A/N: Hello Hart Fans! Hope you enjoy this new story. I have updates for Fragile and Facing on the way so stay tuned!
Jennifer Edwards exited the elevator at Hart Industries for her lunch meeting with Jonathan Hart. The two of them were chairing a committee to raise money for the new cancer research center at UCLA Hospital. They had met many times at various charity events over the past six months since she had loved to Los Angeles. Undeniably he was a most charming man and she was looking forward to working with him. He was the envy of many men in this city and had women swooning in every direction. But his heart belonged to someone very special.
"Mr. Hart, Miss Edwards is here." Jonathan Hart's secretary, Deanne, buzzed him from the outer office
"Oh no." He gasped,"The hospital benefit committee. I completely forgot in all this mess with DynaTech. But please send her in. I'll make the excuses myself."
He got up and met her as she came through the door, "Miss Edwards, please come in."
"Please call me Jennifer, Mr. Hart." She insisted
"Only if you call me Jonathan." He replied, closing the door behind her, "I'm afraid I've had an emergency meeting come up and I won't be able to have lunch and discuss the benefit right now."
"Oh, I understand." She said smiling warmly, struggling to hide her disappointment
"Listen, my days are pretty frantic sometimes." He explained, "I was wondering if you would consider having dinner tonight instead."
"Sure, why don't we meet somewhere nearby?" She suggested
He smiled, "Actually, I had something else in mind." He paused, "Dinner at my house."
"I don't want to put you out." She insisted
"You won't be but I have to let you know it might be a bit of a circus." He said, "You see, I have a daughter, she's twelve and I like to be home in the evenings as much as possible. Being a single parent, well..."
She held up her hand, "Say no more. I completely understand." She recalled hearing the terrible situation of his wife's disappearance ten years earlier, she had never been heard from or found, dead or alive
"Great." He said, "How about six thirty?"
"Sounds good." She replied with another smile
"I really am sorry you came all the way over here. I should have called you when I found out about this meeting." He apologized
"That's alright, I had some errands to run downtown anyway." She replied, "I know how hectic things can be. I promise I won't take too much of your time tonight."
"Well, my daughter will probably be trying to take up yours." He said with a chuckle, "She's very inquisitive, if not downright nosy." He glanced at his watch, "I really need to get to my meeting..."
"Of course." She said heading for the door, "I'll see you tonight."
They exited his office, "Deanne, would you give Miss Edwards one of my cards with my home address on it please." He turned to Jennifer with a smile, "I look forward to tonight."
"Yes, me too." She said watching him walk away
"Miss Edwards." Deanne said
Jennifer turned back to her, "Yes."
"Mr. Hart's address."
"Oh, thank you." Jennifer replied with a smile and left
/
Jennifer pulled up to the front of the house on Willow Pond Road having been buzzed in by Jonathan's houseman, Max, who greeted her at the door.
"Miss Edwards, please come in." He said in a gravelly voice, "Let me take your coat."
"Thank you." She said, having changed from her tailored pant suit to a cobalt blue silk blouse and tailored blank slacks
"Mr. H will be with you in just a minute. He got an important phone call from the office." Max explained as he escorted her into the massive great room, "This latest merger at Hart Industries is becoming a real headache."
"Yes, it seemed that way this afternoon." She replied surveying the room, warm and inviting with a stone fireplace, full bar and library behind a mahogany desk
"May I get you a drink?" He offered, "White wine, perhaps?"
"That would be lovely." She put down her notebook she brought with notes about the benefit on the coffee table
"I'll be right back. We have a bottle chilling in the kitchen."
She watched him leave and once again surveyed the room, looking over the books in the library, Keats, Chaucer, well read isn't he? She thought, then made her over to the piano noticing the photographs that sat atop the black shiny surface of the baby grand. One in particular of Jonathan holding a baby.
"That's me with my dad when I was a baby." A small voice came from behind her
Jennifer jumped, startled, turning around to find a young, dark haired, girl in pigtails, jeans and a t shirt that was dirty and grass stained, carrying a football, "Well, hi there."
"Hi." the girl said, "I'm Riley."
Jennifer approached her and extended her hand, "Hello Riley, I'm Jennifer."
"Yeah, Daddy told me you were coming." She explained shaking her hand, "He said I have to change clothes because you're here for dinner. I have to wear a dress."
Jennifer stifled a laugh, this one is a pistol, she thought, "Well, I don't know about a dress but a clean shirt is always good." she said with a wink
"Young lady, what did I tell you to do a half hour ago?" Jonathan said coming in from the kitchen with a wine glass
"Dad." She whined
"Riley, it's not asking too much that you dress up a little when we have a guest." He admonished her then looked at Jennifer, "I see you two have met."
"Indeed we have." Jennifer nodded, "And really, don't make her dress up on my account. Besides, every girl should have a favorite pair of comfortable jeans and a t shirt to wear around the house." She gave Riley another wink, but didn't want to seem presumptuous with someone else's child
"Please Dad." She begged
Jonathan sighed and held up his hands in surrender, "Alright, alright but go ahead and wash up and put on a clean t shirt, you've been outside playing in God knows what."
"Yes, Sir." She said and turned to leave
"Jonathan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interfere, really." She apologized
"Don't worry about it." He said, "It's just every now and then I try to get her out of jeans and to look like a girl. She's always been a tomboy. I don't know if it's just how she is or if it's living in a house with two men. In fact, the only reason she has dresses at all is because her grandmother buys them for her. I wouldn't know the first thing."
"She's adorable." Jennifer replied, noting the look of sadness that briefly clouded his eyes, "Looks a lot like you."
"She's twelve going on forty. She probably won't seem so adorable by the end of the night." He explained then noticed the glass in his hand, "Oh, your wine."
"Thank you." She said taking the glass, "You have a beautiful home."
"Thank you. We've only lived here a few years." He explained, "Well, dinner won't be ready for a few minutes. Would you like to get started talking about the benefit?"
"Sure." She explained, "I have some ideas jotted down." She picked up her notebook off the table
"Let's sit down." He gestured to the sofa
She took a seat, "Well, I thought we should go for something besides the typical stuffy black tie affair. Maybe a talent show? Or a concert with local talent? Sell tickets to raise the money."
"Talent show?" He questioned
"Well that's just an idea. I know a talented pianist who might be willing to perform a concert." She added
"I actually like that idea." He said, "Why don't you see if you can firm up a date and we'll go from there."
She smiled, "I'll do that tomorrow and let you know."
"Well, then does that mean we have nothing more to discuss on this topic tonight?"
"I suppose not." She said, "But I guess we should have a Plan B if this falls through."
"Hmm." He said scratching his chin, "What about an auction?"
"That's a good idea as well." She acknowledged
He nodded firmly, "Okay then, you talk to your friend then we'll know which way to go."
She looked at her watch, "You know, maybe I should go. I mean, we can't really do more until we..."
"Oh no, I invited you to dinner." He insisted, "Please stay. Max would be devastated. He's come up with a new recipe for beef tenderloin and he's dying to show off." He said with a wink
She found herself smiling again, "Well, how can I say no to that?"
/
Throughout dinner Riley peppered Jennifer with questions, much to Jonathan's consternation and Jennifer's amusement.
"So, are you and my dad dating now?" Riley asked
Jonathan almost choked on his tenderloin, "Riley!" He managed
Jennifer laughed, "It's alright." She insisted, "No, actually we are working on something together."
"Oh, at Hart Industries?"
"No, for the hospital, to help sick children."
"Are you a doctor?" Riley asked
Jennifer shook her head, taking a bite of beef, "No, but your daddy and I are trying to help them."
"So what do you do?" She asked
"I teach at UCLA." She explained, "And I'm a writer."
"What do you write?"
"Riley, how about you let the woman eat?" He chided
"Sorry." She mumbled and turned her attention back to her plate
"I don't mind the questions." Jennifer insisted, "I like a girl who's curious and speaks her mind."
Riley smiled and Jonathan marveled at how well Jennifer handled his feisty daughter. Her way of knowing just how to respond. He also noticed how expressive her eyes were, conveying warmth as well as humor and her warm inviting smile.
"I've written lots of different things." She went on explaining, "Like news stories, human interest, I also wrote a book. Now I like teaching others to write but I still do some myself every now and then."
"Human interest?"
"Yes, about people who do good things and good things that happen to people." She explained
"You should write a story about my daddy, he does good things and he's very interesting." Riley said with a giggle
All Jonathan and Jennifer could do was look at each other and laugh as well.
Max cleared the dishes and Riley was instructed to go upstairs and finish her homework and get ready for bed. Jonathan walked Jennifer to the door.
"So, I'll give you a call tomorrow, one way or another."
"Good." He said pausing, "Listen, I'm sorry about Riley. She can get a little carried away."
"Jonathan, you don't have anything to apologize for. She's delightful. Curious, bright, funny. You're doing a wonderful job with her."
He didn't know why but hearing those words from her meant a great deal, "Thank you...well, I'll talk to you tomorrow, then."
"Yes, thank you again for dinner." She said as she walked out the door
He waited until she started her car and headed down the driveway before shutting the door and heading upstairs to check on Riley.
Her door was cracked and he peaked in to see her in bed already, "Hey, you got all your homework done already?"
"Yes, Sir." She said, "I just had a few math problems to finish
"Good." He sat down on the edge of the bed, "Listen, you really shouldn't have asked Jennifer so many questions tonight."
"Was she mad?" Riley asked
"No, but sometimes you should just be a little less curious, okay?" He replied
"She's really nice." Riley said, "Are you going to see her again?"
"Riley, we're not dating." He reminded her
"You like her don't you?"
Jonathan thought for a moment, "I suppose and yes, she is very nice. Now, it's time for you to get some sleep."
"Okay." She said, "G'night, Daddy."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Good night, sweetheart."
As he got up and turned out the light, he thought about the lovely auburn haired woman. Yes, he liked her, he found he liked her a lot.
TBC