Chapter 37

As they left the City behind them, Cilla watched Jon while he drove. She liked the way his biceps bunched and relaxed as he maneuvered the car through traffic. She walked her hand across the seat and rested it on his thigh, enjoying the way the muscles tightened when he slowed the car.

Laying her head back against the seat she closed her eyes. When she felt Jon’s hand cover hers she turned her head and smiled at him. They drove in silence for a while, neither feeling the need to fill the void, both comfortable enough with each other to enjoy the quiet.

When they crossed over into New Jersey, Cilla looked over at Jon, “where are you taking me?” Jon just smiled, “you’ll see.” He hoped the shore would be quiet, that there wouldn’t be many people about. He wanted some quiet time with Cilla, wanted to steep himself in her and not worry about who might be taking his picture or who might want him to sign his name on yet another piece of paper. He sighed; he couldn’t remember the last time he wanted to get lost with someone, when he didn’t want to be so recognizable.

Glancing over at Cilla his heart tripped. It’s different with her. So different from what he had once had with Dorothea. He had loved Dot with a fierceness he thought you could only feel when you fall that first time. They had shared so much, yet it hadn’t been enough. She was as intense and independent as he was and while they had been good for a while, they eventually burned each other out.

He caressed the back of Cilla’s hand with his thumb, he loved her but it hadn’t bowled him over like it had with Dorothea. It had crept up on him, snuck up on him when he wasn’t paying attention and all of a sudden, there it was, as different as night and day from what he had once had.

Cilla was different from Dot, so it only made sense he guessed, that loving her should be different too. Yes, she was a fan, but that didn’t even bother him, probably because she hadn’t reacted to him like some fans he met; she didn’t scream, didn’t yell, there was no ‘Oh My God you’re…”. He smiled; she had sputtered and dribbled iced tea down her chin.

He shook his head at the memory. She was just an average, normal, everyday woman and she seemed totally unaffected by his celebrity. She had handled the photographers as well as could be expected that night they went to dinner, and even when he had given her the option of walking away from him, she didn’t. She wanted to be with him. He looked over at her, she loved him.

Parking the car he brought her fingers to his lips, kissing the tip of each before releasing it. Cilla looked over at him, “those must be some pretty serious thoughts to have a face on like that.” An easy smile slid across his lips, “just thinking about you Sweets.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid across the seat to him, “you’re thinking about me and look like that, makes me wonder what I did to piss you off.”

He unbuckled his own seatbelt and opened the door, dragging her out with him, “I’m not pissed off Sweets,” he smiled “far from it. Come on, let’s take a walk.”

They walked the boardwalk, enjoying the late May sunshine. Jon tugged her to a stop at one of the carnival games, one that he could never pass by. He tossed the three footballs through the arms of the cardboard football player and won Cilla a pink teddy bear that sported a plastic jeweled crown. “I’ll have to find a special spot for her in my shop.” Jon’s eyebrow rose, “her?” Cilla took his offered hand and nodded, “well sure, do you think a pink bear could be a he?” Jon shook his head and laughed at her logic and led her on down the boardwalk.

Stopping for an ice cream Jon looked around, pleased that they were almost the only ones out that day; the kids were still in school, adults were working. Once summer got into full swing though, he wouldn’t be able to walk so freely here. He almost frowned as he realized how much he missed just being able to do things like this. How long had it been since he had been able to be out like this and just enjoy doing something as inane as buying his girl an ice cream and winning her a pink teddy bear? She made him want to find a way to be able to do things like this with her.

Together they headed down onto the beach and walked and licked at their cones. They walked, the soft, sun-warmed sand spilling over the tops of their shoes. Finding a quiet spot they sat and finished their ice cream. Cilla looked up and down the beach, “where is everyone?”

Jon crunched on the last of his cone, “most kids are still in school and people do work you know.” She nudged him with her shoulder, “I know that, but I figured there’d be some people here at least.” Jon twirled a lock of her hair with his fingers, “I’m glad there aren’t. It’s nice with no crowds.”

Turning her head she looked at Jon as he watched the waves lapping up on the sand. He had seemed distracted; she wondered if they really should have played hooky today. She laid her head on his shoulder, “I’ll miss you.” He kissed her head, “I’ll miss you too, but we’ve still got the rest of today and tomorrow.” She lifted her head and pressed her lips to his, “so let’s not waste it.”

He pressed her back, laying her down on the warm sand, the slow burn of passion raging higher, hotter as their mouths came together. His hands moved over her, tugging at buttons, pushing at her clothes, eager to feel her smooth skin beneath him. When they rolled again and she rose over him, the realization of where they were hit him. He sat up, keeping her in his lap, “I’m sorry Sweets.” She wrapped her arms around him, “don’t apologize Jon. We both got carried away.” He stood, bringing her with him, “come on, I know where we can go.”

He was walking so fast Cilla practically had to run to keep from being dragged along. “Where are we going?” He slowed long enough to look back at her, “somewhere a lot more private.”