Jenn stretched and yawned on the sofa curling her toes up as she turned to check her watch. Seeing it was almost twelve she heaved herself upright. Jon would be here soon and she stank of horses. Time for shower number two of the day! Fifteen minutes later she was feeling much fresher as she pulled on a light cotton shirt and cargo pants. It was now a fabulous day outside with clear blue skies and bright sunshine so she headed out to the decking balcony where Paul had kindly supplied her with a set of outdoor furniture should she feel the need to entertain as he had so subtly put it. Grinning at the memory she shook up the cushions, wiped down the table and laid out some place mats. Back in the kitchen she rooted around the as yet unfamiliar cupboards to find plates, cutlery and some ridiculously huge wine glasses. Laying the items out on the table she heard the crunch of gravel at the side of the house and the nose of Jon’s SUV peeped into view from around the corner. A ripple of nerves ran through Jenn’s stomach as she anxiously checked her reflection in the window and smoothed back her hair. Seconds later her belly did a double flip as Jon came sauntering around the corner laden down with take out bags and a bottle of wine tucked precariously under each arm. Dressed in sinfully tight black jeans and a simple white v-neck shirt he looked good enough to eat himself.
“Hey baby! Hope you’re hungry!” Jon flashed her a grin as he attempted to negotiate the wooden steps up to the decking.
“Sure am, hang on let me help rescue the wine!” Jenn laughed at him as she grabbed the bottles which were slowly but surely slipping from under his arms.
“Typical alcoholic!” he grunted as he heaved the bags up into a better grip against his chest. “Save the wine why don’t you! Don’t mind me!”
“Oh I’ll mind you alright! Lets have lunch first though huh?” she winked at him and turned to pop the bottles into the cooler, marvelling at her own flirtations. What was it about this man?!
Jon grinned mischievously as he dumped the bags on the table and grabbed Jenn from behind encircling her waist. Nuzzling her neck he whispered wickedly, “I’m not hungry anymore!” God she smelt good as he breathed in her freshly showered scent. Arching back against him, she fought to control herself as she felt his breath warm on her neck. Swivelling in his arms to face him, she kissed him longingly and it took all of her might to stop herself from dragging him inside there and then. Instead she smiled at him and winked,
“Baby you smell so good but damn that food smells better!”
Throwing his arms up in mock indignation he scowled and plonked himself down on a chair.
“Service better be damn good at this joint then seeing as I’m not getting any action!”
“Now now, no tantrums Mr Rock Star!” Jenn grinned at him as she uncorked one of the bottles and poured them both a large glass. Jon smirked and took the glass she offered, leaning back to take a long swallow. Watching as she opened out the cartons of Chinese food he cautiously asked;
“So everything okay? After last night I mean?”
All the food laid out Jenn sat herself down and took a sip of the delicious smelling Pinot Grigio that Jon had brought before answering him.
“Yeah I think so, I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you but I had a lot of stuff to think over.”
Spearing a prawn with his fork, Jon popped it in his mouth and waited for her to continue. Over the next twenty minutes he listened quietly as Jenn filled him in on her previous relationship and the surprise visit by Steve’s parents last night. His eyes narrowed when she spoke of how they had wanted to support her and Jenn’s own uneasiness over that particular comment but he waited until she’d finished before offering his own opinion.
“How well do you know these people?” he asked refilling their glasses which seemed to have mysteriously emptied themselves.
Jenn shrugged , “As well as anyone knows their future in-laws who live in a different country I suppose.”
Jon looked at her seriously, “If you want my advice baby I wouldn’t get too close to these people until you get to know them a little better. If they’re serious about reconnecting with you then let them come to you.” He made a mental note to himself to make a few enquiries.
Jenn nodded and agreed with him. “I want to think the best of them but there’s just something niggling at me saying that I’m in the country a few hours and they conveniently happen to be passing by? I dunno, maybe I’m too cynical but I’ll just have to wait and see what happens I guess.”
“Well I’m here if you need me baby!” Lifting his glass he tilted it and motioned to the by now empty bottle of wine, “Good plan I brought two bottles huh? Thirsty Irish women!”
“Piss off you wise-ass American!” Flinging an empty food carton at him she laughed, uncorking the second bottle in one well practiced fluid movement. Motioning to his car she looked at him and said “Hope you’re not intending to drive that thing anywhere this evening?”
Pushing back on his chair and kicking his boots off he grinned wickedly at her. “Darlin you are stuck with me for the rest of the day, I got business to catch up with you!”
Raising her eyebrows she looked at him, “Business?”
“Did you really think I was gonna let you away with that stunt you pulled on the plane? Not likely! Getting to his feet he grabbed their glasses and headed inside, stopping at the door to shake his ass at her. “C’mon baby, let me show you some of my ‘moves’! Winking over his shoulder he sauntered in through the kitchen leaving Jenn sitting staring open mouthed after him.
Grinning like a chesire cat she swallowed back down her pumping heart which was threatening to jump our of her throat. Picking up the bottle she stood up swaying ever so slightly as the wine started to take effect. From within the house the opening strains of Angie by the Stones came drifting out. All she could think as she followed Jon inside was how a girl like her got so lucky!
Monday, 26 April 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010
Chapter Twenty Two
An hour later it was still only a little before ten am but the early start and the jet lag were starting to take effect on Jenn so she headed back to the house to relax. Kicking off her boots at the door she slouched down on the sofa and flicked on the television to see what was going on in the world. Ten minutes later, she was peacefully dozing.
A few miles away Jon had just come back from a run around the neighbourhood. Dropping his keys on the kitchen table he threw open the refrigerator and breathed in the cool blast of air. Sweat ran down in rivulets on his back and his calf muscles ached but he felt good. Grabbing a bottle of water, he twisted off the cap and downed half the bottle in one go, gasping slightly as he felt the cold liquid hit his stomach. Glancing at his watch he saw it was a little after ten. Time to get rolling he thought. He was planning to be at Jenn’s for twelve and he needed to pick up lunch before that even though eating was the last thing he had planned for their little midday meeting!
Kicking off his trainers he padded upstairs in his socks to the ensuite in the master bathroom and flicked on the shower. Pulling off his sweats and socks he left them in an untidy pile on the floor and stepped under the freezing cold water. He sucked in his breath as the icy water stung his shoulders and after a minute accepted defeat and turned up the temperature to a much more acceptable heat. Letting the pulsing jets massage his back he braced himself against the slick tiles and thought back to yesterday. Whoever had been there to see Jenn had really freaked her out and he had nearly gone insane last night when he hadn’t heard from her. He only hoped she wouldn’t clam up and refuse to talk to him about it.
Stepping out of the shower he slung a towel low around his hips and with another rubbed dry his hair. It was starting to flop over his forehead again and he raked his hands through it thinking it was time for a change. Staring at himself in the mirror he grimaced at his quietly receding hairline. Quiet it may be but time was starting to catch up. Oh well, gotta grow up sometime I suppose! Midway through shaving he heard his phone start to buzz and vibrate on the mahogany dresser in the bedroom. Picking it up he sighed heavily as Dorothea’s name blinked back at him from the screen. Not now, definitely not now! Tossing it back on the bed to ring out he headed back to finish shaving but was stopped in his tracks by the landline ringing loudly on the wall beside him. Shit Dot, gimme a break! Realising he was going to have take this call whether he liked it or not he picked up and crammed the handset under his jaw continuing back to the bathroom.
“Hello?”
Dorothea’s sharp voice cut through him like a knife.
“What the fuck Jon? You take our daughter out of the country for weeks and simply drop her off and leave her to tell me that she’s dropping everything to ride a stupid god damn horse and you are backing her! When the fuck were you going to discuss this with me?”
Without waiting for a response she continued ranting down the line.
“Steph is not your daughter Jon - she’s OUR daughter and I WILL NOT let you take her on one of your crazy new business ventures or whatever the fuck this is!”
Jon gritted his teeth and swallowed back the dig as he waited for her to finish. He could almost feel her spitting down the phone at him.
“Well hey Dot, good to talk to you too - are you done bitching now?”
“Do NOT get smart with me JON!” she yelled down the line at him.
Sighing he switched the phone to loudspeaker and set it down beside the wash basin so he could carry on shaving. Staring into the mirror as he drew the blade along his jaw line he spoke softly but determinedly.
“Dot we discussed this weeks ago, this is something Steph really wants to do and something she can make a name for herself in. Christ you know it is.”
“Oh yeah Jonny, fame is the name of the game after all isn’t it?” the sarcasm dripped off her voice.
“Dot I dunno who pissed in your cornflakes this morning but I ain’t gonna be your scratching post, not today.”
He wondered at his own calmness, normally he was the one who got riled not the other way around.
“Well I’m sorry if our kids don’t take preference in your busy schedule Jon, but I suppose some things never change huh!”
“Dot! Cut the bitchiness out! It doesn’t suit you, I’ll pick the boys up for practice tomorrow like we said and if you’re around we can talk after.”
Splashing water on his face he waited for the inevitable icy response.
“Like I’d be anywhere else, I do have four kids to look after.”
“Okay Dot, tomorrow.”
Without waiting for her to answer he knocked the phone off and flung it angrily in the direction of the bed. Bracing himself against the cool granite of the counter top he blew out a long breath. Once upon a time it had been her passion that attracted him to her but the past few years passion had turned into bitterness. Refusing to let himself be drawn into her dark mood, he straightened up and ran the hairdryer through his hair. He had a lunch date to take care of and right now that was top of his priorities.
A few miles away Jon had just come back from a run around the neighbourhood. Dropping his keys on the kitchen table he threw open the refrigerator and breathed in the cool blast of air. Sweat ran down in rivulets on his back and his calf muscles ached but he felt good. Grabbing a bottle of water, he twisted off the cap and downed half the bottle in one go, gasping slightly as he felt the cold liquid hit his stomach. Glancing at his watch he saw it was a little after ten. Time to get rolling he thought. He was planning to be at Jenn’s for twelve and he needed to pick up lunch before that even though eating was the last thing he had planned for their little midday meeting!
Kicking off his trainers he padded upstairs in his socks to the ensuite in the master bathroom and flicked on the shower. Pulling off his sweats and socks he left them in an untidy pile on the floor and stepped under the freezing cold water. He sucked in his breath as the icy water stung his shoulders and after a minute accepted defeat and turned up the temperature to a much more acceptable heat. Letting the pulsing jets massage his back he braced himself against the slick tiles and thought back to yesterday. Whoever had been there to see Jenn had really freaked her out and he had nearly gone insane last night when he hadn’t heard from her. He only hoped she wouldn’t clam up and refuse to talk to him about it.
Stepping out of the shower he slung a towel low around his hips and with another rubbed dry his hair. It was starting to flop over his forehead again and he raked his hands through it thinking it was time for a change. Staring at himself in the mirror he grimaced at his quietly receding hairline. Quiet it may be but time was starting to catch up. Oh well, gotta grow up sometime I suppose! Midway through shaving he heard his phone start to buzz and vibrate on the mahogany dresser in the bedroom. Picking it up he sighed heavily as Dorothea’s name blinked back at him from the screen. Not now, definitely not now! Tossing it back on the bed to ring out he headed back to finish shaving but was stopped in his tracks by the landline ringing loudly on the wall beside him. Shit Dot, gimme a break! Realising he was going to have take this call whether he liked it or not he picked up and crammed the handset under his jaw continuing back to the bathroom.
“Hello?”
Dorothea’s sharp voice cut through him like a knife.
“What the fuck Jon? You take our daughter out of the country for weeks and simply drop her off and leave her to tell me that she’s dropping everything to ride a stupid god damn horse and you are backing her! When the fuck were you going to discuss this with me?”
Without waiting for a response she continued ranting down the line.
“Steph is not your daughter Jon - she’s OUR daughter and I WILL NOT let you take her on one of your crazy new business ventures or whatever the fuck this is!”
Jon gritted his teeth and swallowed back the dig as he waited for her to finish. He could almost feel her spitting down the phone at him.
“Well hey Dot, good to talk to you too - are you done bitching now?”
“Do NOT get smart with me JON!” she yelled down the line at him.
Sighing he switched the phone to loudspeaker and set it down beside the wash basin so he could carry on shaving. Staring into the mirror as he drew the blade along his jaw line he spoke softly but determinedly.
“Dot we discussed this weeks ago, this is something Steph really wants to do and something she can make a name for herself in. Christ you know it is.”
“Oh yeah Jonny, fame is the name of the game after all isn’t it?” the sarcasm dripped off her voice.
“Dot I dunno who pissed in your cornflakes this morning but I ain’t gonna be your scratching post, not today.”
He wondered at his own calmness, normally he was the one who got riled not the other way around.
“Well I’m sorry if our kids don’t take preference in your busy schedule Jon, but I suppose some things never change huh!”
“Dot! Cut the bitchiness out! It doesn’t suit you, I’ll pick the boys up for practice tomorrow like we said and if you’re around we can talk after.”
Splashing water on his face he waited for the inevitable icy response.
“Like I’d be anywhere else, I do have four kids to look after.”
“Okay Dot, tomorrow.”
Without waiting for her to answer he knocked the phone off and flung it angrily in the direction of the bed. Bracing himself against the cool granite of the counter top he blew out a long breath. Once upon a time it had been her passion that attracted him to her but the past few years passion had turned into bitterness. Refusing to let himself be drawn into her dark mood, he straightened up and ran the hairdryer through his hair. He had a lunch date to take care of and right now that was top of his priorities.
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