Chapter Thirty: Today Was A Fairytale

"Are you sure I can't tempt you to come back home with me? I'd make it worth your while." He tugged her in tight by the waist and let the Soho breeze whistle past them as he cornered her against her door. They'd arrived back in the city and he was moments away of dropping her off. It was a strange feeling letting her go after the weekend. Jon usually cherished his own space and Devon was one of the first women that didn't seem to overcrowd his space. At least not yet.

"It'll do us good to have a night apart. I have paper work I need reviewing and you'll have emails to do." She curled her fingers around the lapels of his coat, pressed her cheek into his chest and sighed. "And I need sleep."

He laughed and captured her lips in a quick kiss. "I do too, I suppose."

"You'll miss me huh?" She asked cocking her eyebrow and matching it with a broad smile that deepened her cute dimples.

"Maybe."

"How about dinner tomorrow night, say after work?" She fluttered her eyelashes and he knew that was a dinner with dessert invite.

"Sure. Oh, on Wednesday night I need to attend a benefit for an old friend, will you come as my date?"

Her eyes fell flat for a minute and the smile disappeared but then slowly returned. "Is it one of those flashy-to do type affairs?"

"Yeah, you'll need a killer dress." He groaned as the thought of her in heels and svelte dress was enough to follow her inside up to her bedroom. "And shoes. Oh hey!" He kept his grip around her and teased her lips with his. "You didn't wear the red shoes you promised you brought."

She tipped her head and her laughter sparkled into the street. "I wasn't exactly dressed most of the time, was I? It wasn't an appropriate time for shoes.”

“It’s always an appropriate time for shoes. You know I love those things. Maybe you have a matching sexy red dress?" He asked hopefully.

"I'll see what I can suss out." She smiled coyly and swung back in his arms.

His brow furrowed. "Suss-what?" Some of her kiwi-isms were puzzling but he'd only noticed them more after she had started to relax around him.

"You know, investigate, sort out..."

"Oh yeah. That’s really obvious.” He snorted. “Kiwis. Who would have them?”

"Hey! I resent that."

"It’s ok you’re cute. You’re allowed. And it's official, you're coming to my fancy to-do bash  and tommorow we can have dinner and you can stay at my place. Next weekend the kids will be back and I can introduce you to them and we can test out some hair styles for Steph."

She pressed her hands against his chest and took a small step back. "One thing at a time Jon, we only just got back and you're stringing me up for countless dates all week."

He frowned and tried to reason if he was coming on strong. "Sorry, I was just planning in my head. I'm always thinking ahead. Natural instinct."

She teased the ends of his scarf. "It's ok. Your life gets so, well full. You have to and I get that. I have a lot of business commitments on this week too but we'll fit things in. I promise."

His grin eased as he drew her back in. "Good. I get stroppy when I don't get attention."

She snorted. "I'd never have guessed." She smoothed her hands up to his shoulders and stood on her tip toes and kissed him. "I had a wonderful time Jon. Truly."

He cupped her chin and kissed her back, this time angling the kiss so it went deeper. "I did too Miss Devon. Very much." His fingers laced into her hair and his tongue delved into her mouth before he pulled away giving her just a hint of the heat they'd had all weekend. "I'll call you later. When I'm tucked up in bed - alone."

She stuck out her bottom lip. "Aw, poor baby. Now go, I want to freshen myself and take the world’s longest shower.”

"You saying I'm dirty?"

She picked up her purse and her bag and unlocked the door and half-stepped inside. "That's exactly what I'm saying. Goodbye."

She winked and closed the door behind her not before he got a good view of her lean body and tight ass. Satisfied that he'd riled her up, he let the town car drop him back at home. He was in the elevator when his phone beeped. He sighed pinched the bridge of his nose.

So much for peace.

It’d had started already. He'd told most people he'd be back by lunchtime on Sunday so he had expected people to be in contact all afternoon. It always happened. He thumbed over the message and opened it, snorting when he realized exactly what it was. It was a picture of a familiar bare foot in one red shoe.

Just a teaser for the week. You know, because I can. Dev xx

He grinned wickedly as he opened his front door and tapped furiously back.

You're killing me.

His phone beeped within seconds and he groaned at her next response.

Do you think they look better like that, or wrapped around your waist? xx

"That little minx." He dropped his bag and began to tap back. He had a right mind to march back down there and teach her a lesson for teasing the holy hell out of him but any thoughts of any erections faded fast.

"Hello Angel."

He looked up to see his mother and father standing in his kitchen. "Mom, Dad! What are you doing here?" He slid his phone into the back pocket of his jeans for safe keeping.

"Can't we come and drop by on our son?"

He raked his hand through his hair. "No, of course not. Good to see you both." He went to give them both a quick hug. His parents had a key to his place but they usually contacted him before coming out.

"Hey Dad."

"Hey son, you're looking well." His Dad bear-hugged him.

"George said you'd been away for the weekend but were expected back today so we thought we'd wait." His mother explained and her jewellery tinkled as they hugged.

"I was out on a boat for a couple of nights."

"With the salon girl?" Carol asked. Yep, that was his mother. Straight to the point.

"Yes Mom, with Devon."

"Good for you son, it's good to see you happy." John Snr said. "Wine?" He asked as he pulled a bottle from his fridge.

"Sure. Thanks."

"So is it serious between you and this Devon then?" Carol asked. His mother also had a habit of liking to know what he was doing. He'd successfully been able to keep the casual ladies away from her view as they’d never crossed paths.  But now was different but he didn't care because he was serious about Devon.

"Yes, I am seeing her on a regular basis. I thought you liked her."

"I do like her, she runs a fabulous business but this is different. Just as long as she's not trying to screw you for money."

"Carol, stop being so judgemental." John Snr warned.

But Jon interjected. "Hardly. She's doing fine on her own, you know that Mom. She's different."

"Well she's not American." Carol pointed out the obvious.

"That's not what I meant. She’s really different.” Devon humbled him if he was completely truthful and reminded him that what he had was special and not normal to everyone else. And there was nothing wrong with that every once and awhile to keep him honest.

Carol paused and he knew the look well. It was the decision between another snarky comment and backing down. "Well we're here for a few days so I want the family to go out for dinner so you may as well invite her. I want to get to know her better if she's that important to you."

Jon winced. Devon would just love him now he could see it. "Sure mom. Just not Wednesday we have the Bradford benefit."

"Tuesday it is then. And tomorrow I'll go back and see her and book in this girl’s weekend I want to get arranged for the society. I've got a lunch and I want to discuss some fundraising ideas with you before we go back to the hotel."

"You know you guys are welcome to stay with me."

"We wouldn't want to get in the way." John Snr said as he handed Jon his wine and they both walked back into the living room.

"You wouldn't, we're both going to be busy and I can always stay at her place."

His Dad raised his eyebrows.

"What?"

"That serious huh?" He asked out of his mother's earshot.

Jon shrugged. "Yea. I love being with her. She's just got this energy about her and she's so real and keeps me grounded.”

"So, not a plastic Barbie?"

Jon snorted into his wine. "No, I meant real as in down to earth. And no, for the record she's not that at all. All nice and natural and curvy."

"Has she been married too?"

"No, she's had a serious relationship but that's it as far as I know. She's a little younger, mid-thirties."

"Oh I see." John Snr waggled his eyebrows.

"What? She's not that young, Jesus Pop."

"Nothing wrong with a younger model. Maybe I'm jealous." He teased his son as he elbowed her.

"Stop that now. It's not that young."

"But she's hot though right?"

Jon laughed and lifted his glass to his lips. "Oh yeah." The image of her naked body riding his on the boat would stay with him a long time.

His back pocket buzzed and he reached for the phone.

I'm having a hot bubble bath. Wish you were here. Dv x

He groaned and typed back, leaving out that his parents were here.

I really hate you. Fm my sore balls. Jx

He smirked and slid it back into his pocket. Life was good. Very good.

~

She woke in the morning and stretched with a smile on her face. She'd relaxed for a few hours and then cracked into some work before giving up last late night. Jon had called and begged her to stay at her place tonight since his parents were in town. It would be weird having him in her space but she wanted him to come. He was bringing dinner in around seven but before then she knew she had a big day ahead of her in the salon. They'd finalized the numbers and she knew what she needed to put the spa packages together and she had some marketing to think about.

She'd always been happy with how the salon performed, she always met her overheads and made a tidy profit but Jon was right in that she had so much more potential and now she was ready for it. He inspired her. She groaned as she rolled out of bed and headed into the shower.

By the time she arrived downstairs Jonathon had laid out a bagel and coffee for her on the counter.

"Well good morning princess." He grinned as he straightened his glasses and slid into the stool opposite where he'd laid out her breakfast.

She hopped onto the stool and took a long sip of her coffee and grinned broadly. "Good morning."  She purposely took another sip prolonging what Jonathan wanted.

"Dear god please stop smiling like that. You're going to make me sick."

She giggled and rested down her cup. "That obvious huh?"

"You're positively glowing. I may be jealous. So how was the weekend? I suppose he whisked you away on a private jet somewhere. Bermuda? Spain?"

"Not quite. Try a private yacht." There really was only one way that sounded but she didn't care.

"Good grief, you're serious?"

"Uh-huh. It was bliss." She sighed still remembering the smell of the ocean.

"Details woman!"

"There's not really many. We talked, ate, and spent a lot of time in bed." Her cheeks flushed slightly. The whole weekend really had been like a dream or something you watch in a movie.

"Of course." He wiggled his eyebrows.

"I love him."

Jonathan opened his mouth for she guessed a witty response but closed it again.

"God, you really are serious aren't you? Oh Dev."

She nodded. "Smitten."

He grinned leaning back and folded his arms. "I knew it. I just knew you would."

"I wanted to fight it. I really did. I still don't know where I fit into his world but something made me at least want to try."

"If it wasn't seven-am I'd be getting the champagne out the back chiller! Good for you Devon, your one of the sweetest people I know and I wanted you to let go like this."

"Thanks Jonathan. I didn't think I'd missed it this much but this is something completely different. When he kisses me the world just goes away."

Jonathan beamed. "Ohhh my girl is growing up!"

She traced her fingertip around the rim of the cup and paused.

"Ok...there’s a but isn’t there?” Jonathan led in.

"The weekend was great, no fabulous but he wants me to do his daughter's hair for her prom and on Wednesday night we're supposed to be going out to a public black-tie fundraiser."  Excitement had blinded her fear at the time of accepting his invitation. She reasoned at first that this event would be too much exposure for her but she'd tried to reason herself it would be ok. But she wasn’t having much success.

"Oh first public outing at the new mistress of JBJ. The pap’s are going to love you!"

She cringed. "I didn't think of it like that but you're probably right." Jon was a famous man and she was probably under-estimating the impact that was going to have on her and her life. When she'd left New Zealand, it had been unexpected and if she was honest she knew her parents would have been disappointed in her for doing so. Maybe she was living in denial that she'd never have to go back and face what she left behind. She’d kidded herself that she’d wait a year till things had settled down and then she’d go back, they’d understand if she explained.

A year had turned into five.

And no they wouldn’t understand. Not now.

The disappointment and the consequence of her actions were now irreversible.

Public exposure with a rock star wasn't exactly in the plan but it had been so long it had to be safe. In some ways it was like she'd won the lottery finding Jon, but a lottery of life rather than money. He'd opened her back up to the world and while that was scary, deep down it was exciting. It didn't hurt that his version of the world was somewhat different and brighter than most peoples.

"You're no ordinary lady Miss Devon, I insist you give me an hour in my chair and I'll transform you into something spectacular."

"You don't have to do that Jonathan, I'm sure I can manage something."

"Oh stop. Can't you just admit for a second this is exciting, glamorous, and glitzy and just roll with it. We will also need to get you a new dress! Yes!" He clapped his hands together and she shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"No, it's what I'm going to do with you. Tomorrow at lunch we go shopping for a dress. I think we need to go uptown for this." Jonathan's taste in clothes was impeccable and it didn't take much to know that from the cleanly pressed Armani or Boss shirts and designer frames he often wore.

"Ok, if it will stop you nagging." She was looking forward to it secretly. There was a world within a city right on her doorstep and she was on the verge of discovering it.

"You will be the belle of the ball. God, I'm so jealous! God knows who you'll meet there. Maybe Clooney. Oohhh or Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas."

She shrugged and smiled into her latte as he rolled his eyes. "Maybe you should be going on the date." She teased.

"Somehow I think he'd be disappointed. I don't put out as easily as you."

"You cheeky shit." She swiped for him but he bounced back.

Jonathan grinned victorious as a courier tapped on the door. "I'll get it. These will be the flowers for the amazing sex you had all weekend."

"Don't be ridiculous."

She popped off the seat while he attended the door and straightened herself up. She headed to the reception and checked her schedule for the day which evidently, was jam-packed.

"Jono? At two have you got time to sit down and go through some of the marketing copy for-" She stopped mid-sentence as Jonathan carried a huge bunch of Red Gerberas in.

"You're kidding me." Her face matched the flowers as he handed them to her and she read the card.

To match the shoes. Jx

"Oh dear god." He was a deliciously naughty man.

"Told you. What did the card say?"

She tucked it into her apron pocket. "Never you mind."

Jonathan winked and cleared away the coffee cups. "See, I knew it."

"Don't you have work to do?" The flowers were amazing and very unexpected. But then again that was becoming the theme of the relationship with Jon. She went from a well-planned cautious life in the real world and well, boring. This fairy-tale that was being dangled in front of her was too good to refuse.