He stood up and went and got the phone. He called Lt. Gray and asked him to come to Jennifer's room.
"Jonathan, what for?"
"To press charges against Elliott Manning".
"I don't want to do that".
"Jennifer, do you know what day it is?"
"July something. Tuesday, maybe?"
"Tuesday, July 22. He has held you captive since May 4th. That's 78 days. He owes us not only for the wedding we were forced to cancel, and the honeymoon we missed, but for holding you captive."
"Jonathan, I know him. He will fight anything we bring against him to the death. I am trying to find ways to get him out of my life, not spend ten years in a court fight".
Lt. Gray showed up a few minutes later, after Jennifer had gotten dressed.
She explained everything to him.
"Well unfortunately, you don't have an address or any way of locating where you were held. If we come across him, we can question him, but that's about all".
"Thank you".
Jonathan showed him out, and rejoined Jennifer on the couch.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Certainly".
"Did he hurt you?"
"Not at all. Never laid a hand on me".
He nodded.
"Have you eaten?"
"Not today".
"Are you hungry?"
"I'm famished".
They ordered room service and Jennifer cracked open the mini-bar and got them two water bottles.
She got up and went to the bathroom and came back to him.
"I feel like I should give you this, after everything that happened".
She put her engagement ring in his hand.
"Jennifer, I love you. You said you loved me".
"I do love you".
"Jennifer, if I love you, and you love me, then why would you not wear your engagement ring?"
"Because, I want you to love me and trust me".
"I do trust you".
"Jonathan, if you trusted me, then how could you believe that I wanted to break up with you out of the blue like that?"
"Jennifer, I'm sorry. I was hurt, and it was just easier to believe what everyone was telling me instead of convincing them that you didn't run off".
"If you didn't trust me this time, how do I know you will trust me next time?"
"Jennifer, I will do whatever I have to do in order to prove to you that I love you and trust you".
She was crying again, and wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"Did they tow my car from the gas station?"
"No, Max drove it back to the house. And then, I sold it".
She nodded.
There was a knock at the door, and she went and answered it and signed for the room service, which they wheeled in.
She made him a plate and handed it to him, and then made herself a plate, and sat down next to him.
They mostly ate in silence. After she was done, she put her plate back on the cart and went and washed her face.
He didn't want to leave her, but they weren't really talking anymore. He wanted to kiss her so bad, but they both needed the moment to be right.
She came and sat by him on the couch. She wanted to touch him so bad, but she wanted him to want to touch her, too.
"How about a movie?"
"Sure".
She grabbed the remote and ordered them a movie on TV.
She handed him a blanket, as he kicked his shoes off and got comfortable.
They watched the movie, and he occasionally stroked her hair.
After the movie was half over, she looked over to see he had fallen asleep.
He looked so adorable laying there.
She turned the movie off, and the lights, and grabbed his arm.
"Jonathan, come on".
He stirred a little.
"Jonathan…come on".
He stood up and she led him to the bed, where he climbed in and got comfy.
She locked the hotel door, and then climbed in bed with him.
She leaned over, and kissed him on the cheek.
"I love you", she whispered.
She nestled back against Jonathan, and fell asleep.
***A few hours later***
They were both sleeping soundly.
All of a sudden, Jennifer started screaming.
"No, let me go, leave me alone! NO!"
Jonathan sat up and grabbed her.
"Jennifer-wake up. It's just a nightmare, you're safe".
She was panting and breathing heavily.
He jumped up and got her a bottle of water, and brought it to her.
"I'm sorry".
"It's ok".
"Want to talk about it?"
"Elliott….grabbing me".
"How can I help you feel better?"
She drank the water and laid back down.
"I'm sorry, Jonathan".
He wrapped his arms around her till she fell back asleep.
***The next morning***
Jennifer woke up and rolled over to hug Jonathan.
His side of the bed was empty.
There was a note instead.
"Jennifer-had to go to the office, didn't want to wake you. Dinner tonight? If yes, call Deanne and let her know.- Jonathan".
Jennifer smiled and called the office.
"Hart Industries, how can I help you?"
"Deanne, can you please tell Mr. Hart that Jennifer says yes to dinner?"
"Perfect. I am supposed to tell you that there will be a delivery at your hotel room this afternoon at 1, and to follow the instructions in the package".
"Ok, thank you".
She hung up and called her father and they had a long chat.
"You and Jonathan are long overdue for a visit, my dear."
"I agree. We will hopefully be able to plan that soon".
After a long chat, they hung up and she went downstairs to the spa. She got her hair done, and picked up her delivery afterwards.
She brought the packages into the hotel room.
The first one was a beautiful emerald green sequined strapless evening gown. The second one was a pair of black strappy heels, that looked amazing, and a black lace clutch. The third was an envelope.
"Put this blindfold on when your chariot arrives. Max will be your chauffeur and he will bring you to your surprise destination. He will be picking you up at 5 p.m. precisely".
She laid around a little, and then started getting ready.
She was ready and waiting downstairs at 4:45. Max showed up right on time.
He got her settled into the car, and helped her with the blindfold. He drove her to the destination, and pulled up and parked.
He helped her out of the car, and led her inside.
"Where are we?"
"Can't tell you, Miss Edwards".
"Oh, come on, Max. Please?"
"Just a little further".
He got her in position, and took off the blindfold.
The room was completely dark. The only thing she could see was a table with a white table cloth on it.
"Max, this is silly. Why won't you tell me where we are? I know it has something to do with my date with Jonathan".
Max disappeared around a corner, and all at once, music and lights filled the room.
Jonathan was standing over in the corner, and he was all dressed in a tux.
There was a string quartet playing for them.
"Can I have this dance?"
She nodded.
He held his arms out to her and they danced. She had her cheek next to his, and rubbed his back while they danced.
After several dances, they sat down at the table.
Max brought their dinner in, and then left.
"You two enjoy yourselves".
Jennifer stood up and hugged Max.
"Thank you".
"Sure thing, Miss Edwards".
He turned to Jonathan.
"She's one hell of a broad".
Jennifer let out a hearty laugh, and sat back down.
Jonathan poured them some champagne, and then they lifted the covers off their plates so that they could eat.
Max's stuffed chicken and wild rice.
They cleaned their plates, and then Jonathan asked her if she had room for dessert.
"Jonathan, where are we?"
"I will give you the grand tour in a few moments. Dessert?"
"I can't eat another bite".
He stood up and took her hand, and led her up the staircase.
They went into the first room on the left.
"Jonathan, what are we doing?"
He flipped on the lights. The room was empty.
He turned to look at her.
"This was going to be our room".
"Our room?"
"Yes, our room".
It suddenly dawned on her where they were.
"I thought you sold this place".
"Nope. I didn't have the heart to move in without you, but I couldn't bear to let it go, either."
She started to cry and looked away.
"I ruined everything for you".
"No, no you didn't. That's why I brought you here. I found the letter that you sent me, through Deanne today. I finally read it. I was so busy that day that it arrived that I never read it, and it got buried under papers. You didn't ruin anything, I did. I am so sorry I didn't listen to you on the phone and I am so sorry I was so short with you in my office yesterday. And I promise, if you'll let me, that I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you".
"You don't have to do that. I'm ok. I just want us back, again".
"I want that too".
She was surprised.
"You do?"
He nodded.
She threw her arms around him and hugged him.
"So, what happens now?"
"This".
He grabbed her and kissed her, nice and slow, but with lots of passion.
He wrapped his arms around her, and held her close as they kissed.
"I love you, so much Jennifer Suzanne".
"I love you too, Jonathan Charles".
He reached into his pocket, and pulled out her engagement ring.
"Now, darling, I can slip this back on your finger, and we can plan another wedding, and go on with our lives. Or, I can get you a new one and we can plan another wedding and go on with our lives".
"Jonathan, far be it for me to turn down sparkly jewelry. However, I want the one that you proposed to me with, the first time".
He slipped it on her finger and then kissed her again, several times.
"Darling…this time, when we plan the wedding again, can we do something a little different?"
"What did you have in mind?"
She told him, and he completely agreed.
He gave her a tour of the rest of the house, and then paid the string quartet. After they were gone, he took their dishes and put them in a box, and put the box in the trunk of his car.
"Darling, is Max coming to get me?"
"No, why would he?"
"Well, I need to go back to the hotel".
He looked hurt.
She put her arms on his chest.
"To get my things? I was hoping to stay with you, tonight".
He pulled her in for a hug.
"I want you to stay with me, every night".
"Good".
She laced her hand in his, and they walked to the car. He opened the door for her and she climbed in. He locked up the house and they drove back to the other house.
They drove to the Beverly Hills Hotel, and she quickly packed her suitcases, and then checked out of the hotel. He insisted on paying her bill.
"Darling, you don't have to do that".
"Jennifer, it's because of me that you stayed here in the first place".
"No darling, it's because of Elliott".
"True. But if I had been more understanding, we would have been at home last night".
She let him pay for the room, and they carried her things to the car.
"Darling, can we run by the storage unit?"
"For what? I can have your things brought to the house tomorrow".
"I don't have any pajamas".
He leaned over and kissed her.
"Don't worry about it".
She laced her hand through his and held it the whole way home.
***Jonathan and Jennifer's house***
They pulled up and parked.
Jonathan came around and opened the door for her, and then unlocked the front door.
He leaned down and picked her up.
"What are you doing?"
"Carrying you over the threshold".
She kissed him as he did, and then he set her down. He grabbed her bags first and brought them in. He then grabbed the box and took it to the sink.
"Where's Max?"
"It's Tuesday. Poker night. He won't be back till morning".
She headed to the kitchen and did their dishes, while he took her bags upstairs.
He came downstairs and found her.
"Babe, the dishes can wait".
"I'm almost done".
He wrapped his arms around her waist as she finished up.
"Ok darling, just let me put these in the dishwasher and then it will be done".
She loaded the dishwasher and then went to the fridge.
She grabbed a few things, and put them on the counter.
"Darling, do you want the same kind of wedding as last time, or do you want something different?"
"Both. I want whatever you want, but this time, I want you to let me hire a wedding coordinator".
"For what?"
"So that they can stress about it so you won't have to".
"I like that idea".
She put the items back in the fridge.
"All done."
"What's all done?"
She leaned forward and kissed him.
"I just made you some more coffee creamer".
"Oh, I have missed you".
"Jonathan, I want you to know, I never chose Elliott over you. I haven't ever chosen Elliott for anything. You are the one I choose, and you are the one I want".
"I know. I'm sorry I said that, I'm sorry I thought that."
He pulled her in close for a hug, and then kissed her.
She rested her head on his chest, and told him all about how Paige got fired for the lies she was printing, and how Elliott paid her to do it.
"And then she had the nerve to tell me that she hoped after all of this was over, we could still be friends".
"Jennifer, I would never tell you who to be friends with, but seriously, if you resumed a friendship with her, I would probably take you to have your head examined".
"And you would be in your right mind to do so".
She hugged him and held him close, and then they went upstairs.
"It's so strange to not have anything hanging in the closet".
"We will fix that tomorrow, I promise".
She went over to the closet and took her heels off.
She reached behind her back and started unzipping her dress.
"Here, let me".
She let him unzip her dress, and he helped her step out of it.
"Thank you".
He pulled her to him.
"You are so beautiful".
He kissed her and then moved his kisses to her neck.
"Darling, I love what you are doing. I do. But, I am the only one here who doesn't have clothes on".
"Right. Sorry".
She started untying his bow tie, and unbuttoning his shirt.
After his shirt was off him, she ran her nails over his chest, and kissed him.
He stepped out of his pants and then picked her up and laid her on the bed.
He reached up and turned out the light, and then wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her neck and squeezed her breast, and then reached behind her to undo her bra. After that was off her and tossed to the side, he suckled her nipples some, causing her to cry out.
She ran her fingers through his hair, holding his head steady on her breast.
He started trailing kisses down to her belly button and then back up.
His lips assaulted her neck as his hands tugged her thong off her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.
She framed his face with her hands, and kissed her passionately.
They quickly joined their bodies together and moved together in a frenzied motion.
"Come on, honey".
"Ok, baby".
"Oh God….Jona….than….."
They went over the brink together at the same time, and laid there, panting.
"That was incredible".
"You are always incredible".
"I love you so much, Jonathan Charles".
"I love you too, Red".
They fell asleep together, all wrapped up in each other's arms, never wanting to let go. Jennifer dreamed of their wedding all night long.