"You love me?"
"I am madly, hopelessly, head over heels, upside down and inside out in love with you. As far as I'm concerned, you and I are soulmates. If you left me tomorrow, I would go to the ends of the earth and beyond to find you and bring you back to me, because I don't want anyone else. I want you".
He gave her a passionate kiss that made her see stars.
"When exactly did you know you were in love with me?"
"As soon as you walked out of my life and I couldn't find you. I had Stanley at the office investigate anything and everything he could find so that he could find you, and I was miserable. It was the longest 3 months of my life, missing you, worrying that someone was hurting you, wanting to hold you and kiss you and talk to you and hear you laugh. I never want us to go through that again".
"Jonathan, I feel so horrible. I thought we left things settled between us. I had no idea you were in love with me".
"Baby, I didn't realize I was till I realized that there was a good chance that I wouldn't see you again. I was giving you space to cool off so we could talk without yelling, but if I had known you were going to move and that you thought things were settled, I would have for sure stayed and worked it out with you, because you and I have something worth fighting for".
"I agree with that".
She leaned up and wrapped her arms around him and kissed him, as he scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.
***The next day***
Jonathan and Jennifer spent a lazy day together, as close as possible, until just before dinner time when she was getting ready to go.
"Bye Max. I'll see you next time".
She hugged him and kissed his cheek.
"Always a pleasure, Miss Edwards. Safe travels".
Jonathan walked her outside and loaded her bag for her into the backseat.
"Call me when you get there. Drive safely".
"Next weekend, why don't you come to me?"
"I can do that".
She leaned up and kissed him for several minutes, not wanting to let him go.
"Wednesday, I have a business dinner that's halfway between you and me. Want to go with me?"
She nodded and kissed him again.
"I'll have Deanne call you with the details".
"Sounds great. I love you, I'll call you when I get home".
"I love you too".
A few more kisses later, and she headed out.
She had an easy drive, with very little traffic. She turned on the radio, and just tried to enjoy the drive.
She made it home and headed inside.
She ran herself a bubble bath, poured herself a glass of wine, and grabbed the phone and called Jonathan.
"Hello?"
"Hi honey".
"Hi. You home?"
"Yes. I just sank into a bubble bath".
"You're killing me, beautiful. I wish I was there with you".
"Me too. One day we will live closer to each other".
"The house is too quiet without you".
"Just a few days, darling, and you'll be able to wrap your arms around me all weekend".
"I can't wait. How was your drive?"
"Fine. Nice and easy".
They chatted while she took her bath and got out and put on a nightgown.
"What are you going to cook for dinner?"
"Oh, I'll probably order something. I don't feel like cooking tonight".
"I'll probably do the same thing".
They chatted a little longer, and then she promised to call him tomorrow.
"I love you, I'll call you in the morning".
"I love you, too".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone, and then called and placed a delivery order.
Lindsey called a little later, and they chatted for a bit before Jennifer hung up so she could eat.
As she climbed into bed and fell asleep, she dreamed of Jonathan all night long.
***Wednesday***
Jennifer was at the magazine, typing up her latest story, when the phone rang.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hello, this is Deanne, Mr. Hart's secretary. He wanted me to give you the arrangements for the dinner tonight".
"Wonderful. I'm ready whenever you are".
"You two will be meeting in San Clemente. He says that should only be about an hour from your house. You will be meeting at Sino's Steakhouse, at 7. He says dressy, but not formal. Dinner should be over by 9".
"Wonderful, thank you".
She hung up and got back to work.
Around 4, her boss knocked on the door.
"Hi. Just wanted you to know we just got word that your article on renovating the kitchen and lightening up the wood paneling, is the featured article for renovations this season".
"Really? That's crazy".
"Congratulations!"
"Thank you".
"Here is your bonus, and your article is up for the 'Best Of' award, and the ceremony for that is next month".
"Wonderful, thank you".
She opened the envelope and found a very sizeable bonus check.
She left the office around 5, and headed straight home to get ready for her dinner with Jonathan.
***Sino's Steakhouse***
Jennifer pulled up and parked right next to Jonathan.
He saw her and came and opened her door for her.
"Hi gorgeous".
"Hi".
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him.
"I missed you".
"I missed you too".
They headed inside and met their party.
For the next hour, Jennifer charmed the wife, while Jonathan and the husband did business. When it was all over, he agreed to do business with Jonathan, and signed on the bottom line and then they had a lovely steak dinner.
Jonathan paid the check, and they all headed out.
They said their goodbyes in the parking lot, and Jennifer and Jonathan started walking towards their cars.
"Baby, go somewhere with me, really quick".
"Ok".
She got in his car with him and he drove them to the beach. It was deserted.
He turned on the radio, and they climbed into the backseat.
"This is so nice and romantic".
They cuddled up and stared at the stars for a bit.
Finally, Jennifer turned to Jonathan.
"You know, we could get a hotel room, and stay the night and then drive back in the morning early".
"I don't want to do that".
"Honey…we barely get to see each other. Come on, what do you say?"
"I said no".
"Fine. Take me back to my car please".
She climbed out of the backseat and back into the front. He did the same and they had a quiet drive back to her car.
She got out of his car and into hers without a word to him, and then drove all the way home with tears streaming down her face.
***The next day***
Jennifer was at work, and she wasn't in a good mood. She tried to keep to herself and not talk to anyone. It wasn't easy, but she managed for the most part.
Around 11, there was a delivery for her. As soon as she saw it, she knew it was from Jonathan. 2 dozen of the prettiest red and white roses she had ever seen in a gorgeous heavy crystal vase. She dug for the card and opened it.
I love you, more than you know-Jonathan
She put the card in her purse and moved the flowers to the corner of her desk and gave them a good sniff and then got back to work.
Around 2, the phone rang.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hey, it's me".
"Hello".
"Did you get a delivery today?"
"Yes, I did".
"Well, weren't you going to call me?"
"I thought about it, but I figured if I called you, you would just have Deanne take a message".
"No, I wouldn't have".
"Well, thanks for calling. I'm pretty busy-"
"Jennifer, I'm sorry about last night. I never meant to hurt you or upset you".
"I don't want to talk about it".
"For what's it worth, I love you, all my heart".
"And for what it's worth, I loved you last night with all of mine".
"Come on, let's not do this".
"I have to go, Jonathan. I'm at work, and I don't want to get upset".
"Can we talk tonight?"
"I don't see why not".
"I love you".
"I love you too".
"Bye Jennifer".
"Bye Jonathan".
She didn't blow him a kiss this time as she hung up the phone.
She tried to get back to work, but she couldn't concentrate. Finally, around 3, she submitted a request to work from home tomorrow and headed out.
***Jennifer's Townhouse***
Jennifer came inside and set the flowers on her kitchen table. She poured herself a glass of wine, and headed to take a hot bath. She was in the bath for 2 hours, and finally got out when the water got cold.
She dried off and put on some lounging clothes and was in the kitchen making dinner when there was a knock at the door.
She cautiously went and answered it.
Jonathan was on the other side.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in?"
She nodded and let him in.
She closed the door behind him and locked it.
He tried to hug her but she wouldn't let him.
"Answer my question. What are you doing here?"
"Well, you sounded upset when we were on the phone, and I don't want you to be upset. And since you mean the most to me out of everything in my life, I figured I needed to come and resolve this with you and make sure you were ok. So, I rescheduled some things, I took tomorrow off, and here I am".
"I was just making dinner. Want to join me?"
"Sure. What are we making?"
"Manicotti with meat sauce".
She handed him the meat to cook, and then started on the filling for the manicotti.
They silently cooked dinner, and then Jennifer assembled it and put it in the oven and set the timer. She started cutting up veggies for a salad and got that all ready, and then refilled her wine glass.
She leaned against the sink, and took a sip of her wine.
Jonathan held his hand out to her. She took it and he led her to the couch and sat next to her.
"Can we talk about this now?"
"That depends. Are you going to scream at me?"
He sighed.
"I refuse to be treated like that, Jonathan".
"Like what?"
"You snapping at me and talking down to me. If you don't respect me-"I do respect you".
"Then speak to me in a respectful manner".
"Jennifer, I'm really sorry that I upset you last night. But look at it from my shoes. You are the most caring person I've ever known. You have the best heart of anyone, you aren't mean spirited or anything like that. And you are so classy and sophisticated. I've been on a lot of dates, and I've dated a few women, and none of them had anywhere near as much class as you do. And I love you so much, and I want to protect you from everything and treat you the way you deserve to be treated, better than that, actually. And you just moved here from New York, and I realize that you don't know a lot about California. But I do know a lot about California, and I'm in San Clemente a lot for business. And the hotels in San Clemente-most of them rent rooms by the hour. And you deserve better than that. I would never expect you to spend the night with me in a fleabag place like that".
"So, what is it? Am I not skinny enough? Do I need to change my hair or my makeup? Should I dye my hair blonde like Fallon?"
"Baby, come on. That's not fair. You're perfect, just the way you are".
"You've never had a problem with me before".
"It wasn't you that I had a problem with, it was the location".
"You asked me to come to San Clemente, thank you very much. You shouldn't have started something you weren't willing to finish".
"I realize that. And I would take you to dinner there 100 more times, without a doubt. However, if you and I are going to spend the night together, I refuse for it to be in a place that is less than what you deserve. I refuse to spend the night with you in a hotel with drug dealers and prostitutes. That's not you and me. That's not us".
"You made me feel rejected, Jonathan".
"That was never my intentions. I was trying to respect you".
"Jonathan, you're missing the point. You rejecting me was disrespectful".
"You're right. I'm sorry".
The timer went off so she got up and went and got dinner out of the oven.
After she had plated their dinner, she took the plates to the table while he got them beverages.
They had a quiet dinner, and then did the dishes together afterwards.
They had just finished drying all the dishes, when he turned to her.
"If I planned a trip for us, would you want to go?"
"Sure, if I can get the time off work".
"This would be a weekend trip".
"I could do that".
She turned the lights in the kitchen out and he followed her to the bedroom.
She turned the tv on and climbed onto the bed.
He climbed on the bed and scooted next to her and put his arm around her.
They watched tv for a little bit before he finally broke the silence.
"Baby, how long are you going to be mad at me? I'm willing to do whatever I can to fix this, but you have to tell me what it is".
"I'm not mad, Jonathan. I'm hurt. It's just….I want you to think I'm beautiful and for you to desire me. And to find out that you don't, it hurts me. I cried the whole way home and I hate doing that".
"You are the most beautiful woman and the most desirable woman I know, Jennifer".
"But for you to reject me then, makes me feel otherwise. And as they say, actions speak louder than words".
"I'm here, aren't I? I called you today, I sent you flowers. I'm doing everything I can".
"You called me today. You didn't call me last night. You didn't seem to care last night".
"I was giving you space so that it wouldn't be us yelling at each other. That's all, I swear".
"And I appreciate that, and had you called last night, I guarantee you, it would have been a very short conversation. But the effort would have meant something to me".
She sat up and turned towards him some.
"Jonathan, I want you to really understand me, ok? Really listen to what I'm saying. I get up, I get ready for work, I go to work and I do my job. I come home, and I eat dinner, hang out, and go to bed. And through all of that, I miss you desperately. More than I thought possible. And that didn't just start when I ran into you at the event. It started when I was in New York. It's not like I'm coming home and having dates every night of the week with other guys. I'm committed to you, Jonathan, and only you. And I want more than anything for our relationship to work, but that can't happen if we don't get on solid ground".
"I agree with that".
"Are you staying the night?"
"Do you want me to stay the night?"
"I wouldn't have let you in the door if I didn't".
"I brought a bag. It's in the car. But I didn't know how our talk was going to go, so I left it in the car".
"Do you want to stay the night?"
"I would love to stay the night".
She got up and went and changed into pajamas while he went to get his bag from the car.
When he got back, she was in bed, under the covers.
He quickly changed into some pajama shorts and then climbed into bed with her.
"What time do you have to get up tomorrow?"
"I took the day off".
"Great. I love lazy days with you".
He wrapped his arms around her and held her while they watched the news. She eventually drifted off to sleep on his shoulder.
He covered them up the best he could, kissed her head and fell asleep with her.