Chapter Thirty Four

Standing at the large mirror that took up the wall above the pair of sinks in the ensuite, Rachel bared her lips to apply a coat of lip gloss before reaching up to pull some hot rollers from her hair, letting the soft waves tumble to her shoulders. Frowning as the uppermost one stubbornly tangled itself amongst some fine strands she glanced over at Jon in the mirror at the other sink where he was running water through his hair to re-wet it. The natural, ordinary feel to the moment made her giggle as she struggled with freeing herself from the last roller.

“Well I guess the honeymoon is over…….I’m standing in the bathroom caught up in hot rollers with one of People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive!”

Straightening up from the sink, Jon cocked an eyebrow at her and replied with a deadpan face;

“I prefer to think of those things as prehistoric torture devices – even I don’t go to those lengths to look good! I don’t know why you bother – you look hot anyway! C’mere before you kill yourself.”

Still giggling she shuffled sideways to let him gently free her hair from the offending roller. When the last wave of hair tumbled free, Jon lightly teased it apart with his fingers so it fell naturally behind her ear, completing the look.

“There, looks like Pop taught me something – I shoulda been a pro!”

Rachel tilted her head sideways to examine his work and nodded in approval. Beaming back up at him, she threw her arms around his neck to kiss him noisily in appreciation.

“I knew I lo…” Stopping herself just before the word slipped from her mouth, she hastily rearranged the sentence before turning back to finish with her makeup. “…..uh…..I knew I hooked up with you for a reason – you’re useful to have around!”

Jon watched her spritz some perfume on her wrists with amusement. He knew she’d almost slipped up and told him she loved him. It didn’t bother him in the slightest; he wasn’t some needy kid that needed reassurance every time he formed a relationship with someone – in fact he much preferred the ‘unspoken’ word – less complications that way.

“You’re very low-drama Rachel Braden, aren’t you?”

Concentrating on slipping in her earrings, Rachel frowned at him in confusion.

“Huh? Where did that come from?”

Jon folded his arms and leaned back against the vanity top, regarding her with a casual smile.

“Well you didn’t have a complete meltdown when you saw that article – I can’t think of any woman I've ever known, except maybe Dorothea, who would have responded the way you did, that’s all – Low drama!”

Rummaging around her vanity case for some mascara, Rachel shrugged and unscrewed the wand.

“Life brings enough drama all on its own – why go looking for it?” Leaning into the mirror, she carefully flicked the dark liquid through her eyelashes. “I mean, why waste time throwing a tantrum about something we’ve already settled when we could spend our time on other things – like tossing up the bed sheets for example.” 

She grinned at him in the mirror before returning her concentration to the job in hand. “Life’s too short to sweat the small stuff Jon.”

Jon listened carefully to her matter of fact reply, she didn’t beat about the bush and he liked it.

“And most of it’s the small stuff right? I guess you’d know that better than most people I know.”

“Right.” Changing the subject, Rachel ran her fingers threw her hair once more and gave it a light going over of hair spray to fix her waves in place. “So, what’s the dress code tonight?”

Noticing the abrupt end to their conversation, Jon chose to take her advice and not sweat it, she was right – why waste time? 

“Just casual….about like last night.”

“Casual I can do! C’mon get moving big guy – I hate being late!”

Winking at him, Rachel sashayed out the door in her robe to leave Jon to finish his own preparations without further distraction. The glass and a half of wine she had consumed before, during and after their little afternoon romp was making her feel decidedly horny, she had no idea how she was going to keep her hands to herself for the rest of the evening – she couldn’t get enough of him.

In the closet, she selected a light melon green sheath dress, that she knew was cool enough for the still warm evening but still fitted just nicely around her slight curves to accentuate her slender figure. Picking out a pair of panties and matching bra from her suitcase on the floor, she slipped off her robe to dress unaware of Jon’s silent figure behind her.

Leaning against the door frame, he watched her appreciatively as she slipped the panties up her long legs, past the tan lines from their day on the beach. An unfamiliar feeling stirred deep in his belly as he let his eyes sweep over her body, taking in the elegant sweep of her neck down to her unfettered breasts that bounced gently from her chest as she bent down to pick up her bra. It wasn’t lust that swirled through him for once, it was something else – something comfortable.

As she slipped the straps of her bra over her shoulders, Jon stepped forward with a soft clear of his throat to fasten the front clasp for her. Smiling up at him as he ran a finger over the embroidered lace edge, Rachel giggled.

“So as well as a hairdresser, you’re a personal dresser now too?”

“Mmmnnhmm……for you baby, I could be anything.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

An hour later and Rachel was chatting with ease with the party’s host Ron Perelman and his girlfriend Anna. Everyone so far had been warm and welcoming although she was very much aware of the curious glances and hushed conversations as they had moved through the crowd. She couldn’t help but share a private giggle with herself at their obvious surprise at seeing Jon out with the same woman on his arm two nights in a row – something they were just going to have to get used to.

Jon stood beside her deep in conversation with Ron about the revival of some little restaurant in the Hamptons, to Rachel’s keen real estate ear by all accounts it sounded like a potentially solid investment. When Ron suggested Jon meet with a couple of other potential investors at the property tomorrow, he nodded keenly in agreement.

“Sure – I can be there, let’s set that up.”

Ron winked and nodded across to Rachel, “Are you sure you want to abandon Rachel in favour of business? We can do this some other time…..”

Chuckling Jon put his arm playfully around Rachel’s neck and pulled her close, snorting with a cheeky grin. “Don’t let this pretty face fool ya Ron! This one can take care of herself – she works more than I do!”

The robust billionaire smirked, “Jesus Jon – it’s hard to imagine anybody working more than you do!”

Slapping Jon on the back he accepted another drink off a passing tray, “Let me see if I can confirm a couple other people for tomorrow – I’ll get back to you before the end of the night.”

Turning to Rachel as he shared a firm handshake with Jon, he chuckled at her. “Why don’t you have this old cheapskate here buy you another glass of wine? After tomorrow he might not be able to afford it!”

Laughing to himself, he moved off with his pretty girlfriend to greet his other guests leaving Jon to guide Rachel over to the bar.

“Nice guy!” Rachel remarked when they reached the vast, linen draped counter laid out with an assortment of fine canapés and Hor d’oeuvres.

“Great guy, been friends with him a long time!” Ordering them both a glass of wine, Jon turned to smile at Rachel before someone approaching from the crowd darkened his handsome features.

“Oh hell – brace yourself!” Muttering under his breath, Jon plastered on his best fake smile to greet the pouting brunette that sauntered confidently up to them.

“Jon! Look at you…….” A pair of heavily lined eyes flicked from Jon to bluntly look Rachel up and down. “…playing with the grownups tonight I see – aren’t you going to introduce us? You know how I like to be familiar with the competition.”

Rachel inwardly marvelled at the girl’s brazen attitude but like Jon, kept her smile relaxed and neutral. She already didn’t like this one – at least Elizabeth had been somewhat cordial.

Wrapping his arm around Rachel in a reassuring squeeze, Jon nodded pleasantly and greeted the scantily clad socialite with a well-practised ease.

“Hello Andi – you look lovely tonight, as always.”

Rolling her eyes, the girl flashed a set of perfectly white veneers in a petulant smile and brushed an overly affectionate hand over his shoulder.

“Oh Jon – you know we don’t burden ourselves with the exchange of politically correct pleasantries…” Leaning into him so that her tightly drawn up bust in a faux snakeskin corset rubbed off his chest, she lowered her voice to a seductive purr and flicked a casual glance at Rachel. “We got past that point in our relationship a long time ago…..”

Unfazed by the indirect barb, Rachel briskly extended her hand, her voice cool and determined.

 “Rachel Braden……and you I presume are ‘cosmetics heiress Andrea London’.”

Completely undaunted, Andrea accepted the handshake with a set of perfectly manicured fingertips.

“Hmmm……so my boy has told you about me……..intriguing that he’s not mentioned you!”

Aware of the interested looks their conversation was gaining from nearby onlookers, Rachel maintained her polite smile with a casual shrug.

“No reason he’d mention me to you.”

Apparently disinterested in Rachel and her calm attitude, Andrea retrieved her hand and turned back to Jon.

“Lover you look entirely too rested….” Jerking her head to Rachel she lowered her voice and sneered in obvious distaste. “…This one letting you sleep too much?”

Jon’s voice hardened and the muscles in his neck strained with the effort to remain polite. His previous dalliances with the perky, attitude laden girl in front of him had always been of the drunk as shit and if he was honest – desperate – kind. That kind of relationship that had suited him pre Rachel but it was a period of his life he had no wish to return to – ever. Raising one eyebrow and against all odds, he managed to keep his response light but to the point. 

“Not at all – she just doesn’t suck the life out of me Andi – this lifestyle suits me.”

“Pfft…..from looks of Miss Prim and Proper here, I doubt she sucks anything out of you!” Cockily, she tipped her highlighted head towards Rachel; “Just a tip Rachel – he’s a hard man to keep satisfied – God knows I’ve been doing it for years now!”

 “Well bless your little heart Andrea!” Rachel smiled through a forced chuckle as she felt Jon’s hand slip into her own, his pinkie finger gently intertwining with her own in a silent reminder of their promise to one another. “But from where I stand – well…..” Leaning forward slightly, her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper behind a condescending smile that she normally only kept reserved for the most difficult of investors. “….I’d say you’ve not kept him too well satisfied.”

Andrea, momentarily stunned blinked wide eyed back at her from beneath her smoky eyelids before she smirked and placed a hand coyly on Jon’s arm, slithering close to his body as she stared defiantly back at Rachel.

“I know what Jonny likes, what he needs – sometimes we just need a little break…..meet new people – you know? Learn some new tricks…….”

Completely locked onto her new competition, Andrea appeared to forget Jon was even standing there in a bemused silence. “He likes it rough you know?? Or maybe you don’t……?”

“That’s enough Andi!” Irritated, Jon snapped quietly at her, his normally masterful crowd pleasing smile fading. Jesus how had he ever been in the least bit attracted to this spoilt little bitch?

Their quiet conversation was beginning to become the focal point of the group of guests milling around the bar, obviously interested in seeing a potential showdown between one of Jon’s well known hook-ups and the mysterious new lady now seen out with him two nights in a row.

Rachel could feel the eyes of nearly a hundred people on her as she offered Andrea her sweetest, most genuine smile with a light laugh rolling off her tongue.

“Andi honey? Don’t you worry your bleached little head about it because I know exactly how he likes it – especially how he’ll like it tonight, and tomorrow night and the night after that – shall I go on?”

Sidling closer to Jon’s reassuring frame, Rachel squeezed tighter on their interlocked pinkies and smiled politely at Andrea, hovering in gaping shock in front of them. “And I can assure you it’s not gonna be with you – so you just think about that tonight when you’re digging around with your battery operated fun – okay?”

Taking his cue, Jon matched the charming smile that was spread across Rachel’s firm lips and dipped his head in acknowledgement before he guided them away from the bar.

“Nice seeing you Andi – enjoy the rest of the evening. If you’ll excuse us……”

Mortified, Andrea gazed up at him in stunned disbelief, her cheeks flushing beneath the heavy layer of makeup that covered her face before she grabbed a drink off the bar and slunk away into the watching crowd.

Jon, keeping his eyes forward as they walked to the large gazebo set up outside on the oceanfront lawn couldn’t help but chuckle quietly under his breath until they were a distance away from anyone.  

“Subtle honey, real subtle!”

With her chin lifted just a little defiantly at his obvious amusement of the situation, Rachel shrugged casually with a little grin. She couldn’t deny her adrenalin was pumping around her system with the force of a freight train but the look on the spoilt tart’s face had been worth it. The warm evening air combined with the gentle sea breeze milled around them, the sweet scent of the abundant rose bushes adding a pleasant touch as Jon pulled her close to him, his arms wrapping around her lower back.

“So I’m just wondering what happened to the ‘Southern Approach’ you were preaching at me yesterday huh? I notice the ‘bless your heart’ comment didn’t work so well today!”

Biting her lip, Rachel slipped her hands into the back pockets of his jeans and smirked up at him, her willowy green eyes sparkling with excitement.

“I’m a Jersey girl now – consider yourself warned!”