Chapter Fifty One

Richie groaned loudly as the tight kinks in his shoulder muscles protested when he reached into the fridge for a bottle of water. Now just after midday, Jon had been busting his ass all morning on finishing the final mix for the Madison Square Garden DVD they were releasing in the spring and after a busy couple of hours they were finally nearing the end. They were both anxious to get it out of the way and move onto the new record, the familiar itch was back in full force. Gazing out the window, Richie’s eyes followed the progress of an SUV that had just pulled into the large house across the road from the studio, the house he now knew was home to Jon’s latest conquest. Curiosity piqued, he moved closer to the glass to watch as a slim woman with a high blonde ponytail moved around to the rear of the vehicle to begin unloading grocery bags. He had to hand it to Jon, his friend sure knew how to pick ‘em, this one was as pretty as he’d seen in a while. Hearing tired footsteps on the staircase behind him, Richie turned to wink at Jon’s grumpy face as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Based on the little blonde that just pulled up across the road, I’d say your new neighbour is home.”

Any signs of frustration instantly vanished from Jon’s face as he grinned and moved swiftly to yank open the window. Sticking two fingers in his mouth he blew out an ear piercing wolf whistle that successfully caught Rachel’s attention. Setting her grocery bag back on the tail gate she straightened up and shook her head at him, her amused voice travelling easily through the still, cold November air.

“Geez Bongiovi, just stay up there and watch me unload the car why don’t you!”

Chuckling Jon hollered back at her. “I like watching you bend over and reach waaaaaaaaaay back – in fact I think you may have missed something in there!” Smirking at Richie standing behind him, he beckoned to her from out the window. “Come over for a few minutes, will ya? I got somebody here I want you to meet!”

“Sure thing……..see you in a bit.” With a wave, Rachel picked up the last bag and headed into the house leaving Jon to close the window with a satisfied grin.

“You’ll love her Rich, she’s a spitfire and a half – keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure!”

Glugging down some more water, Richie eyed him warily as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You had a woman that tried to keep you on your toes. That went down in a ball of flames in case you've forgotten.”

Taken aback by his friend’s attitude, Jon shook his head at him in irritated disbelief. “Did we trade bodies or something? Suddenly you’re the cynic and I'm the romantic hopeful? What the fuck’s up with that? I'm happier than I've been in a really long time and you’re here bustin’ my balls over it – I kinda thought you might be happy for me!”

Richie sighed wearily and raised his hands pleadingly. “Jon, we've been around this block before together. You’d have been better off to have kept things simple with this gal….now you've got her believing she’s different…special…..and that it’s just the two of you.” He risked a sympathetic glance at Jon’s stony expression as he continued. “You and I know better – it’s only a matter of time before boredom or opportunity has you looking at another pair of legs and then you’re gonna have a big scene with this neighbour of yours. Then you turn into a prick with everybody else – it’s drama neither of us need and I can already see the handwriting on the wall because from what you've told me this is a girl who’s had more than her fair share of heartbreak…….”

He broke off as Jon interrupted him abruptly, his blue eyes piercing through his own with annoyance.

“Tell ya what Rich, spend ten minutes with her and then tell me you don’t see what I mean, until then let’s just get back downstairs and get this shit finished.”

Richie stood back as Jon brushed past him and stomped back down to the studio, his boots echoing loudly against the wooden boards. He was pissed but Richie knew he’d get over it, there was no way he was going to stand back and watch his friend self-destruct over some girl he barely knew, no matter how fuckin special she was – their lives just didn't work like that.

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

A little over half an hour later, the two men were side by side hunched over the control board when Rachel peeked in the door.

“Knock knock…….”

Jerking upright, Jon swivelled in his chair to greet her with a smile. “Hey there doll! C’mon in!”

Rachel smiled happily as she walked in to be embraced by Jon’s waiting arms. Reaching up to brush her lips with a soft kiss, he stood to introduce her to a silent Richie still sitting by the control board.

“Meet Richie Sambora – guitar God extraordinaire and my best friend for the better part of my life. Rich, meet Rachel Braden!”

Rachel extended her hand to shake Richie’s as he stood to give her a peck on the cheek. “Nice to meet you sweetheart. Jon’s told me you’re a remarkable lady…. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better.”

Flashbacks to the story Jon had told her of what had happened the last time he’d stayed in LA with Richie surfaced to the forefront of Rachel’s mind as she smiled back at him. While she knew he wasn't entirely to blame for Jon’s antics with the ‘skank in the tank’, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of lifestyle Richie led and if she really wanted to be a part of it.

“I've been a fan of your music for quite some time Richie, the pleasure is all mine.” Turning her attention back to Jon, she smiled warmly at him. “So! What are you creative geniuses up to today?”

Jon, surprised by the slightly cool demeanour she had displayed with Richie but passing it off to first time introductions, waved to the hundreds of tiny switches that dotted the board in front of them.

“Mixing the sound for the DVD we filmed at Madison Square Garden.”

Rachel shook her head in awe. “I know it’s normal to you guys, but to hear things like that – wow – it must be amazing to play these venues that are famous worldwide huh? Any shows planned?”

“There’s a couple of one-off's in the work but nothing firm.”

“What’s a one-off?”

“A single show that’s not part of a tour.”

“Ah, I see…….” Genuinely fascinated Rachel nodded in understanding. “So, when you say ‘mixing’ – how does that all work?”

Richie leaned back in his chair and watched as Jon briefly explained to her how the control board operated and then hit the board to play a segment of ‘Always’ and demonstrated how the different controls allowed them to change the sound. To be fair, she seemed sincere enough and close up she was certainly not the blonde stereotype he’d come to associate with Jon’s normal ‘play things’. Dressed casually in jeans and a cotton button down shirt with only the bare minimum of make-up smoothed over her face, she was beautiful in the most natural sense and he was beginning to see why Jon was so drawn to her.

When the segment finished Rachel shook her head in appreciation. “Wow, I still think that’s one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard, the music and the words are so….. moving.”

Grinning cheekily, Jon squeezed her waist. “We call them lyrics, sweetheart!”

“Hey!” Rolling her eyes, Rachel swatted him lightly on the head. “I don’t have the Bon Jovi Official Dictionary of Rock Star Shit – gimme a break! Somehow I doubt you’d know what I was talking about if I started throwing around legal jargon and real estate terms!”

Unable to contain himself, Richie snorted in amusement and leaned over to slap Jon on the shoulder. 

“You’re right man – she’s a spitfire!” Turning his attention to Rachel, he grinned up at her. “You’re a Jovi virgin, huh darlin’?”

Eyes narrowed, Rachel giggled nervously and glanced sideways at Jon. “A ‘Jovi Virgin’? Well………define the ‘Jovi’ part?”

“Sleeping with a member doesn't count! A virgin is someone who’s never been to a show – so that makes YOU a virgin again sweetheart!”

Laughing at the thought, Jon raised his brows up to Rachel. “Whaddya think about that baby? You’re  a born again virgin – just like that!”

A light blush was just beginning to colour her cheeks as the banter began to heat up. “I think I’ll just make my way back home before I completely embarrass myself!”

“Good thing it’s a little early in the day for tequila otherwise there’s no telling the blush I could've gotten out of you when Richie explains how we pop the cherry of a virgin round these parts!”

Thoroughly amused Jon winked across at Richie as he swung around in his chair and cheekily slapped the curve of Rachel’s butt cheeks. Shaking her head, she fended him off with her hands as she ducked out of the way. “How about I change the subject and offer to cook you two renegades dinner?”

In an attempt to be polite, Richie shook his head at her. “Aww no babe, you don’t have to cook for us – we’ll take you out for dinner……” Throwing her an evil wink he chuckled. “…where we’ll tempt you with liquor and see what kind of a blush we really CAN get out of you!”

“You don’t know what you’re missing Rich – this girl can cook!” Looking back at Rachel, Jon shrugged happily. “It’s up to you Rach, if you wanna go out, we’ll go out!”

Folding her arms, Rachel grinned back at the pair of them. “I dunno, I might be safer at home as opposed to being out and about with the likes of you guys!”

“A home cooked meal for me trumps work, that is if Jonny here can tear himself away from this Goddamn DVD. And I’ll bring MY copy of the Bon Jovi Official Dictionary of Rock Star Shit – there’s a complete chapter on the whole cherry-popping thing – you’ll find it very helpful!”

Jon chuckled at Rachel’s open mouthed stare. “Jesus Richie, don’t give her any warning about the sacrificing of the virgins – you’ll scare her off!”

Regaining her composure briefly, Rachel nervously ran her palms down her jeans and cleared her throat. “Alright then, I think that’s about as much of you pair I can handle for one afternoon, I’ll get out of your hair and let you finish up – I'm gonna go home to prepare a garland of garlic and get out the crosses to protect myself – dinner at seven okay?”

Jon stood briefly to kiss her goodbye and watched her practically run out the door, his brows still creased in silent laughter. He knew she’d be able to hold her own, even against the warped humour Richie and himself so often liked to indulge in. Sinking back into his chair, he sighed happily and swung back around to the control board before shooting Richie a sideways glance of smug satisfaction.

“Still wanna argue?”

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

Crawling into bed with a contented sigh, Rachel snuggled in on Jon’s feathered chest and let her fingers trail lazily across the broad muscles. Dinner had been consumed with a rather large quantity of wine and with the alcohol knocking off any sharp edges that had existed between herself and Richie, she had found she enjoyed his company and humorous conversation. While they had chatted animatedly about life in California  in front of a roaring fire in her family room, Rachel had noticed Jon had been less than his usual confident self, cradling his glass of Pinot Noir and staring somewhat broodingly at the dancing flames.

“You seem a little quiet…….everything okay?”

The rustle of the duvet was the only sound that broke through the silence of the bedroom as Jon turned onto his side to face her, his troubled blue eyes capturing her attention. “You know I'm crazy about you, right?”

Scooting closer to his warm body, Rachel nibbled the nub of one nipple cheekily. “Well, I know you’re crazy……”

She stopped mid-sentence in surprise when he pulled away from her to sit upright, his voice laced with frustration. “C’mon……… just once have a serious conversation with me without using some flippant remark to turn the conversation in another direction! It’s getting to the point where I wonder if you’re capable of it.”

Irked, she stared up at him in disbelief. “Wow……. way to kill a good buzz! What’s up with you?!”

Sighing, Jon slumped back against the pillows and ran his fingers tiredly through his flop of hair.

“Just something Richie said to me earlier about fucking up every relationship, no matter how special the woman was and that I’ll end up hurting you too…… I mean, yeah, at first it was just a little flirtation with the hot neighbour but it stopped being that a long time ago – you know that right?”

Rachel resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him, instead choosing to shrug her shoulders and skip his question. “How about you and Richie stick to making music and leave the relationship stuff between you and me??”

“Rachel, you know my past history with women isn't great – let’s face it, monogamy hasn't really been my strongest trait. Richie knows me as well or better than anybody and he’s convinced I’ll screw us up too………..”

The troubled expression on his face melted any annoyance Rachel had felt when he’d pulled away from her and she slowly slid her leg in between his and edged her body back along his. “If there’s a woman out there that can take you away from me – she can have you!”

Amused by her confidence in him, Jon relaxed against her warm frame and smiled down at her, his brows raised in mock surprise as he felt her fingers squeeze between his thighs. “You wouldn't even fight for me?”

“Nu-huh…….. You’re a smart man Jon – if you don’t know what you've got in me you’re a fool! Besides, if you can get this turned on this often with any other woman, then I'm nothing special to you anyway!”

Suppressing a groan as she cupped his balls, Jon eased his way back down the bed to drape an arm across her back, his own fingers devilishly squeezing the soft swell of her ass. “So what do you find more attractive in me? My smart brain or my persistent hard-on?”

“Smart men are a dime a dozen my sweet, but this……… “ Rachel smirked as her fingers gently wrapped around the hard length of his shaft, “….. this I'm addicted to!”