Chapter 5
It was dinner time and Jack hadn't seen Lisa all day. He told Lou to set him up two plates to go and he would go over to check on Lisa taking the plates with him. When he got there she was still in her office working on her computer. She was so preoccupied with what she was doing she didn't even see him in the doorway. After a minute or two she smelled the dinner Jack brought with him and looked up.
"Oh my, that smells good." Just then her stomach grumbled.
Jack walked into her office, going over to give her a kiss hello. "Let me guess, you skipped lunch?"
She looked at the clock. "I had no idea how late it was, and no, I didn't have lunch, maybe a few Christmas cookies, if that counts."
"Lise, you need to eat."
"I know, I know, I meant to, then I got busy. What did you bring me?" She cleared off a spot on her desk for Jack to set up the two plates he brought. She dug into the still warm lasagna that Lou had made. It was gone in minutes.
"Wow, Lise, you were hungry."
"Starving, but that really hit the spot. What are you doing here? Not that I'm complaining."
"I hadn't seen you all day and then when you didn't come home for dinner, I figured I better check up on you. Are you done for the night?"
"Not really, but I can pick back up tomorrow. I was hoping to get more done so I could be done early tomorrow for that fundraiser tomorrow night. You're still coming with me, right?"
"If you want me to go, I'll go with you."
She walked around her desk, and kissed him. "Good, you know how I love to see you dressed up in your suit." She gave him a smirk.
Lisa packed her files away and turned off her computer. "You ready to go cowboy?"
"Whenever you are." Jack grabbed the bag with their dinner plates and utensils, and they headed out, Lisa locking the door behind them.
Once they got home, everyone was in their rooms for the evening. Lisa washed the dishes while Jack poured them some wine. They retired to the sofa. Jack trying to massage the stress out of Lisa's shoulders.
"Everything ok Lise, you seem kind of tense."
"Nothing to worry about Jack, just a long day. Ohhh, Jack, don't stop, that feels wonderful. My personal masseuse." She turned around to face him. "Thank you, you do so much for me. I'm so lucky to have you look out for me." She started to kiss him, but the conversation with Lou replayed in her head.
"Hey, what was that?"
Lisa started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Well, apparently we were caught the other night."
"What do you mean caught?"
"The night of the tree decorating, after everyone went to bed, we were fooling around on the sofa."
"Go on."
"Well Katie saw us."
"No, awe… really."
"Lou pulled me aside and told me. But she also said I shouldn't tell you, because you'll never kiss me again." She made a pouty face.
"Well, that's not true. How could I not kiss my beautiful wife."
"Come on cowboy, it's been a long day. You ready for bed."
Lisa left early the next morning so she could get a head start since she would be leaving early to change for the fundraiser. Jack saw Lisa's dress hanging outside the closet. He was remembering the last time she wore it. She always looked so beautiful. He didn't know how he got so lucky.
The day was busy and went by rather fast. Jack went into the house to get cleaned up for the fundraiser dinner. He went into the bedroom and found Lisa dressing, she had only her slip and her stockings on.
"You take my breath away."
She blushed, "oh Jack Bartlett, whatever am I going to do with you."
He took her in his arms and whispered in her ear, causing her to blush even more.
"Don't tempt me sir, you know I love a good dare." She blew a sultry kiss his way.
He handed her her dress.
"You better put this on, or we are going to be more than fashionably late." Two can play this flirtatious game.
Jack dressed in his suit. Lisa walked over to fix his collar, getting a whiff of his cologne.
"Now you're just playing dirty." She leaned in just close enough to take in his cologne. Jack thought she was going to kiss him, but she pulled away.
"I have no problem skipping this fundraiser, staying home and sharing all of my dirty thoughts with you." Jack leaned down and started kissing her exposed neck.
"You are trouble Jack Bartlett." she stood up from her dressing table and kissed him. A kiss that made them both wish they had more time. "I have clients to meet, I can't be late." She whispered in his ear. She pulled her dress up just enough to fix her stockings, knowing Jack was watching. He turned around and walked out of the room, shaking his head.
Jack and Lisa arrived right on time to the fundraiser. She found their place cards while he went to get them drinks. He was definitely going to need a drink to get through the night. Especially after what she started in the bedroom. Lisa was standing at their table chatting with someone when he returned with their drinks. She took her wine glass from him and continued her conversation. She was in her element. She could wine and dine with the best of them. He sat in his seat across the table watching her. This woman was so intelligent, so beautiful and she utterly amazed him. She would spend the evening entertaining wealthy clients and be completely at ease doing it and yet when she was home she was as natural as could be as a rancher's wife.
"You're a lucky man Jack."
"Jack."
"Hmmm, I'm sorry Scott, did you say something? I was lost in my own little world for a moment."
"I said you're a lucky man."
"Indeed I am," his eyes never leaving his wife as thoughts of their little game earlier replayed in his mind.
Dinner was served, Lisa continued talking with the people at their table. At one point she looked over at Jack, he was being quiet as usual. She reached underneath the table for his hand and held it in hers. Having him by her side meant so much to her, especially because she knew he'd rather be home. She got up at one point to use the ladies room, Jack got up and pulled her chair out for her when she returned. Picking up where she had left off before they left the house, he whispered something in her ear as he pushed her chair in. Her breath caught and she coughed, trying desperately to regain her composure. He caught her off guard, but she was ready to continue the game. Lisa once again reached underneath the table, this time placing her hand on his thigh as she has done so many times before. This time however she didn't keep her hand still, she slowly and ever so gently traced her fingertips along the inside of Jack's thigh reaching slightly higher on his leg each time. Jack reached under the table and grabbed her hand to stop her. Check mate, she thought!
"Well it's been a lovely evening everyone, but I'm afraid we have to get going. Are you ready honey?" Lisa got up from the table, Jack followed her lead, at this point he'd follow her anywhere.
Jack woke up first as usual, but it was still early. The sun was barely up. He listened to Lisa beside him breathing softly. She truly did take his breath away. Last night was the best time he had ever had at one of her functions, thanks to the game they were playing. Jack knew what people said, especially Dan, when they got together, heck he said it himself. He was too old for her, how could she be happy with an old cowboy like him. He loved the life they had together, they both did, every aspect of it. He wished they had more time alone together but they made it work. Usually sneaking away to Fairfield or his fishing cabin. The teasing last night led to the most amazing romantic encounter. She knew how to get him in the mood, which never took very much. Jack fell in love with Lisa because of her selfless giving nature and her unyielding desire to help everyone. But he had to admit, he was drawn to her because of her stunning beauty, and he still found her to be the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. She shifted closer to him in bed, before turning over and laying her head on his chest.
"So, that fundraiser last night wasn't so bad was it?"
"If we play games like that, I'll go to all your events." He leaned down to kiss her. "Although I was definitely at a disadvantage."
"You started it when you pushed my chair in, I could hardly wait to get you home.
"So that's why we left so abruptly, I wondered."
"You know what you do to me in that suit, with that cologne, and those things you said. Oh my, just thinking about how you looked and how good you smelled is turning me on." She leaned up to kiss him with every intention of having a repeat of the night before.
Scott went into Maggie's for coffee and ran into Lou.
"Hey Lou, how's it going?"
"I'm good, how about you?"
"Can't complain. It was nice seeing Jack and Lisa the other night."
"Oh? Where did you see them at, oh wait, the fundraiser that's right. I'm sure grandpa was his usual grumpy self. He hates going to those things."
"He didn't seem grumpy the other night, in fact I'd say he had a smile on his face most of the night."
"Grandpa, really."
"Yeah, him and Lisa…, well let's just say, I don't think we were all at the same party. Good to see you, take care Lou."
Lou was wondering what was going on with those two. They got caught fooling around on the sofa and since then she's noticed little glances and looks and lots of whispering. They were acting like teenagers. Although she wasn't going to complain, Jack did seem rather happy lately. They both seemed really happy and she was happy for them.
