when Janine went through to her office; she didn’t say hello or ask how his weekend had been. Throughout the morning he noticed that she was being very distant, not chatting or smiling as she generally did.
“Janine, will you come through please,” he requested over the intercom.
There was no life in her voice when she replied.

Nervously she shut the door and sat down in front of him. “What can I do for you?”
“Explain to me why you have a face like a smacked arse,” he said bluntly. “You look ill and miserable. You’re hardly talking and you haven’t smiled once and that is not you Janine. Tell me what’s bugging you, I may be able to help.”
“You can’t,” she answered abruptly. “Can I go now?”
“No you can’t. You will stay here until I know what is wrong. I’m concerned about you Janine; I’ve never known you like this before. Have things gone wrong with Nicky? Is he unhappy about you being with Clara?”
“No that’s fine,” she lied before adding truthfully, “Clara and I get on very well.”

“And with Nicky?” probed Martin, studying her intently for clues. “I know that he can be a bit difficult but he’s been full of your praises when I’ve spoken to him.”
“Martin,” she said angrily. “Nicky is fine, I’m fine, Clara’s fine. Now can I please go and do what you pay me for?”
“Are you ill? Do you need to go home? Don’t keep fobbing me off, I’ll find out one way or another.”
“I am not ill. I’m sorry that I’ve worried you, you can’t help with this, it’s nothing to do with you,” she snapped. “Now please, let me go back and do my job or I’ll get really angry.”

“Go home,” he said calmly. “Take the rest of the day off. I don’t want you here like this.”
“Great!” she yelled. “I’m being ‘like this’, as you put it because you won’t stop going on at me! If you leave me alone I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“You are going home, no arguing. Tomorrow I want you back here more like your old self. If you won’t talk about it, do something about it.”
“Oh I will,” she said determinedly, standing up and putting her hands on the edge of his desk to lean over him. “I resign and sod working my notice.”

“Janine, what the hell has got into you?”
“The need to have a fucking life outside of my job! Goodbye Martin.”
“So you’re going to walk out on Nicky and Clara? Don’t you think that’s feckless and childish? Clara trusts you and so does Nicky.”
“I’m certain that you can get a suitable replacement but I am going to go away. Quite frankly, I don’t give a damn where!”

Martin grimaced when she slammed the door behind her. He watched her stride into her office, open her briefcase and tip all of the contents onto her desk. The only items that she returned were pens and notebooks and pads. Janine ripped some pages out of her diary, containing personal numbers he assumed; she then left the diary on the desk.

More than ever he was determined to discover what had happened. Clearly she was upset over something. Right now though he had a decision to make; did he call Nicky and panic him by saying that Janine had walked out of her job or did he give her time to cool down and retract her resignation? Either option carried its own risks.

“Nicky.”
“Oh Martin, hi. This is a surprise.”
“Not a nice one either; I have bad news for you.”
Nicky was intrigued and hoped like hell that Martin wasn’t going to tell him that they had had the tour extended.

“Janine resigned yesterday. I managed to get hold of her a couple of hours ago when she finally deigned to answer her phone, unfortunately she’s adamant that it’s what she wants.”
“Resigned?” Nicky was flabbergasted. “What the hell happened? She was fine she left here on Sunday.”
Martin informed him of the limited details that he had, and his concern at her refusal to work her notice.
“I’m flummoxed. She was behaving so oddly Nicky and I’ve never known her lose her temper like that. Are you sure she didn’t give any indication of a problem?”

Nicky squirmed; the last thing he wanted to do was let Martin know that they’d slept together or that Clara had got upset at the news that Janine wasn’t moving in. Of course the big problem had occurred later, when he suggested that they put things on hold.

In her mind did she think that Nicky had used her?

“No, she left here as planned on Sunday Martin. Sorry, I can’t help you.”
“I’ll find out eventually. I guess I’ll have to keep digging.”
“We start rehearsing for the tour next week, I’d been hoping that Jan would take care of Clara for me on a few afternoons when she isn’t at nursery. I don’t like the idea of Clara having to get used to someone else coming into our live. She needs some consistency.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’ll see if the nursery can take her all day and ask my parents if they can pick her up and take care of her when I’m not here. I’ll ask Rhian as well, she may be willing to have Clara sometimes.”

“I’m still hoping that Jan will want to come back once she’s calmed down. I’ve put her on special leave for now, I’m desperately hoping that I can persuade her to come back.”
“Does she know that?”
“The special leave? Yeah, wasn’t hugely impressed by it and assured me that I would have her letter of resignation within a few days,” said Martin sadly. “She was more pissed off when I told her that I wouldn’t accept it because I was sure she’d regret her decision.”

“I really hope that she changes her mind. Thanks for telling me what’s going on, I need to arrange things in case we get the worst case scenario and she really does resign. Who knows, perhaps after thinking about it she’ll retract it.”
“Trust me when I say that it’s what I want too.”

Straight after finishing his call with Martin, Nicky rang his parents, asking if they would collect Clara from nursery and have her for a few hours. All he said by way of explanation was that a situation had cropped up and he needed to deal with it sooner rather than later. Luckily they agreed without too much cajoling.

So much for James’ prophetic advice about them being professional enough to deal with a break up. They hadn’t entered into a relationship as such and this happens. What else was there to go wrong he pondered.

part 4 >>>

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