Chapter Five

Three weeks later Jenn had just arrived back in Ireland following a whirlwind tour of Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. Her trip had not been wasted and she had bought three horses on sight pending a full veterinary examination. There were a couple of dealers she wanted to visit in Ireland and Jon and Steph were due to fly in the following day to join her. Karen had been thrilled to see her best friend back and couldn’t get over the change in her . Jenn seemed relaxed and happy, two things she hadn’t totally been for quite some time. Karen had insisted Jenn stay with her until the Bongiovis arrived for then she would be staying at the hotel with them for convenience sake. Jenn had filled Karen in on the details of her new job over the phone but Karen still couldn’t believe she was mixing with rockstars!

“Where did I go wrong?” she moaned to Jenn over their second glass of wine. “I’ve worked my ass off to keep in shape all these years and where does it get me? A few leery looks off the smelly builders that hang around my café - not forgetting the balding suits with the bouncing beer guts - ugh! And there you go flouncing off to the U.S to get a job with a rock star! Not fair! Swap?”

“Mmmmm, smelly builders huh? Nah, think I’ll pass on that one thanks! Rock stars smell nice!” Jenn grinned and then blushed. Shit, the wine was making her lips loose.

“Do they indeed now?” Karen had picked up on her friends crimson cheeks. “I thought you said the man was nothing special?”

Jenn had played down Jon’s looks to Karen when she had first discussed him with her. It was hard enough trying to figure out her own emotions without giving her friend ammunition for teasing.

“I didn’t say he wasn’t special! He’s my boss Karen! I can’t help it if he smells good that’s all!” she shrugged.

“You like him don’t you?” Karen knew Jenn too well by now and could scarcely believe it. Jenn had never shown the slightest inkling of interest in any man since Steve had died so to see her friend feign disinterest in someone she obviously liked was a source of great excitement.

“Sure I like him, he’s a nice guy and devoted to his daughter but that’s as far as it goes Karen!”

“Uhuh, right, I believe you, millions wouldn’t though!” Her friend was enjoying the teasing. “So do I get to meet this rockstar who’s nothing special then?!” Karen couldn’t believe how calm Jenn was about the whole celebrity thing.

“Well, if you promise to behave yourself and don’t make a fool of either of us I’ll consider it!” Jenn was slightly wary about introducing her best friend to her boss purely because of Karen’s excitement if she even thought she was in the same building as a celebrity. Although to be fair in Ireland the chance to mix with A-listers didn’t really crop up that often.

“Oh goody! I’ll be on my best behaviour - honest!!”

“Yeah, well just you make sure you are! If you ask him for an autograph I’ll kick your ass!! Just remember he’s my boss okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, relax Jenn baby!! You know me!!”

Jenn rolled her eyes while smiling at the same time; “That’s the problem my dear girl - I know you all too well!!”

Both girls laughing gave each other a hug and proceeded to polish off the bottle of wine between them before heading to bed. A while later, Jenn lay in the comfy bed in Karen’s guest room and stared into the darkness mulling the earlier conversation over in her head. What the hell was she feeling when she thought about Jon, was it lust or did she just have a liking for the guy’s nature. Whatever it was it was driving her crazy. She couldn’t handle not being in control of her emotions and having not felt anything in so long for anybody other than Steve was unsettling to say the least. Closing her eyes she willed herself to sleep. Jon and Steph were landing in Dublin early in the morning and she had promised to pick them up personally with the chauffeur to take them to their hotel. Lord knows, she thought, the last thing I need is to wake up looking like a dead person! Forcing all further thoughts about her employer out of her head, Jenn drifted off to a restless sleep.

A few hours later Jon was awoken by his daughter digging him in the ribs.

“Ouch! Steph what the..?”

He blearily opened his eyes to see Steph looking excitedly out the window of the first class cabin.

“Look Dad! We’re nearly there! And it looks so nice! No rain - Jenn said it would be raining!!”

Looking over his daughter’s shoulder to gaze through the round window Jon took in the green fields below them. “Probably be Steph, she said probably be raining! I don’t think it rains here constantly honey!” Leaning back , he stretched his legs and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes yawning.

“Geez Dad! You better go to the bathroom, you look like Shrek on a bad day!!”

Steph laughed at her father’s scowl. Jon’s face was creased from sleep and his hair was standing on end.

“It’s a good thing I love ya kid!” he said shaking his head and smiling at her.

Getting up he headed to the bathroom to make himself presentable for their arrival. Glancing in the small mirror he realised Steph had been right, his hair just didn’t travel well! Splashing some water on his face and raking his hands through his hair he smiled at himself. It wouldn’t do to greet Jenn looking like a haggard old dog, he’d screw his chances up altogether! “WHOA Jon! Where the hell did that thought come from?” He looked himself in the eyes “Get a grip old man! Do you actually think you stand a chance with this woman? Do you even want to head in that direction?” God he was over analysing things again. He just needed to get his hormones in check that’s all. A loud knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“Excuse me sir but you need to go back to your seat, we’ll be landing in Dublin in ten minutes..” came the voice of the air hostess.

Jon’s stomach took a lurch,“Be right there ma’m.”

'Holy shit', Jon realised, he was actually nervous about meeting Jenn again. That’s what had him so crabby the last few days, he really did fancy this woman. Now why had it taken him so long to figure that one out? ‘Old age Jonny boy!’ That little voice in his head was back again!

Jenn stood anxiously in the arrivals hall of Dublin Airport scanning the incoming crowds for any sign of the Americans. She recognised Steph first who waved excitedly as soon as she caught sight of Jenn. Jenn laughed at the sight of the girl tugging her dad along behind her who was shuffling along with a baseball hat slung low on his head and a pair of dark glasses on. Nobody was taking any notice of the pair at all who were steadily making their way towards Jenn.

“Hi Jenn!! Thought we’d never get here! Dad’s so slow!” Steph gave Jenn a big hug and a smile.

“Hey! Good to see you!! Welcome to Ireland!”

Jenn returned the hug and offered her hand out to Jon. He smiled and hugged her back.

“Aw shucks Jenn! I think we’re past the whole hand shake thing now don’t you?”

Jenn looked at him and caught a hint of his blue eyes twinkling behind the glasses. Blushing furiously she returned,

“Sure thing boss!”

Ouch! Jon was taken aback by the slight rebuff and wondered had he over stepped the line. Jenn was furious with herself as she had seen the look of surprise on his face. She hadn’t meant it to come out like that at all - God the man was just being friendly for Christ’s sake! Straightening up she smiled at both of them,

“C’mon lets get out of here and I can show you some of the sights on the way into the city!” Pushing the previous discomfort to the back of their minds, both Jon and Jenn made their out to the waiting limo with Steph leading the way.

On the way to the hotel Jenn enjoyed pointing out the interesting aspects of the city to Steph who was eager to take it all in. Jon having played the city many times before just relaxed back into his seat and enjoyed the banter between the pair sitting in front of him. He noticed how genuinely interested Jenn was in showing Steph the sights and the way his daughter clearly already worshipped the ground she walked upon. He refused to let his mind wander back to the earlier awkwardness in the airport. Just a glitch he thought to himself, will be all fine!!

A few hours later Jon and Steph had checked into their suite with Jenn just a few doors down. They had agreed to meeting up for lunch in the hotel restaurant and then Jenn was taking Steph sightseeing. Jon had opted to stay behind as he had calls to make and a few business matters to take care of so that the next few days would be clear to spend as he wished.

Conversation flowed easily over lunch with Jenn filling her two visitors in on her exploits in Europe. She showed them pictures of the horses she had already bought with Stephanie getting more wide eyed by the minute while Jon looked them over thoughtfully.

“You know Jenn, you could show me a picture of an ass and I’d know no different!”

“Of an ass?” Jenn looked over at him a wry grin on her face. Steph laughed getting the joke straight away. Jon on the other hand looked slightly confused.

“What’s the joke ladies?”

“Are you referring to a human ass or a certain type of animal? Surely you’d know the difference Jon?!” Jenn smiled sweetly at him over the photographs. Jon buried his face in his hands and groaned;

“Oh God, the Irish wit is showing itself! Paul warned me about that, didn’t think I’d fall for it that easy though!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you for a while! My sense of humour can take a bit of getting used to! You’ll see!” Jenn was amazed at how relaxed she’d become in his presence, he was just so easy to chat to. Nothing pretentious or egotistic about the man, just a regular guy she mused.

“Oh bring it on Miss O’Neill! I’m up for the challenge!” Jon’s blue eyes twinkled back at her, a mischievous smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. He was really enjoying being in her company, she obviously didn’t have a clue how likeable she was, hell, how attractive she was. Sitting across the table from him sat a confident woman, casually yet smartly dressed in a light blue fitted shirt showing just a hint of bosum. A simple uni-stone chain sat around her slender neck, glinting occasionally in the sunlight. Her hair was pulled back in a simple French twist with a few tendrils tucked behind her ears. He found it refreshing that she spoke to him in a professional yet easy going manner, not mincing her words for the fear of offending him.

“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you! Right, c’mon Steph, lets get this show on the road, I believe there’s a big green tour bus we should be catching! And don’t worry Jon, it sure as hell isn’t a rockstar’s tour bus!”

“Better not be! I grew up on one of them things and I know what goes on in them and my gal sure as hell ain’t go anywhere near one of them for a long time!” He growled affectionately at his daughter who was staring at him, a frustrated look on her face.

“Yeah, yeah whatever Dad! Who says I haven’t been on one already !!” Grinning she ducked to avoid a swipe from Jon and grabbed Jenn’s arm, “C’mon Jenn! Lets go before Dad has the heavies follow us!”

Jenn threw her coat on and glanced at Jon, “Think you’ve got more than my Irish wit to contend with there mister!!”

He threw his eyes up to the heavens and folded his arms shaking his head slowly! “Girls! Who’d have them! Enjoy yourselves!”

“We will!”