Dallas, Texas

Preparing two drinks, JR stood at the bar in his office, listening to Jenna speak. Having arrived at the office early on Monday morning, he hadn't expected the first call Diane put through to be from Jenna, but he was definitely intrigued, especially when she'd asked him to talk in person. There were things Sue Ellen was good at and things he was good at and when it came to Jenna he had a fair idea of what she wanted or needed from him, but he still wished to hear her ask him.

Walking across the room, he handed Jenna her drink, asking, "are you sure it's permanent?"

"Oh, it's permanent", confirming her relationship was over, Jenna's comments didn't particularly surprise him. It had been clear from the start what the deal with Jenna and Richard was and love didn't factor into it anywhere, it was a pairing based on convenience and although he presumed Jenna was still available for Richard whenever he needed her to be, she brought a series of social connections with her that were getting messier and messier.

Nodding, he sat down and enquired, "may I ask why?" He had a fair idea why her relationship had crumbled, he'd seen the state his brother had been in when he'd picked him up a couple of weeks earlier and he'd seen the way Richard had been looking at both Bobby and Jenna then, it was too much. Finding a pretty lady to share his bed with wouldn't be difficult with Richard's personal wealth and Jenna's split loyalties were not something he had to deal with if he didn't want to, and he guessed from Jenna's explanation so far that he didn't want to.

"Bobby", breathing out her ex-fiancé's name, it was quite clear that things were still complicated.

"You and Bobby…?" unsure what exactly had happened, he asked for more information. Based on the way Bobby had presented himself during their last encounter he had a hard time picturing his brother being ready to rekindle the romance he'd had with Jenna and making it last, but he couldn't be sure either that that's not what had happened. If it had though, there was no reason why Jenna would be in his office instead of by Bobby's side.

"No. But Bobby's sudden reappearance in my life doesn't sit well with Richard", answering him, she didn't go into a lot of detail but he didn't need it to understand what she was getting at.

Jenna had made no secret of her attraction to Bobby and her past actions being mistakes, but she'd also told him to back off when he'd indicated that Bobby was now available again; obviously she cared for his brother but things between the two were not as simple as them both being single at the same time.

"Bobby's not new to your life", pointing out that she'd been playing coy with Bobby for months now, he knew what she meant but he didn't let it go that easily.

"Single Bobby is. Not that I'm trying to be his girl, but men think differently", shaking her head, she looked fed-up with the idea that she was making herself available to Bobby, even if she'd spent the last few months doing just that.

Chuckling, he agreed, "we do".

"Will you help me?" looking to him for assistance, she was still vague about what sort of help from him she was requesting, but he wasn't stupid.

"Of course I will. But tell me one thing, why me? Why not Bobby?" more than aware that he was the most stable of his brothers, even with the loss of his mother, business problems and a marriage that had been tested a lot recently, he still had to wonder what was drawing her to ask for his support. He had the means of course, but so did Bobby, and now that she was an unattached woman again she was free to give Bobby what he was seeking from her, comfort, and even in his emotional state, Bobby was sure to be generous with her if she showed him any hint of vulnerability.

"It's not like that with us, and if I made it like that then I'd prove Richard's accusations right. Besides, we're friends, aren't we?" defending her dignity, she stopped short of declaring her intention to be a completely independent woman, but what really caught his attention was her closing statement.

He didn't have a lot of friends, or any really, he had family and acquaintances, business and personal, but not friends. He wasn't sure he'd set out to make a friend of Jenna, he'd intended to help Sue Ellen make a friend, not himself, but it had been more than six months and Jenna was a fixture in their social life, not just Sue Ellen's social life. They were friends and he hadn't even planned it that way. Considering that, he answered, "we are. What is it you need?"

"A place to live", exhaling her answer she had the decency to look embarrassed, although that didn't stop her from asking.

"I can arrange that. Is there anything else?" conscious that she had Charlie's needs as well as her own he gave her the opportunity to ask for more, sure that that was what Sue Ellen would have done had she been in his shoes.

"You mean money?" far more earnest than he'd ever known her to be, she spoke quietly, almost whispering her question.

"Yes, I mean money", nodding, he was gentle with her, unsure of what to think of her demeanour now.

"No, thank you, not at present, my car is in my name and Richard has been very generous throughout our relationship so I have enough to get by comfortably provided we have somewhere to live", shaking her head, she thanked him and explained her situation.

Listening, he considered the situation for a few seconds and then attempted to break the tension between them, saying, "I'll grant you that favour, for one in return".

He was in a strong position to negotiate; what Jenna was asking for was about as inexpensive for him as what he'd worked out with Patricia regarding Kristin's schooling years earlier, but it meant a lot to Jenna and he knew how to use that to his advantage. She was a friend, but friends did favours for each other, her request was proof of that.

Laughing, appearing to be back to her old self again, she asked, "why am I not surprised?"

Chuckling himself, he assured her, "don't worry, it's not difficult". He had something in mind, something that wouldn't cost her anything, not time nor money, it just made use of her already proven skills.

"Let's hear it then", smirking, she nodded at him and waited.

To be continued…