***The Next Day***
Jennifer was at the paper, working, when her boss suddenly called an emergency meeting.
Once everyone was gathered around, he began.
"Our very own Jennifer Edwards has done it again. First, she wrote an excellent article on Teen Pregnancy, that got her promoted to Featured Reporter. Then, she wrote one on Prison Reform, which so far has led to the resignation of two officials, and the firing of 4 others. And then, she wrote this article on gun control. Also, we have Hayes Bankston, who wrote a three-part series on the foster care system and then he wrote one about political action groups. So, both of them have written articles that are front page worthy. And I don't mean just front page, front page, I mean Sunday morning front page. So, one will be printed this Sunday, and one will be printed the next Sunday. I'm keeping the who and when a surprise. Both of these articles plus the other ones have gotten each of you nominated for the California Excellence in Journalism award. Final decisions are being made next week. Let's give them both a round of applause and then get back to work"
Everyone clapped for Jennifer and Hayes. She didn't know what to think and was a little embarrassed by all the attention.
"Thanks everyone".
They all got back to work, and then before she knew it, it was lunch time.
She was just about to head to lunch when the phone rang.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hey."
"Hi. How are you?"
"Hungry. Want to meet me for lunch?"
"I would love to. What do you have in mind?"
"What about Sardello's? I can be there in 15 minutes".
"Perfect. I'll see you there".
She hung up and gathered her things and headed to meet Jonathan.
***Sardello's***
Jennifer pulled up and parked and then got out. Jonathan was standing by his car.
"Hi". She brightened up when she saw him.
"Hi". He gave her a quick kiss and then they walked inside.
They were seated pretty quickly.
He pulled her chair out for her, and then sat next to her.
She turned and placed her hand on his.
"Your invitation for lunch came at the perfect moment."
"Oh? Why's that?"
"Well, my boss called a meeting this morning, and showered me and another reporter with lots of praise. And it was a little overwhelming and embarrassing, and I was looking for the nearest hiding spot when you called".
"Well that's wonderful. Why would you be embarrassed by the praise?"
"Because I don't do what I do in order to get praise. I do it because I enjoy it and I try to find topics that I can write about to help people, not to reap compliments on myself".
"I understand that. But darling, you do great work. And the best way to know that your work is reaching people is for them to compliment you".
"Yeah, that's a good point. It just feels so strange".
"I'm sure you'll get used to it".
They looked over the menu, and made their selections.
"So, I was wondering. What if you came to dinner tonight, and I introduced you to Max?"
"I would love that".
"After dinner, he's going to head to a poker game, so you can spend the night if you want".
"That sounds nice".
He leaned over and kissed her.
"Good. I was hoping you would say yes".
"Well, I'm glad I made you happy".
He noticed the pensive look on her face.
"What is it?"
"I want to ask you something. But I don't know how to say it".
He leaned over closer to her.
"No, I'm not seeing anyone else. You are the only woman I am dating at the moment, and the only one I'm interested in".
"How did you know I was going to ask you that?"
"Just a gut feeling".
She smiled at him and kissed him.
After a nice lunch that ended all too soon for Jennifer's liking, Jonathan paid the check and they headed out to the parking lot.
"I'll come pick you up around 6 tonight".
"Ok sounds good. Thanks for lunch".
"Anytime, gorgeous".
He gave her a few quick kisses and then opened the door for her.
"I'll pick you up at 6".
"I'll be waiting".
She drove back to the office, thinking about him the whole way.
***Jennifer's Apartment***
Jennifer got home at 5:30, and started packing a bag for Jonathan's house.
She quickly put on some black skinny pants, black heels, and a black and white micro polka dot top with cap sleeves.
She was almost finished packing her bag when Jonathan knocked on the door.
She went and opened it and kissed him, and let him in.
"I'm almost finished packing, just one second".
She ran back to her bedroom, and threw a few more things in the bag, and then came back out to the living room.
"Jonathan, does Max know he's meeting me?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Well, I was just afraid we were going to ambush him".
He took her bag and set it on the couch and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Relax, Jennifer. He's going to love you".
"I'm trying. Believe me, I'm trying".
"He's going to love you, I promise. You're meeting Max, not the President".
"I know that. But he's like your father, and if he doesn't like me-"
"He will, I just know it. I've brought women home before and the only ones he didn't like were the ones who didn't treat him respectfully. And from what I've seen of you, you aren't capable of being ugly to anyone".
He gave her a sweet kiss, and then rubbed her back some.
"If you don't want to meet him tonight, we can always reschedule".
"I do want to meet him. I'm just nervous, that's all".
"I promise you, he's gonna love you".
She locked the door behind them, and they headed to his car.
He opened the door for her and tossed her bag into the backseat.
"Thank you".
He slid into the front seat and grabbed her hand and kissed it.
They drove out of her neighborhood, and began to make their way to his neighborhood.
"So, what kind of house do you have?"
"Well, it's a one-story modern-style home, I suppose. It has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a kitchen, a spacious living room, and an office, as well as a 3-car garage. Max has his own bed and bath, and I have mine on the other end of the house. Lots of natural light, lots of windows. I have a nice patio, a small pool, and off of my bedroom, I have a private hot tub".
"Fancy".
"It serves us well."
He pulled them onto his street and they began to make their way to his house.
"How long have you lived here?"
"About 5 years. It was one of the first major purchases I made after Hart Industries really took off. My goal was to buy Max a house, but we ended up here together".
"That's so sweet".
He pulled them into a driveway, and up into a garage.
"Ok, this is it".
She took a deep breath and then they both got out of the car.
He grabbed her bag and then grabbed her hand and they headed inside.
"Max, you home?"
"In here, Mr. H."
He dropped her bag in his room, and then they walked into the kitchen.
"Max, this is Jennifer Edwards. Jennifer, this is Max Brennan".
"Hi, it's so wonderful to meet you".
"Nice to meet you too".
"Jonathan has told me an awful lot about you".
"All good, I hope".
"You have nothing to worry about".
"Max, do we have time for a drink before dinner?"
"Yes, it's almost ready."
"Can we help you at all?"
"Oh, that's ok. I'm Max, I've got this all under control".
Jonathan poured Jennifer some white wine and handed it to her.
"Thank you".
"Max, what are we having?"
"A Max Brennan original recipe. BBQ baked chicken, with my own secret sauce".
"Sounds yummy".
"You're in for a treat, darling. Max's BBQ sauce is amazing. I keep telling him he should open a restaurant".
"I can't. Running a restaurant takes time, and I don't got no time for that".
Max got the chicken out of the oven, and took everything to the table.
"Ok, so we got the chicken, and this here is white rice, and that there is a salad. Mr. H. said you liked vinaigrette dressings so I picked up a few at the store the other day. I'll get them".
After everything was finally on the table, Max sat down and told them stories while they ate. Jennifer was intrigued by his stories of his poker games.
After they were finished eating, Jonathan told Max they would do the dishes.
"Well, I'm headed to a poker game".
"Want a partner, Max?"
"Sure".
Jonathan pulled out a wad of bills and counted several out and handed them to him.
"Have fun, Max".
Jennifer stood up and kissed Max's cheek.
"It was wonderful to have met you, and thank you for cooking for us such a delicious meal. Have fun".
"It was wonderful to have met you too. I hope you come back sometime".
"Don't worry Max, she'll be back".
Jennifer smiled at him.
"Well, you two's have a nice night."
"Thanks, you too".
"Goodnight, Max".
After they heard the garage door close, Jennifer began to relax a little bit.
"He's adorable. He's so easy to talk to. And he obviously respects you a whole lot".
"Yeah, I wouldn't be where I am or who I am if I had never met him".
After they finished the dishes, he took her hand and gave her a tour of the house, that ended in his bedroom.
"And this is my end of the house".
"How lovely".
"Thank you".
"Now, we can do whatever you want. We can get in the hot tub, or we can get in pajamas and watch a movie, whatever you feel like doing".
"We can do both if you want, it's still early".
"That sounds good. How about we get changed and watch a movie first?"
"Sure".
"You can change in here if you want, and I'll change in the bathroom to give you some privacy".
"Oh, that's alright. I don't want to put you out of your room. I'll take the bathroom in the hall".
She opened her bag and got out some comfy clothes and then turned to head to the bathroom.
"I hope you don't mind, I'm going to get very comfortable".
"I don't mind at all".
She stepped into the bathroom and changed into some black capri lounging pants, a college t-shirt and put her hair in a ponytail.
She came out to find him in some basketball shorts and a t-shirt.
They picked the movie, and then he turned on the lamp behind the couch, and started closing the blinds.
"Ok darling, this is how we watch a movie".
"Please, show me".
"First, we turn the lights off, and get the room really dark. Then, we lay down on the couch, and get comfortable. And then, you feed me popcorn and wait on me hand and foot".
"Jonathan! I will not".
"I was kidding".
He had an extra-wide couch, so they stretched out next to each other, and then he reached up and turned out the light and started the movie.
He softly played with her hair as she lightly scratched his chest some.
About halfway through the meeting, he noticed her shivering slightly, so he reached up and grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and covered them up.
"Thank you".
They finished the movie, and then sat up.
"So, the night's still young. We can watch another one, or we can get in the hot tub".
"Hot tub", they said in unison.
"You get changed, I'll get the cover off and turn it on".
"It's a deal".
She slipped into the bathroom and put on a purple bandeau bikini top and a pair of black string bikini bottoms.
She grabbed her pull over, and headed back to his bedroom.
He was coming into the bedroom from the patio, wearing only a pair of short blue swim trunks.
God, he's handsome.
"I'm going to grab us some towels. You can go ahead and get in, if you want".
"I'll meet you outside".
She is so gorgeous in that bikini. She's gorgeous in anything.
A few minutes later, he came out to find her still standing by the hot tub.
"Well get on in".
She chuckled.
"I'm trying to find a way to be ladylike about it".
He set down their towels, and the bottle of wine and two glasses he was carrying.
"Here, allow me".
He picked her up and helped her ease into the hot tub.
"Thank you".
He poured them both a glass of wine, and then handed one to her.
"Thank you".
"Certainly".
He climbed in next to her and positioned himself in front of a jet.
"Ahh, this is nice".
He wrapped an arm around her.
"Do you come out here often?"
"Some. Not every day. I like that it's so private. It's detached from the other patio, so I'm not disturbing Max. It's shaded, so the neighbors can't see me".
"Those are definitely pluses".
She laced her fingers through his and played with his hand a little bit.
"Jonathan, can I ask you something?"
"Of course, you can. You can ask me anything".
"You told me at lunch today that I was the only one you were interested in, and the only woman you're seeing. When was the last time you dated someone?"
"Oh, it's been a couple of months, I suppose. It was long enough for me to be thankful it wasn't longer. And it ended so unpleasantly that I ended up getting tested to make sure there weren't any surprises later on".
"Good idea".
"What about you?"
"Well, I dated someone in college. He wanted us to get married, but we weren't right for each other. I haven't dated anyone since I moved out here to LA".
"Do you ever see yourself getting married?"
"I don't know….are you asking me?"
"Not officially. Would you say yes if I were to ask you?"
"Not officially".
She gave him a playful smile.
"I didn't mean to put you on the spot. I was just trying to make sure that we are on the same page".
"You didn't put me on the spot, it's alright. What's on your page?"
"Marriage and kids, if it's meant to be, far off in the future. I don't want to just be a casual dater, but I don't want to waste my time either."
"I feel the exact same way. I'm just happy not having any kids as I am having a house full. I do want to find the person I'm meant to spend the rest of my life with though. Like you, I don't want to waste my time either".
She finished her wine and leaned over the side of the hot tub and set her glass down and then snuggled up to him again.
"Does it bother you that I'm several years younger than you?"
"No, it doesn't. Does it bother you?"
"No, it doesn't".
"Good. Then as long as you're happy, I'm happy".
She leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Jonathan-"
Before she could finish the sentence, he turned her head towards his and kissed her passionately. For the first time since she'd known him, she saw fireworks and rocket ships as they kissed. She moved till she was facing him, and wrapped her arms around his neck as she kissed him back.
She straddled his lap and resumed kissing him.
He ran his hands up her back, and started to undo the clasp on her bikini top and then hesitated.
She stopped kissing him.
"What are you waiting for?"
He gave her a soft kiss.
"I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable".
"I'm the one that climbed in your lap, am I not?"
"Good point".
He moved his kisses to her neck, as he undid the clasp on her bikini top.
He reached around and squeezed her breasts.
"Mmmmmm".
"You like that?"
"No. I love it".
They had a steamy make out session, and then he broke the kiss.
"Let's go in".
"Fine with me".
They climbed out of the hot tub, and quickly dried off and then headed inside.
She stripped down and climbed under the covers while he turned off the hot tub and put the cover back on.
He came back in and locked the door, and then quickly stripped down and climbed under the covers with her.
"Where were we?"
"Oh, I think we can figure that out".
She climbed on top of him again and kissed him, long and slow.
He rolled them till she was on her back and settled in between her legs.
She kissed him and nibbled on his lower lip some, as he ran his hands up and down her body.
"You are so beautiful".
"And you are the most handsome man…"
He moved his lips to her neck, and buried his head into the side of her face, as he began to suck on a little spot behind her ear.
She ran her fingernails across his shoulders.
He reached up and squeezed her boobs as he kissed her neck, and loved it when she moaned.
Jonathan kissed his way to her belly button, and then back up to her nipples. He sucked on one for a couple of seconds, and then moved to the other one. She was digging her nails into his shoulders.
He returned his kisses to her lips and maximized the passion till they were both breathless.
He quickly rolled off of her and grabbed a condom from his nightstand and put it on.
He returned to her and kissed her again.
He looked deep into her eyes. She picked up on what he was trying to say without saying it, and gave him a nod.
He quickly and easily joined their bodies together, as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
She quickly realized that sleeping with Jonathan was something far beyond her wildest dreams, and was incredibly different from anything she had ever experienced before.
He brought her to her peak, and then followed right behind her, collapsing on top of her as the waves of their orgasms washed over them.
He kissed her as they calmed down and wrapped his arms around her.
"You're very good at that".
"You aren't so bad yourself".
She laid on his chest and kissed his neck as she dragged a fingernail through his chest hair.
They fell asleep together, holding each other.
A few hours later, Jonathan woke up, hot and sweaty.
He eased out from under Jennifer, and threw his robe on and went and locked the doors and turned out the lights.
He got both of them a glass of water and then came back to bed, and wrapped his arms around her again.
He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Angel".
