Two Harts – Missing Parts
Chapter 2

It was after 8:00pm before the happy couple came up for another breath of reality.

Jonathan had fixed his mind on taking things as slowly as possible. The fleeting thought that he truly didn't know anything about this woman crossed his mind a couple of times. But it was at those times that she found the exact spot on his collarbone with her lips…the spot that spoke far too loudly to other parts of his male anatomy.

The two remained tangled, in various positions, on the couch with semblances of clothing still covering their most intimate parts. A beeping from Jonathan's watch on the side table broke that particular intimate moment enough that Jennifer leaned back to observe the situation. Jonathan allowed her to separate from him just a few inches and then watched her carefully, adoringly, questioning her thoughts, yet so entranced by her that he wouldn't even try to speak.

Jennifer giggled.

"I feel like a school girl," she admitted with blushing cheeks – or were those marks of love from his lips.

Jonathan smiled ever-so-slightly. His nose twitched as he breathed in her scent. Although she was sitting on his lap, practically, he still reached a hand to her bicep to stay in close contact with her.

"What?" he wondered about her thought.

"I," Jennifer stared into his mesmerizing, blue eyes and smiled, "I feel like I'm in high school and we should be in the back seat of a car at some Look Out Point where my father or the police are going to come knock on the window any minute." She laughed quietly.

Jonathan rubbed his hand up and down her arm, gently caressing it as he listened to her voice. "We can make that happen if you'd like." His eyebrows wiggled and his smile grew a bit bigger as her eyes grew wide.

"No," she said slowly before lifting her index finger to wipe off a bit of lipstick that somehow remained on the corner of his mouth, following their hours of necking and mouth to mouth antics.

"Good, because if your father shows up here…now…I'm afraid I can't let him take you home."

Jonathan shifted them so that Jennifer's back was against the arm of the couch. He kept her legs in his lap but situated them for more of a conversation, at least for a few minutes, than their previous activities.

Jennifer took in a long breath and looked at the man who was staring at her face. She placed her palm against his cheek and ran her thumb along his cheekbone.

"Are you ok?" He wondered seriously.

Jennifer nodded. "I'm just not sure if I'm in disbelief, or maybe I'm dreaming, or… I think I just need a few minutes to think about the last few hours." She smiled at him and leaned forward to place a kiss on his lips.

"What's there to think about?" Jonathan relished the feel of her hand on his cheek, the sound of her voice, the look on her face and even her unkempt hair that was just beginning to come loose from the tight hairdo that she had worn each time he had seen her.

Jennifer sighed and looked at herself as well. "You…" she glanced back at his face and grazed her teeth over her bottom lip as she thought.

"Yes?" Jonathan raised his eyebrows. "I'm what?"

"You're Jonathan Hart."

The right side of Jonathan's lips curled up in a mischievous, boyish grin. "That's what they tell me," he laughed one little chuckle. "Would you like to see my driver's license?" He reached toward his back hip to retrieve his wallet and then began to look around, finding the black leather container peeking out from the couch cushions.

"Now how'd that get back there?" Jennifer watched him retrieve the money holder which he opened and produced his California identification.

"Either you were copping a feel of my toosh, or WE were squirming around enough to make it fall out of my back pocket." He directed the line at Jennifer, tilting his head down to try and seem more serious.

Jennifer smiled and wagged her own eyebrows at him. "I'll admit… it may have been a little of both."

The two smiled at each other before leaning in, almost instinctively, to share a sweet kiss.

"But Jonathan," Jennifer leaned back against the arm of the couch and crossed her legs on top of his thighs, seeming very comfortable. "I've spent two months here in London, working on stories, making connections and focusing on Kingsford Motors. At the very hint that you might be the financial savior of that company the whole town was in an uproar."

"Rumors spread like wildfire. We are all lucky SIR Charles and his henchman didn't completely ruin the deal." Jonathan leaned back, and rested his arm on the back of the couch.

"Right…" Jennifer watched his business persona come into focus. "You know I still have a story to finish, right?" she balled one hand into a fist and leaned her chin down on it.

"What are you getting at?" Jonathan tilted his head to look at her.

"I tried and tried and TRIED to get into your room, to get the story about you and Kingsford Motors. You shot me down at every turn and when we first met you didn't have a good word to say about me." She watched Jonathan suck in a breath as he remembered their conversation in the bar.

"And yet," Jennifer continued, "after nearly being killed, more than once, you want to marry me?"

"Yes," Jonathan answered simply. He took another deep breath and let his face once again resort to that of a content man.

"Yes?" Jennifer responded with a quick shake of her head. "Yes? That's it?"

"Yes," Jonathan nodded, raising his eyebrows but avoiding direct contact with her eyes, "after nearly being killed, after rescuing you, after watching you admit your real name… after finding a rose on my pillow…" He stopped and looked into her eyes that were watching his every expression.

"All it took was the rose?"

Both of them smiled together. He had wanted more that night. Had he stayed awake she may have provided more for him that night, thanks to the champagne and the hours of company they had experienced together.

"I knew who you were the minute I sat down beside you in the bar," Jennifer admitted.

"Thus the double vodka martini, straight up?" Jonathan recalled glancing at the gorgeous redhead as she ordered the strong drink and then effortlessly slid the olive off the toothpick and responded to his advances.

"Mmm-hmmm," Jennifer nodded her answer. "Max had just told me to buzz off and then there I was sitting right next to you."

"Fate has a funny way of dealing the hands, huh?"

"You think that was fate?" Jennifer tilted her head to rest her neck.

"Had to be," Jonathan shrugged his shoulders. "Otherwise do you think you'd be here right now?"

Jennifer looked directly into his eyes. They held their gaze for a long moment before she responded. "Here's to fate."

The two met again for another kiss, short, sweet and simple.

"Are you hungry?" Jonathan asked after another half hour of just sitting together in near silence.

Jennifer thought for a moment. "Starving, to tell you the truth." She wriggled out of his embrace when he loosened his hold. "And I think I need to freshen up…" she added while looking down at her clothing that would never pass as business attire again.

Jonathan stood, pointed down the hall but then stopped before telling her where the bathroom was located. "Wait, come here," he took her hand, and began walking with her toward the bedroom.

"Jonathan," she whined slightly, recalling the last time he attempted to show her this very room.

"No, just give me a chance here, will ya?" he chuckled at her insecurity.

She sat down on the edge of the bed while he went toward the dresser.

"I'll give you a couple of options here, okay?" Jonathan opened the top drawer and pulled out a pair of his pajamas. "You can have these to sleep in tonight, or…" his voice trailed off as he walked to the closet and moved hangers around until he found what he was after. "Or, you can use this." He held up one of his dress shirts, freshly ironed with the collar creased precisely and cuffs looking as sharp as possible.

Jennifer looked at him with innocent eyes, curious yet still a little unsure.

"I promise you I will do my best to be a perfect gentleman, no matter which you choose to wear. Scout's honor." He held up his hand as if he was taking an oath.

"You were a boy scout?" She questioned. "That actually doesn't surprise me. And as for you being a gentleman… I would expect nothing less...unless…" Jennifer touched the silky garments that were lying beside her on the bed. She momentarily imagined what it would be like to wear his pajama top and to actually snuggle into bed beside him. Her breath hitched as she forced herself to look back into his face.

"Unless?" Jonathan wondered.

Jennifer recovered slightly. "If I'm wearing your p.j.'s, what will you wear to bed?" she attempted to change the topic.

Jonathan smiled that smug little grin at her again. "You'll just have to wait and see."

With that he turned to walk out the door.

"Jonathan," Jennifer stopped him with a throaty call of his name. "Am I sleeping… with you?"

To try and hide his own excitement at that thought Jonathan kept his back turned to her as he answered. "I would prefer that… but I guess Max's bed is also available."

Jennifer walked into the master bathroom of the suite. For the first time in hours she was alone with her thoughts. She had taken a minute to re-hang his dress shirt in the closet. Her fingers had nervously smoothed over the collar of the pajama top. She glanced at the pants and knew her overnight attire was going to be a lesson in 'becoming a Hart'.

She liked that idea. The thought made her nervous and yet she liked it. Jennifer…Edwards…Hart.

She looked in the mirror and began taking the pins and combs from her hair to let her auburn locks flow loose over her shoulders. Would he like her hair down? He'd never seen it down or in wild chaos after a night of restless sleep.

She ran her fingers through her hair to fluff it up after being in a tight bun all day long.

Jennifer noticed the manual, straight-blade razor sitting on a towel by the sink. The can of Barbasol shaving cream and the bottle of more expensive aftershave sat next to each other. So, he wasn't an electric shaver kind of man. Suddenly she couldn't wait to watch him shave. And suddenly she couldn't wait to feel her cheeks against his, right after shaving…then again when his 5 o' clock shadow made its presence felt.

She began undressing, slowly, watching herself and laughing as she noticed that three of her six blouse buttons were hanging loosely from the cloth. Her camisole was stretched, reminding her that she wasn't the only one 'copping feels' of various body parts during their makeout sessions.

She sighed aloud. She couldn't remember him touching her chest…her breasts…because she had been so enthralled by his kisses that she really hadn't cared where his hands had landed on her body.

Jennifer had noted that a certain spot on his collarbone made his whole body ignite. She had heard his groans the first time she had kissed him there. Then the second time, when she sucked a little harder on his skin, she had felt a reaction from lower on his body.

She sucked in a deep breath then blew her bangs away from her eyebrows trying to cool herself.

Jonathan had put his bit of alone time to good use. After leaving her to choose night clothes, he had ordered room service then called his right hand man in Los Angeles with a short list of instructions for Hart Industries.

"I'm taking another week in London, Harry. No, nothing wrong at all. I just want to make sure this Kingsford Motors stuff is all sealed and kosher. What? Well, yes, the lady in the pictures…she has a little something to do with… Harry, come on, I don't need a round of 20 questions right now. I promise I'll give you a full report when I'm back in the states. Just have DeAnn clear my schedule for the next week. I'll fly into New York and probably work out of the Manhattan office once I'm stateside again. Har- Harr-Haaarrry… please just work with me on this. I need to ask you another favor."

Jonathan waited for his dear friend and trusted business cohort to stop asking random questions that Mr. Hart wasn't quite ready or prepared to answer just yet. He stopped listening to Harry long enough to think about Max…Max's plan to keep Jennifer from flying home to New York earlier in the day…and Jonathan's own plan to propose to her between saving the British automaking company and convincing Max to wear a powdered wig and chauffeur them around the city in a horse drawn carriage. Jonathan smiled at that last memory. Max bet on horses; Max didn't 'drive' them.

When Jonathan heard Harry calling his name from across the ocean he snapped back to his current idea. "I need a number for a reporter in New York named Jennifer Edwards. Can you get that for me, and call me back, please? She's at the Post…I think…maybe the Times. She's been reporting from here in London for the past…"

Jonathan wished Harry's knowledge of his personal life didn't match Harry's knowledge of his business life. But unfortunately the two parts of Jonathan Hart's life crossed paths quite frequently. And so, Jonathan's only hope in this phone conversation was confession.

"Okay…okay…Harry, here's the deal. Yes, that's Jennifer Edwards in the pictures. Yes, she has a lot to do with me staying in London for a while longer. No, I don't know where she works…yet…but I will find out – if you will please help me get a number. And Harry…you and Max are the only two people who need to know anything about this woman and me. Is that understood?"

He could hear his friend chuckle, sigh and practically smile from ear to ear on the other end of the phone line.

"Jonathan, is this serious?" Harry asked genuinely.

"Yeah, Harry. It is."

"Here, she's listed with the Post. Here's her office number."

Jonathan wrote down the numbers as Harry recited them from the New York paper.

His next overseas call connected him to Jennifer's office. They were expecting her home tomorrow but he planned to keep her all to himself across the Atlantic.

"I understand MS. Edwards has been trying to reach me for several days. If she's still interested in an interview she can meet me on Thursday. I'm in England till Friday. That will be my only opportunity to chat with her. Can you get the message to her? She's very persistent. Have her call my hotel at this number…"

The woman on the other end had bent over backward to take the message for Jennifer. She was willing to bet Jennifer would hop right back on a plane and head back to England for this interview. So she quickly dialed Jennifer's home number and left a message…

"Jennifer, it's Andi, you are not gonna believe this…I just talked to Jonathan Hart – THE Jonathan Hart! He's granting you an interview but he's still in London and will be there till Friday. Go back Jennifer! You can't turn down an interview with this guy. Give me a call once you're settled. I'll go ahead and tell Charles what's going on. Don't worry about coming into the office…just grab some sleep and go back to London. Good luck with Mr. Hart – be sure and tell me if he's as handsome in person!"

Jonathan smiled. He was quite sure Andi would cover for Jennifer. Her deadline would be extended, as would her London adventure, as would their engagement celebration. He made his way back to the bedroom to check on his fiancée.

He headed straight for the bathroom after seeing the empty bedroom. He tried the knob on the door only to find it locked. Little noises on the other side of the door made him wonder if she had decided what to wear or if she was having second thoughts.

"Are you okay in there?" His voice jolted her from the erotic memory she was enjoying.

She cleared her throat to answer him and heard his footsteps right outside the bathroom door. She was slightly bummed that she had closed and locked that door.

"I, I'm… fine…" she stumbled. "Just…still trying to decide about what to wear." The answer was the truth. He didn't need to know why it was taking so long…did he?

"Jennifer," Jonathan started again softly. "I can have a concierge find a nightgown for you if you'd be more comfortable. Or…I've got two bathrobes. One is in there, the other is in the closet. You just tell me what you'd like." He paused for a moment to let her think. "Oh, and…I, I'll sleep on the couch if you want me to. Please don't think you have to sleep with me tonight. I'm realizing how fast this is all going. I apologize, I don't want to push you into anything." He leaned his head against the door, hoping that he hadn't already pushed too far.

"Jennifer? I love you."

Jennifer listened to his voice. He was apologetic; he was kind; he was thoughtful; and he loved her.

"Jonathan?"

"Yeah?"

"I…I love you, too."

His smile radiated through the door. It didn't matter what she was wearing when she came out of the bathroom. His clothes, her clothes, no clothes… Her sentiment was all he needed to know his future was sealed. Jennifer Edwards, journalist extraordinaire, was going to be Mrs. Jonathan Hart.

Two Harts - Chapter 2 - Two Harts