Chapter 2

Late night or early in the morning, he wasn't sure it mattered how you looked at the time; nearly 1 am, they should have been in bed, not just in their car as it pulled up to the front door of their Willow Pond Road address. His wife, exhausted from the demands on her as of late, was dozing in the seat beside him. He reached over and lightly brushed a rogue curl back from her face, then tenderly kissed her forehead. "We're home, Darling."

"Oh," she yawned. "I'm sorry, Darling. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

"I don't know. I kinda like it when you fall asleep on me."

"Only when we are in our bedroom."

"That sounds like a magnificent idea," he grinned at her before he opened his door. He quickly moved to her side of the car, opened the door, and extended his hand to help her up stand up.

"Thank you, Darling." Together, they moved to the front door, which Jonathan unlocked and allowed them to enter into their home. She laid her purse down on the table just inside the door and slipped her shoes off her feet, while Jonathan locked the door and set the alarm.

"Join me upstairs, Mrs. Hart?"

Jennifer breathed deep, "Ready. Willing. And exhausted."

Jonathan held out his arm, which she accepted, and they began to climb the stairs. As they neared the top, he told her, "I am going to check on Ryleigh, and then I will join you in the bedroom."

"Oh, Darling, before you go," she turned her back to him. "Could you unzip me, please?"

"Mmmm, that's the best offer I've had all night," he grinned and walked back to her. Married 23 years, and still, he never tired of helping her undress. Jonathan reached over and took hold of the slider on her zipper and pulled it down slowly, stopping about a quarter of the way down, he leaned in and kissed her back just under her hairline and down between her shoulder blades. He continued to pull the zipper down, chased by the kisses.

"Jonathan…" she breathed once more. He was undeterred by her half-hearted vocal objections. When the zipper stopped, he slid his hand inside, around to her stomach, knocking the dress off her shoulder. Then he pulled her body tight against his own. His kisses now moved up her neck and around to her ear.

"I won't be long, I promise," he whispered before he released his hold on her.

"I'll be waiting…" she said with a wink as she looked over her shoulder. Then she headed for their bedroom door, humming the tune they had danced to earlier.

Jonathan shook his head. How he had managed to win the heart of such beauty still amazed him. He turned and walked down the hall to their daughter's room.

Ryleigh had fallen asleep while reading, the book still on her chest, earphones in her ears, light still on. Jonathan moved to her bedside, picked the book up, marked the page with the closest paper, paused the music, and removed the earphones. She stirred slightly, rolling to her side, her breathing quickly settling again. He tenderly kissed her cheek and turned out the light.

Returning to their bedroom, he found Jennifer standing in the dressing room, about to button up his pajama top. Stepping up behind her, he reached out and took hold of her arm, stopping her mid-task. "I wouldn't bother with that if I were you," he whispered in her ear.

"Oh?" She turned to face him, barely covered by the still open top. "Why is that?"

"Because, Mrs. Hart," he said as he slid his arm inside the top and around her waist, "I'm about to take it right back off."

Jennifer giggled and looped her arms around his neck. "I have missed you, Jonathan." She pulled her own body in tight with his, and his arms held her there. He leaned in and found the tender area of her neck and laced it with his kisses. "Mmmm. You feel fantastic."

"I know what will feel even better," he told her right before capturing her lips with his own.

As their lips parted slightly, she whispered, "Promises, promises."

Scooping her up in his arms, Jonathan carried her back to their bed.