***Thursday***
Jennifer came in the door of the penthouse. She was in a mad rush. She had been busy at work all day, and she desperately needed to pack a bag for her trip to her father's house, and a bubble bath to relax. Jonathan had ended up flying home Tuesday morning for an emergency meeting.
She had ordered a pizza for simplicity reasons, and kicked off her shoes as soon as she came in.
Millie had agreed to give her the whole day off Friday since her article was finished. She tried calling Jonathan, but couldn't get him.
"Damn". She hung up the phone and decided to try again later.
She was in the bedroom packing her bag when she heard something in the other end of the penthouse.
Thinking her mind was playing tricks on her, she kept packing.
Then she heard it again.
She quickly tiptoed to the living room and grabbed a fireplace poker.
She could hear more noises the closer she got to the kitchen.
She stopped and picked up the phone and debated on calling 911.
She heard another noise in the kitchen, so she crept to the door to sneak a peek.
Suddenly, the door opened and someone came through the door, towards her.
She screamed bloody murder, dropped the phone, and held up the fireplace poker like she was going to hit someone.
She screamed. The other person screamed, then grabbed her.
"Jennifer, Jennifer….calm down. It's me".
She stopped screaming and realized it was Jonathan.
A few seconds later, she got mad.
"What were you thinking coming here and scaring me to death like that?!"
She smacked his arm.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I came in and called for you, and you didn't say anything, so I thought you weren't here."
"I was in the bedroom packing".
He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry, darling. I promise, I wasn't trying to scare you".
"I'm sorry, too. Because I really was about to whack you with the poker".
He chuckled.
"Remind me to never get on your bad side".
She took his hand and led him to the bedroom, stopping to pick up the phone and to put the fireplace poker back.
He could hardly keep his hands off her while she finished packing.
"Honey, what are you doing here? I thought I was meeting you at the airport tomorrow".
"Well, that was a crazy idea. I mean, in order for me to get here in time to meet you by lunch, we would have had to leave LA by 3 a.m., and I can't ask Jack to do that. So, it just made sense that I got here tonight."
"I see. Well, I'm glad we have one more night together before we head to my father's".
"Yeah, me too".
"Have you eaten? I ordered a pizza".
"No, and I'm starved. But, I brought you a surprise".
He took her hand and led her to the kitchen.
"I stopped and picked up some of that Moscato that you like, and I also found a bottle of Valpolicella on the plane".
"Yum. Pizza should be here soon".
"What kind did you order?"
"1/2 cheese, ½ veggies. We can call and add to it if you want".
Just then, the phone rang.
Jonathan reached over and picked it up.
"Hello? Yes, that's us. I see. Well that's ok. Tell me, can you add a small all the meats to the order, please? We can come pick it up if we need to. Ok, that sounds good. Thank you".
He hung up.
"They accidentally burned your pizza, so they are making you a new one. Said it will be about another 20 minutes".
"Ugh, I'm starved".
"Max packed me a snack tray for the flight, but I was too busy to eat it".
He unwrapped it and found cheese and crackers.
Jennifer practically inhaled some of it and fed Jonathan some bites.
He opened the Moscato and poured her a glass.
She took a sip.
"Mmm, so good".
"So how are things at the office, with Millie as your editor?"
"She's tough. A lot tougher than I thought she would be. I honestly figured she would be giving me all the plum assignments, and she's not. And she's almost harder on me than she is on the others, but I think that's so people don't accuse her of special treatment".
"Probably".
"I don't understand why she moved my desk next to her office though, it's not like she talks to me or anything".
"Maybe she wanted to keep an eye on you".
"For what? Literally all I did today was come in, clock in, work on my article, make a few phone calls, and then clock out at the end of the day. I was honestly scared she wasn't going to give me the day off tomorrow, but because I had finished my article, she agreed".
"Maybe she's just getting used to the new job. Give her a chance, things will settle down".
"I hope so".
The doorbell rang, so he went and answered it and paid for their pizzas.
Jennifer pulled herself up on to the counter, and grabbed a bite of the veggie.
"Mmmm. This is the best pizza in the city, hands down".
"I agree. DiMarco's always comes through".
"As soon as we get back from my father's, I'm going on a strict diet. My waistline is getting out of control. Pizza, pasta, carbs".
"Your waistline is adorable, just like you".
He leaned forward and kissed her.
She took a piece of cheese pizza and hopped off the counter.
She filled her glass with more Moscato and then turned to Jonathan.
"I'm going to go take a bubble bath. You can come join me if you want".
"Maybe in a minute".
He kissed her and grabbed another piece of pizza.
Jennifer headed to the bathroom, but was unable to get the tub stopper to stay stopped. She came back to ask Jonathan to help her.
He walked over and grabbed the phone and called Max.
"Hey, just wanted you to know I got here. I'll for sure be flying back to LA early next week. Yeah, she was excited. No, I haven't given it to her yet, I need to find the right time. I want it to be special. I know that…. And I know that you and her will get along just fine, I promise. I'll talk to you soon".
He hung up, completely unaware that Jennifer had heard all that.
She stepped back into the bathroom, and then called out to him.
"Darling, can you come help me please?"
"Sure".
After he got the tub fixed, she ran her hands up and down his chest.
"Want to take a bath with me? I'll give you a back scratch".
"I would love to. But I have to make some phone calls. I'll come join you right afterwards, I promise".
He gave her a few kisses and then headed to the living room.
She took her bath and finished her Moscato.
She soaked for about 20 minutes and then got out and put on a lacy nightgown.
She headed to the kitchen to clean up the pizza, and heard him on the phone.
"….and can you sign the card "Congratulations on well-deserved success. Love, Jonathan"? Thank you….No, I won't be able to make it, I have go out of town this weekend with an acquaintance of mine, unfortunately. But I'll check back in as soon as I'm back in LA next week. Ok thank you!"
He hung up and headed to the kitchen.
Jennifer was putting the pizza away.
"How was your bath?"
"Not as enjoyable as your phone call".
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I heard you, Jonathan. Sending another woman flowers, calling me an acquaintance? If that's all I am to you, then why did you insist that I stay here with you and stay here while you were gone?"
"Jennifer, this isn't what you think it is."
"What I think it is, is that I've been played for a fool!"
She pushed past him and headed to the bedroom.
She was throwing a bunch of stuff in her suitcase when he came in.
"Hear me out".
She didn't say anything.
"Remember how I told you I grew up in the orphanage?"
"Yes".
"One of the nuns that was there when I was a kid, has just been promoted to Mother Superior in that Diocese. So, the flowers are for her, and she and I have gotten pretty close over the years because I am always fundraising for them, donating money or buying things they need. We are on a first name basis now. What you heard was me calling the orphanage, and asking one of the nuns to find out what her favorite flowers were, and ordering them for her. And they have a fundraiser this weekend, and she asked me if I was coming and I said no. I referred to you as an acquaintance because I haven't told them about our plans yet."
"I see."
"I can see how it would have looked suspect from your position, and I apologize".
"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have blown up at you".
She put her suitcase over by the window and then climbed into bed.
He changed into his pajamas and then went and locked all the doors and turned out all the lights.
He came to bed and wrapped his arms around her.
"Look, I know that we agreed to do the contract thing for the trust. But you are the only woman I'm interested in, Jennifer. I swear it. And the way things are going, I would still only be interested in you without the contract thing."
"It's ok, I believe you. I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, but thank you for explaining".
"You were getting pretty feisty over me, you know it?"
"Well, I enjoy seeing you and I refuse to share you with anyone".
"And I don't want to share you with anyone either".
He leaned forward and sweetly kissed her.
"You know, darling, we don't have to set an alarm for tomorrow morning".
"I know. And I'm so excited".
"I am too. I love to lay here with you".
"I tried to get here as soon as I could so we could have a romantic night".
"And then I had to ruin it with the fireplace poker and almost killing you, and yelling at you".
He chuckled at her.
"You didn't ruin anything, it was just a misunderstanding, that's all".
He grabbed her face and captured her lips in the most passionate of kisses, and kissed her to the point she thought the room was spinning.
He flipped her onto her back and started kissing his way down to her breasts as he slipped the nightgown off her shoulders.
His lips found her taut nipples and he began to tease her with his tongue.
"Mmmm, I love it when you do that".
She shimmied out of her lace panties, in the interest of saving time.
He was topless, and was only wearing pajama shorts.
He focused on her breasts for a few minutes, and then pulled her hips closer to him.
"Darling….what about foreplay?"
"Screw the foreplay. I gotta have you now".
He quickly penetrated her and leaned down and kissed her neck as he thrust in and out of her.
He buried himself inside of her faster and faster each time, until finally filling her with every last bit of himself. As the waves of his orgasm washed over him, she found her own. She clung to him and tried to enjoy the feeling.
"That was incredible".
"That was…interesting".
"I've missed you the last couple of days".
"I missed you too".
"I swear, I think you get more beautiful every time I see you".
He kissed her cheek and held her.
"Darling, we probably won't be able to be together at my father's this weekend, I think you should prepare for that".
"Well, that's going to make Sunday night back in the city all that much hotter, won't it?"
"I love the way you think".
She leaned up and kissed him.
He held her while they chatted until she fell asleep.
As he drifted off to sleep, he couldn't help but feel like they were completely and totally meant for each other.
***Friday***
Jonathan and Jennifer got up around 8 and got ready to go.
Jonathan placed a breakfast delivery order and as soon as it got there, they headed to the airport.
They settled onto the plane and buckled up.
"Darling, I feel like I should warn you about my father. I just want you to know what to expect".
"Ok".
"He's very old-fashioned. He is definitely not a fan of public displays of affection, and he's not known for holding anything back. He's very blunt and to the point. He is probably going to try and rattle you, in a conversation about politics or history. It's probably best until we are married, that you let him win the conversation".
"I see".
"And I'm almost positive he's going to insist that we stay in separate bedrooms".
"I'm ok with that, as long as I have visitation privileges".
"Quiet ones".
"Got it".
As soon as they leveled off in the air, they ate their breakfast and then relaxed for the rest of the flight.
Jonathan had a car waiting for them at the airport.
She gave him directions and they headed towards her father's house.
"I'll give you a tour on horseback this afternoon if you want".
"That sounds lovely".
He laced his fingers through hers as they drove up the driveway.
"What a beautiful estate".
"Yes, it really and truly is. It's gorgeous in the snow, and especially in the spring, when everything is plush and blooming".
They parked in front of the house and got out.
Walter came out to greet them.
"Hi, Miss Jennifer".
"Hi Walter!"
She gave him a big hug.
"Walter, this is my boyfriend Jonathan Hart. Jonathan, this is Walter Martin. He takes the best care of my dad".
The men shook hands and then carried the bags inside.
"Your father's in the study, Miss Jennifer".
"Thank you, Walter".
She and Jonathan headed to the left.
"This is the living room-slash-library. Pa likes to sit in here a lot".
"Very nice".
"I'll be right back, darling. I'm going to go find him".
She went and stood in the doorway of the study. Her dad was at his desk, on the phone.
She stood there till he got off the phone and then softly knocked on the door.
He looked up.
"Sweetheart! What are you doing here?"
"I thought I would surprise you, Pa".
He came over and got a hug.
"Come on, I want to introduce you to someone".
They went to the living room.
"Pa, this is Jonathan Hart, the man I've been seeing. Jonathan, this is my dad, Stephen Edwards".
"Nice to meet you sir. You have a wonderful and fantastic daughter".
"Nice to meet you, son. Thank you, she's one of a kind".
"That she is".
They all sat down in the living room, her father in his chair and she and Jonathan on the couch.
"So, Jennifer, I take it you have informed him of the arrangement I told you about".
"Yes, actually, I did. And he's completely on board".
"Wonderful. I met with the lawyer yesterday. He gave me a copy of the stipulations to give to you".
"Why would you meet with him again?"
"Because he is the one that's going to be overseeing the arrangement, dear. I cannot because I'm not always in the states. So he is going to."
"What do you mean by oversee?"
"I mean, he's going to be periodically checking in on you throughout the year to make sure this isn't a sham marriage".
"Interesting".
He got up and handed her the packet.
She began to read it.
"So, Jonathan, what kind of work do you do?"
"Well, I own my own company. We specialize in electronics".
"I take it that your company is profitable?"
"Have you ever heard of Hart Industries?"
"Yes, I have. They have a wonderful reputation".
"I am Jonathan Hart, the founder and CEO".
"Hart, as in H-A-R-T? Oh my. When she introduced you, I thought she said Heart, as in H-e-a-r-t. I never made the connection".
"I didn't either, Pa. I had no idea who he was till last weekend".
"So, how did you two meet?"
"Millie and I have a thing that we started with some friends called Supper Club. One of the members works for him and brought him last month".
"And when I got there, the only seats left were next to Jennifer. It was fate".
"It sure was".
She patted his hand.
"So I take it you are planning on going riding this afternoon?"
"Yes, as soon as we finish lunch".
"Wonderful. Well, I have a few phone calls to make before lunch, since today is still a work day for me. So, you two make yourselves at home and I will see you at lunch".
"Sounds good, Pa".
He stood up to head back to the study.
"Oh, and Jennifer-you are staying in your room, and Jonathan is in the guest room at the end of the hall".
"Ok, Pa".
They took their bags upstairs and she showed him to his room.
"Your room connects to the bathroom between our rooms. So, if you want to sneak to my room, come through the bathroom and it won't be as obvious".
"Where is your father's room?"
"Downstairs, about 4 or 5 rooms away on the complete and total other side of the house".
"I see".
"I'll give you a quick tour".
They went into the hallway.
"Those rooms down past your room are the other guest rooms. This room across the hall was my tv room growing up, and then it became a junk storage room. I don't have a clue what's in there now".
They went downstairs and through the foyer.
"That door leads to the patio. This is the sunroom. We don't really use this room much, except in the winter when it snows, it's pretty to come in here and look at the snow, thanks to all the natural light."
"I bet. What a gorgeous view".
They walked down a long hallway.
"This is the laundry room, and what used to be an exercise room when my mom was alive. This room here is what Mama used to call her shopping room."
She opened the door and flipped on the lights.
"She put floor to ceiling mirrors in here, and she would go shopping and then come in here and try everything on. So, basically you could say this room was her closet".
"Interesting".
"And that room back that way is my dad's room".
They turned around and headed back to the foyer and then went through it to the other side.
"And this room is the dining room, which leads to the kitchen. Off the kitchen is a tv room, and Walter's suite and at the end of the hallway, a garage".
"What an impressive place".
"Yeah, it looks massive from the outside. But then you come inside and it's even bigger".
Walter told them lunch was ready, so they headed to the kitchen.
Jennifer offered to set the table.
"I made one of Miss Jennifer's favorites-soup on a stick and cheese quesadillas".
"Oh my gosh, I haven't had soup on a stick in ages".
Jonathan was confused.
"Soup on a stick?"
"Yes, darling. You have a breadstick on a skewer. And you dip it into the soup and it soaks it up and that's soup on a stick".
"Interesting concept".
"Walter is an amazing cook, darling. You will love it".
They all sat down to eat and pretty soon, Stephen had begun a conversation with Jonathan about politics. Jonathan held his own, and to Jennifer's surprise, they actually agreed on a few things.
After lunch, Jonathan and Jennifer headed to the stables.
"I want to ride Jigsaw."
"And I'll take whatever horse you have available".
"Actually, Jigsaw is the only horse we have available. The others are being groomed".
"Ok, we can both ride Jigsaw".
She got the double saddle and the stable hand saddled Jigsaw. Jennifer climbed up and then Jonathan climbed up after her.
She gave him the grand tour of the estate.
"448 acres, at last count. Barn, stables, pond, fruit orchard in the back, plus the house and a couple hay barns".
She took him on some trails, and then back behind one of the hay lofts.
There was a great big treehouse tucked way back in the woods.
"This. This was my favorite spot growing up. I used to come out here and climb up there and stay up there for hours".
She dismounted Jigsaw and then headed for the treehouse.
She was about to climb the ladder when Jonathan stopped her.
"Jennifer, this doesn't look safe".
"Oh, I'm sure it's fine".
"No, I mean the wood looks rotted, darling. I think you should come back down".
"Jonathan, it's-"
Just then, she fell off the ladder, bringing a rung or two with her.
Jonathan caught her in his arms.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm fine, swear it".
He set her down and carefully climbed up and poked the underside of the treehouse with a branch. It quickly and easily put two holes in the wood.
"Yeah, it's rotten all right".
"So, why is this your favorite place?"
"Because I had solitude, darling. I could come out here and be alone with my thoughts".
She climbed back up on the horse and he did too.
"Ok, now it's time to go to my next favorite place".
They took the trail a little further and stopped again.
There was a tree with a couple of swings hanging from it.
They had a beautiful view of the pond from the swings.
Jennifer sat down and started to swing.
Jonathan sat next to her on the other swing.
"So, do we need to be official and have an official proposal?"
"I don't think so. I mean, my father already knows that you are marrying me because of the terms of the trust. So, I don't think it's necessary".
She stopped swinging and came and sat in his lap. He began to gently swing them back and forth.
"Darling, are you sure you're ok with all of this? I realize I kind of sprung it on you out of nowhere".
"I was a little freaked at first, but I'm not anymore. I enjoy spending time with you, and I don't think being married to you will make me regret that".
"Well I should hope not".
She leaned down and kissed him.
"I must admit, I'm growing quite fond of you".
"Oh you are? Well, that's sweet. I'm quite of fond of you too".
They swung a little longer, and then got up.
They got back on Jigsaw and then headed back to the stables.
After giving Jigsaw back to the stable hands and feeding her about 100 sugar cubes, Jennifer and Jonathan walked over to the pond and sat on a bench.
"Such a peaceful place".
"Yeah it is. Mama and I used to sit on this bench together all the time. This bench used to be at my grandparent's house and when my grandfather died, my mom insisted on taking this bench and bringing it here. It's the bench she was sitting on when my dad told her he was in love with her for the first time".
"It is? How sweet".
"Yeah, mama loved hanging on to sentimental things. And she used to tell me all the time that she loved that she had a tangible memory of when Pa told her he was in love with her".
"Allow me to continue the family tradition".
He took her hands in his.
"I am so completely and totally in love with you, darling. I think I have been ever since I met you. I want nothing more than to make you as happy as I possibly can for as long as you'll let me".
Before she could say anything, he grabbed her face and kissed her. Their kiss had so much passion it made her toes curl.
She broke the kiss a few minutes later and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I love you too".