Despite her annoyance at the delay, she couldn’t help but chuckle. Jon often referred to his estranged, soon-to-be ex-wife, Holly, by the nickname Annie Wilkes—the “hobbler” from Misery. The two of them had been living separate lives for years, but he had to maintain a certain air of business-as-usual with the family or she went off the rails—sometimes for days.
Don’t worry about the power, we’ll keep each other warm until it comes on, he added. Also, there are only supposed to be two chairs.
There were more updates as he covertly texted her while dealing with a situation that must have been severely taxing his patience, especially today.
Glad I’m not out at the house. Can’t run away on broken ankles ;-p
Have to keep reminding myself I’m doing this for the kids.
OK, I’m on my way.
Jon was patient, kind, and generous to her, and an utterly devoted father. Jessica had endured the entrances and exits of multiple stepfathers in her life and understood the emotional toll of divorce only too well. Her mother always swore that a new “beau” was the only way to truly move on. Hopefully, Annie would find someone soon.
While her phone was still plugged in, Jessica needed to let her mother know she’d arrived safely—or she’d no doubt have the Illinois Highway Patrol out looking for her. As she was texting to let her know the trip had been smooth, the apartment was amazing, and photos would have to wait until she could fully charge her phone, a new text alert pinged.
I’m here. Where are you?
Textbook Jon, Jessica thought as she opened the door and saw the warm, flickering light of a pillar candle set in a previously unnoticed alcove by the door. Three more candles lit the way from the breakfast bar to the living room, where a fire was already starting to heat the chilly room.
Jon met her at the bottom of the stairs, also candlelit, and took her newly purchased umbrella before greeting her with a long, passionate kiss. “Welcome home.”
The way he had transformed the cold, dark apartment in such a short time was nothing short of magic.
“Welcome home yourself,” she said, kissing him again.
“It’s been a long day,” they said simultaneously before laughing together.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to help,” Jon said, wiping a raindrop off her cheek. “I hated to miss it. Will you let me make it up to you?”
“I’ll think about it,” she teased him, taking in the bottle of champagne, two glasses, and what appeared to be half the takeout section of Whole Foods, all laid out on a blanket in front of the hearth.
“Let me start,” he said, removing her damp jean jacket, “by getting you out of these cold, wet clothes.” He moved on to her blouse, kissing her skin beneath each button as he unfastened it.
She shivered more from desire than cold, particularly after he unbuttoned her jeans, pushed them to the floor, and paused to admire the leopard-print bra and matching panties she’d bought in anticipation of this moment.
“My brilliant brunette bombshell.”
Jessica had grown up thinking she was merely ordinary, nice-enough looking but with nothing to make her stand out. In recent years, however, introversion and interminable hours had bred an aching loneliness that left her wondering if there was actually something inherently objectionable about her.
Until Jon came along and convinced her otherwise.
Instead of tearing off her panties and ravishing her, the next thing she knew he was wrapping her in a delightfully warm blanket he’d placed nearby.
“I’m starving,” he said, flashing a wry smile. “And if I had to wager a guess, you’re even hungrier.”
“Famished,” she said, her voice suddenly husky.
“Just how I like you,” he said, firelight sparkling in his eyes. He took her hand and led her to the picnic he’d created.
As they worked their way through a delicious hodgepodge of everything from cheese and crackers to lemon-herb salmon, they paused to make toasts to Jessica’s arrival in Chicago, to Jon’s great taste in apartments—and to their future together, both personally and professionally.
Jessica bit into a dark-chocolate-dipped strawberry and lifted her glass. “And here’s to attractive rental furniture.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Jon agreed, clinking her glass and looking around. “It’s nicer than I expected.”
“I guess I sort of assumed you were bringing your own furniture when you said you had the basics covered, though.”
“I thought I was,” he said, shaking his head. “Annie Wilkes definitely felt otherwise—strongly enough that she had her lawyer inform me. I decided to save my battles for something more valuable than a couch, some chairs, and a bed or two.”
“Are the kids doing okay?” Jessica asked, wishing her motive were entirely altruistic and not a slightly sneaky way to inquire about the guest bedroom setup.
“That’s what she was raging about today,” he said, his voice cracking a little. “She insists they won’t be staying overnight anywhere. Looks like I’m going to have to spend more time at the house than I expected, at least for the foreseeable future.”
“I want you to be there for them,” Jessica said. She should have felt worse about this development than she did. “Things will change once a judge realizes how wacko she is.”
Jon looked as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. “You’re so fucking awesome.”
She felt ever-so-slightly guilty about his grateful smile. “I know how important you are to your kids.”
“I have no idea how I could function without you,” he said, raising his glass. “To us.”
They toasted, kissed, and toasted again.
“I hope you didn’t have to run out of there empty-handed,” Jessica said. “Did you bring anything with you at all?”
“I have a few things in my car,” he said. “I’ll grab them later.”
“Oh shoot,” she said. “Where did you park?”
“In the lot.”
“You better move now. You’ll get towed.”
“Not from one of our spaces.”
“We
