Well its time to find out how the rest of Paige's date is going, it's a really good chapter and I hope you like it… please r+r… Chapter 17

          Later that evening, as Jonathan drove his convertible through the winding streets of San Francisco, Paige was floating on a cloud of happiness.  She'd just spent an entire evening chatting with celebrities, eating the most intensely amazing food (aside from Piper's), and being waited on hand-and-foot by the best-looking guy in the room, male models and A-list actors included.

          "Jonathan I had an amazing night," Paige breathed, tipping her head back to look up at the full moon that hung low in the night sky.  "It's not over yet," Jonathan said.  He reached out his hand to cover hers, and the warmth from his skin seemed to travel over her body.  "That's right," she said with a smile.  "I'm going to get to see your place."

          "Yes, you are," Jonathan said, returning his hand to the wheel as he made a particularly sharp turn.  "I just hope you like it."

          I'm sure I will, Paige thought anyone as completely perfect as Jonathan had to have one amazing house.  Unless, of course, he turned out to be one of those closet frat boys with empty pizza boxes, beer-can castles, and stacks of dirty magazines all over the place.  But somehow, looking at his classic profile and his perfectly gelled hair, she doubted it.

          As the car wove its way farther and father from the center of town and higher and higher into the hills, Paige leaned back and let herself enjoy the moment.  It was a perfect warm night; the wind was in her hair, and by the looks of the estates the car was zipping by, Jonathan lived in one seriously posh neighborhood.  She felt more like a celebrity now then she had at any other point of the evening.

          Jonathan pulled the car to a stop at the rounded edge of a dead end and put it into park.  There wasn't a single sound except for the car engine.  Paige looked up at the huge Iron Gate in front of her and felt her jaw drop just the slightest bit.  "A little paranoid?" she joked.  "I know, it's kind of gothic," Jonathan said with a laugh.  "But the gates been here as long as the house has its part of its history.  I just couldn't tear it down."  He reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a slim card, and inserted it into a silver box built into the wall that ran from either side of the gate.  There was a quiet beep and then the gate opened with a deafening clang.

          "Were exactly is the house?" Paige asked squinting into the darkness as Jonathan pulled his car through the slowly parting gates.  "You'll see it in just a minute," he answered.  Sure enough, when Jonathan pulled the car around a wide turn, the "house" loomed into view at the very top of the hill.  It was more a mansion then a house, and Paige felt a chill as she took it all in.  Built in the classic Victorian style so popular in the San Francisco area, the structure was sprawling.  With an immense wraparound deck, at least four gables, and a garage big enough to fit the Hallowell Manor inside, Jonathans home could actually have been classified as an estate, or a mall!

          It was also dark, dreary, and intimidating enough to play the starring role in an old ghost movie.  "It's incredible," Paige said, gazing up at the very tip-top of the highest turret.  "It's like something out of a romance novel."  "Well I'm glad you like it," Jonathan said, pulling his car up to the front door, the tires crunching along the gravel drive.  "It has been in the family forever."

          "You must have some amazing family," Paige said.  She popped open the car door and climbed out, never taking her eyes off the house.  "Come on," Jonathan said, startling her as he placed his hand on her shoulder.  Lifting her skirt slightly, Paige climbed porch steps.  The door creaked as Jonathan opened it and Paige stepped inside, feeling as if she'd stepped into her own vivid imagination.  The entrance hall was tiled in an intricate mosaic pattern, and Paige followed Jonathan up the steps, looking around at the haunting artwork and the huge crystal chandelier that hung above.

          Jonathan led her along the upstairs hallway, opening doors as they went along.  Each bedroom was decorated in the Victorian style, as if they hadn't been touched since the original owners had made their mark.  Jonathan brought her to every single room, explaining the history of each one.  An hour had past before they descended once again to the first floor and Jonathan ushered Paige into his library.  "I'm sure you already know this, but I have to tell you, your home is amazing," Paige said, walking along the periphery of the library, taking in the leather-bound tiles as Jonathan followed closely behind. 

          "And I'm sure you already know this, but so are you," Jonathan said.  Paige's heart skipped a beat and she turned to look at him, blushing like crazy.  His eyes were completely sincere, and she found herself uncharacteristically averting her gaze.  Jonathan reached up and touched her cheek with his fingertips, causing her heart to beat even faster.  "It was so important that you love this place as much as I do," he continued quietly.  "But I knew.  I knew the moment you saw it that you had fallen in love."

          A warm rush raced over Paige's skin as he moved his hand to her waist.  She looked up at him, her eyelids heavy.  "How could I not?" she said. "It's…. fascinating."  "You haven't seen the best part yet," Jonathan, said, his voice throaty.  "The best part?" Paige repeated, temporarily incapable of forming her own thoughts.  "The garden," Jonathan said, his eyes flashing with excitement.  "You have to see the garden."  He moved away from her, and Paige suddenly felt cold and alert, as if she'd just been slapped in the face.  The dizziness was gone, and her senses seemed to have returned in full force.  She shook her head a bit to lessen the shock to her system.  Jonathan was moving toward the back of the room and a pair of glass doors that led out onto a stone-floored patio.  Suddenly, as caught up as she was in the gothic romance of it all, Paige felt incredibly exhausted.

          "Wow it's getting pretty late you know?" Paige said, glancing down at her watch.  "And I assume the gardens at a place like these are kind of huge.  Can we do it another time?"  Jonathan paused, his back to her, and Paige bit her lip uncertainly.  It seemed to her to be an easy question to answer.  Why was he taking so much time to process it?  "Jonathan?" she prompted.  He turned around at last, a smile lighting his handsome features.  "I saved the best for last," he said, holding out his hand. "We don't have to take a tour of the whole grounds.  I just want you to see it.  It's my favorite part of the house."

          Paige looked at his outstretched hand and sighed.  "Well, if it's your favorite part," she said with a grin, pushing her fatigue aside.  She took his hand and he closed his fingers tightly around hers, and then reached for the brass knob on the garden door.  And then, Paige's cell phone rang.  "Damn. Sorry," Paige said, pulling her hand away.  She popped open her evening bag and pulled out her tiny phone.  The Caller ID read, 'Home'.  "It's just my sister," she said to Jonathan, who shoved his hands in his pockets.  "It'll only be a sec."  Paige hit the talk button and brought the phone to her ear. "I'm kinda on a date here," she said through her teeth, turning away from Jonathan.  "Paige, it's an emergency," Piper's voice sliced through the earpiece.  "You need to come home. Now."

          Paige felt her heart freeze up with fear.  It was rare for Piper to sound so freaked.  What had happened?  Was it the kids?  Had something happen to them?  "I'll be right there," Paige said.  She turned and looked at Jonathan apologetically.  "I'm so sorry," she said, shoving her phone back in her bag.  "There's an emergency at home.  I have to go." 

          "Are you sure?" Jonathan asked.  "Believe me, I wouldn't leave unless I had to," Paige said, honestly.  She took a step closer to him and laid her hand on the lapel of his tuxedo jacket.  "You don't mind do you?" 

          "No of course not," Jonathan said, with an unconvincingly tight smile.  "But if you don't mind, I'm going to have Sam take you." He reached past her to a phone on a table against the wall.  "Sam?" she asked, confused.  "My driver," Jonathan responded, his words clipped.  Then he spoke into the phone, looking away from her.  "Sam, I need you to take Ms. Hallowell home.  She has a family emergency."  He hung up and put his hand back in his pockets.  "He's bringing the car around."

          "Wow. Sam is on call twenty-four/seven?  Who are you, Batman?" Paige asked, trying to lighten the mood.  "He's like a member of the family," Jonathan said flatly.  He walked past her over to a desk on the other side of the room and started flipping through some papers.  "I'd take you myself, but if we're going to cut the evening short, I'd like to get some work done."  Swallowing hard, Paige walked up next to Jonathan and tilted her head to try to catch his eye. "I'm really sorry about this," she said tentatively.  "I'd like to do it again."  Jonathan let out an audible breath and finally looked up at her. "I'm sorry," he said, shacking his head.  "I'm acting like a baby.  I guess that's what happens when I don't get what I want," he added, cracking a sheepish smile.

          Paige grinned.  She stood on her toes and kissed his lips.  It was a long, lingering kiss, and when she stepped away, he kept his eyes closed for an extra moment.  "Next time," she said. "I promise." A horn honked from out of the drive, and Paige turned to go.  As Jonathan opened the door for her and she stepped out into the night, she felt like Cinderella leaving her prince behind, like she was waking up from a perfect dream.  She sat down in the car and blew Jonathan a kiss.  He waved in return, a sad smile playing about his lips.  Then Sam put the car in drive and before Paige knew it, she was winding her way down the hill once again.  "Whatever this emergency is," Paige whispered, "it better be catastrophic."

Want to know what Paige's sisters have to tell her…? Well then send me some reviews and I'll send the next chapter…