New Romance

"Jonathan," Jennifer murmured softly.

He wasn't quite awake yet, but the lovely sound of her voice was a welcome rousing for him. Jonathan rolled over onto his back and stretched, blinking his eyes open. He was pleased that the warm brown of Jennifer's sweet gaze was the first thing he saw. He smiled. "Good morning," he said, voice hoarse from sleep.

"Good morning," she answered with a pleasant smile of her own. "I wanted to ask you something."

Jonathan pulled her into his arms and kissed her once, twice, before replying, "Ask me anything."

"Could we go home?"

The question was unexpected to say the least. They had arrived in Florida only two days ago. This was the latest of Jonathan's many plans to experience all the world with his new wife.

They married in November and went to the wine country for a week, followed by a honeymoon trip of two weeks in Paris and two weeks in Venice. They'd returned to Los Angeles after that because they'd just bought their house in Bel Air and Jennifer wanted to see the progress after she had picked out all the furnishings for Max to oversee installation. And, by that time, it was approaching Christmas, and the Harts wanted to spend their first holiday at home together.

At New Year's, they found themselves snowed in at a cabin in the mountains. It actually ended up being a very lovely way to bring in the new year. But once the snow cleared, they were back at the house for three days before Jonathan then whisked her away to Colorado to look at a ranch property. He and Jennifer had always wanted some land to keep horses and cows and things. This one was perfect, and they signed the papers for the Double Heart Ranch. They went home and repacked for tropical Florida by the time the ink was dry.

They'd just arrived in the Keys, and now she wanted to leave again?

"I don't mean today," Jennifer added, answering his unspoken question. "But before next week?"

"Why before next week?" Jonathan specifically did not want to go home before next week. He had chartered a yacht to take them to the Caribbean next week. He intended to spend Valentine's Day alone with his wife on the open water doing nothing but making love all through the day and night.

But Jennifer seemed to have other ideas. "Next week is Valentine's Day. It's our first Valentine's Day together. And I'd like to spend it at home."

Jonathan felt his heart drop into his stomach. That wasn't what he'd expected at all.. "You would?" he asked, trying not to be disappointed.

Jennifer frowned. "Oh no, you planned something, didn't you?"

"Nothing that can't be rescheduled," he assured her. After all, a surprise for Jennifer wasn't any fun if she wouldn't enjoy it. And she certainly would not enjoy a yacht cruise if she wanted to be home instead.

She slipped her fingers between the buttons of his pajama shirt, stroking his chest hair. He was weak for her whenever she did that, and she knew it. She sighed and said, "I know better than anyone how sweet and romantic you are. And I know that every Valentine's Day for the rest of our lives is going to be so incredibly luxurious and wonderful. It's just that for this first Valentine's Day together, I want to be home. We have that incredible house that we've hardly spent any time in, and I…well, actually, now I feel silly."

Jonathan reached up to brush her hair out of her face. "Don't feel silly. What is it?" he encouraged.

She watched her own hand drawing little circles over his chest. "Well, I was thinking about love and how much I love you. And I love our house and I love Max. And if Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love, I don't want to have any piece of my heart missing. I mean, I did just see Pa for the wedding and over the summer in New York when he came to meet you, and that's frankly more times I've seen him in a year since I was about twelve years old. So I won't be missing him just yet. But anyway, I wanted to be with everyone else I love in and in our home. And I just thought that it might be nice to wake up in our own bed in our own house where I can make love to my husband who I love so much and then we can have breakfast with Max afterward. I bet he could make heart-shaped pancakes."

He had to chuckle at that. Jennifer didn't get nervous too much, but she did ramble a little when she did. And she was right, Max probably could make heart-shaped pancakes. There was very little Max couldn't do. "I think that sounds great. Valentine's Day at home," he agreed, reassuring her. "Now let's see, that's on Monday, and since it's Wednesday now, why don't we fly home Sunday morning so we can wake up for the first time on Valentine's Day morning?"

Jennifer smiled. "And you're sure you don't mind?"

Jonathan gently pulled her face down so he could kiss her again. "I'm sure I don't mind. But I will have to make some calls after we have breakfast today."

"What did you have planned?" she asked.

As much as Jennifer liked surprises, Jonathan knew she was a journalist at heart and didn't like not having all the facts. But she wasn't going to get one over on him this time. "I'm not going to tell you in case I decide to reschedule and surprise you another time," he taunted.

She laughed, "Oh alright, fine. But I do really appreciate that you don't mind rescheduling."

"And I appreciate that you told me what you want so I could give it to you," he answered.

A naughty glint in Jennifer's eye made him pause. "Well," she said, smirking, "you are very good at giving it to me."

Jonathan caught on right away. "Tell me what you want," he said, his voice going low and seductive.

Her hand snuck under the covers and she managed to tell him exactly what she wanted, only she didn't need words.

Jennifer almost always woke first. She wasn't entirely sure why. Her body clock was just wired that way. Jonathan, on the other hand, always needed to be woken by the alarm or by Max or by her. But every single morning, Jennifer woke to her sleeping husband beside her.

It was still so new and wonderful that he was her husband. They'd been married just over three months now. And Jennifer Edwards was fading ever faster into a very different life. She'd been so proud of her life and her independence, and Jennifer Edwards would not give it up for anything. Jennifer Hart, however, existed inextricably linked to her husband. She could not fathom a life without him and his love. She had become a woman she would have shunned a year ago. But of course, Jennifer would still shun this life if it came with anyone other than Jonathan. He had become her whole world, but her own world still fit neatly with it. Her work and her interests were not begrudged by him in any way whatsoever. Instead, he encouraged and cultivated every single thing she cared about. Because he cared about her and wanted to give her everything. And he did.

It was hard not to think about Jonathan every single morning when she woke up in bed beside him, but today especially her thoughts turned so naturally to him. Valentine's Day was a day to celebrate love. And Jennifer had never known a love like she shared with Jonathan.

And oh, she loved him. She loved him so much she thought she might fly apart because of it. It was hard to believe that this impossible, perfect, all-encompassing love that they had found was only a few months old. They hadn't even known each other for a year, but it felt like a lifetime. And to think that they had an entire lifetime ahead of them. Jennifer couldn't help but smile at that.

She glanced at the clock and decided it was now time to start Valentine's Day. This was exactly what she wanted, after all. She wanted the whole day filled with love. Love of her husband, of course, but also of Max and of this house that they had just moved into. They hadn't spent nearly enough time here, and Jennifer looked forward to nesting a bit. After the wedding and honeymoon and then finding the ranch that had similarly stolen her heart, Jennifer was ready to be in one place for a while. She and Jonathan had years ahead of them to go on adventures. It was time to make this house a home. She'd not had a true home in longer than she could remember. She wanted to build that home here with Jonathan and Max. Starting now.

Jennifer rolled over in bed to see Jonathan lying on his side facing away from her. She scooted herself over to press her body against his back, and she ran her fingers through his hair. "Good morning, darling," she cooed. "Happy Valentine's Day."

Jonathan stirred, and she moved just enough to allow him to turn over and face her. His eyelids were heavy from sleep, but he was smiling. "Happy Valentine's Day," he answered groggily.

She leaned in to kiss him sweetly, but of course, it was Valentine's Day, and she had no interest in remaining too sweet for too long. Jennifer put her leg up over Jonathan's hip and pushing him onto his back, rolling over on top of him.

He grinned up at her as she perched on his lap. "Well this is a nice way to start the morning."

Jennifer wasted no time in pulling her nightgown off her head, leaving her entirely naked on top of him. Jonathan's hands started wandering her body, and she did her best to not be too distracted so she could unbutton his pajama shirt and reveal that gorgeous chest. In her eagerness, she may have ripped off a button or two, but neither of them cared just now. She splayed her hands over his pectorals and felt that intoxicating soft scratch of his chest hair before leaning in against for a searing kiss. She could feel him grow hard against her thigh, and she wiggled against him to make him groan in arousal against her lips.

She was so lost once his tongue was in her mouth that she barely realized that he'd flipped them over so she was on her back. Jonathan pulled away only to remove his pajama bottoms so nothing would separate them.

"Oh Jonathan, I need you, darling," she moaned as his teeth grazed over her breast.

His hand slipped between her legs and found her hot and wet and aching for him. "Already," he murmured in surprise.

Jennifer watched as he put his fingers, just barely coated with her wetness, and licked them clean. She shivered in arousal even as she spread her legs for him.

Jonathan stroked himself to readiness, and Jennifer had to bite her lip in anticipation for him. When he did line himself up and thrust inside her, she arched her back and whimpered in the magnificent feeling of fullness. He paused, allowing her to adjust. Jennifer wrapped her legs around his waist to pull him in deep, and she gripped his shoulders so she could move with him. And move he did.

They made love so in sync, so in touch with each other, so inextricably connected. Jonathan seemed to always know what she needed, and he always endeavored to give it to her. And Jennifer felt just the same way about him. Every time was exciting and comforting and pleasurable and perfect.

"God, Jonathan!" she moaned, gasping for air as he hit just the right spot inside her. "Oh god, oh I love you," she chanted, hardly knowing what was coming out of her mouth.

"Jennifer, yes," he grunted in response, taking her hard and deep and so, so well.

Her body shattered and she gasped at the sudden release. Jonathan followed right after her. They eventually stilled and slumped back onto the bed, holding each other loosely as they caught their breath.

"I know it's not the first time we've woken up and made love right away," Jonathan said, once he regained the power of speech, "but I think this is a good tradition to start for Valentine's Day."

"Valentine's Day, Tuesday, whatever," Jennifer answered, chuckling breathlessly. She turned herself over to nuzzle against his chest. "I wouldn't mind doing this every day."

"Every day?"

"Is that a disagreement?" she challenged.

"No, never. I'm just mentally preparing myself for the workouts. Max is going to have to start making us big breakfasts so we can keep up our strength."

Jennifer laughed and kissed him. "Sounds good to me."

Mr. H had warned him about this, so Max had a chance to practice. Which was good. He needed it. Heart-shaped pancakes weren't so easy. But he started practicing as soon as Mr. H had called last week and said they were coming to the house for Valentine's Day.

Max was glad to have them home. It was starting to feel like a home now, after the holiday season and getting all that furniture in that Mrs. H ordered.

He smiled to himself. Miss Edwards was now Mrs. H. It felt good to think of her that way. She was a pretty swell lady. Max had liked her from the start. Smart and tough and beautiful—all qualities he liked in a woman. And boy was she head over heels for Mr. H. Max never thought any lady would be good enough for him. Jonathan Hart had been a scrappy orphan in San Francisco that Max had taken quite a shine to, back in the day. And he'd grown up into the best man anyone had ever met. Max loved that boy, and now Mrs. H was here to take good care of him. The two of them got on like a house on fire.

And speaking of which, he hurried back over to the stove to flip those pancakes so they didn't burn. He'd already messed up a couple over the weekend when he was practicing. Max hated having to throw out food; living through the Depression really did stick him with some habits. He sorta wished the Harts would get a dog so he could have someone to give the rejected pancakes and mistaken recipes to. But Max had enough to contend with, keeping this big, old house furnished and clean.

Aw, who was he kidding? He loved this house. He'd seen the address in the paper a couple weeks before the wedding, since Mr. H had been trying to find a house for him and Mrs. H for after they got married. Max kept his eye out. Liked to be helpful. Mr. H could do anything for himself nowadays, or he had teams of people at Hart Industries to do it for him. But Max did what he could to be useful. And this time, it panned out. He showed the listing to Mr. H, and the two of them drove up to Bel Air to take a look at the place. Mr. H fell in love with it right away, as did Max. Mr. H took his gal up to see it the next day, and that was it. The Harts were Bel Air people now. And Max was now the CEO of 3100 Willow Pond.

After weeks and months of traveling every sort of place, the Harts had finally come home to celebrate Valentine's Day. Mr. H had some things up his sleeve, of course, but he'd asked Max to make them heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. So of course he did. But it was getting late, so Max starting wondering whether he should set the table here or bring a tray up to the bedroom for them to have breakfast in bed. Only if he did that, he might walk in on them celebrating the holiday, and that needed to be avoided as much as possible. Setting the kitchen table was the only real choice.

Thankfully, about five minutes later, the kitchen door swung open. Mr. and Mrs. H walked in, dressed casually for the day, and their arms around each other's waists.

"Good morning, Max," Mr. H greeted. "Breakfast smells great!"

"Ready when you are, Mr. and Mrs. H," Max answered, gesturing to the table.

Mrs. H wandered over and gave Max a kiss on the cheek. "Happy Valentine's Day, Max," she said.

Max beamed happily. He didn't have a valentine of his own this year, so a kiss from any gorgeous lady was quite the good fortune.

The three of them sat together to eat breakfast, and the Harts praised Max for the delicious pancakes and the creative shape. He'd been worried they wouldn't come out right, but the Harts were happy, and that's all Max needed.

"Max, we'll help you clean up, because we better get on the road soon," Mr. H said.

"Right," Max agreed, glancing at his watch. They were running a little behind.

Mrs. H cleared the plates and asked, "Where are we going?"

Mr. H grinned at her. "I've got a surprise for you."

"Is it the surprise you had for me in Florida that you rescheduled?" she asked him.

"No, that's still a surprise we can do another time. This one is different. But I think you're gonna like it," he told her.

Max directed the cleanup, and they were all done in no time. Mr. and Mrs. H got into he back of the Bentley, and Max put on his hat and got into the driver's seat. Mr. H had told him the plan, so Max knew where he was going. After all, with Mr. H, he'd been driving out this direction a long time.

"Jonathan, where are we going?" Mrs. H asked for the tenth time. But Mr. H wouldn't budge. And Max just kept on driving. Slightly different than when they used to come from Hart Towers downtown, but it was actually easier this way. 405 to Santa Monica Boulevard and into the marina.

The Harts got out of the car and Max went to go park. He knew where Mr. H was taking Mrs. H. Max had been the one to manage the delivery and everything while the Harts were away. But he wanted to see Mrs. H's reaction.

Max got there just in time. He arrived right when Mr. H stopped on the pier and said, "Take a look over there," and pointed to one of the sailboats.

A brand-new boat was docked there, shining and gleaming and beautiful. And the name on the back read Romance.

Mrs. H gasped, "Is that yours?!"

"Ours," Mr. H corrected. "You were right about my old boat. It really wasn't good for us now. But this one has everything I think we'll need. Do you want to take a look?"

She eagerly agreed. Mr. H laughed happily at her excitement.

"Alright, anchors away, Max," he called.

With a smile, Max boarded the sailboat and started to prep everything to shove off. After all, it was Valentine's Day, and the Harts were in love, and where else would they be if not in Romance?