Chapter Thirty Seven

“Oh wow!”

Hovering in the doorway of the garage, Rachel squealed in delight at the sleek body of the hot rod classic Jon had just dramatically pulled a dust sheet from. The polished chrome of the bumper and wing mirrors glinted in the evening light and the metallic white paint of the twin stripes on the hood gleamed as if it had just rolled out of a showroom.

“Something else isn’t she?!” Jon grinned proudly as he watched Rachel step towards his pride and joy, a look of sheer awe lighting up her eyes. “She’s just back from her summer service so I got the guys to drop her here.”

His lips twitched into a playful smirk as he pulled open the passenger door and gestured to the car’s interior. 

“Wanna take a ride with me?”

Giggling Rachel nodded enthusiastically and lowered herself into the comfortable leather seat. It had been years since she’d even thought about one of these cars, Nick had often dreamed of restoring one  and them taking a road trip together but like a lot of things it had gotten pushed to the side over the years.

With the top down to make the most of the fine weather, they cruised leisurely around the roads of the local suburbs before heading into town for a browse around the shops and some of the small galleries before dinner at one of the many fine restaurants that the Hamptons was so famed for. Over dinner the conversation fell into an easy, relaxed discussion about their respective childhoods and teenage years, each of them learning small titbits about the lives that had made them who they were today. Rachel listened enthralled as Jon gave her the abbreviated version of life as an 80’s rock star, about the places they had played in and the experiences of life on the road. While she had thought her own coming of age years had been plenty wild, they were mild in comparison to what Jon had lived through.

“Do you miss it? You know….. the parties, the girls…. the frizzy hair?” She laughed at Jon’s grimace as they sank back in their seats, full up from sharing the generous portion of cheesecake Rachel hadn’t been able to resist from ordering.

“I sure don’t miss the craziness of it, that’s for sure! We’ve learned how to be a little more dignified with our tours these days but yeah, there are days when I wish I could step back in time, maybe catch up on stuff that in the hastiness of youth passed me by.”

Shrugging Jon drained the last of the coffee from his cup and smiled wistfully. “That’s my only regret from back then I guess, I was too caught up in the whole ‘fame’ machine to actually really enjoy myself.”

Rachel smiled at him, her eyes soft with agreement. “It’s true what they say huh? Hindsight is a great thing. I doubt there’s a person in the world tonight that wouldn’t go back and do something differently with their lives if they were given the chance.”

Jon nodded slowly. “I guess so……….” He wondered briefly what she was thinking, what regrets she held from her past life. While she was slowly opening up more to him every day he knew she was still holding back, reluctant to let him in completely. That was something he intended to work on.

“C’mon, I got something to show you.”

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

With the radio tuned to a classic rock station, Rachel sighed happily as the wind from the car’s acceleration whipped her hair around her head, the roads quiet as the sun began to dip towards the horizon. She couldn’t stop the smile that seemed to have been permanently etched on her face all evening, life was just so damn good right now that she hardly dared to think about it.

Jon eased off on the gas just a little as they turned off the main road onto a smaller one that traced its way along the coastline. The ocean to Rachel’s right shimmered in the evening light, the calm waters breaking softly in a frothy line on the beach below. Her smile broadened when they rolled into a deserted view point, just high enough off the beach that they had an undisturbed view of the sun casting its final rays across the darkening sky. Vibrant pinks and oranges streaked across the horizon painting a picture so pretty it could have been hanging in one of the galleries they had visited earlier.

Killing the engine but leaving the soft croon of the radio on, Jon jumped out of the driver’s seat and offered Rachel a helping hand out of the low convertible. Fingers interlaced, he led her to the grassy edge of the nearest sand dune and pulled her gently down to sit beside him. With his arm around her, he gazed out across the waves and breathed in a satisfying gulp of ocean air.

“This place just never gets old. You must have spent a good bit of time like this living by the beach in California huh?”

Rachel shook her head and nestled closer to his warm body. “Not really, the water was nearly always freezing. We went to Santa Cruz a few times but most of our beach days were spent in Hawaii.” She glanced up gratefully at him before admitting; “Up until this weekend it’s been over two years since I’ve been on any kind of beach so thank you.”

Chuckling Jon squeezed her tight and brushed her forehead with a kiss. “You’re welcome. So you’re a Hawaii kinda girl then?”

“Mmmhmm…….we used to head there during the holidays. We always spent Christmas with my family but then we usually escaped somewhere warm for New Years. Hawaii was the last vacation we took together…….. Actually the last vacation I was on now that I think about it.”

Jon watched her face carefully as she spoke, mindful of the fact that he was quite possibly stirring up painful memories. He could tell she was becoming more comfortable with him every day but then again their conversations thus far had only skimmed the surface of what he guessed for Rachel was a very deep whirlpool of emotions.

“Hawaii is a great place for kids, mine always loved it there.”

“Mine too.” Rachel laughed quietly as she thought back to the fun times she’d enjoyed there with her family. “They loved the activity of Waikiki but weren’t too keen on the quieter islands. Nick and I always wanted to go to Kauai but the kids weren’t having any of it. So we generally always ended up on Oahu even if we started the trip on another island. I thought a cruise to all of the islands would be fun but I was always outvoted ….” She rolled her eyes and giggled. “…..Nick and Tyler were convinced that the only place they could surf was the North Shore.”

“You must have spent a lot of time over there kinda like we do……did…….in St. Barth’s.” He corrected himself without thinking, sometimes there were days when he forgot his family was now split down the middle.

“Yeah we went every chance we could get.” Her heart twisted into a small, tight knot as she allowed herself the briefest indulgence in memories long since buried. Some of the happiest parts of her whole life had been spent on those idyllic islands. The tiniest of tears began to burn at the back of her eyes as she recalled the vivid images that were starting to flash through her brain.

“There used to be this little hot dog vendor at the beach on Waikiki that we would walk down to….God I can still smell the chilli……” With her eyes closed, she scrunched up her nose to the sea air and inhaled an imaginary whiff. “……..those were the best hot dogs I’ve ever eaten in my life!”

Silent for a moment, Jon watched her drift away in memories, his own mind brimming with regret at the family vacations that he so often missed out on. Sure, he still got to take the kids away but the magic was gone, without Dorothea beside him – well it just wasn’t the same.

“I’ve been there but never really spent much time at Waikiki, it was always too crowded which is never a good idea. We’ve done a couple shows on Oahu in the past but not on vacation as such.”

Twisting to look up at him, Rachel frowned slightly as she tried desperately to chase away the ghosts that haunted her thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to go there, in fact she wasn’t entirely comfortable with going there ever. “That’s a pity, I guess I never really appreciated before what a luxury anonymity must be for you. There’s an awesome restaurant there right on the water’s edge – you’d love it – really private and secluded.” She nudged him gently with her elbow and grinned. “Even your handsome looks wouldn't stand out against the scenery over there – it’s breathtakingly beautiful!”

Relieved that she seemed to be back in the present, Jon chuckled and faked a wounded look. “Well that’s just great! You’re comparing me to scenery now?”

Grinning she shrugged, “Hey I’m not exactly talking about a barren desert here, take the compliment buddy!” Eyes twinkling, she offered him a challenge. “Come hike up Diamond Head with me someday and you’ll see exactly how big a compliment that was!”

Amused Jon let his fingers of his right hand trail through the soft waves of hair that bounced from behind her ears. “Well I just might take you up on that someday!”

Satisfied she tipped her head into his gently massaging fingers, “Anytime! And while we’re up there I can show you some seriously high end real estate – I get goose bumps even thinking about some of those Diamond Head properties – did you know they’re some of the most expensive per square foot in the world?”

Glancing up to see him shaking his head, Rachel rolled her eyes. “You’re spending way too much time in the Four Seasons Mr Rockstar! There’s a section called Lanikai that has some of the most exquisite beach-front properties that you will ever see – now that’s how to spend a vacation in Hawaii. One of these days I’m gonna rent a place over there for a month or so and just experience what living there would be like – it’s on my bucket list!”

“You’ve got a bucket list?” Jon raised his brows enquiringly. “What else is on that list?”

Giggling she tapped one finger to the side of her nose. “That’s for me to know! Don’t you have one?”

Jon tilted his head to one side and stilled his fingers in her hair as he thought for a moment, he couldn’t honestly think of anything that he would put on a ‘bucket list’ as such. Hell generally if he wanted something bad enough, he just went out and got it or made it happen one way or another.

“Nope, I guess I don’t! Although……” He paused mid-sentence, unsure whether he should tell her the one thing he did wish he had more of – something Rachel didn’t have the option of.

“Although what? Tell me – there has to be something!”

He avoided her earnest stare and instead looked straight out across the darkening ocean resuming his gentle kneading in her hair. “Nothing……I just wish I could spend more time with my kids that’s all – it’s………it’s not easy at times.”

His words lingered over the dunes that surrounded them, Rachel’s voice quiet when she sighed softly.

“I can understand that, kids are ……well they grow up fast don’t they?” After a moment’s pause she seemed to mentally shake herself out of the dangerous territory Jon was unwittingly leading her into.

“So! Where’s your perfect vacation destination?”

“Rach……” Jon sighed, frustration mounting. “Are you aware that when I try to talk to you about your kids you always change the subject or at least try to re-direct it?” He looked concernedly at her as he felt her tense beneath his fingers. “I’m not trying to dredge up sad memories for you but honey it’s a part of you that I know nothing about.”

“I could say the same about you! That’s a part of you I don’t know anything about either!” She bit her lip before she snapped any further and took a long breath in. She didn’t blame him for being curious but what was the point in dredging up the past?

“I’m sorry…….you’re right – but the truth is I’ve talked more about my family with you than I have anyone. And before you say it I’m not in denial or anything it’s just that everybody has a different way of coping and I’ve found that the less people know about my situation, well then the easier it is on me. It might sound selfish but other than the man who hired me for this job, nobody here knows my story and that’s by design.”

“But I do know your story…….” Jon gently reminded her as he reached across the wind the finger of his left hand with hers. “It’s okay to talk to me about it.”

Smiling up at him, Rachel nodded. “I know and I’m trying, I really am.”

Jon hesitated for a moment, it was now or never. Who knew when they’d get back to a conversation like this again?

“Have you ever considered having more kids? I mean I know you can’t begin to replace the family you lost but………..”

Rachel’s small fingers stilled in his own for a heartbeat until she shook her head and relaxed back against him once more.

“No, that was a lifetime ago and there are some dreams you just can’t put back together even if I wanted to. That was a different time and a different life, actually it was a different ‘me’. If you had told me a couple of months ago that I would look twice at another man I wouldn’t have believed it – but here I am with you….” Gripping his hand a little firmer, she reached up and kissed him softly on the underside of his lightly grizzled chin. “…..in the Hamptons…….with all your lady friends wanting to scratch my eyes out!”

Chortling Jon closed his eyes as he felt her lips delicately tickle his sensitive skin. “Oh yeah – you looked mighty intimidated as you cut them off at the knees!”

Continuing to pepper him with small kisses, Rachel laughed softly. “I did no such thing, I merely let them know as long as I was around – they wouldn’t be!”

When the sun finally dipped beneath the horizon and the night sky began to lay claim to the fading light, they reluctantly headed back to the car for the drive home. The roads were quiet as Jon let the car cruise smoothly back into the suburbs, Rachel content to watch the scenery glide past.

Nearing home, Jon’s cell rang out prompting Rachel to reach out to turn the radio down.

“Colette – tell me you have some good news………..”

Hearing the designer’s name and seeing a grin spread out across Jon’s lips, Rachel watched with curiosity as Jon listened intently.

“Yeah, she thought the Hamptons room was beautiful…….Great! So it’s ready? Excellent – I knew you’d pull it off……….. listen I’d like to do something similar in the penthouse……..yeah exactly…….sometime in the next couple of weeks will be fine…………sure thing – thanks again Colette, I appreciate the fast work…..”

Rachel narrowed her eyes at him when he shut the cell off and glanced over at her triumphantly.

“We got new sheets in Jersey baby!” Smirking as he turned his attention back to the road ahead he casually added, “I’m getting the penthouse done too so no more ghosts – anywhere!”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel looked at him in disbelief. “Jesus Jon! You took me a bit literally when I said you had ghosts too……..I never intended for you to redecorate three bedrooms for crying out loud!”

Laughing at her as he swung the car up to the gates of the beach house, Jon shrugged and reached across to grasp her hand.

“I know you didn’t but I wanted to. You were right and I just wanted you to know that I didn’t expect changes to be made only on your side. There’s gonna be times when it won’t be as easy for me to meet you in the middle so let me do this for us, okay?”

Puzzled, Rachel looked at him. “What does that mean?”

The car gently bumped over the gate grill and up the driveway before Jon parked it casually in front of the porch. Killing the engine, he pulled off his aviators and twisted in his seat to face her.

“My schedule is pretty easy right now but it’s not always like this. Pretty soon the writing for the next album is gonna get wrapped and then the recording, mixing and everything else starts. And once all that’s done well…….well then we’re looking at a pretty long ass tour where I’m not gonna be home for weeks on end. I need you to be okay with that.”

Rachel considered what he had just said, her brain whirling. “How long before you have to start travelling again?”

“We’re probably still a year from the next release so I’ll be home for the next seven or eight months or so but after that then it’s just one press engagement after the other before the tour kicks off.”

He anxiously scanned her face for signs of her reaction, surprised at how fast his own heart was beating. This was stuff that he had taken for granted with Dorothea, she’d grown up with it and hadn’t batted an eyelid but then again it had probably cost him his marriage in the long run. Rachel’s quiet answer was not what he expected.

“So we’re already thinking a year ahead? Wow………..I guess I hadn’t given any thought to that, I mean we’ve just kind of been living in the moment and enjoying it……but…..well I do know I’d miss you…..”

Jon let out the breath he had been subconsciously holding and grinned. “So you still see me in your life in a year then?” Leaning in close to hover his lips just in front of her, he smirked. “Good because honey……trust me…….you will miss me.”

Rachel snorted under her breath at his confidence. “Yeah I’ll miss you but I’m guessing the one who’s gonna be most lonesome will be you!”

“Nuhuh! You see I’ll have all those hot women in the pit to keep me entertained, I might not be able to touch but I can still look and let me tell you…….” Eyes laughing, Jon flirted with her lips. “…..they put on quite a show baby.”

“My point exactly!” Flicking her hair back casually, Rachel smirked at him. “They’ll get you all hot and bothered but seeing as you’re stuck in this monogamous thing with me…..” Leaning forward until their noses bumped, she gently nibbled on his top lip before easing her way out of the passenger seat and grinning down at him.

“…you’re gonna be desperate to get me to come out to you in the furthest, darkest corners of this planet!”

With a wink of her wicked sparkling eyes, she folded her arms and looked on in satisfaction as Jon sat back in the driver’s seat, a bemused grin playing across his lips. From their earlier conversation full of pained memories and thoughts to this easy and relaxed play, he could barely keep up but he knew he couldn't imagine a point in his life where she didn't figure in it. Slipping his aviators back onto his nose, he pulled the keys from the ignition and smirked up to where she stood waiting.

"Baby, make no mistake – if you couldn’t get to me, I'd fly anywhere to get to you......."

Chapter Thirty Six

A light breeze rippling through the open upstairs window of the master suite made the bare skin on Rachel’s backside shiver involuntarily, slowly wakening her from a deep slumber. Sleepily, she yawned and lifted a hand to drag her tangled hair off her face to squint at the alarm clock. With a small groan, she shifted back onto her side and nudged the comatose man spread eagled across the bed beside her.

“Jon? …….What time is your meeting – it’s after nine…..”

Rolling over Jon grunted and smiled when he cracked an eye open at her, automatically curling an arm around her with a little yawn. “Not till two – we’re good.” Pulling her close to his bare chest, he nuzzled into her hair. “How’d you sleep?”

“Like a baby! I love this bed – I haven’t slept this late since high school!”

“Hmmnnn……well we didn’t get to sleep until after four….” Trailing a finger lightly down across her bare hip, Jon chuckled throatily. “So if you ask me it’s miraculous that we’re even awake now.”

With her mind still muddled from sleep, Rachel smiled lazily as his finger began to trace small circles of the curve of her ass. “Mmmm, that’s true.”

“But since you woke me up……”

When his finger suddenly dipped between her thighs, Rachel’s eyes flew open and she twisted to jump out of reach of his prying hands. Grabbing her robe, she twirled back and wagged a finger at him. “Oh HELL NO! You are not getting your horny self near me again until I have a shower and at least one cup of coffee!”

Narrowing her eyes, she smirked down at him as she firmly tied a knot in the belt of her robe.

“I’ll have you know I have sand right now in the most unimaginable places!”

Jon chuckled at her outburst, grinning up at her like a fool from his outstretched position amongst the sheets.

“Aw…..come on Rach!! – just a quickie?”

Ignoring his plaintive pleas, Rachel shook her head and looked down her nose at him.

“You don’t do quickies – and I need caffeine!”

Turning away to look for a band to tie up her hair, she squealed when quick as lighting Jon sat up and grabbed her waist, playfully pulling her back onto the bouncy mattress. Straddling her and pinning her arms above her head in one fluid motion, he grinned down at the shocked delight on her face.

“If you’d still rather have coffee – just say the word little girl!”

A feverish excitement danced in Rachel’s narrowed eyed and she fought to keep a little grin from forming as she squirmed uselessly beneath his strong grip. When she stayed quiet, Jon nodded triumphantly.

“That’s what I thought!”

Dropping his head to nuzzle his nose in between the folds of her robe, his tongue latched onto a nipple, the moist tip swirling around the pebbled bud still faintly salted from their night swim. Gasping, Rachel arched beneath him, her arms upstretched above her head still pinned to the pillows by Jon’s firm hands. Bumping her hips underneath him as he sat astride her, she groaned when his teeth nipped at the gentle swell of her breast. The man was evil – pure evil!

Chuckling Jon continued his slow examination of her chest, his tongue deliberately sweeping in torturously slow circles from the soft mound of one breast to the other. Releasing her hands he sat up briefly to push the silk robe off her shoulders, raising one wicked brow in a question as his fingers returned to cheekily tweak her stiff nipples.

“So – you still want this to be a quickie?”

Giggling, Rachel shook her head happily and reached up to pull him down, their lips crashing together in a heated kiss, sated only by the shifting of Jon’s body to settle eagerly between her open legs. She watched his sandy hair nuzzle at her neck from beneath her rapidly flicking eyelashes as he alternated between kissing, sucking and nipping his way down her body until she felt a delicious finger slip inside her, slowly stretching and teasing her more than ready insides. Groaning again when a second finger joined the first, she gasped in pleasure as the familiar zing of excitement shot up through her body from his touch, a wet heat flooding between her legs.

Giving up the chase, Jon smirked in ready anticipation and removing his fingers, gently eased himself home until he was buried inside her, her slick walls eagerly accepting him. Slowly rocking into an easy rhythm, they moved together as one, the room silent apart from Rachel’s gasps as the momentum built and some occasional grunts from Jon as the exertion mounted. Each delicious thrust sent them both higher and higher until hovering on the brink, Rachel cried out her release, her nerve endings shattering in an ecstatic explosion as Jon followed close behind and collapsed in sweaty mess on top of her as the convulsion of her walls milked him dry.

Chest heaving for breath, Rachel blinked down at the tousled nest of Jon’s hair that lay underneath her chin, his hot breath dampening down her already flushed skin. Tingling aftershocks rippled through her abdomen, each one a sweet reminder of a union that she was becoming so blissfully familiar with. With her heart beat pounding through her veins a myriad of post coital emotions flew through her brain and try as she might, each one ended in the same disconcerting question as she lay tangled underneath Jon’s still quivering body.

‘How soon does the bubble burst?’

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

Sometime later, after a much needed shower followed by a breakfast of several cups of strong coffee and croissants, they had headed back down to the beach for a few hours to get some sun bathing in before Jon’s meeting. The heat of the sun combined with their late night and early morning activities had easily lulled them both into a lazy sleep as they lay side by side on their towels. A nearby dog barked loudly as it scampered past and showered Jon in a light dusting of sand, jolting him from his comfortable snooze. Stretching out, he frowned when his hand patted the empty towel beside him, Rachel’s smooth body mysteriously absent. A quick glance down the shoreline when he heaved himself upright found her wading knee deep in the waves, her blonde waves tied up in a loose pony tail and sunglasses hiding her eyes as she gazed out across the Atlantic, seemingly lost in thought. A ripple of appreciation rolled through his mind as his eyes travelled over her lean body, glowing against the cool backdrop of the ocean. Summer suited her – her sun kissed skin looked good enough to eat.

Checking his watch, Jon reluctantly got to his feet and wandered down the hot sand to join her, lightly placing his hands around her waist and kissing the nape of her neck above her bikini tie.

“Hey – you disappeared.”

Smiling Rachel leaned contentedly against him, wrapping her fingers around his arms that encircled her.
 

“You were snoring – I was embarrassed to be seen with you!”

Jon snorted in amusement; “I know for a fact I do NOT snore!”

“Tell that to the three families that got up and left the minute you started deep sea diving in your sleep!”

Chuckling Jon thought about dunking her in the water there and then until the beeping of his watch signalled his next engagement. Dropping another kiss on her warm shoulders, he reluctantly released his hold from around her waist.

“I need to head up to the house and shower again – do you wanna stay on the beach or come into town for a look around the stores?”

Rachel shook her head; “No thanks, I think I’ll just stay here if that’s okay.”

A niggling thought lodged in the back of Jon’s mind that there was something different about her, but her face was unreadable as always. Shrugging it off, he grinned and turned to head back up the beach, teasing her over his shoulder as he went.

“Sure! You just lounge here in the sun while I go off to work – somebody’s gotta earn a living around here!”

Leaving her in the breaking waters, Jon trudged through the grainy sand to retrieve his book and towel, nodding and smiling at the various groups of beach goers spread out around him. As he shook out the towel, he turned to gaze back down at Rachel and watched as she resumed her knee high stance in the water, her stare locked onto some invisible object across the horizon as her fingers trailed through the frothy waves at her knees. There was something not quite right but for the life of him he couldn’t think what. Giving up, he turned and headed back to the path leading off the beach – he needed to focus on his meeting, figuring out what was going on with Rachel would have to wait until dinner.

After whiling away the better part of the afternoon in the sun, Rachel eventually returned to the beach house to take a shower and finally return her sister’s call. Settling herself in the comfortable wicker couch on the balcony of the master suite, she took a deep breath and hit Robin’s number on her cell. It was time to face the music.

“Way to leave me hangin’ sis!”

Rachel rolled her eyes dramatically at the typically smart ass greeting but couldn’t help the little smirk that formed as she thought back to what had distracted her from returning the call.

“Yeah well, I got busy! Sorry about that.”

Robin’s voice was teasing and light. “Ohhhh I’m sure you did! Now how’s about you fill me in and explain why you’re suddenly the hot topic in tinsel town?”

Frowning, Rachel straightened up in the chair. “What?! Really??”

“Relax Rach! I’m just kiddin with you – I haven’t seen anything else in the papers but you ARE the hot topic in the family – there’s just no way you’re gonna get away with that!”

Rachel breathed out a sigh of relief and settled back into the cushions. She supposed life with Jon was going to have aspects to it that she just hadn’t given much thought to yet and the past few days in the Hamptons weren’t really bringing her any closer to having to deal with them – which suited her just fine.

“Oh I’m quite sure you’ve adequately filled them in on my activities over here – of that I have no doubt! By the time I next get home I’ll be old news!”

Robin snorted down the phone at her. “Well I WOULD if my sister ever CALLED me anymore!”

Rachel knew she was just joking but it didn't stop the little threads of guilt creeping into the back of her mind. These past few weeks had been such a whirlwind she’d neglected her family back home, something she’d never slacked on before. They were after all her nearest and dearest.

“I know and I’m sorry about that – I’ve just been finding my feet over here you know? Life has been pretty hectic to say the least.”

With her bare feet tucked underneath her and the phone nestled comfortably under her ear, Rachel spent the next half hour bringing her sister up to speed on everything that had been going on since she’d made the big move. When she moved on to how she’d met Jon on her first day and how they’d just been hanging out for the first few weeks before actually ‘exclusively dating’, Robin became surprisingly quiet apart from the occasional ‘hmm’ and ‘ohhh’.

“Hey – you still listening??”

“Of course I am……..it’s just a lot to take in you know?”

Rachel laughed at the absurdity of it all. “Now do you understand why I haven’t been touching base with you guys?”

Just talking it out over the phone brought it home to her exactly how much had been going on, and more importantly how little time she’d had to process everything. She briefly wondered if Jon was thinking the same thing until Robin’s voice broke through her distracted thoughts.

“Yeah I kinda do….. Geez my sister dating a rock star – who’d have thought it?!”

After a quiet chuckle, Robin’s voice dropped to the one Rachel had grown up loving, the caring and supportive big sister role.

“Seriously though honey – what’s important is that you’ve found something that resembles happiness again and that’s all we’ve been waiting for..........we don’t want to see you wasting your life away hiding behind work no matter how lucrative it may be!”

Rachel swallowed hard and nodded, not trusting her voice not to crack with underlying emotion. She suddenly realised how much she actually missed hanging out with her big sister. Robin’s voice was slightly cautious as she asked her next question.

“I assume he’s good to you right? I mean putting all the rock star stuff aside – he’s an okay guy?”

With a smile as she remembered Jon clumsily stomping all over her freshly varnished deck and how decidedly un-rock God that particular move had been, Rachel shook her head laughing.

“I haven’t met the rock star yet I don’t think – he has more than his fair share of complete and total nerdiness! But….he makes me feel………”

Pausing she searched for the right word to adequately describe what he did make her feel.

“………he makes me feel ‘light’ if that makes sense? And he makes me laugh – a lot!” Giggling she shifted in her seat and switched the phone to her other ear. “Of course sometimes I’m just laughing ‘at’ him!”

Robin sounded genuinely relieved. “Good – sooooooo?”

“Soooooo what?” Smirking, Rachel threw her eyes up to the light blue sky above her. 

“Oh c’mon sis! Now we’ve got all that other stuff outta the way I wanna know the rest – the kind of stuff I CAN’T read in the papers!”

Grinning Rachel shook her head. “NuUH! I don’t kiss and tell – not even for you!”

“RACHEL!! Come ON!!”

“Let’s just say there are no problems in that particular department!” Giggling, she snuggled deeper into the cushions of the chair as if to hide her embarrassment from the rest of the world. “He’s umm….more than adequate!”

“Oh honey!” Robin laughed loudly down the line. “I can practically HEAR you blushing all the way to California girl! That must mean you’re ….. How should I put it? Satisfied??”

“Worn out is more like it!” With a happy sigh Rachel watched the shadows of a nearby tree dance across the balcony railings as a warm breeze rippled through her towel dried hair.

“Well, if he’s good to you in bed AND out – I guess we’ll overlook the fact that he’s a nerdy rock star! Enjoy this babe – if anybody deserves to find happiness it’s you.”

“Thanks sweetie and I promise I’ll try call more often – I miss you.”

“Me too – talk soon, love you!”

Hanging up, Rachel let the cell drop to her lap and stretched her toes out to the fading rays of sunshine. It was amazing how a simple phone call could iron out her mind without even realising it. All morning she’d had this uneasy feeling that she just couldn’t put a finger on, panic ….guilt….maybe a combination of both. It was clear as crystal now and the relief was immeasurable.

“Hey is this a private party or can anybody crash?”

The sound of Jon’s voice only just reached her ears before she felt his hands slide gently across her shoulders, his fingers gently massaging and kneading. Smiling she craned her neck to gaze up at him as he bent down to kiss her lips.

“You’re always welcome to crash any party of mine! How was your meeting?”

Straightening up, Jon nodded and smiled. “Fine, looks like there’s an opportunity there – we’ll have to see how things work out. How was the beach after I left?”

Scooting over to make space, Rachel patted the empty cushion beside her and curled herself against his chest when he flopped down into the creaky furniture.

“Glorious! I just love it here – it’s so……..relaxing!”

“Good – so everything’s okay? I thought this morning you seemed…..quiet.”

Rachel’s heart melted when she saw the worry that clouded his beautiful blue eyes. She hadn’t realised her distracted thoughts had been that obvious. Reaching up she wrapped each arm around his neck and sidled closer to him. “I’m on the beach in a beautiful home with a gorgeous man – what could possibly be bothering me?”

Jon brushed his lips against her forehead and shrugged. “I dunno – you just seemed different.”

Sitting up, Rachel let her fingers curl up to frame his slightly stubbled cheeks and with a soft smile, gazed directly into his eyes. “I am different – I’m content. I guess you just haven’t really seen this side of me until now – Hell I haven’t seen this side of me for a long time!”

Grinning she moved closer to murmur against his lips. “Get used to it – I kinda like this feeling!”

Chapter Thirty Five

The night air was warm around them as they stepped from the car that deposited them outside the front door of Jon’s beach house. They had slipped away from the Perelman party just after midnight, both of them tired from all the social chit chat that was enjoyable but draining. An oval moon shone brightly in the clear sky casting a gentle luminance over the silhouettes of the properties around them and framing the dark shadows of the surrounding trees. The distant murmur of the ocean called out enticingly as Rachel waited for Jon to unlock the door.

“It’s such a beautiful night – how about a walk?”

Turning to her in surprise as he knocked off the alarm, Jon raised his brows and grinned.

“Just a walk?”

“Well, we could always build a sand castle if we get bored……”

Chuckling Jon motioned for her to wait at the door, “Hang on there just one second, I got a better idea!”

Leaving her at the porch, Jon disappeared down the darkened hallway in the direction of the kitchen, a faint light that looked suspiciously like the refrigerator door spilling out from around the corner. Sure enough, he reappeared moments later barefoot, with a bottle of wine and a towel under one arm and a pair of glasses and their flip flops dangling from the fingers of his other hand.

Handing Rachel her flip flops, he winked at her and turned to relock the door. 

“Never go to the beach unprepared baby!”

Laughing she kicked off her heels and left them behind a plant pot on the porch, sighing gratefully when her feet slipped into the comfort of the flat shoes. Toeing on his own, Jon offered her his free arm and together they made their way across the garden to the small side gate of the property that led down a sandy path to the shoreline.

The beach was deserted as they made their way through the soft sand, the calm ocean in front of them glimmering in the twilight. A scattering of lights twinkled beyond the dunes marking out the boardwalk in the distance underneath the black night sky. Hand in hand they walked a short way down the beach until Jon spread out the towel a little way back from the gently breaking waves and poured them both a glass of wine.

“To moonlight walks!” Jon offered her a toast with a cheeky smile and eased himself down on the towel, patting the space beside him.

“And many more!” Balancing her glass carefully, Rachel dropped to her knees and scooted up to lean into his arms. They sipped their wine in silence for a few comfortable minutes, content in watching the kaleidoscope of sparkling stars high above them combining with the blinking lights of faraway planes making their way silently through the night sky.

Eventually Jon squeezed his arm a little tighter around her, breathing in the light perfume that wafted through her loose hair.

“Whatcha thinkin’?”

He had observed the woman by his side all evening; her confident and warm personality had shone through in their conversations with the many various guests. He had to admit he’d been a little worried after their unpleasant altercation with Andrea and although she smiled brightly all evening he had no idea what was really going on behind her twinkling eyes.

“Nothing much…..just enjoying the view – the ocean is so beautiful at night.”

Sighing happily, Rachel took another sip of her wine and nestled deeper into Jon’s comfortable chest.

Nodding Jon followed her gaze out across the ocean. “It sure is…..I’m glad you’re here Rach….”

Surprised at the sudden emotion in his voice, Rachel twisted around to smile warmly at him in the moonlight.

“Good! Me too!”

“I’m sorry about Andi earlier, I always knew she was a bit spoilt but I didn’t ever think she could be that much of a bitch.”

Grinning Rachel shook her head at him before resuming her scrutiny of the horizon. “No need to be sorry Jon, she’s past history now.”

“You should’ve been an attorney you know? The cool way you defend yourself is pretty impressive! I’d hate to come up against you in the boardroom.”

Rachel laughed lightly; “It’s a little tricky – the whole business and women thing. There’s a fine line between holding your own and being a bitch. My business is so male-driven it can be a touchy thing to navigate at times.”

“Well I learned from my Mom all about the advantages of having women in charge – and I haven’t forgotten it. I have more women working for me than men most of the time – it works.” Jon chuckled as he added a little sheepishly; “Doesn’t hurt of course that they’re better lookin’ too!”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel jabbed him playfully in the ribs and moved to stretch out on the towel beside him, her lower back beginning to ache from the hours spent in her heels. Turning onto her side, she leaned on her elbow and gazed up at his silhouette in the darkness.

“Mama’s boy huh? What did you want to be when you grew up? Was it always music?”

Looking down at her curled beside him, Jon nodded.

“Yeah, it was all I ever imagined doing, nothing else came into the picture. What about you?”

Rachel sighed softly; “A mother – it was all I ever aspired to be. Real estate was just something I fell into after school and then when the babies were a long time coming, the money in the boom time allowed us to pay for expensive fertility treatments that we otherwise couldn’t have afforded, so it served a purpose I guess.”

The surprise echoed in Jon’s voice and he paused as he searched for the right words. “I didn’t realise you had fertility issues…….obviously it worked out?”

She gazed up at him from her comfortable lounge on the soft sand, a ghost of a remembering smile lifting her face in the moonlight. “Yeah, it took a while but when I got pregnant with Lauren it was bigger than New Year’s Eve you know? It made the wait for Tyler a lot easier because at least we had her.”

Jon drew his knees up to his chest and leaned back on his hands as he watched her relive the memories, quietly listening to her soft voice continue.

“They were almost five years apart so Lauren started school shortly after Tyler came along and I was able to devote my world to each of them when they were just babies. Real estate is a perfect career for a woman raising kids – I was able to set my own hours and such – go on all the field trips, do the whole ‘room Mom’ thing – it worked really well.”

Surprised at her admission, Jon raised a brow questioningly. “So you weren’t really a ‘career woman’ per se?”

“Oh no! I was a homemaker – by choice, and I loved it. Our kids barely knew their Mom had a job!”

Shrugging she smiled up at him; “I mean I would hold an open house a couple weekends a month but the rest of the time I was just ‘Mom’. Most of the time the kids were with me or Nick – we made it a point to rarely have to get a sitter.”

Sitting up, she ran her hands through her hair and reached for her wine as Jon quietly absorbed the glimpse into her past life.

“So how did you end up where you are now?” Tilting his head, he winked across at her with a mischievous grin. “I seem to recall you were a top dog in the real estate world – or so you told me as you were ripping my clothes off that first night!”

Rolling her eyes, Rachel smirked and held up a finger. “Two corrections – number one – I still am a top dog and number two – I believe it was you that made the first move that night, stud!”

Topping up their glasses, Jon acknowledged her corrections with a chuckle. They were finally having a conversation where she wasn’t shutting down on him and it was refreshing.

“I dunno Rach – your memory seems a little hazy but I’m not letting you change the subject by throwing sex out there so c’mon – finish telling me about your rise to the top of the real estate ranks.”

Snorting Rachel shook her head as she buried the base of her wine glass in the sand beside her.

“Whatever Bongiovi! If you must know it was pretty simple really. I basically discovered if I was going to have a life I’d have to limit the number of buyers I worked with and focus primarily on listings. So, I transitioned to being a listing agent and streamlined that process therefore making it more efficient.”

Pursing her lips, she shrugged. “Turns out I was  a pretty good marketing person and I developed a reputation that seemed to have referrals coming to me hand over fist and it all just kinda snowballed from there.”

Impressed, Jon blew out a low whistle between his teeth. “So – first class Mom, successful business woman – is there anything you suck at?”

Rachel reached over to poke him in the ribs again and crawled into his lap, peppering his mouth with soft kisses. “Compliments will get you everywhere Mr Bongiovi – but I am out of practice with the latest sexual trends – think you can help me sharpen my skills a little?”

With her lithe little body rubbing against his hips, Jon groaned when he felt his ever diligent cock stir in his pants. Reciprocating her kisses he mumbled against her lips; “I haven’t noticed you coming up short in that department…….”

Giggling, Rachel sat up on his thighs, her dress riding high on her bent knees. She grinned wickedly as her fingers moved to unbutton his shirt further. “I hear you’re a hard man to keep satisfied – I don’t want you wandering back to the ‘skank tank’ because you’re bored!”

Jon’s hands crept under the hem of her dress, his fingers searching for the line of her panties as she wriggled her hips seductively. “Right now I’m just a ‘hard’ man…….and somehow I doubt I could ever be bored with you.”

When he worked her dress up above the curve of her butt, his hands moved to caress her bare hips, his thumbs hooking down the flimsy material of her panties. In the darkness he could feel Rachel reach the bottom of his shirt and begin work on his belt where his erection begged mercilessly to be released. Very much aware that they were on a public beach and the cover of night wasn’t anywhere near a good enough privacy screen, Jon reluctantly withdrew his hands from her hips to gently still her busy fingers.

“Rach – we need to take this home where we can do it right.”

            

Consumed by the heady concoction of too much wine and raw lust, Rachel barely heard his soft murmur only stopping to frown when his hands prevented her from taking things any further. Confused, she glared down at him from her perch on his lap.

“What?”

“We gotta stop baby – right now or I’m not gonna be able to stop until I have you screaming my name over and over. Do you wanna risk pictures of this showing up in a day or so for all your family to see?”

Frustrated and annoyed, Rachel stared at him incredulously. “Are you freakin kidding me?? HERE? Is that even a remote possibility? I mean seriously Jon – it’s the middle of the night for God’s sake – there’s nobody here!”

Regretfully Jon shook his head at her, his frustration was equal to hers but he needed to show her this side of his life; “You don’t know that Rach – anything done in a public place is liable to being photographed – the fuckers are everywhere.”

Annoyed at their interruption, Rachel scowled and gestured wildly with her hands.

“How do you live like that? I mean that is insane! You do know I was only mere seconds away from an incredible orgasm right – just from sitting here! Damn it Jon!”

Grinning at her sexually charged frustration, Jon let his guard slip just a little as a sneaky idea formed in his head. He knew they were potentially exposed here on the beach but there was a place just yards away that would afford them the right amount of privacy. Reaching up to frame her face, he kissed her pouting lips hard and smirked up at her when he pulled back.

“Ever had a midnight swim?”

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!”