Jennifer followed Jonathan all the way to a hibachi restaurant and parked next to him.
He came and opened the door for her and they walked inside.
"Welcome to Tokyo Garden. How many?"
"2 please, for hibachi".
"Right this way".
They followed the waiter and made their way to their table. Jennifer recognized a lot of the people in the restaurant as gossip columnists and journalists.
Jennifer and Jonathan were given a small hibachi table for 4 at the back of the restaurant, and sat down.
After they placed their orders, they leaned back and sipped their drinks.
"I am so glad that's over with".
"Yeah, it was fun to watch it play out that way. Stella was shocked as shit when Megan started playing the videos".
"She should have been".
"Got any ideas for your settlement?"
"Oh yes. I am going to use that and put it towards a condo or townhouse when my year in the apartment is up".
"Good plan".
They had a very romantic lunch and then left the restaurant.
"Well, I think I am going to see if I can get a massage and a facial somewhere".
"That sounds incredibly relaxing. How about I come by later and we go for a walk on the beach?"
"I'd like that".
He leaned down and kissed her and then she got in the car.
When they headed out of the parking lot, she went one way and he went another.
After a very relaxing afternoon at the spa, she returned home. She had just changed clothes when she heard a knock at the door.
She opened it and found Jonathan on the other side.
"Hi, come on in".
He had changed into some khaki cargo shorts and a t-shirt and some flip-flops.
She closed the door behind him and put her flip flops on, and then sat down and put on a layer of sunscreen.
He came and sat next to her and put his arm around her.
"What if I told you that you and I are going on a trip?"
"I would say great, when are we leaving?"
"How about tomorrow after work? We can take my plane and it will be a short flight and we can fly there and fly back in a few days".
"Sounds good to me, where do you want to go?"
"Well, I had Hawaii in mind".
"I tell you what-what if you and I both take Monday off? I'll work a ½ day tomorrow and leave at noon, and then we can come back Monday night, if you can take Monday off".
"Sounds great".
They went and walked on the beach for a good while, holding hands the whole way just about.
They were on their way back to her apartment when he turned to her and asked her a very simple yet complex question.
"When you think about you and I together, what do you want to happen?"
"Well, we started out as business acquaintances and then friends, and now we are together…I just want us to be a normal couple. Better than my previous relationships but I want us to really get to know each other and take our time with this. I don't want us to rush things".
"I would agree with that".
They made their way back into her apartment building and she unlocked the door to her apartment for them.
They decided to snuggle in bed and watch a movie, so she changed into a pair of pajama shorts and got them each a glass of water.
She rubbed his shoulders and scratched his neck for him for a little bit.
"Oh yeah, right there. That's the spot".
"Darling, you asked me earlier what I wanted in terms of us, what do you want in terms of us?"
"Well, first and foremost I want to make sure you are taken care of and protected. I wanted nothing more than to put that creep Reynolds through a wall today when he was testifying".
"Well, I would have loved to see that. But I think if you had, Judge Prescott would have held you in contempt as well".
"Probably. But you would be protected".
Jennifer gave him a chest rub and then laced her fingers through the back of his.
They finished their movie and then Jennifer turned out the light.
He stretched out next to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm worried about you".
"Why?"
"About how all of this is affecting you."
"Oh, I'm fine, darling, honest. I mean, there was a moment that I was a little nervous that Stella was going to win the suit, but then when I saw her with Daniel, I knew she probably wouldn't."
"Jennifer, you've been in a relationship with someone for a few months that you just found out was fake from the beginning. That couldn't have been easy to find out".
"It wasn't. But it wasn't as devastating as my past breakups were. And besides, I have you. But, that's why I said I wanted us to just be normal for a bit. No stressful surprises, just us in a normal, healthy, functioning relationship."
"I can get on board with that".
He kissed her forehead a few times and felt her relax in his arms.
"When did you know you liked me?"
"Oh…I think it was that weekend that we spent here and you practiced interviewing me. I didn't want that weekend to end".
"Me either. That weekend was very….memorable".
"Want to make some more memories?"
She chuckled and then leaned up and kissed him.
"All night long".
***A Few weeks Later***
Jennifer and Jonathan were enjoying themselves, just going to work and spending as much time together after work as they could. She found herself getting so excited to see him each day. He felt the same way as Jennifer. Neither of them had ever been in a relationship where they felt this way before. They had postponed their trip to Hawaii at the last minute due to a crisis at Jonathan's office, and they were both ready to reschedule it.
Jennifer was at the office, putting the finishing touches on the layout. She was about to go home when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Hey gorgeous. You busy?"
"Hi handsome. I was just wrapping things up".
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me to a business dinner tonight. I can't promise that you will have me to yourself, but I can promise you there will be dancing and the food is excellent".
"As long as I get you to myself when it's over, I'm happy".
"You got it. I'll pick you up at 6:45".
"Sounds perfect".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up and gathered her things together and headed out.
***Jennifer's Apartment***
Jennifer came inside, and headed to take a bubble bath. After a gloriously relaxing soak, she got out and began to pick out her outfit for the business dinner. She decided to play it safe and go with a blue one shoulder ruffled dress and some black heels.
As soon as she was ready, she headed to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine and began to switch purses to a black sparkly clutch.
There was a knock at the door, so she went to open it.
"Well, you're certainly here early, handsome".
She turned and expected to see Jonathan, but instead saw Daniel standing there.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can we just talk for a moment?"
"We have nothing to discuss".
"Jennifer, come on. We have a lot to talk about".
"No, actually we don't. You lied to me, from the first second you met me. Everything you said was untruthful and everything you did was deceitful. Why should I believe anything you say?"
"I admit I should have handled things better. And I apologize for everything that happened. But you gotta believe me-I just got in way over my head. She was so hurt that Loretta didn't leave the paper to her and her siblings, and I love her so much that I will do anything I can to keep her from being hurt. And I apologize that you got caught up in all of that. Just for one moment, can't you put yourself in my shoes? This has been so hard on me".
"I got caught up in that because you lied to me and tried to sabotage me. I was nothing but kind to you and loving towards you, and you manipulated my feelings and tried to destroy me. And you have the audacity to ask me to feel sorry for you?"
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Jennifer opened it and let Jonathan in.
"Hi".
She leaned up and kissed him.
"What's he doing here?"
"Begging for forgiveness. And wasting his time".
"Jennifer, just hear me out. Why don't we talk somewhere privately?"
"No".
"I think it's time you left".
"This is between me and her, it doesn't concern you".
"I'm going to give you one last chance. Now the way I see it, you're in her apartment and you're breathing, and one of those things has to change. You can either leave voluntarily, or on a stretcher, but either way you are leaving and you will never, I repeat never, come to her home again. Is that clear?"
Daniel completely ignored Jonathan and looked past him to Jennifer.
"I just wanted to apologize and make you see that my actions weren't intended to be malicious. I was just trying to protect her. And I wanted to give you this".
He handed Jennifer an envelope with a cashier's check for $20,000.
"We sold our house and we are moving out of state, and I promise you, we won't bother you anymore".
"Thank you".
"Goodbye Jennifer".
He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Goodbye Daniel", said Jonathan in a very stern tone.
He gave a slight nod, and then left.
Jonathan closed the door behind him and turned to Jennifer.
"Are you ok?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine".
He wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner to make him leave earlier".
"Oh, that's alright. I wasn't expecting him at all."
"I'm glad he gave you a cashier's check, because they have to guarantee that at the bank".
"Yeah, me too".
He gave her a few kisses and then they headed out.
Their business dinner turned into a small party, and they had a good time with everyone and really enjoyed them.
After a few hours, Jonathan paid the check and they headed back to her place.
"What a fun evening".
"Yeah, it was. I should go to business dinners with you more often".
"I'll see to it that you do".
They both changed and got ready for bed, and then snuggled up in her bed to watch tv and wind down.
"Darling…you know we never rescheduled Hawaii".
"I know. I almost booked it today, but then the Marsoni deal fell through. As soon as I get some deals behind me, I'm going to book a trip for you and me when we can stay a week or two".
She scratched his back for a few minutes.
"That sounds heavenly. I am dying for dinner on the beach, and waking up to the ocean waves in the morning, and pina coladas…."
"Yeah, I'm dying for the chance to hold you all night long with no alarm set for the next day".
"We don't have to set an alarm in the morning".
"So we don't".
She stretched out next to him and snuggled up to his chest.
He reached up and turned out the light, and then wrapped his arms around her.
"You know, maybe my business deals would go better if I had another office that was adjacent to my first office, and in between meetings you and I could lay down and I could just hold you".
"Jonathan….how would I get my work done?"
"Well, I don't know, I suppose you could work on it while I'm in my meetings".
"So, instead of coffee breaks, we would be having sex breaks".
"Exactly. You have to admit it doesn't sound that bad".
"Doesn't sound bad at all".
***A Month Later***
Jennifer and Jonathan were hanging out at his house. He was going to have his poker buddies over for their monthly poker game, so Jennifer had made some appetizers for them.
"Ok darling. You have ham and cheese sandwiches, fresh out of the oven, with mustard poppyseed dressing. And these are mini cheesesteaks and these are bacon wrapped jalapenos stuffed with cheddar and cream cheese, and this tray has chips and onion dip, as well as cheese dip and guacamole. And finally, you guys have a plate of fresh fries with ketchup and mustard".
"You're the best baby".
"Now, when the guys leave, don't put away the cards. You and I are going to play our own game of poker later after everyone leaves".
"You drive a really hard bargain, Miss Edwards".
"So do you, Mr. Hart. So do you".
She gave him a few kisses and then took herself shopping and then to a movie.
She got back just as they were wrapping up.
"Hi darling, we're almost done".
"Hi".
"Darling, this is Bill McDowell, he and I met in the Navy. And this is Lt. Gray, he works for the LAPD, and this is Stinky, and Shorty and Phatty, the skinniest guy on the coast".
"Hi, nice to meet all of you".
They were all complimenting her on the appetizers.
"Stinky polished off the cheesesteaks all by himself".
"Glad you guys enjoyed them. Darling, I'm going to go change clothes. Come find me when it's time".
About 20 minutes later, the men had all left, so Jonathan locked up and went to find Jennifer.
"Darling?"
"I'll be out in a minute. Pour us some drinks".
"Sure. Wine ok?"
"How about something stronger?"
"You got it".
She emerged a few minutes later in one of this dress shirts, under a perfectly tailored pinstriped jacket, with one of his ties loosely tied around her neck. She was showing just the right amount of cleavage, and had on some white mini pajama shorts and a pair of his socks.
She found him at the table, and came and straddled his lap.
"What's all this?"
"You and I are going to play strip poker. And I must warn you-I'm hard to beat".
They played cutthroat, and Jonathan had the upper hand for a bit. But Jennifer began to score points of her own and pretty soon, they were both in their skivvies.
She knew it would drive him crazy, so she lit a cigar and began to puff it, just out of his reach.
"Ok, winner take all. Last hand."
"You're on".
They traded cards for a bit and then Jennifer laid her cards down.
"4 of a kind, all 4's".
"Oh, that's neat. All I have is a royal flush".
"A royal flush?!"
"Yep. Read em' and weep".
He laid the cards down and pulled her into his lap.
"So I guess you want your prize now, huh?"
"Yes, I do".
"Well, take me to the bedroom and you can have it".
"Exactly what I had in mind".
He stood up and picked her up all at once, and kissed her as he carried her to the bedroom.