A/N – Thanks for all of the reviews! I loved hearing from all of you! Yes, Jason is being a blockhead. Maryrose59 – Thanks for reading! -Mona – Johnny O is going to rock in this story! Blackberry959 – Glad you are enjoying it! Ilovedana53 and Virgy15 – Jason won't be a total pig. Hellzz – Enjoy Skylo I put them in here for you!

Chapter 3 – Push and Pull

Jason never showed up for dinner. Liz couldn't believe he was being so insolent. Finally around 7:00, she wiped the tears from her eyes and invited Johnny to eat with her.

"Oh, my God, this is so good," he said enthusiastically.

Liz giggled as she watched him shovel the food in, happy that at least someone was enjoying her efforts.

"Seriously, I think I'm in heaven."

"Well thank you, Johnny. I'm glad you like it."

Liz is grateful for his company. She doesn't understand why Jason is being so rude. He isn't even trying. She pushed him out of her mind and finished enjoying her meal.

Jason arrived about a half-hour later. He took a deep breath and smelled the sauce and then when he heard laughter, he strode towards the dining room to find Liz a little tipsy on wine and Johnny telling her stories.

Clearing his throat, he crossed his arms and waited for someone to speak.

Johnny stood. "Sorry, Jason. Why don't you sit down and eat? It's really good."

He gazed at Liz and then back at him. "No thanks, I already ate." Catching the crushed look on her face, he ignored it and went upstairs. He's aware that he's being harsh, but he just can't let his guard down. Jason is fighting his attraction to her with everything he has, so putting distance between them is a necessity.

Johnny silently helped her clean up and then went to his cottage.

The same thing happened every day that week. Jason would wake up early and slip out and Liz would be left to her own devices all day. He never ate with her or really spoke to her using more than one syllable. Johnny watched her cry every day and by the end of the week, he was seething.

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The men were having a meeting over at Sonny's to talk about a party the next night.

All the guys were standing around drinking a beer and Johnny just stared daggers at Jason with his jaw clenched.

"What the fuck is your problem, O'Brien?" Jason finally blurted.

"Woah…" Sonny said stepping in between them. "What is going on?"

"I'll tell you what is going on, I'm about to kick his ass," Johnny growled.

Jason lunged for Johnny and was pulled back by Francis.

"You are treating your wife like shit. You don't speak to her. She cooks for you and you don't eat with her and every day this week you have made her cry because of it."

Jason clenched his jaw.

Sonny glared at him. "Is that true?"

Jason crossed the room and sat. "What if it is? It's my business. You forced me into a loveless marriage, so I get to do what I want."

Sonny was ready to punch Jason himself. "What the fuck, Jason? Are you like two? If you treat her badly and it gets back to Lorenzo, you're going to fuck everything up."

"Fuck Lorenzo," Jason said menacingly.

This time Sonny had to be held back. "I don't know what your problem is, but you need to suck it up and get to know your wife. You will be a dutiful husband and pay attention to her tomorrow night if it kills you. I will not let you ruin this!" For Sonny, it wasn't just about the alliance, but Elizabeth is a sweet girl and there is no way he will let Jason ruin her.

Jason glared at him. He hated being forced into this relationship because it just brought up all kinds of hurt from the past which he obviously is not over. He got up and left the room.

Sonny glanced at Johnny. "Keep an eye on Elizabeth, okay?"

"Of course. I don't know what it will take to get Jason to be nicer, but I don't see her putting up with it for much longer."

"He just feels cornered. He doesn't like people taking his choices away. I get it and maybe we should have gone about this a little differently, but there just wasn't a lot of time. I think they could be great together."

Johnny nodded. Jason is a complicated man and has been through a lot since the accident. Most people would have been irrevocably damaged after what he had experienced. It is a miracle that he mentally survived it, but that still is no excuse for his current behavior. Jason needs to grow the fuck up.

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The next afternoon, something had happened at one of the warehouses, so Johnny let Liz know that Jason would meet her at the party. She took extra time to get ready knowing that this is her debut.

Johnny gulped as Liz descended the staircase. She is wearing a beautiful blue dress that is sexy and hugs every curve. When she stepped off the last step and turned, he realizes there is no back and sucked in his breath. Her hair is piled up on her head in a messy up-do and very high heels accented her painted toes.

"You look beautiful." The dress made her already stunning eyes look a deeper shade of blue if that was even possible.

Jason is a fool, he thought to himself as he helped her into the car and then headed to the hotel.

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Jason was at the bar chilling with Francis when he noticed that everyone in the room had stopped talking. He spun around catching sight of Liz who had just walked off the elevator with Johnny close behind.

"Holy Shit," Francis whispered.

Jason could barely take his eyes off her. When she found him in the crowd and felt his intensity, she blushed and looked away. Despite his childish behavior all week, the way he looked at her still made her tremble. She couldn't explain it, but she is so attracted to him and after his recent behavior, she hates herself for it.

Jason put his drink down and his eyes raking over her as he approached. "You look beautiful."

She shivered as his hand found her back, and Jason flinched when he felt her skin instead of material.

"You're going to make Maximus have a heart attack."

Liz giggled.

As he led her to their table, she noticed that she is the recipient of glares from some of the other wives, as did Jason.

"Don't worry about them. They haven't seen their toes in the last century," he whispered into her ear, still too enchanted by her to hold back his attraction.

Liz chuckled and sat.

Sonny smiled. "You look lovely."

"Thank you, Sonny," she said abashedly.

She smiled at Claudia and then the conversation resumed. From there, Liz played everything just right. She was engaging when she needed to be and quiet when she should be. Her mom had taught her well and everyone was impressed.

Sonny used his eyes to get Jason to ask her to dance.

Jason hated dancing but decided to keep up the charade. "You want to dance?"

"Sure."

He led her to the center of the room and pulled her closer. "You're just an old pro at all of this aren't you?"

"My mother gave me many lessons."

Jason nodded. "Married to the mob 101?"

Liz smiled. "Something like that."

Jason's hand moved, and Liz shivered as he unconsciously rubbed her back with his thumb. All he could think about is that he needed to get away from her before he got sucked in completely. Her beauty and innocence are intoxicating, and he is, after all, a virile man. There is only so much he can take.

They finished dancing and went back to the table. Jason left at one point and didn't come back. She saw him walking around a few times, but it's clear that he is purposely ignoring her. Anger overwhelms her as she sucked it down and tried to make it through the rest of the night. She is done with his crap.

The night finally ended, and they got into the car where she didn't utter one word. He is aware that she is pissed, but there is no way he is going to ask why. When they got to the house she strode inside and threw her purse on the couch and stomped up the stairs. Jason followed her closely just to piss her off more.

She flung open the bedroom door and kicked off her shoes. "I have had it with you," she growled with her eyes breathing fire. "You are acting like a complete asshole."

Jason frowned and stared at her in shock because there is no way he had predicted that she would act like this.

"You have gone out of your way to be mean and ignore me and I will not stand for it anymore. Do you think I wanted to marry you? No! You weren't even on my radar," she sneered.

Without thinking she unzipped her dressed and stepped out it. Jason caught his breath at how truly beautiful her body is. She reached into her drawer and pulled out an oversized shirt and pulled it on and then turned back towards him. Realizing what she had just done, tears started to spring into her eyes as she tried to hold back because she didn't want to lose it in front of him.