Billionaire's Revenge(33)

“Darius...I didn’t realise you would be so early”, she managed, wondering if they had been making too much noise, her mind wondering what else to do with David. “Got finished early”, he smiled as he came level with them, his eyes turned to David. “You must be David”, he smiled, the young boy nodding shyly back, as Darius placed his foot on the ball which the young boy had discarded, flicking it into the air he bounced it on his knee. David rushed forward, his eyes large, his mouth rounded as he admired Darius’ ability with the ball. “Wow”, he cried, Sara moving forward as she raised an eyebrow, impressed with his skill.

“David...this is Darius”, her tone playful, “I think maybe he is a bit of a soccer shark” Darius laughed back as he allowed the ball to roll to David, who tried to flick the ball the same way he had moments before. “In Europe, we call it football”, he declared, David’s head bobbing up and down “I know...I watch it on television. My mum lets me”, he declared seriously, Sara seeing as like her, Darius struggled to hold back a laugh.

“Well how about I take you and your aunty on”, he declared, David grinning from ear to ear at the gauntlet that had been thrown down. For the next hour, the three played, Darius allowing David to keep getting the ball, evilly laughing as he would pick up the child to steal it back from him, each and every time David giggling hysterically as Sara would step in and pretend to rescue him, often holding Darius around the waist as she would cry to him to score. As he ran forward, Darius would grab her and drop a kiss on her lips, his eyes full of laughter as the small boy would run back to them, delighted at his success.

Finally she scooped up the little boy, Darius chuckling as she tickled his stomach, the boy writhing uncontrollably within her arms. “OK...where should we have dinner?” her eyes dancing as he cried out the name of a well known fast food restaurant, Sara feigning surprise. “Really...that is my favourite too!” David jumping up and down with delight as Darius gave a grimace, his eyes laughing. “I am sure there is one around here somewhere...I will bring round the car” Sara surprised that he would be coming with them. “My mother left his car-seat by the door”, she mumbled, a strange pleasure filling her, one that she could not understand.

As they queued for food, Darius stared at the board, his features sombre as he leant down to Sara. “We are still eating later right?” she giggled as she nodded, her eyes full of humour, “Do what I do...order a coffee...he doesn’t notice, especially when he has his toy” He gave her a quick grin before they were served. As they sat in the uncomfortable plastic seats, the bright colours of the restaurant garish but fun, David made short work of his food, Darius shaking his head as the small boy moved to his second sachet of Ketchup. “Tell me he knows that isn’t a vegetable?” he joked with Sara who laughed back. “When you are four years old, ketchup is a food group all on its own”

Having finished the small helping of food, David begged to play in the bright play area, Sara finally giving in as she allowed him to move to the room with slides and pipes all connected like similar ones she had seen in a hamster’s cage. The two moved to a seat closer to the enclosed play area, Darius smiling, seeing the way Sara’s eyes never left the small child who was happily chatting to another little boy on the plush mats. Taking another sip of his coffee he groaned, her eyes flying to his as he laughed.

“Even the coffee is bad” She gave a small snort, “How can the coffee be bad...it is just coffee” Darius adopted a knowing, superior look. “Ah...that is where you are wrong young lady. To an Italian a good coffee should be like a good woman - hot and intense on the tongue”. Sara choked on her drink making him laugh again, her head shaking as she wiped away a tear she was laughing so hard, “I cannot believe you just said that” Darius wiggled his eyebrows wickedly making her laugh even harder. As his head turned to look at David, she stared at the man by her side. The day had been wonderful, not only because she was spending time with David, but because she was spending time with Darius too. She had expected him to be aloof with the small boy, but he was a natural with children, David already so comfortable with him.

“Thank you” Her soft voice saw his head turn, a curious expression on his face as his mouth curled softly, “For what?” Sara looking over at David. “For such a lovely day”, she replied gently, not seeing the way his eyes flicked over her.