A Bold Riley

Riley joined them at the dining table, but he felt so awkward. He wanted to apologize, but he didn't know where to start from. Was he to first apologize for staring at the man as though he wanted to bed him, or for mistaking him as Natasha's boyfriend.

"Just what mess have I put myself into?" he murmured to himself.

Natasha was all smiles as she watched his face twitch time and over again. The dreadful expression on his face was interesting to watch.

"Uncle, this is Riley."

Even though she enjoyed seeing those looks on his face, she couldn't bear to see him remain that way.

"Riley meet my uncle."

All that passed after was silence. Riley didn't dare look up. He wanted to apologize, but he was worried that the man would want his niece to have nothing to do with him afterwards. Well, he himself was to blame, just why did he stare so much? But how could he blame himself for staring, just what was the man looking for, being so handsome and attractive. But wait, was he really her Uncle, he looked too young to be an uncle to be an uncle to Natasha. Riley expected someone in their early forties or late thirties, not someone looking so young and handsome. It was such a pity he never got to see the front view, all thanks to the apron that was tied to his waist.

Hold on,

Are these the kinds of thoughts he should be having?

"Uhm, Uncle." he said carefully and in a low voice.

He looked up slowly, to see the man's reaction, after being called 'uncle' by someone, well, who molested his body with his eyes and thoughts.

Natasha's uncle's eyes twitched. He placed his cup down, and looked at Riley. Hearing Natasha call him uncle was already making him feel like an old man with gray hair, and now, here was someone else calling him 'uncle'.

"Donovan."

That deep voice sent shivers through Riley's body. His mind was already daydreaming about having such a sweet deep voice wake him up every morning by whispering sweet words into his ears, when he remembered he was right in front of the man, and that the man could see whatever funny expression he had on his face.

"Ahem. Sorry sir, I didn't catch what you said."

Like hell he didn't, he just wanted to hear that voice again.

"The name's Donovan, not Uncle."

Riley's face turned red.

"Do-no-van." he said, all the while blushing.

'get a grip on yourself Riley.' he said to himself.

He cleared his throat as he looked down. Now, how could he apologize, when his face was busy betraying him, showing he really loved and didn't regret staring at him, and that voice, that voice was making him think dirty.

Just as Riley was about to apologize, well, at least, he knew he had to apologize, Donovan's phone rang.

Donovan picked it up and took a sigh when he saw the caller. He turned to face the two at the table.

"You two should hurry up if you still want me to drop you off at school." saying this, he got uo and excused himself from the dining.

Riley's eyes followed him till he stepped out of sight. He turned to look at Natasha, just to see her also staring at him.

" You've got some balls, staring at my uncle that way."

Riley blushed as he looked away shyly. He was relieved to see that Natasha was not mad at him.

"Let me guess what questions are popping in that head of yours. Is he single? Is he gay? Is he into younger boys?"

Riley laughed gently. Did his curiosity get the better part of him, that it was displayed on his face?

"Sorry to disappoint you though. I know nothing about his love life."

His face got sulky for a second. Yeah, he was a bit disappointed. How could she know nothing about his love life, or was she not willing to share?

"Does he not have an ex, or someone he's seeing? Or don't you think that there's someone he's paying too much attention to?"

Natasha looked at him, looking surprised. She didn't think Riley was this serious.

"Wow! man, you are really serious about this. Fine, I'll tell you. I've never seen him act close to anyone other than I and my mother, we are the only family he's got left. But now that I think about it, there's someone else who's quite close to him, close enough to even call him by his nickname."

"His nickname?"

"Yes. The nickname only my mom calls him, but other than my mom, there's someone else who I have ever seen call him that."

"Who?"

This really was not looking good for Riley. This would mean that there was someone Donovan was interested in, or probably dating.

"That man who came to the restaurant yesterday."

"What!"

Now that definitely took him by surprise. True, even he couldn't deny that the man was good looking. Riley took a deep sigh as he realized that he had to forfeit the race even before it started.

How could he forcefully impose his feelings on someone who already had a partner? There was no way he could do that, at least, not after all what he had gone through in the hands of Everett and Olivia.

'I guess this is how far I can permit my feelings for him to go.' he thought to himself, and smiled, trying to comfort himself.

Natasha smiled as she felt relieved that he was no longer blushing like a blind fool. She didn't have to fear losing a good friend all because of some stupid love that would not bloom.

"Don't worry Nat, I will never come between them."

"Hmm."

They continued eating, but were unable to eat enough, cause Donovan seemed ready to drop them off.

"Come on kids, let's get going."

"Hold on a minute, let me do the dishes." Natasha said as she got up in a hurry.

"Leave them, I'll be returning home anyway."

Natasha looked at him with an annoyed look.

"Then why won't you let me have a good meal?"

"I have an online meeting which I can't join late for, and I want to make good the promise I made to you."

Natasha's face went pale from shock,which frightened Riley. What was going on?

"I'll wait in the car." Donovan said and went out.

Riley looked at Natasha, and could not help but ask what was going on.

"He usually doesn't reply me when I ask such stupid questions, but he took his time to answer me, and he didn't seem a single bit annoyed at how I raised my voice at him."

"So why are you scared?"

"The last person that happened to ended up with a lot of injuries."

The look in her eyes made him nearly piss his pants. If someone like Natasha could be that scared of Donovan, then how was someone like him going to end up.

"Let's get going, let's not keep him waiting."

Natasha said as she dragged her feet.

"Wait." Riley shouted as he held her arm.

"Didn't you say he would beat you up?"

"If nothing happens to me in the next three days, then nothing is gonna happen."

The dreadful look on her face suddenly disappears as she looked at him with a smile on her face.

"And do you really think he would hurt his own niece. I can't believe you fell for that, haha."

Natasha ran out as she said these. Riley stood there confused. Did she mean it or was it all a joke? What sorta sick joke was that anyway?

"Hurry up Riley. You don't wonna be late."

He heard Natasha's voice from outside. He grabbed his bag and ran out to meet them.