***Willow Pond***

Jonathan had gotten up and headed to the office early. Jennifer was still sleeping when he left, but he had a plan for the day, and she wouldn't be sleeping long.

He called her around 8:30.

"Darling, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well, the exterminator is coming to the beach house, and I need you to sit there while he's there. Someone has to let him in".

"Ok. What time is he coming?"

"Anytime between 10 and 5".

"10 and 5?! Jonathan, we have the Martin's dinner party tonight. If I am there till 5, I won't have time to get ready."

"I tell you what. Take your stuff with you, get ready at the beach house and I will swing by and pick you up".

She agreed. She didn't like it, but she agreed.

She got up, packed a bag with everything she would need, and headed to the beach house.

As soon as she had pulled out of the driveway, Max called Mr. H.

"She's headed to the beach house".

"I'll be there in 30 minutes. Thanks, Max".

Jonathan arrived, and setup began. He had tulle and lights and flowers put everywhere. All her favorite flowers- stargazer lilies, bells of Ireland, purple heather, hot pink roses. They were all around the room. He was having her favorite foods from Chasen's and La Scala brought in, and there was also a surprise for her, at the end of the night.

Max was helping as best he could, which was mainly staying out of the way.

"How did you get the idea to plan this, Mr. H?"

"Well, when we said goodbye at the airport before she was attacked, I told her I owed her a night of dinner, dancing, and dessert. And then she was attacked and it didn't seem like the right time. And then last week, she told me one night about how she had discovered this new singer, Luke Bryan. He's not new, but he's new to her. And she just fell in love with his music. It was so nice to see her talking about something normal again, and not being scared and anxious, that I decided a little surprise was in order."

"Ahh. Great idea, Mr. H."

"As long as she's happy, that's all that matters".

The party planner completely transformed the living room and foyer with the tulle and lights. They set up a tent with a stage and dance floor in the backyard. It was going to be perfect.

***Later that afternoon***

Jennifer was irritated. She had sat at the beach house all day, and no exterminator ever showed up. What a waste of a day.

She got ready for the Martin's dinner party by taking a long bath, and then curling her hair. Her makeup was flawless, and she had gotten some sun today while waiting on the exterminator who hadn't showed up.

She had put on a deep purple and black strapless sweetheart gown that had a rhinestone pattern, and some black crusted peep toe heels.

She sat there, waiting on Jonathan to pick her up.

She called him at the office, around 4:30.

She was going to tell him he didn't need to come out of his way to pick her up, she could just drive home and meet him.

"Hart Industries".

"Hello Kelly. Can I have Jonathan please?"

"He isn't here, Mrs. Hart".

"Oh, Ok. Thank you".

She hung up.

That was strange…..why would he have left without coming to get her?

She made herself a cocktail and tried not to think about it.

It was getting dark outside, fast. She hated to be alone in a house, when it was dark. It was a major leftover emotion from her attack. She couldn't get the noise in the house loud enough when she was alone.

She was sitting on the couch at the beach house, and her mind started to flashback to the attack.

She could still feel the hand on her mouth, she could still hear what he said to her…. She could still feel him touching her…..

Before she knew it, she was crying and holding a pillow up to her face.

Jonathan came in the door then.

"Darling, are you ready?"

He took one look at her and just opened his arms.

He held her for a minute. He looked around and tried to figure out what it was, and then realized that darkness was the trigger.

"Hey, we got a party to go to. So, let's get some lights on, and then go, shall we?"

She nodded. She ran upstairs and fixed her face, and then came back.

He held his arm out to her, and she took it. He helped her into the car, and then got in on the other side.

"Darling, the exterminator never showed up".

"They didn't? That's strange".

"Nope. I sat there all day for nothing".

"Not for nothing. You got some nice sun, darling."

"That's true. I did get nice sun".

They pulled up to Willow Pond.

"I thought we were going to the Martin's. Why are we back here?"

"We have to do something first".

He parked, and then came around and opened the door for her and helped her out.

"Darling, I'm fine. I don't need anything from here".

"I do, though. And I can't do it without you".

"What are you talking about?"

He grabbed her hand and led her through the door.

She was amazed. Their house looked like a Winter Wonderland, of sorts, with all of the tulle and lights. And the flowers everywhere were so fragrant and so beautiful.

"Jonathan, what is going on here?"

He took her hand, and led her through the house, and out to the backyard tent.

As soon as they came in, Luke Bryan took the stage and started playing.

He led her to the dance floor, and they started dancing.

"It don't matter what plans I got, I can break 'em/Yeah I can turn this thing around at the next red light

And I don't mind telling all the guys I can't meet 'em/Hell we can all go raise some hell on any other night

Girl, I don't care, oh I just gotta see what you're wearing/Your hair, is it put up or falling down? Oh I just have to see it now

If you wanna call me, call me, call me, you don't have to worry 'bout it baby/ You can wake me up in the dead of the night, wreck my plans, baby that's alright/

This is a drop everything kind of thing, swing on by I will pour you a drink/the door's unlocked, I'll leave on the lights

Baby you can crash my party anytime.

Ain't a spot downtown that's rockin' the way that you rock me/

Ain't a bar that can make me buzz the way that you do/

I could be on the front row of the best show/and look down and see your face on my phone/

And I'm gone, so long, hang on. I'll meet you in a minute or two.

Baby you can crash my party anytime".

They finished dancing, and he immediately started singing some of his other hits.

"Jonathan, I can't believe you did all this."

"All for you, darling".

"But why? It's not my birthday or our anniversary or anything".

"Darling, remember when you were headed out of town, and I was headed out of town and I told you that I owed you a night of dinner, dancing, and dessert? Well, it hasn't seemed like the right time, till now".

She agreed with that. It had only been a month since she was attacked, but it had been a very long month.

Luke played all of his ballads for them to dance to, and then it was time for the final song. He had played for almost 2 hours.

"This is a song I have never sang before, but I was told it was special to the two of you. So, I tried to do an arrangement that would both do it justice and make you guys happy. So, I hope you enjoy this".

He pulled out his guitar and his violin player stepped forward. This was going to be a strings only arrangement.

"Let me call you sweetheart/I'm in love with you

Let me hear you whisper/That you love me too

Keep the love light glowing/in your eyes so true

Let me call you sweetheart/I'm in love with you".

They danced around the whole dance floor till the song was over.

They went over to the stage.

"Thank you so much for coming here and playing for us! I really enjoyed it".

"Thank you for having me, ma'am".

Jonathan shook hands with him, and told him to see Max on his way out.

Jonathan took Jennifer back inside the house and they made a plate.

"Darling, how did you pull this off?"

"Well, I knew I wanted to surprise you. So, I told you that we had the Martin's dinner party, but we really didn't. And then I told you about the exterminator, but that was just to get you out of here so that we could decorate without you knowing. And last week, when you told me about how you were listening to Luke in the car and wanted to go see him play, I figured why not bring him to you? And since I had promised you a night of dinner, dancing and dessert, I decided to combine all three".

She grabbed his face with her hands. "You are so thoughtful".

"No way to end a month of hell with a little heaven, darling".

She nodded.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him long and slow several times.

They ate, and shared a cocktail by the fire.

Luke left them several of his CD's, that he had autographed.

Jonathan put one in the stereo, and they danced in the living room.

It was almost midnight when they finished dancing. Max had long ago headed to bed, and Freeway was sleeping in the kitchen.

They headed to the kitchen and put the leftovers away, and then headed back to the den.

She had her arm on his shoulder, when he leaned down and scooped her up, and carried her upstairs.

She was in the bathroom, and had just changed into a black lace nightgown, when he grabbed her hands and started dancing her through the bathroom and into the bedroom.

"Darling, we are never going to be able to sleep if we keep dancing".

"Who said anything about sleep?"

"Good point, sailor".

He picked her up and laid her on the bed, and reached up and turned out the light.