Chapter Twelve: We're Having a Party

"I'm telling you, its dangerous letting me cook. You like charcoal burgers, right?" Devon flipped a burger over on the grill and reached for her wine glass. She was possibly the worst cook she knew. She never had the knack or the urge to cook at home and she pretty useless when she did. They were set up nicely on the deck with two bottles of wine on ice and she was in an apron assisting Patti cook dinner. Bruce and Jon had disappeared to look at something in Bruce's studio and would join them soon. Patti was right though, watching them both talk about music had been fascinating and when they got going the girls may as well not have been in the room.

"Relax. Anyone can cook a burger you're doing fine Darlin'." She arranged the salads and plates onto the large oak table that stretched out under the deck. The sun's orange and red bands had melted into the river which left a dusky spring haze hanging in the air making it a perfect night for alfresco dining.

"This is really beautiful. You guys have such a wonderful home."

Patti smiled. "Aw thanks Darlin, I like it too and you're always welcome here, Devon."

She was serious and Devon didn't know if she deserved the warmth that she was giving her. She'd only just met the woman but she and Bruce had both made it easy to make you love them instantly. "Thank you. I hope, well Jon and I-" She bit her lip nervously.

Patti smiled warmly. "You're good for him you know."

Devon raised her brow. "Excuse me? I mean, how? We've only-"

"I can tell." Patti interrupted you’ve got a calm energy about you and Jon needs someone like that."

"Well thanks." I certainly don't feel calm when I'm around him. "Did you know his wife?"

Patti nodded and tossed one of the salads. "Yes, I did. She is a nice woman and she was very strong minded. A little like Jon. They just were too strong minded for each other but their kids are awesome. You'll get to meet them one day if you haven't already."

"Oh I don't know about that, we've only started to see each other. He's not thinking about that."

"You don't see the way he looks at you? Looks for you the minute he walks into the room?" Patti didn't hide the knowing smile as she dusted off her hands. "There I think we're almost ready. How's the meat looking?"

Devon didn't move. How did he look at her? His stare was completely something else but how could he even look at her that way? It had been three dates. "Uh yeah-oh crap!" She quickly flipped the burgers as they started to smoke or they really would end up as char grill.

Patti bustled in. "Here, let me. You have another sip of wine and then can you lay the plates out for me. Sorry, I didn't mean to get you flustered."

Devon brought her hands to her cheeks and took a deep breath. "You didn't. God, you must think I'm an idiot. I do really like Jon but he's so different and really intense. I just don't know if I'm ready for that."

Patti chased the meat around the grill with her tongs and piled it onto a plate. "The fame thing? Or have had a bad experience in the past? It's not my business and I'd never ask you as that would be rude. But I can tell you, Jon is a good man and he takes what he wants very seriously. He won't hurt you."

It's not him I'm worried about.

She downed her glass and topped it up again. Patti was sweet and honestly she'd probably understand where Devon had come from but she wasn't going there. She couldn't. "I know. I just need to relax and enjoy Jon and not over-analyse it. I tend to do that a lot."

"That a girl. Right, you want to call in the men or should I?" Patti asked over her shoulder.

"No need." The voice from behind startled her and Devon squealed as an arm snaked around her from behind. Warm breath tickled down the column of her neck that made her toes curl. "We're back." She clutched his hand at her belly and he swayed her lifting her momentarily off her feet.

"How much whiskey you have had?"

"Just one, maybe two. Mmm." His nose pressed into her neck. "You smell so sweet." Patti had gone back inside to collect Bruce so she wriggled around in Jon's embrace. His face was relaxed and his eyes sparkled with something she wanted to taste.

"Jon." Her palms slid up his chest as she melted into him. Their teeth clicked and they met in a slow burning kiss. "Thank you for bringing me here." It meant a lot to her being somewhere with two incredible people that were his friends. She felt right at home and didn't realize how much she'd missed company like this.

"Right kids... Dinners up. I should probably separate you two. This one's hard to control when he's a horn dog." Bruce wiggled his eyebrows as he elbowed Jon in the ribs.

Devon burst out laughing as Jon wound his arms tighter around her. "Jon. Jesus maybe you don't need any wine."

"He may not but you might, we've decided what you're singing for us later pretty girl." Bruce slid into his chair at the table.

"You didn't! I can't sing!" Jon pulled away from her and laughed as her eyes widened in horror.

"Jonny and are all ready to go on chords for you."

"Well, that's fine." She winked at Patti. "But if I have to sing you should have to do something for me."

"Oh there it is!" Bruce clapped his hands together. "Watch this one Jonny. She's all sweet and innocent but underneath she's a hard woman. Alright, I can strike a deal but I'm not having one of those fancy pants treatment deals."

Devon laughed. "I wouldn't make you do that, although I do cater for all types. It's not just women you know, I could take years off you."

Bruce rested his hands on his hips and shock registered on his face. "You calling me old?"

"Behave." Patti playfully hit his arm. "Don't pay any attention to him and this is why we don't drink much."

"God, no that's not what I meant-you're I mean-" She pursed her lips and paused when she realized she was being played. "That's not nice."

He shrugged. "I'm not a nice guy. Now come, sit down and we can all eat."

Devon slid into the seat next to Jon and flattened her napkin out on her lap. "What?" The smirk hadn't disappeared from his face in over two minutes and she was beginning to get worried.

Jon poured himself a glass of wine and raised his eyebrows. "Oh, just that I bring you out to my friends and you're already causing all sorts of problems."

She narrowed her eyes and picked up her wine glass. "I get the distinct feeling I'm being picked on here. It's alright, you'll keep."

"You're definitely not getting laid tonight Jonny B."

"Bruce!" Patti warned but it was too late, her cheeks burned as the table burst into laughter.

"Ignore my husband."

"It's fine really." She smiled as Jon topped her glass up and leaned in and his lips brushed her cheek. "Are you trying to get me drunk?"

"No doubt about it and I knew you'd like them."

"So Devon, from New Zealand. What do you think about living in America? Is it any different than back home?" Bruce asked as he rested his arms on table as they passed around the bowls of salad and platters of meat.

"Well yes and no. We're pretty Americanized at home but things are just on a much bigger scale here. Everything's bigger, faster, and maybe in the beauty is lost that way but I still think there is a lot of beauty in New York City."

"Well said. Do you ever think you'll go back?"

Devon shifted in her seat and cleared her throat. "Sure, maybe one day but right now I'm pretty comfortable here and the clinic is doing well. I'm very lucky and have many more ideas to expand the business, thanks to Jon."

"She's going to give me the grand tour one day and you're right. New York is a little like Los Angeles, you really have one shot to make it and if you play your cards right it could just be everything you ever dreamed."

Devon wished it was that simple that Jon and her could wind up back in New Zealand. She would have loved nothing more than to take him around where she grew up and out around the Canterbury plains and surrounding areas the countryside was phenomenal. That wasn't her reality though. Could Jon really be her new one? She was starting to hope so.

"Well said Jonny B. Time for a toast." Bruce raised his glass and shushed everyone. “To friends, old and new." He threw a wink Devon's way. "And may Devon find the strength to put up with Jon as I haven't found a woman yet that has."

"Amen." Jon chimed in as he clicked glasses with him. He took a sip and then pointed at him. "Maybe it's actually my friends they don't like." Another round of laughter filled the air.

"So how long have you known each other?" Devon asked.

Jon leaned back and raked his hand through his hair. "Jeeze, god I was about sixteen when I used to watch Bruce perform with Southside Jonny at Asbury Park and then we used to run into each other down at the Fast lane a few years later."

"And I tell you what Devon, he was every much a pain in the ass back then as he is now. But we did let him up on stage a few times and he got the taste for it. The rest I guess is history."

Devon laughed and watched as old friends did what old friends did the best, teased the holy hell out of each other. She'd missed this, just kicking back with people and talking about life and relaxing.

~

After dinner she helped Patti clear away the dishes and then they all sat out on the deck in the balmy wind with a hint that summer was on its way. Rustic pillar candles on wrought iron candle holders flickered around them as wine bottle after wine bottle melted away. Crickets chirped over the river along with the buzz of laughter and chatter from the deck.

"C'mere." Jon patted his knee as she walked back out onto the deck.

She narrowed her eyes and nodded towards his glass. "Whiskey huh?" His eyes were soft and glassy and his lopsided grin, devastatingly cute. She slid onto his knee and his arm snaked around her waist to cinch her in.

"Taste me and find out."

She leaned forward and their mouths met. The dark flavour of whiskey stung her lips as his tongue slipped in and tasted her. She moaned and slid her hand up around his neck.

"Hey none of that now kids, we're just getting started. You can do that when you go home but now-" He patted the black acoustic guitar that was slung over him. "We sing."

Devon buried her face in Jon's shoulders. "Oh god, he's not serious."

"Devon my little cupcake. It's a rite of passage. Anyone new in my house has to sing. C'mon, anyone can sing better than us right now." Bruce stood there defiant and she wanted to die.

She sat up and shook her head. "I can't sing. Seriously."

"Nonsense. Everyone can sing." He strummed a couple of times. "You'll know this one.”

Tonight you're mine completely
You give you love so sweetly

"C'mon you know this one."

Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
But will you love me tomorrow?

"I don't know it." She rolled her teeth over her lip. Holy god no.

"Liar, now come and stand here, and now imagine this is the stage and this is your audience." Bruce spread his arms out wide to indicate the "stage" or what was the front of the deck.

"Oh dear god." She didn't have a moment more to think about it as he leaned forward and pulled her up off Jon's lap. It may as well been a stage of fifty thousand people with the amount of nerves bubbling inside her. Jon laughed and clapped his hands together clearly not about to come to her rescue.

She picked up her wine and downed the rest. Call it liquid courage but she pointed at Bruce and then Jon.

"He's right, you're not getting laid after this."

Bruce bellowed and Patti giggled. His strong arm came around her shoulders and he squeezed tightly. "Oh, I definitely like you."

"Well are we doing this thing or what?" She rested her hands on her hips.

Bruce grinned broadly. "You betcha. Okay, one, two and a three..."

She took a deep breath and shot Jon a look. Well here goes nothing.

Is this a lasting treasure
Or just a moment's pleasure?
Can I believe the magic of your sighs?
Will you still love me tomorrow?

"Yes!" Patti and Jon clapped as her and Bruce managed the verse. Holy crap, the fact she was singing for start but singing with the boss, but she soon forgot about that as Patti and Jon joined in for the rest.

Tonight with words unspoken
You say that I'm the only one
But will my heart be broken
When the night meets the morning sun?

I'd like to know that your love
Is love I can be sure of
So tell me now, and I won't ask again
Will you still love me tomorrow?

She blew out her breath and brought her hand to her chest as the song ended. She had to admit she hadn't had this much fun in a long time. "Oh my god." She laughed as Jon poured them all fresh glasses of wine.

"Welcome to the club. See you can sing and the night has only just begun." Like the true Jersey Devil he was Bruce lined up the next song with Jon and the girls watched them take on Elvis and then the Beatles. It was surreal but it was so much fun.

It was three am when the town car rolled back up to her building in Soho. Jon took her hand and kissed it.

"I'll see you to the door."

"Are you sure? You're drunk." She giggled as he rolled his head back against the seat.

"Yup but so are you baby." He leaned in and cupped the back of her head and dragged her in for a fierce kiss. She was drunk and god knows how she was going to drag her ass down to work tomorrow by seven. Jonathan wasn't opening tomorrow either, she was! He took her hand out of the car and they both stumbled to her door. She fumbled for her keys reaching into her purse and paused. "I had a really fun night Jon."

He grinned. "I know, I loved how well you got on with my friends." He rested a hand at each side of her head against the door and his forehead on hers. "So,is this goodnight or am I telling the driver to drive away?"

Her eyes met his and her heart pounded hard in her chest. She wanted him. There was no doubt in her mind that she wanted him and his hands all over her. The intensity of his kiss and the way he was with her scared her what that sex with him would actually do to her. But what was worse was she knew once she did. It would be bloody hard to go back.

She ran the pad of her finger over his lips and smiled. "I want you to come in, I do."

"But-"

She sighed. "God Jon, I've never met anyone like you and I'm having so much fun with you and I want-" She sucked at this and she knew it.

"Shh, it's ok." He pressed his thumb against her lips and leaned in. "its ok Dev. I'll wait. I'm telling you though it won't be for long as I want you but I'll wait." His lips barely brushed against hers. "I didn't expect to like you so much. But I do."

"Gee thanks."


Warmth melted in his gaze. "You know what I mean. I don't fall for women easily, hell at all."

She swallowed. He was falling for her? Sweet baby Jesus. "I know, and I don't either. Men that is." She quickly corrected.

His fingers slid around her neck. "I would love nothing than to come in with you right now and taste every inch of your skin." The tips of his fingers tangled in the ends of her hair. "Spend the entire night making you cum." He flicked at the end of her hair and whispered. "Again and again."

Her toes curled and her belly bottomed out. She was seconds away from giving in to him. His hot breath buzzed against her skin and the weight of him against her was making it difficult to say no.
"But I'm going to go this time. Sweet dreams, Devon." His lips crashed on hers and her back pressed against the door. She took a taste of what could be as her hand slid down his chest and she clutched his shirt in her hand. He groaned into her mouth and his hand softly cupped her breast.

Oh god, oh god. He pulled back, grinned and turned towards the car. She found her keys and unlocked the door and quickly closed it behind her. She leaned back, safe in her stairwell and slid down the wall until her heart steadied. Holy crap. She was in serious trouble.