Friday, October 19, 2007

Chapter 7 - The End


Jon sank down onto the piano bench, elbows on his knees, face in his hands. What a mess. How can I convince her that I do care and I am not the bastard she thinks I am? He wasn’t ready to give up just yet. This wasn’t how he imagined the weekend would turn out that’s for sure. One bad choice, and your whole life blows up in your face. With a heavy heart he went to his room, trying to come up with some way to get Reese to understand, to forgive.

Reese left that night. She packed and changed her flight and went home. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him right then. She needed time to think. Was he really worth the heartache?

Two weeks later the band had a short break and Jon decided he was going to go see Reese. He still had the key she had given him and he hoped she wouldn’t throw him out. He let himself into her apartment. With the music up she wouldn’t have heard him knock anyway. He called out for her, but got no answer. He moved farther into the apartment and heard the water running. He figured she must be in the shower. He went into her room, sat down in the chair and waited.

Reese came into her room wrapped in her robe and stopped dead in her tracks. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?” Jon looked her up and down. Damn she looked good, all warm and flush from her shower, hair clipped up on top of head. “You gave me a key. I knocked but obviously you didn’t hear me so I let myself in.” She had forgotten that she had given him a key. “So, what do you want?” “To talk, to try work things out.” Reese pulled her robe tighter around her. “What makes you think I want to work things out?” She hadn’t moved any closer to him, was afraid to. He still made her blood run hot.

Jon got out of the chair and stepped closer to her. “What do I have to do to make things right between us?” Jon was afraid. Afraid he was going to lose the best thing that had happened to him since, well, in a very long time. Reese looked up at him, uncertainty showing on her face, “how am I supposed to trust you again after this?” “Please, just give me a chance. I am not proud of what I did and all I can tell you is, as long as we are together, it won’t happen again.” “I don’t know Jon, I just don’t know if I can do this.” His heart fell. Jon moved closer to her, took her hands in his. “Look at me, please.” She brought her eyes up to meet his. She saw the pain there and realized he was hurting as much as she was. “Reese, I want you, no, I need you in my life. Please give me another chance.” He was begging now and he really didn’t give a damn; if he needed to get down on his knees he would. He would do whatever it took to get her back. She wasn’t one for giving second chances, but her heart was telling her that she loved him and she should. Without taking her eyes from his and hoping she wasn’t make a big mistake, she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

He tilted his head, teasing her lips apart with his tongue, taking the kiss deeper. He reached up and pulled the clip from her hair, letting it fall down her back. He slid his thumbs across her jaw and his fingers into her hair. With a gentle tug Reese’s head dropped back and Jon placed light kisses along her neck and down to the vee of her robe. He stopped and looked at her, “Reese.” She lifted her head and opened her eyes to look at him. “Let me love you?” In the glittering blue of his eyes she saw his love for her. Any doubt she had moments ago fled. She nodded her head.

Jon loosened the belt on he robe and let it fall open. “God I’ve missed you” he told her as his hands slid inside to touch her silky skin. He hadn’t so much as looked at another woman since that night. He slid the robe from her shoulders, picked her up and laid her on the bed. She watched as he removed his clothes, the need in her growing as more and more of his body was revealed to her. She reached out a hand to him and he joined her on the bed. His lips played over her skin, trying to kiss the pain away he had caused her, love away the hurt he had inflicted. He wanted her to know that she was the only one for him and that that one indiscretion would not be repeated.

His hands moved over her, fingertips lightly grazing first one breast and then the other, gently tugging on the hardened tips. The moan that escaped her lips brought Jon great satisfaction. He took one nipple into his mouth and her hands came up and held him there. As he moved his head to give the other the same treatment, her hands slid down to his shoulders, and fell away to her sides. He continued his journey down her body, stopping to dip his tongue in her navel and tease the ring she wore there. He looked up at her, she had given herself totally to him; her eyes were closed and her arms were at her sides. Her skin was flush with arousal and he could see that her breath was coming in short pants.

He moved lower, his tongue sweeping through the dark curls at the delta of her thighs. He stopped and looked up at her again. “Reese?” She opened her eyes and met his gaze, “don’t stop.” She opened her legs for him and he dipped his head, kissing her intimately, the taste of her on his tongue was like a drug he would never get enough of. He continued to drive her to the edge with his tongue. He slipped two fingers inside and felt her start to tighten around them. She cried out to him, “Jon, please, now. I’m… ohh!” He slid into her as she came. He rode through it with her and then urged her up again, coming with her as she went a second time.

Jon shifted off of her and pulled Reese close as the final tremors ran through her. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his chest. He kissed her head, “I love you baby.” Reese looked up and kissed his chin, “I love you too.” At that moment Jon decided that he wasn’t going to mess up what he had with Reese. Never again would he her hurt her like that. What he had with her was too good to screw up with some nameless faceless women just for immediate gratification. He would leave that to the others. He had what he wanted right here.

Chapter 6


Two months into the tour they were playing in Washington, D.C. on a weekend that Reese had scheduled some time off so she decided to take in that show. She didn’t tell Jon she was coming to that show. She was just going to show up and surprise him. Reese made her arrangements, booking a room at the same hotel as the guys and arrived late morning the day of the show. She had even managed to find out his room number. Working for the record company, she could find out just about anything.

It was just past noon when Reese stepped off the elevator on Jon’s floor. As she headed down the hall to his room the door opened and Reese couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Jon was ushering a woman, who was still in the process of straightening her clothes, out of his room. Reese stood there wide-eyed and in total disbelief. As Jon was about to close the door he noticed her standing there in the hall. Reese turned and walked quickly back the way she had come, Jon was following her. “Reese!” She didn’t acknowledge him. She jabbed the button for the elevator and by the time Jon caught up the doors shut in his face. “Dammit!” he swore at himself as he walked back down the hall.

Reese spent the day in her room alternating between fuming and crying. “How could I have been so naïve as to believe he thought I was special” she thought. “How could he do that to me?” These thoughts and others ran through her head, making it throb with pain. Jon tried calling but she wouldn’t answer the phone. He came to her door but she didn’t answer. She was too upset with him. She didn’t even think she could look at him let alone talk to him rationally at this point. By the time she left to go to the show Reese had paced, cried and ranted off her rage. She was still mad, but mostly she was disappointed not only with Jon but with herself as well.

She went to the show but didn’t go backstage. Jon wondered if he would see her that night and when he didn’t he really couldn’t blame her. He wouldn’t have wanted to see him either. He had spent his day berating himself for his behavior the night before, venting to and then blaming Richie for the predicament he was in. After all, it was with Richie that he had gotten drunk and picked up the woman. He only hoped he could make things right with Reese.

They played well that night, but Jon knew it wasn’t their best and it was his fault. Normally, he could run through the show on autopilot, but his heart wasn’t in it that night. He had spied Reese down front and off to one side during the show. When they got to “Bed of Roses” he didn’t know if he would be able to get through the song. He needed to talk to her and try to make her understand what happened last night was not normal for him.

Jon looked for her after the show but Reese had left for the hotel right after the encore, not waiting for the final bow. She stopped in the bar for a drink but left when the guys showed up. Jon saw her leave and was tempted to follow, but thought better of it. In her room Reese tried to sleep but couldn’t. Every time she closed her eyes all she saw was Jon and that woman. After tossing and turning for a while she got up and, still in her cami and pajama pants, she went downstairs. She wandered the lobby and spied the piano at one end. She went and sat down and started playing.

Jon wasn’t sleeping either. He paced his room, wondering if he should call Reese or go to her. He opted for the latter. He pulled on his jeans and a shirt and left his room. He knocked on her door and got no answer. “Come on Reese, please talk to me” he pleaded. He still got no answer. Dejectedly he headed toward the elevator. He didn’t want to go back to his room so he went downstairs. As he stepped off the elevator he heard piano music. It was achingly sad. Following the sound of it he was surprised to see Reese sitting at the piano. He had no idea she could play. Jon watched her, noticing the tears on her face. He didn’t want to interrupt so he stayed where he was. He inched closer as she wound down and as she played the last notes he approached her. “Reese?” She jumped at the sound of his voice. She opened her eyes and looked over at him. His heart ached at the pain he saw there, knowing he had caused it.

“What do you want?” she asked as she wiped at her eyes. She didn’t want to cry over him anymore. “Can we talk?” She sighed and turned sideways on the piano bench so she was sitting across the one end of it. Jon didn’t say anything for a minute. He was looking at her and wishing he could just take her in his arms and soothe away the pain. “Jon?” Her voice brought him out of his reverie. “I’m sorry Reese.” She looked up at him. She could see that his eyes were wet and he looked as miserable as she felt, but that didn’t excuse what he had done. He sounded sincere, but she wasn’t going to give in that easily.

Reese only had one question for him. It had been bouncing around in her head all day. It was the same one she had wanted to ask her ex-husband but she hadn’t had the courage. It was with a sad, broken voice that she asked “Why?” The quiet question hit Jon right in the gut. He dropped to his knees in front of her so they were eye to eye. “I have no excuses. Richie and I were drinking last night and got carried away. I was missing you something terrible, but that is no excuse for what I did. I can only tell you how sorry I am.” She wanted to believe him. When she didn’t say anything he took her hands in his. She didn’t pull away. He spoke to her again, his eyes not leaving her face. “I never meant to hurt you.” “Well you did” she pulled her hands from his and got up off the bench. She took a few steps away from him, not turning to look at him. Sighing, Jon stood and went to her.

Reese felt him come up behind her, but she didn’t turn around. He put his hands on her shoulders and when she started to talk he could hear the hurt in her voice. “I thought we had something Jon. I thought I was special to you. You told me you loved me.” Jon turned her to face him, “you are the best thing that has ever happened to me Reese. I do love you.” She turned to face him then. “Not enough. You know, this happened to me once before and I swore it would never happen again. How could I have been so wrong about you?” He flinched at her words, she may as well have slapped him for how harsh they were. Reese walked away from him, disappearing into the elevator and left him standing there by the piano.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Chapter 5


Jon stood and pulled her up to him. Reese ran her hands up his chest, pausing slightly when she felt his heart beating as erratically as her own. Keeping one hand on his chest, she slid the other up higher, into his hair. She rose up and touched her lips to his. Jon groaned, tilted his head and took the kiss deeper, teasing her tongue with his. Reese eased back from the kiss, her breath coming in short pants. Jon pulled her closer and she could feel his arousal pressing against her belly. He lowered his head and found her mouth again. He moved her hair and left a trail of light kisses across her jaw and down her neck, raising chill bumps on her flesh. He nuzzled by her ear, taking in the scent of her, musky and floral and all her. She tasted as great as she smelled. Before all rational thought left him, Jon pulled away and grabbed Reese’s hand. He led her out of the room and down the hall, pausing at the stairs. He turned to her “are you sure?” He wanted her and hadn’t been this turned on since he couldn’t remember, but he didn’t want to force her.

Reese mounted the first step, bringing herself eye to eye with him. She wanted him with every fiber of her being. She leaned in, nibbled on his lower lip before finally taking his mouth with hers. As she kissed him her hands worked the buttons on his shirt. As her hands ran across his chest and the silky hair she found there she pulled her mouth from his. “Please?” His breathing had become labored but he managed to nod his head before plundering her mouth. He helped her out of her top, never taking his eyes from her. “We’re not going to make it to a bed are we?” she asked as she slid his shirt off. “Don’t think so” he told her as he searched out the button on her pants. Her pants slid down as he released the zipper. She was standing before him in cream silk panties and matching bra. Jon wasn’t so far gone that he couldn’t stop and admire. “God, you’re beautiful” he told her before reaching around behind her. With one hand he released her bra and that joined the rest of her clothes somewhere on the stairs. Reese reached for him, finding the button and zipper straining on his jeans. She stroked him up and down before releasing the zipper and he thought he was going to ruin the moment.

He took her hand and brought it up to his lips, kissed it and then laid it on his chest. He undid his jeans and she helped him slide them off. All that stood between them now was a brief scrap of silk. Before Jon could reach out she started to slide them off herself. His hands joined hers and he helped her take them off, easing her back on the stairs so she wouldn’t fall. He kissed and nibbled up her legs as he made his way up her body and had her trembling with anticipation. With the first intimate touch of his tongue, Reese was lost. She was writhing under his skillful mouth. “Jon” she cried out, he looked up and he knew she was ready. He kissed his way up, running his tongue around the belly ring that he found quite sexy and then up and across both breasts before claiming her mouth with his. He nestled himself between her legs and gazed down on her, watching as he slid into her. He saw the ecstasy cross her features as he started to move. As he felt her tighten around him it was all he could do to keep himself in control. Jon moved in her once, twice more before giving her all he had.

They lay there, panting, trying to regain their senses. “Jon?” “Hmmm?” “You need to move.” Jon rolled off her and leaned back against the steps, propped on his elbows. Reese sat up and looked over at him, he held out his hand and she scooted closer to him. “You okay?” he whispered as he kissed her cheek. She turned her head and kissed him, “most definitely.” He chuckled and stood, bringing her with him. They collected their clothes and Jon led her upstairs to his room.

Reese woke the next morning more content than she could ever remember being. She looked over and found Jon watching her. “Morning” he smiled at her. “Morning yourself” she said as she stretched and groaned. She ached in places that she didn’t know could ache. “Wow” she sighed out. “Are you okay?” Jon was concerned. “I think the stairs did me in. I’m not as limber as I used to be I guess.” Jon laughed as he pulled her close. “You are quite limber as I recall” he reminded her as he nuzzled her neck. He kissed and nibbled lower, running his tongue around her nipple. “Mmmm” Reese sighed as he claimed it with his mouth. As his mouth continued its assault on her breasts, Jon’s hand traveled lower and found her warm and wet. Reese could feel him growing against her and she shifted to allow him the access he sought. He slid into her slowly, not moving right away. Jon looked down on her, her eyes not wavering from his. “I love you” he told her as he moved slowly in her. She moved with him, each bringing the other that ultimate satisfaction. As they lay there, recovering, savoring, Reese looked up at Jon, “I love you too” he pulled her close and hugged her tight.

***************************

The band was leaving the following week and on their last night together before he left, Jon and Reese spent the evening in her apartment. She wanted him to have a home cooked meal and some calm and quiet before the craziness of this aspect of his life kicked in. After they enjoyed a meal of baked pasta, garlic bread and salad, Jon filled their wine glasses and led Reese to the couch. “I’m going to miss you baby.” She smiled at him, “I’m going to miss you too.” Jon took her hand, “I have something for you, close your eyes.” She did as he asked and felt him put something in her hand. “Okay, go ahead and look.” She opened her eyes and looked down at her hand. It was an envelope. “What is it?” He smiled at her, “go ahead and open it.” Reese flipped the envelope over and broke the seal. Inside was all his tour information and an all access pass. She looked up at him, surprise and pleasure showing across her face. “You didn’t have to do this, thank you so much.” He moved and put his arm around her. “I know I didn’t have to, I wanted to. I want you to come see me whenever you can find the time.” She kissed him, “well I had planned on seeing you here in New York and then in New Jersey. I guess I will have to try to arrange for some more vacation time.” Jon was thrilled to hear her say that. “You just let me know and I will get you to me wherever I am.”

Reese set the envelope down on the table and turned her attention back to Jon, “right now” she said as she grabbed his hand and stood, “I want you to get me to the bedroom so I can thank you properly.” Without saying a word he scooped her up and headed down the hall.

Monday, October 15, 2007

Chapter 4


Jon took Reese’s hand as they walked back to her apartment. As they got inside Reese went to get them a drink and she told Jon to turn the stereo on. As he did, his own voice came blaring out at him. Reese ran back into the room in time to see Jon wince and shut the music off. “Sorry about that. I had it on while I was cleaning earlier. I suppose I also should have told you I have been a fan since, well, let’s just say I can’t remember not being a fan.” She went over and selected something a little more appropriate. “Better?” she asked as she turned to go back to the kitchen. “Much” he told her. She came back with two glasses of wine and handed one to Jon as she sat down. “Where do we go from here” she asked him. “I guess we just take it slow. You have your job, I have the new album, promotion, tour, etc. coming up. We will just have to see what happens I guess.” Jon was being as honest as he could. He didn’t want to mess this up. He liked this woman and wanted things to work. Reese slid closer to him on the couch. She looked up at him, green eyes meeting blue, “how slow?” Jon closed the distance between them and kissed her softly. “Not too slow” he told her as he pulled back.

In the weeks leading up to the craziness that would be the release and tour for the new album Reese and Jon didn’t see each other but maybe a handful of times and it was mostly at Reese’s apartment, but it was the quality of the time they spent together that mattered most to them, not the quantity. They spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other, stealing kisses here and there, but never letting it go any further, neither wanted to push the other too far to fast it seemed. Jon, not one to have too many friends found that Reese had quickly become the one person he wanted to share everything with, the one he wanted to tell things to first. She was different from a lot of the women had had dated since Dorothea. She was open and honest with him, and he with her. It was a refreshing change.

Jon invited Reese to his house in Jersey for a party a couple weeks before the tour was to start. She didn’t have a car so she was taking the train from Grand Central Station to Woodbridge and Jon was sending a car to meet her so she didn’t have to worry about a cab. When Reese got out of the car the house took her breath away. Jon’s estate sprawled over 16 acres and was more than a little overwhelming for Reese, considering she lived in a rather small two-bedroom apartment in the City. She walked up the steps to the door, took a deep breath and rang the bell. As she waited she was trying to imagine what it might look like on the inside. Jon opened the door to find her standing there with her eyes closed and a small smile on her face. “Reese, are you okay?”

Reese’s eyes flew open and her cheeks reddened as she realized she had been caught daydreaming. “I’m fine” she told him as he ushered her in. She stood there in the foyer just looking around, trying to take everything in. Jon closed the door, turned back to her and extended his hand, “everyone is back this way” he told her as she placed his hand in his. He led her through the house and to the living area. She was impressed.

They had a wonderful time that night. Reese had met Richie on a couple of occasions and he was the first to greet her when Jon led her into the room. David and his wife April were there, as were Tico and Alec. Jon’s family was there as well. They ate, drank, talked, laughed and listened to the new album. The guys all tried to make the girls choose their favorite song, but that was near to impossible. How could she choose a favorite among such songs as “Keep the Faith,” “In These Arms,” “Bed of Roses,” “Dry County?” They were all just too good to choose only one.

After everyone left Jon gave Reese the grand tour. When they made it back to the living room she only had one question for him. “Why so big?” Jon thought for a moment, “I like my space, but I also hope to marry and have a family one day, so I wanted a place big enough for that and for the entertaining that I do. I needed the space.” Reese nodded her head in understanding. “Well, it’s lovely. I am glad you were leading the way though, I probably would have gotten lost somewhere back around the kitchen.” They both laughed. Jon led her to the couch and refilled their wine glasses before he sat down.

“I had a nice time tonight. Your family is wonderful.” Reese sipped her wine and smiled. “Yeah, I like ‘em… most of the time.” They laughed together. It felt so right she thought, being with him like this. They chatted a while longer and Jon turned to Reese, stroked her cheek with his fingers, “I am glad you were here tonight.” His gaze was so intent on her that she had trouble putting together a coherent thought. “I’m glad you invited me” she managed to say. His touch did things to her that she couldn’t explain. He sent her pulse racing and made her heart feel all sideways and thumpy. Jon slid his hand around to cup the back of her head, urging her closer to him and he leaned in and kissed her. When he pulled away his gaze found and held hers. “Are you going to make me take you home tonight?” Reese opened her mouth to answer him but nothing came out. She shook her head.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Chapter 3

Reese’s apartment wasn’t far from the park so they decided to walk rather than try to hail a cab. They got to her building and Reese invited Jon up for coffee. They got inside and Reese took Jon’s coat and invited him to sit down. She got the coffee started and came back and took a seat in the chair across from him. As they sat there, Jon couldn’t help but look at her.

“What?” Reese asked feeling fairly uncomfortable with him staring at her.

He smiled, “you look so different from when I first saw you. I just can’t get over it.” She smiled back at him, “I clean up nice.” “I’ll say.” They sat in comfortable silence for a minute before Reese went and got the coffee. She handed Jon a cup when she came back and set her own down on the end table. She toed off her shoes and sat at the end of the couch with her feet tucked up under her. They talked a while longer, draining the pot of coffee in the process. Reese started yawning and only then realized how late it had gotten. She got up and took their cups into the kitchen. Jon took that as a hint and got up to leave. Reese helped him with his coat and walked him to the door “thank you for inviting me tonight. I had a really nice time.” Jon took her hand, “can I see you again?” Reese watched as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. “I would like that” she managed to say. She watched as he walked down the hall. Only when he disappeared into the elevator did Reese close her door.

The next morning Reese went out for her morning run and coffee like she did every Saturday. When she stopped at the newsstand to get a paper, the cup fell from her fingers. She couldn’t believe what she saw on the front of the gossip rags. She was staring at herself and Jon from the night before. Oh my God she thought as she grabbed one of each along with her newspaper. She ran back to her building, hoping no one would recognize her. Perusing the covers she found some of the headlines amusing “Who’s the Lovely Lady Layin’ her hands on Jon Bon Jovi?” “Bon Jovi’s New Beauty, is she Livin’ on a Prayer?” “Is this one ‘Born to Be his Baby’?” that one she laughed out loud at. She wondered if Jon knew about this.

As was her norm for Saturdays, Reese spent the rest of the day cleaning and doing laundry. She was in the midst of folding clothes when the intercom buzzed. “Yes?” “Reese, its Jon, can I come up?” She buzzed him in. She ran into the bathroom to check her appearance, she had showered, but hadn’t put on any make-up or done her hair yet and she was in her most favorite lounge around the house clothes, flannel pajama pants, t-shirt and an oversized sweatshirt. Sighing, she put on some lip gloss and slid a stretchy headband into her hair to hold it back. “Well, that is about as good as it is going to get right now” she thought as the knock sounded on her door.

“So” Reese asked as she let Jon in, “what brings you back here today?” Jon smiled, “I did ask if I could see you again.” She remembered him kissing her hand as he left last night. “I know, but I didn’t think it would be so soon.” “Do you want me to go?” “Absolutely not” she smiled at him, “come in, sit down.” He took up his spot on the couch from the night before and watched as Reese finished folding her clothes. She took the laundry in her room and came back with a stack of papers in her hand. “Have you seen any of these?” Reese asked as she handed the stack to Jon. He shook his head and started to chuckle as he flipped through the papers. Reese didn’t say anything as he made his way through the pile. When he finished Jon turned to her, “how much does this bother you?” Reese shrugged, “I’m not really sure” she answered honestly. “I have never been put in a situation like this before. I only just met you and we went out one time and now my face is all over these magazines.” She got up and started to pace. This is why Jon found it so hard to find someone. Every time he got close something like this happened and things were over before they even really got started.

Jon stood up and went to Reese, placing his hands on her arms he stopped her from pacing. “I know we only just met, but I had a great time last night and I would like to continue to see you.” Reese looked up at him and he could see the confusion in her eyes and the concern on her face. “Look, this doesn’t always happen, but it is a hazard of the job that I do, the business that I am in.” She stood there, trying to process everything. He was looking at her, waiting for her to say something. After what seemed like an eternity she spoke, “Jon, I had a great time last night too and as much as I would like to continue seeing you, I am not sure if I can handle all that goes along with being involved with someone so high profile.” There it was, just as Jon had feared. His “job” was interfering with his personal life again. Sighing he dropped his hands from Reese’s arms and moved away from her. “You don’t even want to try, do you?” Reese stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his arm, “I didn’t say that.” “You just said you couldn’t handle being involved with me.” Reese stopped him. “I said I wasn’t sure I could, but how will I know unless I try?” Jon took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it lightly. “You mean that?” Reese nodded, “I haven’t felt for anyone the way I felt last night with you and for that reason alone I am willing to try.” Jon couldn’t have been happier. He pulled her to him and hugged her tight.

The afternoon had given way to evening as they had talked about their situation. “Hey” Jon said “why don’t you get dressed and let me take you to dinner.” Reese agreed and left Jon watching TV while she went to change. Twenty minutes later they headed to Delmonico’s and had a lovely dinner and there was not a photographer in sight.

Chapter 2

Jon watched for her to come into the restaurant. He had come back the next day hoping to see her again. He wasn’t disappointed. Reese walked in, just as he had hoped, but before she could take a seat at her customary table, Jon got up and invited her to join him and Richie. Caught off guard, Reese didn’t know what to do. “Oh, um, sure, thanks” she mumbled as he pulled out a chair for her. She hadn’t formally met Richie so she turned to him, “Mr. Sambora, I’m Reese, so glad to meet you.” Richie smiled as he took her offered hand, “the pleasure is all mine Reese, and please, call me Richie.” They all shared a pleasant lunch and before she knew it, it was time to head back to work. As she was about to get up and leave, Jon put his hand over hers. She could feel her pulse jump at his touch. “Reese”, she brought her eyes to meet his, “y-yes” she stammered, “the record company is having a cocktail reception Friday night, would you like to come with me?” She couldn’t speak. Surely he hadn’t just asked her on a date. How could that be? Why would he, Jon Bon Jovi, be interested in her? She heard herself tell him she would go and she gave him her number.

Friday night Reese raced home from work to get ready. She was still putting on her make-up when she heard Jon’s voice over the intercom. She buzzed him up and tried to finish as quickly as she could. She just finished her lipstick when he knocked on her door. Jon wasn’t sure what to expect, having only seen Reese dressed in business clothes, but he was totally unprepared when she opened the door. She was a vision in red. She wore her hair down, the riotous curls hung halfway down her back. The sleeveless dress was the color of a fine merlot and it hugged her frame enticingly. The wide v-neck showed just enough to make Jon’s mouth water. Her high heels showed off her shapely legs. “Hi.” He stood in the doorway, his eyes perusing her from head to foot. “Wow, you look… amazing.” Reese’s cheeks reddened, “Thanks. You look pretty good yourself.” He was wearing a coal black suit with a navy blue shirt, the first few buttons undone, showing just a bit of chest hair. She stepped aside and let him in. “I just need to grab my wrap and my bag and we can go.” “No problem.” She walked away from him and he admired the fine rear view. How am I going to behave myself tonight he wondered.

They got in the cab that Jon had waiting and made small talk on the way to the party. It was being held at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. “Okay, I have to ask” Jon said as he turned to her, “how do you get all that hair pulled back like you do?” Reese chuckled. This was the reaction she got almost every time she wore her hair down. “I pull it back when it is still damp. I don’t like to have my hair hanging in my face so I wear it back most of the time.” Jon nodded his head, “but it is so sexy like this” he told her as he reached out to touch it. It was just as soft as it looked and the color was more than just dark brown like he first thought. It was the color of dark chocolate with just a hint of caramel highlights. Reese felt as though all the air had gone out of the cab. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She took a deep breath and tried again, “I don’t think sexy would go over well at work, but thank you.” Wanting to change the subject Reese asked about the new album. “Does it have a title yet?” He told her it was called Keep the Faith, “but you need to keep that to yourself. We haven’t released that to the press yet.” Reese promised she wouldn’t tell a soul.

As they got out of the cab the press snapped several pictures of them. Reese looked at Jon, she had no idea what to do. “Just smile and keep walking” Jon told her as he placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her along. “Sorry about that” he apologized when they got to the door “occupational hazard.” Once inside Jon got them each a drink and they mingled with some of the record company big wigs. They found Richie, David and Tico after a while and had a couple more cocktails with them. As the night wore on they picked at the hors d’oeuvres that were at different stations around the room, they drank and Jon even asked her to dance. As Jon moved her around the floor she was surprised at how well he danced. “I didn’t realize you were so light on your feet” she said as she looked up at him. Gazing into the misty green of her eyes, he was totally taken with her. “I am just full of surprises.” When the song ended he didn’t let her go. “Are you ready to get out of here?” It wasn’t that late, 11:00 maybe, but if Jon was ready to leave she wasn’t going to protest. “Sure, if you are.” “Let’s go” and he led her off the floor, grabbed her wrap and they headed out.


It was a clear not too chilly night so they decided to walk for a bit. Jon didn’t want to take Reese home yet, but he didn’t want to be at that party any more either. They walked up Broadway and cut over 59th street to the south end of Central Park. Jon stopped at a vendor and bought a pretzel and a bottle of water and they found a bench and sat down. As they shared the pretzel they chatted. Reese couldn’t remember having a nicer time. “So” Jon asked as he popped the last of the pretzel in his mouth, “are you seeing anyone right now?” “Not right now, no.” “No boyfriend?” “Nope.” “Husband?” “Not anymore.” Jon was surprised. “You’re divorced?” Reese nodded her head. “Six months now. The jerk.” “Do you want to talk about it?” Jon was curious to know more, but he didn’t want to push her. “Not much to tell really. We dated in high school, got married out of college and I came home one day and found him in bed with some other woman. I kicked his ass to the curb.” She really didn’t want to talk about that time of her life and decided to turn the tables on Jon. “How about you, are you seeing anyone?” Considering who he was and what he did, Jon figured she would know the answer to that question but he answered her anyway. “Not right now” he told her. He and Dorothea had split up a while ago, and he had dated on and off, but nothing serious. He just hadn’t felt that spark, that connection with anyone like the one he had had with Dorothea. Until now.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Chapter 1

He watched as she walked in and sat down at the table by the window. This was the third day that week he had seen her in here. She came in at about the same time every day and sat at the same table. As far as he could tell she ordered the same thing too, soup and iced tea. He took note of her appearance, like he had every other time he had seen her. Her dark brown hair was in a knot at the back of her head, glasses perched on her nose and today she was dressed in a trim navy business suit, with just a hint of something lacy peeking out from under the jacket. He wondered what she did for a living, what brought her to this particular restaurant day after day, what her name might be.

“So, what do you think?” “Jon?” “Hmm, what?” “I said, what do you think?” Jon had no idea what Richie had said to him. “Sorry man, what did you say?” “Never mind. What is up with you?” Richie turned and followed Jon’s gaze to the woman sitting alone by the window. Richie turned back and smiled at his friend. “I can see why you are distracted.” “I’ve seen her in here every day and, I don’t know, there is just something about her.” Jon turned his attention back to her just in time to see her get up, leave some money on the table and walk out. Jon craned his head around to look out the window and watched her walk across the street and into the office building. That gave him an idea.

After paying for their own lunch Jon and Richie headed across the street and into the same office building. They were in town that week to work on their upcoming album and had several meetings lined up, one of which was that afternoon at Mercury Records. As they stepped off the elevator and into the reception area Jon wondered if he might see the woman from the restaurant.

Reese was at her desk frantically compiling all the information her boss wanted for the meeting that was to begin in the next few minutes. She grabbed up the papers he needed, along with her pad and pen and headed down the hall. She was so intent on where she was going and the task at hand that when she came around the corner she didn’t see the two men walking toward her and crashed right into one of them. Her papers scattered and she would have fallen to the floor if not for Jon catching her and steadying her. “Oh my God, I am so sorry” she stammered. “Are you all right?” Jon asked as he set her away from him. “I’m fine. I just, oh.” She looked up into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen. She realized then just who she had run into and was mortified. Jon watched as her eyes widened in recognition and the redness crept up her face. “I am so sorry Mr. Bon Jovi” she said again as she crouched to retrieve her papers. “It’s all right, no harm done and please, call me Jon” he told her as he gave her one of his famous smiles and helped her pick up her things.

They walked into the conference room and Tim, Reese’s boss, was waiting for them. Reese straightened the papers out and handed everything to him. She was asked to stay and take notes. At the end of the meeting Reese went back to her desk to start transcribing the notes but she couldn’t concentrate. Mentally she kept berating herself. How could I have been such a klutz? Of all the people to run into, I had to run into him! What is the matter with me? She was so lost in thought that she didn’t hear the knock at her door. Knowing that she was in there, Jon knocked a little harder. Reese jumped at the sound. “Come in” she called out.

For the second time that day she was face to face with Jon Bon Jovi. She had been a fan for as long as she could remember and, when she took this job, knew this was a possibility, but that didn’t make it any less nerve-wracking. She took a deep breath, smiled and stood up. “Mr. Bon… Jon, what can I do for you?” She hoped she didn’t sound as nervous as she felt. “Well” he started with a smile “you could tell me your name.” “Of course” she came from behind her desk. “I’m Reese, Reese Michels” she said looking him in the eye as she extended her hand. He took it and held it for a minute. The electricity that flowed between the two was almost palpable. “It is a pleasure to meet you” Jon finally said. Just as she was about to speak another knock sounded at her door. Tim poked his head in “Reese, do you have those notes?” Reese jerked her head toward the door, “I’ll have them in just a few minutes for you.” He then noticed that she wasn’t alone. “Is everything all right Jon?” Jon nodded toward Tim, “just fine.” Tim turned his attention Reese once more, “don’t forget those notes and I need…” he rattled off half a dozen other things he needed before leaving. Noting that she was busy Jon decided he should go as well.