Faking It

Chapter two

Introductions

The blonde smiled back at him with more warmth than necessary. The brunette in the doorway however, stood absolutely rigid and still- her cold eyes scrutinizing his every move.

The girl with the highlights was the first to speak, "hello sheriff, I'm Lucy," she held out her hand and he shook it- glancing briefly at the brunette again- if it was possible she looked even more wound up than before.

Lucy continued with the introductions, gesturing to the woman next to her, "this is-"

"Chloe," the blonde also took his hand and he noticed the slightly glazed over look in her eyes.

"Are you all right, ma'am?" He asked. She looked like she might fall down or faint.

"Perfect," Chloe answered, blushing slightly when she realized she was still holding his hand.

Clark looked up in the doorway expectantly- the brunette frowned, still glaring icily at him. "Lois." She said, curtly. She didn't make a move toward him and he felt a chill run through his spine. Well, he could see what Ben was talking about- she was definitely acting guilty about something- or maybe she was just an ice princess.

"What brings you ladies to, Smallville?" He could have sworn Lois rolled her eyes.

"School project," Lucy volunteered, cheerfully. "We're doing a documentary on small towns for a-" the girl froze under Clark's interested gaze.

"Film class," Lois immediately picked up the girl's slack- a little too hastily.

"I see." Clark started, " is that how you and Ben Hubbard got into a fender bender this afternoon?"

Now, he was sure Lois was rolling her eyes, but when he looked up at her again, her icy hazel orbs had melted into sultry doe eyes and her stiff, wound up demeanor had relaxed and she sauntered toward him- shutting the door to the shack tightly behind her. Clark blinked several times- had he imagined her unwelcoming frigidness? She looked as if there wasn't a cold bone in her body, at the moment.

She smiled up at him- but there was something- off about it- it was too wide and too purposeful- but he found himself returning it, nonetheless. He wondered how she looked when she really smiled- then squelched the thought. Thinking about her mouth was the last thing he needed to be doing, but he almost couldn't help himself- she had one of those fantasy mouths. The kind with the lush, soft looking pink lips- even the fact that it was bleeding slightly did nothing to distract him from how kissable she appeared at the moment.

She's trying to take you for a ride! He told himself sternly. He'd had his fill of lying brunettes with fantasy mouths and big eyes-

Though, Lois's eyes were almond shaped and more brown and gold than green, like coffee with swirls of caramel. And he thought he saw a hint of regret in them that wasn't part of the deception- she didn't seem like the wounded damsel in distress type of actress. Thank god. He'd had enough of that, too.

"Oh, yes- the fender bender-" her voice was like silk, and she stopped in front of him so close he could smell her skin and hair- apples and cinnamon- "It was a very unfortunate accident."

Clark nodded slightly, still wearing a bemused expression and trying not to think about her mouth. Her eyes were filled with repentance and even though he didn't think it was possible, her smile deepened even more. He cleared his throat, trying to get the upper hand back, "about your insurance card-"

Fear flashed across her face, but it disappeared so quickly he almost thought it was a trick of the light- almost. "What about it?" She asked, with genuine interest and innocence. The woman was definitely a professional. And if he hadn't had experience with this type of behavior before- he would have fallen for it hook line and sinker.

"Ben seems to have misplaced it," Clark replied, and then tagged on silently, as if you didn't know.

"Oh, dear," Lois said, "I knew we should have called the police- the police always take care of everything-" she emphasized the last part her tone like warm sugar. "I suppose you'll be wanting another copy of my information?"

"If you don't mind." He shifted from one foot to the other.

"Of course, whatever you need," the brunette happily strolled back into the small house and returned a moment later and held out her hand- "here you go."

Clark took the card from her fingers and examined it- Lois Joanne Leitz- it looked legitimate. But looks were often times deceiving.

"Thank you," he stuffed the card into his back pocket then he leaned down to her ear, "you're good. Real good- but don't widen your smile at the end- it gives you away," he said in a low voice.

She was definitely shocked, but more annoyed and irritated than anything- her doe eyes narrowed and the affable expression on her face was replaced with a vexed frown. Clark smiled genuinely this time, even though she looked like she wanted to take the gun from his holster and shoot him with it- at least it was something real. And the fact that she looked tempting as hell didn't have anything to do with it, he told himself.

"What exactly are you're trying to imply?" There was definitely no sweetness in her voice this time.

"I think you know exactly what I'm trying to imply," he said, stepping closer because she smelled so damn good and because he didn't want the other two to hear them.

He whispered, hotly into her ear. "I don't know what kind of game you think your playing, but-"

"Game?" Lois stepped back, glaring daggers up at him, "What the hell are you talking about!"

Clark couldn't help but, smirk at her, "playing dumb isn't one of your strong suits, Ms. Leitz." He observed, studying her face.

Something like a growl escaped her throat, "Paranoid much, Sheriff?"

"Let's call it healthy suspicion, shall we?"

Lois scoffed. "What? Having a slow day in Mayberry? Is this how you get your kicks, harassing tourists?"

"I wouldn't call it harassing," Clark pulled at his belt, and even though Lois thought it was impossible, he stepped closer. "Just making some observations, that's all."

Instinctually, Lois lifted her foot to move away from the smug officer, but she'd be damned if she'd let some small town hick cop intimidate her. She was the general's daughter for crying out loud. So instead of moving her foot back, she inched closer, her eyes shining fearlessly with defiance.

Their bodies were almost touching, to any innocent on looker they probably looked like two lovers sharing an intimate conversation.

"Maybe you should keep your observations to yourself in the future. I don't like being called a liar," even if it is true, Lois tagged on the end silently.

"I never said you were a liar."

"You insinuated it."

"I just call 'em like I see 'em," he answered, trying very hard not to reach out and sweep away the few strands of hair that were stuck in her lip-gloss.

"If it weren't for the fact that you could potentially arrest me, I'd do the same!" Lois countered, venomously.

He smirked- half annoyed and half fascinated. She was infuriating and enthralling. This woman definitely wasn't some delicate flower He had to admire her tenacity, even if it was annoying, and her razor sharp wit that could probably cut him to ribbons.

It also didn't hurt that she had great legs and if she wasn't a liar and if she'd just kept that dream mouth of hers shut-

He sighed. There was no use in mulling over what ifs. He'd learned that the hard way. Things were what they were. Clark shook his head reluctantly and took a step away from the seething brunette.

"I'll be keeping an eye on you," he said, cryptically. If Lois was the slightest bit intimidated by his threat, she didn't show it in the least. Instead, she crossed her arms over her chest and replied coolly, in an even tone, "Like I've never heard that before."

Clark hid his grin by clearing his throat. He looked up at the porch, "thank you, ladies," he tipped his hat to Chloe and Lucy and chanced one final glance at Lois- he was glad looks couldn't kill- "Ms. Leitz," he turned sharply on his heel and headed for the house. He had a date he couldn't be late for, but first he had to talk to his mom.

As Lois watched the sheriff's retreating form she let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in. She'd been wrong- he wasn't just trouble- he was dangerous! The skin on her ear lobe was still tingling from his where his lips had barely brushed it, and her body shivered slightly from the loss of warmth from his presence.

Lois shook her head, trying to put herself to rights. In all of her irritation, the brunette hadn't realized the profound affect the cop had, had on her body. Her mind may be telling her to keep as far away from Sheriff Kent as possible, but her body had a distinctly different agenda.

"Well, that was certainly interesting" Lucy remarked, stepping down the porch steps.

Lois scoffed. "That's one way to describe it," turning to her sister and cousin. Chloe's eyes flashed.

Pulling such an abrupt switch of moods had been a mistake. She'd known that even while she was doing it. But when he'd brought up the crash, she'd panicked. Like always. Her mother had always told her that was her main problem. She could be great if she wouldn't get so nervous and 'pull a Lois.' Lucy's problem was, she always went too big, too fast. She wasn't patient by any definition of the word. She wanted immediate gratification and she wanted it yesterday.

Ella Sullivan Lane and her infinite wisdom, Ha! What a joke. The only thing Lois's mother had taught her was how to run- fast. And when she died, soon after Lois's fifteenth birthday, The General had taken over that role. While Lucy was busy living it up and conning stupid, rich teenage boys at prep school, in to buying her expensive novelties.

Lois was being hauled around like a spare piece of luggage; the only difference between her mother and father was that The General preferred to hop countries, instead of states.

That was her life- one big series of mini vacations. Lois couldn't think of one place she'd ever called home. Hell, even now that she was living in Metropolis she still couldn't keep still. She had her bags all ready to go for when the time came to leave. And thanks to Lucy's little debt problem that time, was fast approaching. She couldn't afford to screw up any more.

Lois sighed. It was this stupid town, she surmised, it was messing with her head. It reminded her of every other small town her mother had dragged her too when she was child only to abandon weeks later. Of course, those towns hadn't been inhabited by a stupid to-big-for-my-britches Sheriff.

"Look, we just need to stay away from him," she snapped, pushing all thoughts of Clark Kent out of her head.

Lucy whined, "but he's gorgeous!"

"He's a cop," an annoying, too observant for his own good, over confident, jerk cop!

"I wish he'd handcuff me," Chloe interjected lightly.

"Don't hold your breath. He only has eyes for Lois," Lucy stated.

"What?" Lois scoffed.

Lucy shrugged. "He couldn't stop looking at you."

"Don't be ridiculous. He wasn't trying to come on to me; he was just trying to intimidate me, that's all! At least, she hoped that was all.

Clark pushed open the screen door to the kitchen and found his mother finishing up a salad.

He kissed her cheek, "hi, mom."

Martha looked up from the celery she was chopping and grinned, "hi honey, you staying for dinner?"

Clark looked mournfully at the pot roast resting on the stove; it smelled like heaven, "nope. I promised to take Tilly out tonight. Her choice and you know how particular she can be."

Martha grinned. "I suppose you'll be taking her to Metropolis- again."

Clark shrugged. "What can I say? She's a city girl."

"Yes, she is. Something else you two have in common."

Clark gave his mother a look, "I'm not sure whether or not to be offended. Are you saying I'm a city girl, too?"

The older woman smacked her son playfully on the arm, "you know what I mean, Clark. She's been dying to move away and so have you. You're journalism degree isn't doing any good here in Smallville."

Clark popped a piece of celery in his mouth, "true. But that criminal justice minor is doing wonders!"

Martha sighed, she wanted to continue the conversation, but she saw Clark inching a sneaky hand toward the roast. "Don't even think about it! That's not for you!"

Clark knew he probably wasn't going to get a better opening so he took his chances. "Speaking of your guests, Mom," he tried to segue subtly, "Exactly how much do you know about them?"

Martha gave her son a bemused look, "Let's see, um I know two of them are sisters and the other is their cousin, the blonde, I believe. And when they made their reservations they just said they were Met U students and asked if I had Wi-Fi."

"Anything else?"

Martha put her hands on her hips, "Why? What's going on, Clark? You don't think they're dangerous, do you?" She tried not to giggle at the end, but couldn't help it. Martha Kent prided herself on being a good judge of character. She would have known something was wrong when she met the girls. Her intuition had told her they were harmless.

Clark made a noncommittal gesture; "I'm just doing a little favor for our neighbor, that's all. Ben got into a little fender bender with them this afternoon." Well, it wasn't technically a lie. He was just omitting information.

Martha fumed. "Ooo! That old fuddy duddy! I swear if he didn't have something to complain about he'd probably-"

"Mom!" Clark had never heard his mother go on about anyone, the way she went on about Benjamin Hubbard. Though, Clark had his suspicions. Ben had been coming around more often to borrow things from the farm over the past couple of years.

Martha smiled sheepishly at her son, "sorry, dear, the heat must be getting to me. We're having an unusually warm spring, don't you think?"

Clark tried not to shake his head, "Yeah, mom. What ever you say. Look, I've got to go pick up Tilly. I'll see you tomorrow." He kissed her good-bye, "I love you."

Clark drove slowly, his hands wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. He couldn't seem to get Lois Leitz's perfect, bleeding lips out of his head. There was no doubt in his mind that she was trouble. A woman who could go from frozen icicle to burning ember in .02 seconds was definitely hiding something. Although, the other two girls seemed relatively normal, of course, if he was being honest with himself he hadn't really been paying too much attention to them.

Lois had captured his interest right away. He could have easily told himself it was because of her stiff demeanor and how it had clashed so violently against her sister and cousin's relaxed state. But that wasn't entirely true. There was something else, something he couldn't quite put his finger on-

Clark shook his head. He was being ridiculous. The only thing that was drawing him to Lois Leitz and her family were his suspicions. If there was anything Clark had learned in his life it was to trust his hunches and not get distracted by lips and legs.

No matter how sexy they were.

Pulling into the Ross's driveway, Clark put his car in park and honked the horn. Ten seconds later his six year-old-daughter, Matilda, came rushing out the door, a huge smile plastered on her face.

Clark couldn't help but return her grin. There was definitely no denying she was his. She was almost his spitting image, dark wavy hair, blue/green eyes, same chin, same strong built body. Nothing about Tilly was fragile or petit. She was one of the tallest girls in her class- and definitely, one of, if not the smartest. The only part of her mother, Clark could see in her appearance was in the shape of her face and her high cheekbones. Clark was thankful that his Kryptonian genes were potent.

Tilly opened the passenger seat door, and almost ripped it off its hinges. "Careful, sweetheart!" Her father reprimanded, gently. He waved to his friend Pete, who standing on the front porch.

"Sorry, daddy! I just have something very important to tell you." She beamed at him.

"Oh," Clark said, cautiously. The last time Tilly had something important to tell him was when she decided to become a vegetarian after her school field trip to a pig farm. And even though that had only lasted about a week, he still couldn't get her to eat hot dogs. "What is it, Punkin?" He asked, revving up the engine and pulling out of the Ross's drive.

The little girl took a breath then twisted in her seat to face him. "Daddy, I've decided," she paused for dramatic affect. "I've decided its time I had a mother."

Clark almost swerved off the road. "What? Uh, Til that's not something for you decide-"

"Why not? Grandma even agrees with me!" Tilly informed her father, "She said you need a wife and I need a mother!"

"So it was grandma who put this into your head." Clark should have known.

"No," Tilly turned up her chin indignantly at her father, "Abigail Meyer said I needed one first. Grandma just agreed."

"Who is Abigail Meyer?" Clark asked.

"My best friend."

"I thought Tamara Doyle was your best friend?" Clark said, dumbly.

Tilly shook her head, "that was last week. This week Abby is my best friend."

"I see. Well, you should tell Abby to mind her own business." Clark muttered.

Tilly crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Clark, "Well, I think she's right."

Clark glanced at his distraught face, her eyes round and her bottom lip jutted out in a pout. "Tilly-"

"Daddy," the little girl would not be silenced. She had a mission. "Brad Weinheimer told me he has two mommies! It's not fair! I don't even have one!" Tilly contemplated that information for moment, then asked, "Do you think one of Brad's moms would wanna be my mom?"

Clark pretended to cough to hide his laughter. "I'm sorry honey, I don't think it works like that."

"Oh," the six-year-old sighed and shrugged defeatedly into her seat. "Will you just think about it, maybe? Puh-leese?" Clark didn't have to look to know she was giving him her quintessential I'm-your-only-little-girl-so-you-should-give-me-whatever-I-want, face.

How could he refuse her? He was weak. "Yes, sweetie. I'll at least think about it," he winked at her. "Maybe." His reward was a small hopeful smile. Clark settled more firmly into his seat, "Now where would you like to go for dinner?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

TBC

A/N:*gets down on knees* Please review/comment/critique PLEASE! Told you I wasn't too proud