"Jonathan, hi. How are you?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to hear your voice".

"You did?"

"Yeah, I did".

"That's so sweet".

They talked for a few hours, about all different kinds of things, and then finally Jonathan said he was going to let her go so she could get some sleep.

"I'll see you in a few days, though".

"I can't wait."

"Jennifer-do you happen to have that Alex guy's number?"

"No, I don't."

"Oh. Well, alright".

"Jonathan, why do you want his number?"

"Well, he was at a restaurant one night, and he made a fool of himself with this lady he was trying to impress and I had to step in and rescue her, and I just really want to thank him for helping me meet a very beautiful lady".

Jennifer chuckled.

"Well, I'm sorry. I don't even have his last name. But I do owe him some thanks as well".

"Do you have big plans this weekend?"

"No, not really. I am going to paint my bathroom tomorrow, if I can decide on a color. And I need to put my summery clothes away, and get out my winter clothes. But that's about it. What about you?"

"Well, I am having dinner with a friend tomorrow, but other than that, I don't have much planned. I have tickets to the Rams game on Sunday, but I haven't even decided if I am even going to go yet or not".

"Well, I'm beat. So, I'm going to change into my pajamas and head to bed. Have a great weekend, if I don't talk to you again before Wednesday".

"Thanks, you too".

They hung up the phone and Jennifer headed to bed, thinking of Jonathan the whole time.

Across the nation in California, Jonathan was lying in bed, thinking of Jennifer.

He found himself mentally comparing her to the other women he had dated.

She wasn't like them at all. She was classy, elegant, sophisticated, and intelligent. She wasn't after him for his money like he suspected some of the women he had dated had been. She didn't so far appear to be needy, clingy, or the kind of woman who would manipulate a man to get what she wants. She was a cut above the rest, for sure.

And he couldn't wait to have dinner with her, on Wednesday.

***A few days later***

It was Tuesday. Jennifer was at work. She was hard at work on another article. She was in the middle of the rough draft, and had a deadline to finish it by Friday.

After she left work today, she was planning to go shopping, for among other things, an outfit to wear to dinner with Jonathan.

She had never before so looked forward to a date like she had this one. She had been on many dates, but she hadn't been in a lot of relationships. Only a few had lasted longer than a couple months. Most guys couldn't handle her heavy work schedule, and how she loved to travel for a story. The one relationship that lasted longer than 4 months, well…it ended rather unpleasantly. She promised herself as she started over from that one that she was never going to wind up in a situation like that again. Even though she was the one who ended things, it still hurt. She threw herself into her work, and devoted all of her time and energy to her career, instead of focusing on finding love. And it worked, it lauded her lots of successes. But at the end of the day, she went home alone, and some nights, that was hard to deal with.

She just hoped beyond all hope that Jonathan wasn't going to be like the others.

***Jonathan***

Jonathan walked out of his office building in Los Angeles and headed to his lunch date. This lady's name was Lindsey. She was a sister of an executive at Hart Industries. He had agreed to the lunch date a few weeks before, but due to his meetings and everything, it had been postponed. And then he met Jennifer. Truth be told, he didn't want to go on this date any longer, but he was a gentleman, and the gentlemanly thing to do would be to go on the date, and not make another one. He told himself that the only way he would see Lindsey again would be if she could make him feel the way Jennifer did. Honestly, he didn't see that happening.

Lindsey was beautiful, tall and blonde. She was quite young though, barely in her 20's. He was almost 45. Age is just a number, and so is the number between the ages.

Jonathan was at their table at L'Orangerie when she walked in.

He stood up and the host led her to him.

She was wearing a black spaghetti strap tight dress, with black stilettos. She looked pretty, but honestly, Jonathan felt she looked cheap. She wore her hair down, flat ironed to perfection, and she had bright red lipstick on.

"Hi Lindsey".

"The elusive Jonathan Hart. Finally, we meet".

"Yes, sorry. The life of a businessman never ends."

They perused the menu, and then ordered. She asked him questions about himself, more than the business. Basically, she was focused on what parties in town he was going to, and what restaurants he frequented. After about 20 minutes, he knew that she was nothing like Jennifer.

After their food came, they ate and he tried to deflect her questions and asked her about herself.

"So, are you in college?"

"I was. But I stopped going. I was only there for the parties anyways".

"So, what kind of work do you do?"

"I don't work. I have a few friends who take care of me, and I'm in the market for another one". She gave him a knowing glance.

A sugar daddy. She was after a sugar daddy. Well, Jonathan Hart wouldn't be the one.

As soon as he finished his meal, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. He left his jacket on the back of the chair.

She decided to make her move. She stealthily did something under the table, and then discreetly put something in his jacket pocket for later.

He came back a few minutes later, and paid their check.

"Shall we?", he said, gesturing to the exit.

"Certainly".

They got to the door, and he noticed the press outside.

"Lindsey, there are reporters outside and they like to take my picture. So, please, just ignore them. I will walk you to your car, and if we just act normal, they will leave us alone".

She nodded.

He walked her to her car, and they were both ignoring the press.

As they got to her car, she tossed her purse through the sunroof, and then turned back to him.

"Thank you for lunch, can't wait to see you again".

"Lindsey, I-"

She grabbed his tie, pulled him closer to her and shoved her lips on his. She reached up and ran her hands through his air as she kissed him.

A few minutes later, she released him, winked at him, and then turned and got into her car.

The press was having a field day, but Jonathan's head was spinning so fast he didn't even notice that they had taken their picture.

He got in the car, trying to figure out how best to let her down easy next time.

The host came out then, and got his attention.

"Mr. Hart, your jacket".

"Ahh yes, thank you Martin".

He put the jacket on the front seat, and headed straight to the airport.

An hour later, he was on board his Gulfstream, headed to New York. And to Jennifer.

***Jennifer***

Jennifer got home from shopping, with her hands full of bags.

She came in and put them down, and started making dinner. Cooking wasn't really her thing, but she could technically do it. She tended to buy groceries that would allow her to throw something together quickly without a lot of effort, like salads, or pre-cooked things.

She decided on some shrimp tacos using leftover shrimp, and got busy. After she was done, she sat down with her meal and turned on the news.

She was in the middle of eating when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Jennifer, hi. It's Meredith. Listen, can I swing by for a few minutes? I need your opinion on an outfit".

"Certainly, come on".

"Thanks, see you soon".

Jennifer finished eating and then got up and cleaned the kitchen. Afterwards, she went and started putting away the new clothes she had bought.

She heard Meredith come in, and yelled for her that she was in the bedroom.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Ok, so here's the outfit."

She dug it out of a shopping bag.

It was a gorgeous light brown blouse with bell sleeves, and a soft blue cardigan to go with it.

"So, jeans, or a skirt? If jeans, destructed or regular? If a skirt, mini, or pencil?"

"Ok. First of all, this blouse can go with all of these. So, where are you planning on wearing this?"

"Dinner and a movie with Brandon."

"Then, be comfortable. I say go with jeans."

She put on the destructed jeans, and then put the blouse on with it.

"So, brown wedges?"

"Yes! Those would look great with this outfit".

Meredith changed back into her running pants and tank.

"So, what did you get today?"

"Well, I'm having dinner with Jonathan tomorrow. So, I bought this green dress and I figured I would wear it with either strappy black heels or black boots."

"Boots. It's going to be chilly tomorrow".

"Good point. And I got these jeans, and some new cowboy boots, and I also got this sparkly black dress for a work event or a cocktail party."

It was a deep v-neck black sparkly dress with cap sleeves. She quickly disrobed and put it on.

"That dress is hot on you, Jennifer. Wear that on a date with this guy and you will be putty in his hands".

"I will not, Meredith. Besides, he's not after me for my body".

"He will be if you wear that dress".

"Meredith!"

"I'm telling you the truth. You look hot in that dress".

"Well, thank you".

She started hanging it all up.

Meredith hung out a little longer, before deciding to go home.

"Thanks for letting me ambush you. I'll call you tomorrow".

"Nonsense, you are welcome here anytime, you know that".

Jennifer hugged her and then walked to the door, and opened it.

"Goodni-".

Jonathan was standing on the other side.

"Jonathan! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I flew in tonight for my meeting tomorrow, and thought I would come say hi".

"Oh, Jonathan, this is my friend Meredith. Meredith, this is Jonathan."

They shook hands.

"Nice to meet you-Jennifer, I will call you tomorrow".

"Ok, night. Jonathan, please come in".

"Thank you".

She closed the door behind him, and he put his suit jacket on the couch.

"How was your flight?"

"Fine, fine".

"That's good. Would like a drink?"

"Sure, I'd love one. But, only if you join me".

"I will gladly join you".

She went into the kitchen, and he followed her. She started getting all kinds of bottles from the cabinet.

"What would you like?"

He stepped up to play bartender.

"Let's see. It looks like you have all the ingredients for a Manhattan, so I will make one of those. What would you like?"

"How about a double vodka martini?"

"Straight up or on the rocks?"

"Straight up".

"With an olive?"

"Why not?"

"With a twist?"

"Let's live dangerously".

She leaned up to get two glasses down from the top shelf of the cabinet.

"Here, let me".

His hand brushed hers as she pulled it back down. They both felt this electric jolt.

He set the two glasses on the counter.

"Thank you".

She gave them a quick rinse and dry, and set them back down.

She sliced the lime for her drink while he mixed his.

"I read your article yesterday in the Times. It was very good".

She was flattered he read her article.

"Thank you, I appreciate that".

"What are you working on now?"

"I am writing an article on a doctor here in the city who devotes half of her paycheck, and one-off day per week to devote to providing free medical care to the homeless".

"That's very kind and generous. I'm sure you will write a wonderful article".

"Thank you, I am going to try my best".

He finished making her drink, and handed it to her.

She took a sip, and then looked at him.

"This is great, thank you".

They took their drinks to the couch, and sat down.

"How long have you lived here?"

"Ever since I moved to the city, so about 8 years".

"It's a nice place".

"Thank you. It's quiet. That's probably my favorite part".

"Quiet is nice".

She glanced over at the TV and saw that Inside Edition was on.

"Oh, they are talking about Tom Selleck. I love him! He's my favorite actor".

She grabbed the remote, and turned up the volume.

After the piece on Tom Selleck was over, the anchor launched into a segment called "Seen in LA".

"Seen in LA: Businessman Jonathan Hart got hot and heavy with his latest squeeze outside L'Orangerie today. He was seen pushing the blonde woman who has identified herself as Lindsey Barlow, a 22-year old aspiring model up against a car in the parking lot and kissing her passionately. This is just 3 days after he was photographed with a different lady at Owing's Bar and Grill in downtown Los Angeles. So, line up ladies, looks like the Casanova is on the prowl again. We reached Lindsey, and she said he was nothing but charming with her and she couldn't wait to see him again. Calls to Mr. Hart were not returned".

Jennifer turned the TV off and looked at Jonathan.

"Jennifer, it's not like that, honest. Please, just let me explain".

"You don't owe me any explanations".

"I want to explain it to you though. They got it all wrong".

"I'm listening". .

"I'll start with Saturday night. I had dinner with a friend who was in town. Her name is Nikki Stephanos. We had dinner at Owing's Bar and Grille, and afterwards, I drove her to her hotel and dropped her off".

"Ok. How about Lindsey?"

"Lindsey is the sister of an executive at Hart Industries. I had agreed to go on a date with her about a month or so ago. However, it kept getting rescheduled due to my hectic business schedule. Then, I met you. And to tell you the truth, I didn't want to go on the date. However, I am a gentleman, and I felt like I owed it to her to at least keep this date, and if it went as I suspected it would, and it did, my plan was to not make another one. She's 22. I'm almost 45. We are just very different, because while I have two business degrees, she dropped out of college halfway through her first semester. She lives off sugar daddies, and I don't want to be a sugar daddy to her".

"I appreciate that. How did you end up kissing her?"

"She pushed me up against the door of her car, grabbed my tie, pulled me closer to her and started kissing me. After the kiss was over, I walked away, I swear it".

"I believe you."

"You sound angry".

"I'm not angry. But, I have dated playboys before and I don't want to get involved with another one."

"I can respect that. The media likes to paint me as a playboy. I don't see myself as one, though. I have a lot of first dates, but I have never had a one-night stand. Nikki and I dated for 4 months, and we were engaged for about 2 months, but we both knew it wasn't right, so we called it off. She is the only woman who has gotten a second date since I was in college".

"That's very admirable".

"Well, I hope that you will still have dinner with me tomorrow. I think I'm going to head back to my hotel".

"I would love to have dinner with you, Jonathan. I hope you know I wasn't judging you, but rather asking you to explain".

"I understand that".

She stood up and took their glasses to the sink and came back to the den.

"What time are you free tomorrow?"

"I can leave the office between 4:30 and 5. I made our reservations for 7".

"Perfect. I will pick you up at 6:30".

"Great."

She didn't know what to do, so she just opened the door.

He grabbed his jacket off the couch, and pulled his keys out of the pocket. As he did, Lindsey's underwear tumbled to the floor.

Jennifer and Jonathan both stared at the red lace thong in shock.