Chapter 6

Dinner with her parents had gone amazingly smooth. Stephen and Suzanne were gracious hosts, and Walter, a fantastic cook. And playing cards with them after provided great insight to the family for Jonathan. Especially when Suzanne had a little too much champagne. The stories she could tell about her little Jenny had them all in tears from laughter.

After, Jonathan and Jennifer went to Stephen's study for a little while. Jennifer started a fire, and he sat on the floor in front of it, when it was going strong, she laid on the floor beside him. Jonathan found himself mesmerized by all the books. "Has your dad read all of the books in here?"

Jennifer let out a gentle laugh, "Yes. He reads constantly. He likes to say books are words sung in the key of imagination." She played with the fibers of the rug around his hand, "I suppose that's one of the things that drove me to write. I love how words and imagination go hand and hand." He reached his hand over to hers.

"You have fabulously soft hands," he said as he traced her fingers. He picked her hand up and kissed the back of it. "They are gorgeous."

She smiled as she watched him, the gold flecks of color in her eyes reflecting the firelight. "And you have a way with words." He leaned down and kissed her. "You are stirring my imagination…" He kissed her again. "And lighting my fire, Mr. Hart."

"And I don't want to leave you, Ms. Edwards."

"Then don't."

"I fear I must. It's getting late."

"Ugh. I don't like feeling like a high schooler!"

"I know. But soon."

Jonathan knew he didn't want to leave Jennifer's side. Kissing her goodnight was quickly becoming not enough. He didn't know if it was the fact they didn't have much time alone, or if it was that he had made up his mind; she was his, and he wanted all of her.

Walking back to the guest house, Jonathan hoped Max had been able to accomplish all he had set out for him to do today. He was ready to step up the timeline. The reality was, he could to go before a judge and marry this woman right now, though he was pretty sure that would not get him in good with the in-laws.

Jonathan opened the door to the guest house to a fuzzy ball of boundless energy. "I was just about to take him out for a walk before bed," Max told him.

"I can do it." Jonathan offered. "Were you able to pick up the packages?"

"They are on the counter in the kitchen."

"Did you see them?" Max, cigar in his mouth, shook his head to indicate he had. "And?"

"Perfect." He looked the younger man over, removed the cigar, and added, "But I ain't the one who gets to make that call."

After Jonathan left, Jennifer had a cup of tea with her mother in the living room before she headed to bed.

"Jennifer, Darling," Stephen called to his daughter as she walked past his study door.

"Yes, Pa?" she stopped to answer him, looking into the room. Jennifer always loved this room. The extensive library was full of fascinating stories and facts, and the books gave a very earthy scent to the office. Additionally, warmth from the roaring fire behind his desk, and the smell of his pipe burning evoked content emotions within Jennifer. She considered this the coziest room in the house. How many nights had they spent here as a family? Momma and Pa seated in the overstuffed chairs reading their novels and Jenny on the rug in between them, books strung out in front of the fire.

"Come here, Darling." apprehension built as she walked across the room to where he sat. Stephen had several photos strewn over the top of his desk. Sitting back in his chair, trying to light his pipe, he watched his daughter for a bit before speaking again. "Tell me, what all do you know about this man you are spending so much time with?"

Jennifer studied her father, trying to figure out just where he was coming from, and for that matter, where he intended to move this conversation. She sat in the chair across from him, the desk between them, and decided to ask. "What are you doing, Pa?"

"What am I doing? My dear, that is what I am trying to figure out from your end. What are you doing?"

"Oh, that's easy." She made eye contact with her father and held it. She didn't want to be disrespectful, but he needed to know she was not backing down on this one. "I have started a hobby I intend to spend the rest of my life doing."

"And what hobby would that be?"

"Getting to know my husband, Jonathan Hart."

"Husband? You are not yet married." He leaned forward, "Regardless, what, child, have you learned?"

She sat back and contemplated his question for a few minutes. What had she learned about him over the last four days? "In the last several days, I have learned Jonathan Hart looks out for those less fortunate and helps those who can not help themselves. I know he has a beautifully positive outlook on most issues presented to him. I know Jonathan Hart is a seeker of justice, in every sense of the word. I know he is incredibly romantic and an excellent kisser…" she giggled at her admission.

"Jennifer…"

"It's true, Pa."

"Good in bed?"

Jennifer felt her face flush, "I'm sure I wouldn't know, Pa. Yet."

Stephen grabbed the pictures from the desk, "I bet these girls know the answer. There seems to be a different girl every week." Jennifer didn't know if she should be angry or laugh. She stood up, walked around the desk, and knelt in front of him.

"I love you, Papa. You will always be the first man in my life." She reached up and took the stack from his hand, then stood, turned, and tossed them in the fireplace behind her. "However, Jonathan Hart now has my heart, and I have his. What is in the past is in the past. Ours is a future, together."

His frustration and anger got the best of him. "I don't want you just tossed aside like garbage when he decides he's finished with you. I can not watch…" he stopped short. He was not going to finish that sentence.

"Watch what, Pa? Watch me go through it again?" Jennifer finished it for him. "Watch me make a bad decision again?" Making her way to bed, Suzanne stopped and stepped into the room. Jennifer didn't notice. She continued to react to Stephen's insinuation. "Like Elliot? Is that what you think this is? Let me tell you something, Pa. Jonathan Hart is light years ahead of Elliot Manning. Everything Jonathan does is to encourage me to be who I am. Elliot wanted me because I look good. Jonathan wants me because I am intelligent; he talks to me like I am a real person, not just a pretty face." She felt her mother's arm around her shoulders, and she looked between her parents. Jennifer took a deep breath, trying to muzzle her anger, "Sometimes relationships go bad. It's a risk you take when you open yourself up to love someone. But it's a risk I'm willing to take. Jonathan is worth the risk. The reality is Pa, one of the things I am most drawn to Jonathan by is the fact he treats me like I have seen you treat Momma. Something Elliot never did."

With those words, she turned and left the room.

When Freeway finished outside, they made their way back to the guest house, Jonathan lost in thought as they walked. He was contemplating all the ways he could finally make the engagement official but had not found the right one yet. He wanted perfection. The Edwards' home was ripe with possibilities: after dinner with her parents, by the lake, in the mountains. For that matter, he could merely hand her the box and move on. He was already ready to move on.

He just wanted to marry her and have her living in the same house with him. Always.

As much as he wanted to skip ahead to being married, he also wanted to make everything magical for Jennifer. This woman was worth the perfection of taking his time to make everything right.

Inside the guesthouse, Jonathan made his way to the counter, where the two boxes sat. He picked up the longer one and opened it. The emerald and diamond bracelet and earring set he had picked out for her was inside. Jonathan couldn't wait to see them on her. Maybe with a black evening gown. He made a mental note to look for one for her. Taking her out on the town and showing her off will be amazing. He did need to decide if he wanted to do so in New York? Or LA? Back in London? Oh, Italy would be fun. Maybe he should just start here in DC… Who was he kidding? He wanted to do them all.

He closed the box, set it down, and picked up the smaller one. This is the one he had been anticipating. This box is why he went into town. He lifted the lid to see how it had come together.

Inside were the three rings he had expected. The first was an engagement ring, Jonathan had worked with a jeweler to design one just for her. The guy had stayed late last night to put it all together. And it was stunning. The largest stone was a 3-carat flawless clear diamond, set in a white gold infinity band, with one band of channel-set diamonds. It was the largest flawless they had on hand, and he didn't want to wait for anything more significant, a larger diamond would have to come later. The second was also a matching wedding band for her. The third ring would be his, a more subdued masculine take on the infinity, almost more of a twist.

Now for the right moment.

Jennifer was lying on her bed when there was a knock on the door. "Yes?"

"Ma chérie?" Suzanne called as she opened the door.

"Oui, Momma. Come in."

Suzanne walked in, shutting the door behind her. "Ça va, Jenny?"

"Oui."

"Your Papa loves you."

"I know, Momma." She reached her hand out to her mother, "Sometimes, it just seems he has a funny way of showing it."

"He doesn't want you hurt, chéri."

"And yet, in trying to protect, he is the one doing the hurting."

Suzanne nodded her head, "He would rather hurt you with the truth than you hurt from another's lies."

"But, Momma, Jonathan isn't lying to me." She lowered her voice as she thought about what she was saying, "And I think that it hurts more Pa doesn't trust my judgment."

"No, no… It is not you Papa doesn't trust…"

"But don't you see, Momma," Jennifer searched her mother's eyes, "In not trusting Jonathan, he's not trusting my judgment of Jonathan. He's afraid I didn't learn well enough from the last mistake. But I did, Momma. Can you not see Jonathan is different?"

"How can I, chéri? I was not allowed to meet the last one."

Jennifer chuckled a little at her mother's observation, "And that alone should tell you something. Elliot was not worth introducing to you. But Jonathan," she paused as she thought about him. "Jonathan is everything. I want you to love him as much as I do."

"Oui. And we like him." She smiled at her daughter, "Beaucoup." She studied her daughter's beautiful face, looking for a way to ease Jennifer's questions, "He is every bit as charming and thoughtful as you have said."

"Then why the theatrics with Papa tonight?"

"He just needed to know that you have all the facts before you make such a decision."

"I have all the facts I need. I love him."