Chapter 13
"Hi Jack." The little boy said as he welcomed their friend into his home.
"Hey there cowboy."
"Mommy is in the kitchen making me breakfast." He exclaimed happily.
"Good, it's about time Janet knew how to cook otherwise you would be eating take out all the time or starve. She used to be a lousy cook." He joked with the boy.
"Hey! I heard that buster." Janet came out of the kitchen with a cute pink and purple apron around her body.
Jack just laughed as he stretched his arms her as he chuckled, "You were a bad cook babe."
"Well yea sort off but I did get better."
"You sure did, you learned to boiled water before you married Philip."
"You gave boiled water to daddy for his lunch?" The little boy asked shocked to hear his mommy used to not know how to cook.
"No," she giggled. "I didn't do that honey." Janet couldn't stop laughing, "We had a cook and I learned from her."
After they got that straighten out with the little boy the two of them made their way towards the kitchen where Jack finished the rest of the meal.
"I can't find anything on these classifies." She said turning the page, "The only other thing I could think of doing besides working in a flower shop would be to work for an office; a CPA would be good, since I got my degree in accounting." She said in a non-motivated tone.
"I didn't know you had a degree in accounting." Jack turned around as he whipped his wet hands.
"I did but it wasn't my choice, that is why I never tell anyone or ever went into the field." She inhale "It was my father's choice, he always thought I was good with numbers and believed a career in accounting would be best for me."
"I hated it, it was so boring." She added.
Jack extended his arm and lifted the paper out of Janet's hands, "Well, how about we stop looking at the because once we marry your only job will be to care for our children, make sure the house is running well, and enjoy what you like to do." He winked.
"Jack I can't do that. You know how much of an independent person I am. I can't let you take all the responsibility of the household."
"You won't, you will be responsible for one of my biggest blessings, my children." He smiled.
"Well even if we did that, we are not marrying yet and I have to find a job." She said taking the newspaper and opening it up once again.
He stared at her; in contrast he gave her a usual Janet stare. "I don't think that is necessary. I will take care of all that you need."
"No." she said without a doubt or giving him an option.
"I don't want you doing that. Jack, I am an adult I have to care for my son and myself."
"Yea, but you are the love of my life and I want nothing else in this world but to care and protect you. That is what I live for your happiness and I won't take no for an answer. Besides I may have a surprise for you pretty soon." He smiled proudly.
"What kind of surprise?" She questioned him with a curious smile on her pretty face.
"Oh, my little secret. You'll see." He said before he reached over to cup her face in his hand, "I love you so much Janet." He said as she felt the intense of his passion through his clear baby blue eyes, "So much."
Janet smiled bashfully as a rosy colored covered her cheeks. He slowly inched his lips closer to hers, gradually he explored her lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck bringing him closer to her. The playful kiss continued as she allowed his tongue to teases hers, the rhythm of their kiss continued before Janet broke the kiss, "I love you too Jack" She whispered.
Jack entered his restaurant on Sunset Avenue, he looked around and a satisfied smiled drew upon his handsome face. He had achieved so much in such little time. And to think this would no longer be his. He smiled at the young green-eyed lady welcoming him to the restaurant. "Good afternoon Mr. Tripper."
"Hi Lindsey, do you know if Mr. Compton has arrived?"
"No, sir but we do have your table ready if you'll like to be seated and wait for your party to arrive."
Jack agreed as he was taken to his favorite table where he could see the ocean. It was perfect for when the sunset.
He was a bit early but wanted to make a good impression on Mr. Compton. He wondered what he looked like now. After a 15-minute wait Lindsey walked Mr. Compton over to Jack's table. Jack couldn't believe how well he had aged.
"Morning Mr. Compton, Jack Tripper." He introduced himself formally.
"Jerry Compton, nice to meet you Mr. Tripper."
The two men enjoyed their lunch before they started discussion their business plans.
"Can I ask you a question, you don't have to answer if it's private but why are you so interested in that shop?"
"Well, do you remember a young brunette by the name of Janet Wood that used to work for you?" Jack asked taking a sip of his red wine.
"Yes, I will never forget Janet. She was always so smart and wonderful to our customers. She married you know."
"Yes, I learned of that not to long ago."
"But what does Janet have to do with you wanting to purchase my property."
"Well actually I want to give that to Janet." Jack informed him.
"You do? Why?" He asked curiously.
"I plan to marry Janet. She and he husband divorced not to long ago and I plan to make her my wife pretty soon."
"I'm sorry to hear about Janet's first marriage, she deserved a good life. But am glad she found someone new."
Jack wasn't about to go into detail of how Janet and him go back a long time, "Well as you can see this will make a perfect wedding gift for my future wife. I know she has unforgettable memories in that place."
"Well I don't know if a flower shop in that particular place would be the best business. I don't know if this will effect the deal or not, but I had to close that place down because of our competition, 'Bradford and Company' who has close down other old fashion flower shops as well."
Jack tried to hide his successful and proud smile, "I can guarantee you that will not be the case this time. See I own 'Bradford and Company' and I can assure you this new project I have planned for Janet will knock every other flower shop out of the water."
"You own Bradford and Company?" He elderly man asked astonished. "Well why don't you just give that flower shop to Janet then?" he asked when Jack confirmed his question.
"Two reasons," He said making a peace sign with his fingers. "I am going through a divorce at the moment and part of the agreement is that my current wife keeps that flower shop. The second reason is because I know exactly just how special this place is to my Janet. It would mean a lot more for me to give her something she already has feelings for then to build her a new building."
"That is true Janet is very emotional."
"Well what do you say? You think you can name a price?"
"I say you have a deal." Mr. Compton said extending this hand so Jack could shake it.
The two business men settle on a price and Jack wrote him a check. Mr. Compton said he would have his lawyer start on the paper work that same day, "Remember this will be under Janet's name so please have him make everything out for her."
"I will remember," he said as they both left the restaurant.
Jack hopped in his car with the biggest smile on his face.
After a month of decorating and fixing everything up for the Gran Opening, Jack finally told Janet the great news. "I have something to tell you," he said removing his hand from her shoulders. They were enjoying a nice quiet night at his apartment while her son was away with Philip for the weekend.
"What is it babe?" Janet asked.
"Well I-" he paused, before handing the small packet to Janet, "Open it."
She gave him a confused look, "Have you been drinking?" She questioned his strange behavior.
"Nop, see I just went into a new business project and I wanted your opinion on it." He said.
"My opinion? Why, I've never owned a business, the closes I got to ever managing a business was the Arcade Flower shop." She said with the closed vanilla color envelope in her hands.
"Well you are my good luck charm, babe. Besides we will soon be a couple and I want our marriage to be build on decisions taken by both of us business or not." He said placing his finger on top of her nose.
She smiled and lean in to peak his lips, how could she say no to such a loving man. She opened the envelope and took out the documents. To her surprise the front cover had a business label with her name on it, reading, 'Janet's Blossom Paradise' her eyes left the white paper with yellow, pink and purple flowers and silver letters, she looked up at Jack who carried a sweet and so innocent smile.
"It's yours babe, your own flower shop." He added.
"Jack you didn't have to, this is to much I just can't-" She stuttered through the words, "I-"
"It's yours and I want you to keep it. I arranged for it to be under your name alone all you have to do is sign." He instructed her as she glanced through the documents.
"This is….oh my" she said raising her hand and covering her lips with it. "This address, it's the Arcade's Flower shop's address." Her eyes now tearing up.
"I hope you like it. I've been working on it for several weeks now. I had an interior designer come in from New York to redesign it and give it a new more fresh look. Plus if you look closer you don't only own the flower shop but the store next to it which we turned into a coffee shop." He exclaimed with an overjoyed tone.
Janet could have put her life on the line and assure anyone this was a dream if it weren't for the magical kiss they both shared after she signed the papers. "You really didn't have to do any of this honey."
"I know but you have brought so much joy and light back into my life, I felt I needed to repay you in some way."
"You already have, way before this. Just a taste of you lips is all I ever will need."
"Well you've got it" He said as he tried to focus on the road as he reached over to touch her lips with his.
As they reached Janet small house, Jack placed the car in park as they both sat in the dark car with the moonlight shining through the windshield. They stared at each other silently as his lips started to leave trails of sweet tender kisses down her neck. "I love you, Jack." She said a lustful ton to her words came across. "Within the last few months you've made me the happiest woman on this planet."
"And yet the best is still to come." He said removing his lips from her skin, as he reached in his coat's pocket.
"Janet darling," He said smiling, "would you honor me by taking this ring as a symbol of our love and accept to share the rest of your life with me as my lovely wife?" he asked nervously as he saw the tears building around her charming brown eyes.
Janet tried whipping the tears away as she cleared her throat. "I'll love too honey." She said planting a kiss on his soft lips. "Nothing in this whole wide world could make me happier then you and me finally being able to form a family as a married couple."
Jack and Janet arrived at the beach just in time to enjoy the afternoon. It was perfect because there weren't as many people as when they drove by there earlier that morning to enjoy breakfast at a small sole-owned shop near by.
Jack and some other guys he met there started playing some tag football while Janet enjoyed a nice book as she took in the sun rays. Every now and then she would stop to watch Jack in his swim shorts take out the rest of his new friends. He would smile at his fiancé as he winked at her. Then Janet would smile back and return her attention to her romantic novel.
Once the game was over and the sun started to set, Jack made his way over to Janet. She folded the left corner of the page she was reading to mark where she had left off. "Great game, Jack; I never knew you were so good at football. You never mention you've played before."
"Thanks, Janet." He said taking a sip of his lemonade, "I played some in high school but I was always more into baseball and basketball."
"Looks like we might get those few showers the weather man was talking about." Janet said looking up at the sky. "I just hope we get to enjoy the sun set before it starts raining." She added.
With in about ten minutes gray clouds started to cover the sky as thunder echoed through the beach. "Let's enjoy the moment." Jack said as he saw everyone around them started to pack and fill their picnic baskets.
Janet smiled up at him, "Sure." She said as her head rested on his legs while the rest of her body stretched across the purple blanket.
Jacked ran his fingers through her raven-hair while every now and then he would bend down to kiss her forehead or nose. "I feel like I'm in paradise." Janet said.
"That's because were actually at the entrance of paradise" He said. "With in two more weeks I will be complete separated from Vicky. There will be nothing to stand in our way babe, and in less than a month you will be my wife."
Drenched in water, Jack and Janet made their way up the elevator to his apartment. Janet's long straight hair seemed to have adapted a wavy textured as Jack's sandy blond hair appeared a darker brunette tone.
"You knew we were going to go the beach babe, wearing a red bathing suit under that soak white dress isn't good for my imagination." He winked giving her a devilish sexy smile as he wrapped his hands around her back.
"Really?" She said in a flirtatious voice as Jack opened the door to his bedroom.
"Would you like for me to show you how wild my imagination could go?" he said laughing as he started planting small kisses down her neck.
Janet giggled desperately as his lips teased and ticked her skin. After a few passionate kisses Janet pushed him off her gently, "We better get out of these clothes and shower before we get sick."
"You're right; we have the opening of your flower-"
"Our," she reminded him, "What's yours is mind and what's mine is yours."
"Okay," he laughed unable to resists sliding his fingers down her spin. "We have the opening for our flower shop in less than a week."
"I'll go first." Janet said as she started undressing and taking her sundress off. "I won't take long promise." She said.
"Okay, I will go down stairs and used the guest bathroom." He informed her before locking his lips with hers for one last kiss.
"I'll miss you." She said rubbing the pad of her thumb against his right cheek.
Jack gulped as he bit his lower lip. "I won't take long." He said as she opened the door and Janet made her way towards the master bathroom.
She turned the warm water and let it run for a minute or two before turning the cool water on as she press play and relaxing instrumental music enlighten the room. When she finally went into the shower the bathroom was filled with steam from the heat of the running water.
Soon after she had washed her hair, she started applying the body wash to the bath sponge, when she felt Jack's presence in the shower. She must have been so rapped up in the music and the vanilla scent coming form the lighten candles outside the shower that she never heard him come in, "Allow me." He said taking the pearl color sponge from her hands as he began to explore her body with it.
The feel of the soft material made Janet's inside tingle with desire but at the moment Jack's hands weren't the only thing wondering her figure Janet's body seemed to melt as his lips left their track all through her shoulders and neck. She turned her body to face him as the water cascade on their nude bodies. Jack dropped the sponge as his hands began to climb up her back while she placed her arms around his neck, more then a hundred I love you's scarped their lips between kisses.
For all we know we may never meet again.
Jack turned off the foist without ever breaking their kiss. Slowly he opened the door, "I need you Janet," he whisper, "I want you."
She looked into his baby blues, as water drops ran down caressing his handsome face. "Take me Jack, take me in your arms and love me like you've never loved before." She instructed him with as her undeniable passion was written all over each word that had just left her lips.
Before you go, make this moment sweet again.
They had talked about children when they made love so many months before. Each time, Janet had insisted in the condoms and birth control pills, saying she wasn't ready yet, and Jack never pressured her about it. But this time, as he laid her on the bed and reached for the dresser drawer, she shook her head slightly and brought his hand back to her as their damped bodies began to unmake his bed. He slowly ran his hands through the lateral side of her body. The touch of his finger tips provoked a pleasurable moan to escape her flushed lips.
We won't say good night until the last minute.
Their bodies sway in a steady rhythm as Jack hungrily explored her body kissing every inch of her suntanned skin. Breathless Janet rolled Jack on his back as she became the aggressor, pleasing him as she also satisfied her body's needs.
I'll hold out my hand and my heart will be in it.
As her body seem to weaken Jack laid her back against the mattress, their heavy breathing wasn't enough to distract him from his mission. He slowly and gently made his way inside her body as pleasant sounds fled across their lips.
"A picture of the happy family for the local paper, please." Jack, Janet and their son, heard a photographer said as they were about to cut the red ribbon for their new business.
With their son in between them dressed in a goofy and proud smile across his cute face the little boy stood still in front of the camera. While Jack and Janet showed their love with a lock of their lips as they held the over-size scissors. It was the perfect picture for a front page article.
"Janet's Blossom Paradise" read the front page for their local news paper in bold black letters. 'This is not just the name of the newest flower shop in the area, but it's also the new way of life for the owner Janet Dawson- soon to be Tripper. She and millionaire fiancé Jack Tripper (Ex-owner of 'Branford and Company') have many new plans for their new business partnership and their future marry life. "I feel like I am living in a magical paradise already," she says with a bright smile as she turned to look Mr. Tripper in the eye. "I am a very lucky woman." Their wedding is expected to be a small ceremony reserved for family and close friends unlike Mr. Tripper's previous wedding to Vicky Bradford. The couple met a long time ago where they were actually roommates before they became soul mates. Jack pretended to be gay in order to live with two girls in a Santa Monica residence. "Those years are some of the best memories of my life." Recalled Jack. When asked why it took them this long to take their friendship a step ahead into the romantic field, they responded "We try to focus on what will come and not on what could have been." They also said there are no plans for a new baby, since Mrs. Dawson has a child from her previous marriage, "Even though he have no plans of another child it will defiantly be a blessing from heaven." Jack said as the idea of a child seemed to make his azure eyes twinkle with excitement.'
Vicky felt the fury inside her eat up her organs and stomach. She picked up her cigarette lighter and began to set fire to the newspaper. "They think they can get away with this." She said laughing as angry tears rolled down her face. "No body gets away with ruining my name and making me the joke of every laugh in town" She said staring blankly into the flames as they ate up the paper and turned it into ashes. "I will kill them before they can enjoy their so call paradise." She said pouring water into her metal trashcan.
