Chapter 23

Dinner with Paul and Hazel had been an enjoyable evening, full of mahi-mahi, roasted brussel sprouts with asiago cheese, and Dom Perignon Vintage Champagne. Sitting around the table, chatting about the differences in living in different areas of the country, Jonathan realized he was very ready to spend time with just his wife. For a honeymoon, they were spending their time with far too many other people.

Their server walked up to the table with a tray full of four cocktail glasses full of a nearly shimmering blue liquid. "The house specialty, the Blue Devil."

"Uh, we didn't order those," Jonathan said.

"Compliments of the gentleman at the bar."

"Oh, my," Jennifer exclaimed. "Don't those look amazing." She turned to look at the bar but didn't immediately see any faces she knew. "Which gentleman?"

"What's in it?" Jonathan wondered aloud.

"Rum, gin, tequila, vodka…" the server informed them. He turned to look at the bar. "Um… I don't see him anymore, Ma'am."

"Everything but the kitchen sink," Jonathan continued. "Wait, the gentleman is gone now?"

"Yes, Sir. I don't see him anymore."

"Could you describe him?"

"Uh… kind of a big guy, dark hair. I only got a quick look at him. The bartender might have a better idea. He probably talked to the guy longer."

He looked over at the full bar, the bartender hopping from customer to customer, drink to drink. "It's probably nothing. Don't bother him."

The group extended their time at the table, much to Jonathan's frustration, while finishing the drinks. Trying to hurry the evening along, he didn't drink much of his glass. After maybe 20 minutes, they finally paid the tab and headed outside the restaurant to say goodbye to their new friends. Jonathan started the farewells, "Paul, thank you so much for a great evening. I look forward to seeing you both again. Soon."

"It was fun. Thank you for joining us," Paul answered.

"Lovely. Just a lovely evening. Hazel, it was so lovely getting to know you and Paul. We really must do this again sometime," Jennifer started to hug Hazel, but stumbled over her feet. "How much did I drink? Must have been more than I thought," she giggled.

"But it was yummy! And, yes, we must. Though I believe Paul and I go home before you two are. If we don't get to see you, it was very nice to meet you," Hazel said before she and Paul turned to walk away.

The Harts set out for their bungalow, Jonathan more than slightly amused with his wife, as she was nearly dancing down the path to a song only she could hear. "What do you think about tomorrow?"

"La la laaa la," she sang as she walked, not listening to Jonathan. "Isn't it lovely here?" Jennifer stopped, turned, and flashed a broad smile in his direction.

"Lovely, indeed."

Spinning around the light post, Jennifer giggled as she sang, "La la la la." A light caught her eye, "Ohhh, Darling!"

Jonathan looked in the direction she pointed, "What?"

"That light in the sky," she giggled. "It's lovely."

"The moon? Yes, it is lovely." He watched her for a few moments. Even drunk, this woman is adorable, he thought. He decided to ask his question again, "Sweetheart, do we have plans for the morning?"

In her own world, humming and occasionally saying how lovely the evening was, Jennifer danced up the sidewalk back towards him. She heard his question without hearing his question, "Hmmm? I'm sorry, what did you say, Darling?"

"Tomorrow. Do we have plans?"

"Plans? No, nothing set." Jennifer paused and thought for a moment, "Did we talk about hiking? I think we talked about hiking." She giggled. "I bet the hiking here is just lovely."

"I'm sure it is. No more morgues to investigate?"

She laughed lightly at his comment, "Morgue? Why would I investigate bodies? That's silly. They aren't lovely." She looked at him and realized what he said, "OH, you mean the newspaper. No. I'll write some notes down in the morning, and the rest of the story I can do back home." She played with his collar as she talked. "As a matter of fact," she slid her arms up from his collar around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, "I think I've done all the investigating for the story I need to here." She giggled again, as she let her hands slide down to his waist and started pulling on his belt, "I do have some investigating I want to do. On a much lovelier subject."

Jonathan grabbed her hands and, at the same time, her mouth in a kiss. Then he responded, "Let's get back to the room before we begin that investigation, shall we, please."

"Oh, right… that's more of an undercover job…"

"Darling," he said, starting them back down the path, "Just how much of that champagne did you drink tonight?"

"Champagne."

"Yes, champagne."

"That lovely champagne…" she sighed. "What year was it?"

"Uh, 1949…"

"...1949… what a lovely year." Jennifer began her little dance again.

"You know what, Darling," Jonathan said, pulling her close to him as they neared their room.

"Hmmm?" she met his gaze with her own, both feeling the passion rising in the electric energy running between them.

Once again, Jonathan had her pinned between him and the wall. "I think I like it when you get a little champagne in you. You are very cute." He was so close to her; he could feel her breath on his lips and smell the champagne she had been drinking. He found himself intoxicated with everything about her.

"Jonathan..." She started, but it was all he needed. He leaned in, touching his mouth to hers, passion igniting in them as he kissed her. When he finally pulled back, he did so only to find the key. Jennifer swallowed, catching her breath. "You are amazing."

"Amazing?"

"Uh-huh."

"You want to see amazing?" He grinned at her, "Please, step inside."