Chapter Eleven

Stepping out of the shower, Jenn applied some luxurious lotion to her body, rubbing it into her shoulders she subconsciously thought about how good it might feel to have Jon’s hands kneading it into her back. She closed her eyes and lay back on the bed, allowing herself to drift into a daydream where she wasn’t alone, where Jon was beside her, murmuring in her ear, running his hands over her naked body. God she could almost feel him, a musky, masculine smell nearly reached her nostrils, just out of reach, it had been so long since she’d been held by a man intimately, now her body craved it. These last few easy days with Jon had brought her sleeping womanhood to an abrupt awakening. Forcing her eyes open she sighed heavily.

Snap out of it Jenn! You have no idea what you’re letting yourself in for here. Get a grip woman!

Stowing her comforting daydream to the back of her head, she carried on preparing herself for the evening ahead. Stylish, black boot cut jeans, coupled with a deep red halter neck finished her outfit as she pulled on her knee high boots. Leaving her hair loose once more, a light covering of her favourite foundation with a dusting of bronzer let her face glow subtlety. A quick spray of her old friend Ralph Lauren left her skin with a sweet smell. Grabbing her coat and bag, she marched out the door straight into Jon, almost sending him flying.

“Oh fuck! Sorry!!”

“Whoah woman!! Where’s the fire?” he said laughing , grasping her shoulders.

Damn but if this woman isn’t attractive as hell! Jon blew out a breath under his lips as he took in the woman before him. Jenn with an arm across his chest to stop herself from falling as she cannoned into him took an equally appreciative look at the man stood before her. A light blue shirt falling out over dark jeans showed a slight smattering of hair at the tip of his chest which offered a tantalising glimpse of what lay beneath. Staring deep into one another’s eyes, Jon took her hand from his chest and kissed it gently.

“Might I say Miss O’Neill, that you look wonderful this evening?”

Blushing furiously she allowed him to take her other hand. Biting her lower lip slightly she looked up at him coyly.

“Why thank you Mr Bon Jovi and might I say you’re looking wonderfully well yourself!”

Both of them laughing now, they headed down the corridor arm in arm. For all the world to see they looked as any other couple would, comfortable in each other’s presence.

Jenn had decided on ordering a taxi to take them out to Karen’s house which lay in the leafy suburbs of Dublin. She wasn’t quite ready to spend another evening with this wonderfully attractive man without a little help from Mr Smirnoff again, as awful as it sounded. God knows she wasn’t an alcoholic but she reckoned a girl could always do with a little help in situations such as these!

After picking up a bottle of wine from the hotel bar to bring to dinner they settled in the back of the car, riding in comfortable silence, their bodies just touching. Both lost in thought about how they felt about one another. Jenn wondered where her reservations about having feelings for a man who was essentially her employer had gone, while Jon thought about how quickly he was falling for her, not just an apparent crush but a deeper connection existed for him at least. Pulling up outside Karen’s house, Jenn took a deep breath and smiled at him.

“Alright Mister! Brace yourself!”

Jon thought quickly to himself, Fuck it! and quickly reached for her before she went to open the door of the taxi. Cupping his palms around her face, he drew her in for a gentle kiss. Jenn froze, resisting at first, her brain going into overload but as his lips tentatively brushed against her own, her body relaxed of it’s own accord. Closing her eyes, she surrendered to her inhibitions, shutting out the fears for those few brief moments when the rest of the world ceased to exist. He slowly tasted her, almost afraid to venture further for fear of rejection but he found only sweet willingness. Her arms closed under his armpits as he moved his fingers to the base of her hairline, caressing the tight muscles of her neck. After what seemed like an eternity they slowly pulled apart, eyes locked onto eyes. They both felt they could have stayed in that embrace forever if it hadn’t have been for the impatient driver in front.

“Eh….yeah…whenever ye are ready there folks?” the driver was grumpy and impatient to get onto his next fare.

“Oh God! Sorry, here! Keep the change thanks!”

Jenn hurriedly threw some cash into the drivers outstretched hand, breaking apart from Jon who at that moment could have quite easily strangled the man with his bare hands. Glaring at him as he stooped and followed Jenn out of the car, the driver just smirked at him and sped off as soon as the door had shut. Turning to face one another on the dark pavement, Jon was about to speak when a bright light from the doorway was cast over them.

“Hey you two! Come on in, you’ll catch your death out there!”

Karen called out from the hallway. She had seen the taxi’s headlights when it had pulled up outside and unable to contain her excitement any longer had gone to find out what was taking her guests so long.

Jenn took a quick glance at Jon, her brain seemingly unable to process what had just happened in the taxi. Taking a step toward the house, she felt him take her hand and squeeze gently, a firm but calming pressure. Breathe Jenn, breathe!

“Hi honey! We made it!” Her voice sounded unnaturally high as she greeted her best friend.

“Well I can see that! Come on in………er…….hi!!” Karen’s normally confident voice shook slightly as Jon came into view behind her friend.

“Hi Karen! Good to meet ya! I’ve heard a lot about you!” Jon flashed his megawatt smile which had Karen blushing furiously and looking down at her feet. She laughed nervously,

“All good things I hope! Em…er…..right…come through, come through!!” she stuttered nervously shepherding them down the narrow hallway into the small but neatly kept living room. A man in his late thirties, lay sprawled on the couch, a slight beer belly rising from above his belt.

“Mark!!” Karen hissed at him, “Get up you lazy sod, our guests are here!”

Turning around to face Jenn and Jon, she motioned with her hand to Mark who was struggling to sit up straight,

“Jon, this is my lazy ass husband who loves me dearly and who is going to make everyone a drink now, aren’t you dear?” she narrowed her eyes and glared at her husband, before excusing herself to check on dinner.

“Yes darling beloved, right away!” came the good natured reply from the couch. Standing up he extended his hand to Jon,

“How’re you doing? Welcome to our humble abode!”

“Thanks for having us! You watching the game?” Jon motioned behind him to where the TV blared from a corner.

Mark snorted, “Ha! Trying to but it’s only a replay from the weekend. You interested in hurling?” Mark was surprised that an American would know anything about the Gaelic game of hurling.

“Well, I gotta admit I don’t know much about it but hey a game’s a game right?”

“You got that right! Sit yourself down there and I’ll get us a beer!” Mark was delighted he had someone to talk sport to for the night.

“AHEM!! Do I even get an hello??” Jenn glared at Mark, her hands on her hips.

“Oh fuck, sorry honey! Forgot about you there with my new buddy! How’ya doin babe?” He enveloped her in a big hug.

“Yeah I kinda see that! How about you just sit there with your ‘new buddy’ and I get you both beer?”

“Ah you always were a good girl! They’re in the fridge!” and he promptly flopped back down beside Jon. Throwing her eyes up to heaven, Jenn left the two boys to it and headed into the kitchen to find Karen. Delicious aromas of garlic and herbs were circulating around the kitchen and she found Karen with half her head immersed in the oven. Going to the fridge she grabbed the beers all the while sniffing appreciatively.

“Smells good Kar! What’s cooking?”

“Oh nothing fancy, just something I whipped up - where you going?!”

“Bringing the beers in for the boys, don’t worry, Mark’s looking after Jon very well! They have sport in common it seems!”

“Oh right, well hurry up and get back here, we got girl talk to do!”

Shaking her head and smiling, Jenn dropped the beers into the boys who were deep in conversation about the finer aspects of hurling it seemed. Back in the kitchen she found Karen struggling to open a bottle of wine.

“Here, give it to me, you better rescue whatever’s about to explode in that pot back there!” motioning to a large saucepan on the cooker which was bubbling a red liquid dangerously close to the brim. Karen shrieked and raced to grab it off the gas. Once she had it settled on a lower heat and after a quick glance at the oven, she threw herself down on a seat at the dining table beside Karen.

“Phew! Anyone would think I’ve never cooked before!” Then thoughtfully she added, “Although I’ve never cooked for a rockstar before!!”

“Believe it or not Kar, they eat the same food as us regular humans you know!”, Jenn handed her friend a large glass of chardonnay.

“Mmmnn, thanks! You know this could be the start of something huge! Think Jon needs a cook at home?” her eyes widened at the possibilities, “I could be famous!!”

Sitting back on the chair she closed her eyes and started waving her wine glass grandly through the air,

“Ah yes! I can just see it now - Karen Shields - chef to the stars!”

“Would you cut it out!! I know for a fact there’s no way you’d up sticks here and move to the states! And I very much doubt you’d get your hubby to move either!”

“Feck him!! I could find a new husband, hell I’d be so rich I could buy me a new one! And one of those cute dogs that live in your handbag!” Karen was starting to dissolve into giggles now. Jenn joined in and had tears rolling down her cheeks at the mere thought of Karen poncing around with a mutt in one of her ridiculously oversized bags.

“You’re unreal you know that!”

“Yeah but you love me for it!” Karen winked at her and then took on a more serious note.

“Soooooo? How’s it been going?”

“Good, we found some nice horses…”

“I don’t give a fuck about the horses you tart, I mean him!” she butted in lowering her voice for the last part. There was something different about her best friend tonight and she was determined to get it out of her.

Jenn blushed and gazed into her glass, watching the wine swirl around it. Pausing she looked Karen straight in the eyes,

“Not a word of this leaves this room, you hear me Karen Shields?”

Karen nodded, mouth agape at whatever Jenn was about to divulge.

“Well, I can’t help it but …….oh God Karen, he’s wonderful. I mean, shit, I shouldn’t even be thinking like this, he’s my boss after all, but there’s just something about him. I can’t put my finger on it but I can’t stop thinking about him.” Jenn looked helplessly at her.

“It’s his ass!”

“What?” Jenn stared at her.

“It’s his ass!” she repeated staring back right back at her. “I’ve done my research and apparently it’s been scientifically proven that Jon Bon Jovi’s ass has a strange effect on women! In fact I think I may have to inspect it more closely later on!” Karen started squealing with laughter at the look on Jenn’s face, who promptly picked up the wine cork and pegged it at her.

“You are meant to be helping me you cow! Taking the piss is most definitely not helping!”

“Okay, okay, sorry! It’s just so simple it’s staring you in the face!”

“What’s so simple Kar? Nothing from where I’m sitting looks simple!”

Karen leaned closer with a small grin on her face,

“You my friend, are falling in love with this man!” Satisfied she had solved her friends problem, she sat back and took a drink of her wine watching Jenn digest this particular bit of information.

“Love? Don’t be ridiculous! I barely know him!”

“Look at me honey” Karen took her friends hands in her own across the table. “You felt this exact same way when you met Steve, didn’t you?”

Jenn pulled away and put her hands to her face,

“Oh my God! I did!!”, she looked up sadly, “Yeah and look how that turned out.”

“You’ve gotta move on sometime sweetie, Steve wouldn’t have wanted you to waste your life grieving for him. Here’s your chance Jenn. Seize it with both hands!”

A solitary tear landed on the table from Jenn’s face.

“Oh bollocks! Don’t you dare start crying! This is a happy occasion!” Karen frantically handed her a tissue, “ Come on, knock that wine back and help me set the table.”

They both stood up and Karen pulled her into a hug,

“Just go with the flow babe, you’ll see it’ll work out. Trust me, that ass will work wonders for you!”

Laughing Jenn swatted her across the head and they set about making the final preparations for the dinner. Half an hour later, during which Jenn had been called upon to replenish Jon and Mark’s beer supply twice and they were all sat around the table. Karen served up the first course of Bloody Mary soup, garnished with a little crème fraice. Taking a sip Jon spluttered,

“Good God Karen! You didn’t hold back on the vodka did you?” smacking his lips together he added, “But it’s darn tasty! Good job we got a taxi here huh Jenn?”

“Oh don’t worry! If you’d seen the state of me after some of the nights in this house before you’d be wise to it too!” Jenn replied with a little twinkle in her eye. Looking at Mark she continued,

“Did you know Mark that Jon doubts my vodka abilities!”

Mark snorted into his soup and almost scalded himself,

“Haha! You’ll learn Jon! It ain’t a pretty sight! Lock up the breakables is all I can say!”

“Shut up asshole!” Jenn howled, “That was only one night and you always said you hated that vase anyway!” She threw her napkin at him in mock disgust.

Jon looked on amused at the banter between the friends. They reminded him so much of his own friends and he hoped he would get to introduce Jenn to them. She’d fit right in, he knew that already. And so the dinner continued on through a main course of Beef Wellington, which Jon declared to be the best he’d ever tasted and finishing with Karen’s speciality, home made crème brulees.

“Oh my God!” Jon groaned , “I am gonna have to put in some serious hours on the gym to shift all this off!!”

“Why bother mate!” Mark patted his own, not so svelte stomach, “Look at me! No gym hours here!!”

“Exactly Mark! You are a walking advertisement on why people should go to the gym!” Karen looked fondly at her husband.

“Now now baby! You know what this machine’s capable of producing, if you get my drift Jon!”

“Enough!! This conversation is headed downhill fast! C’mon into the living room guys, and NO more hurling Mark!!” Karen gathered up the remainder of the wine and led the way into the living room where they all flopped into the well worn but comfy couches. Jon unconsciously draped an arm around Jenn’s shoulders and she smiled happily at him. It just felt right somehow. When the wine ran out, Mark produced a large bottle of vodka which he waved gleefully in front of Jon and Jenn.

“C’mon then! Are ye still up for it?”

Before Jon could reply, Jenn had scrambled across his lap to retrieve it,

“Hell yes!!” She looked over her shoulder at Jon, “And no backing out tonight mister! Are you man or mouse?” There was a mischievous glint in her eyes and an equally amused one in Jon’s.

“Oh all man baby!! C’mon lets see what you’re made of!”

Mark went out the door to get some ice and coke for mixers and shouted back at Karen,

“Better put your china collection away honey! Jenn’s loose aboot the hoose!!!”

“Shag off fat boy not so slim!!”

An hour or so later and there wasn’t a sober body in the household. They had taken out the poker set and were cheating each other left, right and centre in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em.

“Full house!! I win!!” Karen produced her cards with a flourish.

“Ha hah! Fraid not darlin!” Jon threw her a lobsided grin and threw down his own cards. Four Queens stared back up at Karen.

“Well damn and screw you Bon Jovi!”

She looked in disgust at the cards. Jon gleefully handed her the shot of tequila they had decided on as the forfeit for the losing bet.

“Bottoms up sweetheart!!”

Giving him the two fingered salute, she threw back the foul smelling yellow liquor and threw the shot glass down on the floor on top of the winning hand. Noticing Jenn doubled up with laughter behind Jon’s back, she frowned and took a closer look at the cards.

“What the hell?…..” confused, she picked them up. Turning them over, she let out a roar and grabbed the box from behind them.

“You cheating fuckers! Two decks of cards!! Assholes!”

Jon couldn’t contain himself anymore and collapsed back on top of Jenn, howling in laughter. The two of them lay on the floor together, trying to protect themselves from the barrage of cushions that Karen was now pelting them with. Climbing unsteadily to her feet, Karen produced the half empty bottle of tequila.

“Finish it! The pair of you! S’only fair!” came out the slurred challenge.

Jon looked at Jenn who was still semi pinned underneath him,

“It’d be rude to refuse wouldn’t it?”

“Very!” came the giggle from under him.

“Alrighty then, pour em out Mark!”

“Mark?”

Everyone looked around to see Mark, fast asleep on the floor beside Karen.

“Hmph! Fat lot of good you are to me!”, she snorted looking down at him. Looking back at the pair, she once again thrust the bottle towards them, swaying a little unsteadily now.

“Bottle only!!” she declared.

The pair on the floor helped one another to their feet and turned to face Karen.

“Gimme!” Jenn lurched forward with one hand outstretched for the bottle, the other wrapped firmly around Jon’s neck for support. Taking the bottle, she proceeded to neck most of it, only coming up when she gasped for air. Spluttering, she waved the bottle towards Jon,

“Finish it hot shot!”

“No problem babe!” the crooked grin came out as he reached for it and poured the last of the burning fuel-like liquid down his throat.

“Waaahey!!” They all cheered as they officially pronounced the bottle empty. Vaguely aware that it must be pretty late by now, Jenn asked Karen to call them a taxi. As she left to go to the hall, Jon turned Jenn around to face him.

“Jennifer O’Neill I may be pretty drunk by now, but I do declare you are the most beautiful drunk I’ve ever come across!”

Running his fingers under her jaw line, he tilted her chin up to him and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Jenn felt the floor swirl away under her feet but she wasn’t quite sure if the kiss or the alcohol was to blame. Leaning forward on Jon, she wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled the spot below his left ear, murmuring softly,

“I think I’m falling for you, you’ve got me hooked you bad, bad man!”

Running his hands down her back, he hooked two fingers just under the waist band of her jeans above the slight curve of her butt. Kissing her again, more urgently this time, he rested his forehead against her hair. She smelled so good, so right. But no, not yet, not here. Pulling away from her slightly he braced her against himself,

“C’mon baby, lets get your coat. We gotta get back to the hotel.”

Murmuring her consent, Jenn swayed along the hallway in front of him, allowing him to put her coat on for her, before she made a visit to the bathroom. Karen helped him on with his own coat and he turned to thank her for the great evening.

“You’re welcome Jon, come again anytime.” She paused and leaned in closer to him, her eyes locking onto his, losing the slightly drunk look. “But Jon, if you hurt her, you better not step foot in this country again!” Smiling softly now, she gazed at him, “She’s something special y’know and she doesn’t deserve to be broken again.”

“S’okay, I get it and don’t worry, I know she’s special!” He squeezed her shoulders and gave her a hug,

“Give Mark my regards when he wakes up!”

“Ha! That won’t be for a week or so! Once a lightweight always a lightweight!!” Jenn declared triumphantly as she bounced off the walls back to where they were waiting at the front door for her.

“G’nite honey! Thanks for a wonderful evening! You’re the best!”

“Ooh sure don’t I know it!! Ring me before you go back to the States ok?”

“Yes ma’am!”

Just then the taxi pulled up outside and they turned to go until Karen shrieked at them,

“Oh Hang ON!! I almost forgot!” She came rushing down the steps after them almost breaking her neck on the pavement. They both looked at her, confused in their drunken states, as she produced a piece of paper and a pen. Looking shyly up at Jon she whispered,

“Can I have your autograph please Mr. Rockstar!”

“Ohmigod Karen!!” Jenn shook her head grinning.

“What!” she hissed at her, “It’s not like I cook dinner for a rock star everyday!”

Jon chuckled and took the pen and paper off her,

“How could I refuse after that Bloody Mary soup?!”

Scribbling a little note, he signed it and handed it back to her grinning.

“For when you want to make it again! Look after yourself!”

They both climbed into the back of the taxi and waved as they snuggled against one another. Waving back until the car was out of sight, she looked down at the piece of paper and gasped,

To Super Chef Karen!
Come and make me dinner anytime babe! JBJ

Scribbled underneath was his address and what she supposed was his phone number.

Well, he’s not hiding himself away anyway, she thought to herself.

Looks like he’s serious about her, at least he bloody well better be!!

Folding the piece of paper carefully, she pocketed it and headed inside wondering how in hell she was going to get her comatose husband to bed!