***A month later***
Jennifer was settled in New York. She and Ava both got an apartment on the same floor. Ava had miraculously managed to get hired on at the Times, just like Jennifer.
They were walking out of the office to go to lunch when they saw two familiar faces walking in.
"Cassie? Morgan? What are you two doing here in the states?"
"We got jobs with the Times too! We arrived 2 days ago, and today is our first day".
They all 4 shared huge hugs and promised they would meet up later.
As soon as Jennifer got back to work, there was a delivery of flowers on her desk. Gorgeous yellow gladiolus, purple lilacs and pink tulips filled a crystal vase.
She dug for the card and opened it.
"Dinner, tomorrow? Can't wait to see you. Congrats on the new job. Call me. Jonathan".
She picked up the phone and called him.
"Hart Industries, how may I direct your call?"
"Jonathan Hart, please. This is Jennifer".
"Right away, ma'am".
"Hello?"
"Hi. Thank you for the lovely flowers".
"You're welcome. I hope you are willing to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"I certainly am".
"Perfect, where do you want to go?"
"My place. Let me cook for us".
"Sounds good. Shall we say, 7?"
"We shall. I can't wait to see you, Jonathan".
"I can't wait to see you too. And I will, see you, tomorrow, at 7".
She gave him the address and then they hung up.
Ava walked by and couldn't help but notice how happy Jennifer was.
"What got you all slap happy?"
"I'm having dinner with Jonathan tomorrow night. And hopefully it won't end with dinner".
"Well, good for you. It's good to see you happy and with someone".
"Well, we aren't together, per se, but there's definitely an interest".
"Well, hopefully it will all work out".
"Yeah, hopefully".
She left the office at 5, and headed straight home. She spent the whole evening planning her date with Jonathan-what she was going to wear, what she was going to cook, all of it. It had to go perfectly.
***The next day***
Jennifer left the office around 4 and headed to the grocery store. She had decided to make stuffed chicken, wild rice, and a salad.
She got everything into the oven, and then went and showered and got ready.
She put on a black dress with spaghetti straps that crossed in the back, and some black heels.
She had just put her perfume on, when he rang the doorbell.
She opened it to find him holding a bouquet of roses.
"Hi".
"Hi. You look gorgeous".
"Thank you. Come on in".
"I brought you these flowers, hope you like them".
"I love them, let me put them in some water".
She quickly put them in water, and then returned to the living room. He had just taken off his jacket.
She stepped forward and gave him a big hug.
"I missed you".
"I missed you too. Nice place you have here".
"Thanks. I'm getting used to it".
"Can I help you with dinner?"
"It's already in the oven. But you can make us some cocktails, if you'd like".
"I'd love to".
He made them both a martini while she checked on dinner and set the table.
"So, what brings you to New York?"
"Well, I have some business meetings that I'm a part of. And it looks like I am going to be here for the next 3 months at least".
"Wonderful".
"Yeah, I like New York."
"How's Max?"
"He's great. Truth be told, I think I detected a hint of jealousy in his voice when I told him I was having dinner with you tonight".
"Oh? What's to be jealous of? I would have dinner with him whenever he wanted".
"He thinks the world of you".
"He's too kind".
"How's your dad?"
"He's good. Still in Germany".
"I see".
"How's your ankle?"
"Good as new".
"That's-"
He leaned over, grabbed the back of her head, and kissed her passionately.
"-wonderful".
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't wait any longer. I just had to kiss you".
"I'm so glad you did".
She leaned up and kissed him a few more times.
Suddenly, the timer on the oven went off, forcing them to break their kiss.
She pulled dinner out of the oven and set it on top of the stove.
"Want to start with dinner?"
"How about a special appetizer?"
He leaned down and scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom.
"Jonathan, you are going to hurt yourself!".
"Well, if I do, you will get to play nursemaid one more time".
She kissed him as he set her down by the bed. She kicked her heels off and unzipped her dress. He was taking his tie off and unbuttoning his shirt.
When they were both undressed, they climbed into bed and wasted no time. They spent the next couple hours having passionate sex, and just enjoying each other.
She snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
"So, you mentioned that you were going to be in New York for 3 months. When does that start?"
"It started this afternoon".
"Wonderful".
She heard his stomach growl as they laid there.
"Want to go eat now?"
"Yeah, let's".
She got up and put a robe on and handed her terry cloth one to him.
They fixed their plates and sat at the table. She lit them candles and turned on some music.
"So, what are we having?"
"This is chicken, stuffed with cheese and spinach artichoke dip, wild rice and a chopped salad."
"Looks amazing".
After they were done eating, they did the dishes together and then he made them each a fresh cocktail and they took it back to bed with them.
She curled up next to him and sipped her drink.
He moved his body somewhat behind her and started giving her a back massage.
"Ahhhh".
After her back massage, she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Jonathan, can I ask you something?"
"Certainly".
"What changed?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, the last time we talked about us, you stated that you didn't want to be with me again and that we should just be friends. And I'm glad you and I are friends. I really value our friendship, but how did we go from there, to wherever we are right now?"
"Well, I don't know really. I've had a few dates recently, and at the end of the night, all I can think is that they aren't you. You are so captivating, and nobody else has captivated me the way you do. So I figured if you and I had a shot, I might as well take it".
"I'm so glad you did".
She leaned over and kissed him.
"I hope your feelings about me haven't changed".
"They haven't. I've always been open to a more than friends relationship with you".
He leaned over and kissed her, caressing her face with his hands.
"Want to stay the night?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
He made love to her again before they fell asleep together.
***The next morning***
Jennifer woke up when her alarm went off and headed for the shower.
Jonathan woke up about 10 minutes later and came to join her in the shower.
"Need some help?"
"Couldn't hurt".
They enjoyed a steamy shower, and then she got out and dried off.
She headed to the kitchen to make the coffee. When he got out of the shower, she was dressed and drying her hair.
He quickly dressed and then headed to the kitchen.
When she came to the kitchen, he was making them breakfast.
"Toast is ready, eggs are almost done."
"Wow. Thank you".
After they ate, she quickly did the dishes, and then they left together.
He had his car service take them to her office first, and then his.
"I'll call you later".
"Sounds good".
A few kisses later, she was heading into the office.
She had just sat down when Ava and Cassie and Morgan came over.
"So? How did it go?"
"Wonderful. He wants us to be together, like a real relationship. So, I'm hopeful".
"Great! Where did you guys go for dinner?"
"My apartment. I cooked dinner for us".
"You cooked?! What happened? What went wrong?"
"Nothing. I mean, he thinks I made it myself, and I didn't. I bought it already made and just heated it up. But I made the chopped salad myself".
"You're learning, Edwards. You're learning".
They left her desk then, and she buckled down and got to work.
Jonathan called around 1.
"Hello, this is Jennifer Edwards".
"Hi beautiful".
"Hi. What are you up to?"
"Not much. How about you come to the penthouse tonight? It's my turn to do dinner for us".
"I think that can be arranged".
"Great. How about 6:30? I can send my car service to pick you up".
"Wonderful. Can I bring anything?"
"Clothes to spend the night if you want. Your gorgeous self if not".
"Perfect. I'll see you when I get there".
She blew him a kiss as she hung up the phone and got back to work.
Around 4, she made a few phone calls inquiring about a few things related to Regent airlines. Getting nowhere, she hung up frustrated.
She headed home at 5 and got ready. She packed a bag to stay with him that night and was ready to walk out the door just before 6.
His car service showed up right on time and took her to his penthouse.
Jonathan came downstairs and met her at the car.
"Hi darling. Jennifer, this is James. He will be your driver from now on. Wherever you want to go, you just call him and he will come get you and I will cover the cost. James, she's protected goods, got it?"
"Yes sir".
"Thank you, James. Thank you, darling".
"What time would you like a pickup in the morning?"
"From here-8:45. And we will be going to the Times".
"I'll see you then. Have a nice night".
Jonathan walked Jennifer inside and they headed for the front desk.
He got another key to the penthouse and gave it to her.
"Now you can come here whenever you want, no matter what".
They headed to the elevator and as soon as the doors closed, he leaned over and kissed her a few times.
"Hi".
"You're absolutely breathtaking".
"Well thank you".
A few more kisses later, and they were at the Penthouse.
She set her bag down in the guest room and hung her outfit for the next day up in the closet.
She went back to the kitchen and found him opening a bottle of wine.
"How about a drink?"
"Yes, please".
He poured them both a glass of wine, and then they walked to the living room.
"Can I help you with dinner?"
"It's being delivered. I ordered us dinner from the Italian place around the corner".
"Wonderful".
They stretched out on the couch and sipped on their wine.
"So you never told me how you ended up living back in New York again".
"Well, Brooks called a meeting and it was mandatory. And he said that the London Herald had been sold, and would be shutting down. So, he offered us other jobs in other cities, and I picked New York, because it was the only one that was most like the one I had, plus it was closer to my father".
"Well, I'm glad you chose New York".
"Me too".
There was a knock at the door, so he got up and got it.
It was the delivery guy with their dinner.
"Oh thank you. Perfect timing".
They decided to eat on the terrace.
She sat down next to him at the table.
"What a beautiful view".
He was staring at her.
"Yeah, I agree".
She blushed and smiled at him.
They took their time eating dinner, just enjoying the weather and each other's company.
"So you never told me what you are working on right now at the paper".
"Well, I've been assigned a few articles about things that are happening around town, but the big one that I'm working on is an investigative article about the airline you and I were on. And what I'm finding is pretty shocking".
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the company that sold them the parts for the plane has a history of selling substandard parts. Not saying they did this time, just that they have a history. And I'm finding that other parts on the plane are substandard as well".
"I see. So what are you going to do?"
"Keep investigating. If they almost killed us because they used substandard parts and equipment, I will expose them".
He leaned over and kissed her cheek and then they took the dishes inside.
After they cleaned up the kitchen together, he turned and grabbed both her hands.
"What do you say we both put on something more comfortable and snuggle up and watch a movie?"
She nodded.
They went and changed, and she had to pick her jaw up off the floor when he emerged in a pair of sweatpants with USC down the leg and a t-shirt.
'Good gosh, he is so handsome'
She put on some black jogging pants and an oversized t-shirt.
He had one of those couches that was extra deep, so that when you sit on it, you automatically stretch out.
She climbed up on the couch and stretched out next to him.
He found them a movie and wrapped his arms around her.
About halfway through the movie, she snuggled a little closer to him.
"This is nice".
"Yeah, it is".
He leaned down and kissed her to the point that both of them forgot about the movie.