Grabbing her clutch off the dresser Cilla looked at herself one last time. She still wasn’t sure her white ruffle front blouse and white linen trousers were quite right, but it was all she had brought with her.
Coming down the stairs she saw Jon waiting for her by the door. The sun had put a little light in his hair and it was bit shaggier now. In need of a trim, the ends curled over the collar of his white button down. She felt infinitely better about her outfit when she noticed the tails of his shirt hanging over his dark jeans.
Jon looked up and smiled. The white of her blouse stood out against the bit of tan she had managed to get. “You look great Sweets.”
She tucked her bangs behind her ear, coming to stand in front of him. “Thanks. Are the kids all settled?”
He pressed a light kiss to her forehead; “they’re fine. Steph and Jess are in their rooms and Jake and Romeo pretty much told me to get lost, they’re watching a movie.”
Cilla smiled and took his offered hand, “sounds like typical kids to me.”
“Yeah” he sighed as he led her out of the house and helped her into the car. “There used to be a time when they actually didn’t want me to go out. It used to be a fight to get out the door some nights.”
She was quiet for a moment, not sure what to say. She didn’t have any experience with this type of situation. Resting her hand on his thigh, she absently rubbed the denim-clad muscle with her thumb. “I’m sure they’ve just come to realize that this is a part of your life. They miss you, but they know you have to go so they don’t make a big deal out of it anymore.”
He covered her hand with his giving it a light squeeze, “thank you.” He didn’t say anymore, didn’t need to. She understood. He didn’t know how, but she did and that surprised and pleased him.
He cleared his throat, “you ready for tonight?”
She turned in her seat slightly, “I think so. I don’t really have a choice though, do I?”
He chuckled, “I could turn the car around.”
“Okay," she said a little too eagerly, "where do you want to go?”
He laced their fingers together, “relax Sweets. It won’t be that bad.”
She nearly snorted. “Easy for you to say, your life is already on display. Mine isn’t, yet.”
Jon maneuvered the car along the drive, up to the line for the valet, “at least out here the photographers aren’t as eager to eat you alive as they are in the City.”
She made a face, “oh goody.”
Turning to glance out the window Cilla was awed by the sheer enormity of the house they were coming up on. The Tuscan Villa made Jon’s house look like a shack by comparison. The creamy, was that stucco? she wouldn’t be sure until she was closer, was set off by dark trim and she counted three chimneys as they approached. The grounds were immaculate and she could only imagine what the inside must look like.
When they stopped Jon helped her from the car and they approached the entryway. There was a spot for the guests to stop for a photo op and there were only a few photographers on hand. Cilla breathed a sigh of relief after their picture was snapped and no questions were asked. She only grimaced slightly when Kenny Alphin and then Carey Elwes wanted a picture with them.
As they moved into the house Kenny slapped Jon on the shoulder, “who is this little lovely on your arm tonight and how did you convince her to be seen with your ugly mug man?”
Jon took the ribbing good naturedly, “this, my friend, is my girlfriend, cake decorator extraordinaire, Cilla Preston.”
Cilla flushed slightly at his introduction.
“And Cilla,” he took her hand, “this is Big Kenny Alphin, one half of the group…” she interrupted him, “Big and Rich.” She pulled her hand from Jon’s and took Kenny’s, “it’s nice to meet you.”
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it lightly, “it’s a pleasure.” He kept her hand in his and started to walk, “do you really decorate cakes Cilla?”
She nodded as they made their way through the living room. “Yes, I do, but not just cakes. I run my own bakery/pastry shop in Soho. Cilla ~ Queen of Tarts.”
Before they could step out onto the party deck, Jon snagged her hand from Kenny’s, “hey man," he gave Kenny a playful shove "get your own girl, this one’s mine.”
Once they stepped outside, Cilla’s laughter caught in her throat and she struggled not to stare.
The white tent took up a major portion of the immaculately manicured yard that was just beyond the deck and pool. She was sure a three ring circus could have fit under it, it was that big. The wooden deck could have been teak, she wasn’t sure and it surrounded a crystal clear pool that had baskets of flowers at the corners, along the sides, and a spa pool in the middle. There had to be a hundred people milling about and more people were still coming.
Keeping her hand firmly in his, Jon skirted the crowd and tugged her around the edge of the deck, down two small steps and under the massive white tent. He led her straight to the bar, sliding his arm around her shoulders as he tried to get the bartender’s attention. "What would you like?"
“Reisling” she said absently as she looked around, trying to take it all in.
Handing Cilla her glass he picked up his own and urged her away from the bar ahead of him. They found their table and Jon was almost immediately caught up in a conversation.
That's how it would go the entire evening. It seemed Jon could carry on a conversation with anyone, doctor, lawyer, layman, it didn't matter. He found some common ground with everyone. She liked that. She liked that he introduced her to everyone too. He could have left her to fumble along on her own, but he didn't. He made sure to include her. Several people even asked for her business card. Luckily she had a few with her.
After dinner they made their way back across the beautiful deck and into the house, after stopping to study the signed guitars that were up for auction in the living room. They wandered the house, checking out the multitude of rooms. Off of each bedroom upstairs was a balcony. Stepping out onto one they could look over the entire backyard. Dark had settled and the torches and lights had been lit, giving the yard a soft orangey glow. Jon tugged Cilla to the far side of the balcony, away from the group that had gathered there. "You're good at this Sweets." He tucked her hair behind her shoulder, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
She turned her head, kissing his palm, "good at what? Making small talk with people I don't know?"
Leaning an elbow on the railing he tugged her closer, trailing his fingers up and down her arm. "I watched you tonight Cil. You worked that crowd as well as I did. And don't think I didn't see you passing out those business cards too."
She moved closer to him, her shoulder nestled against his chest as she leaned against the railing. "They were only interested in me because I was with you. I'll be surprised if any of them actually call."
He pressed a kiss to the side of her head, inhaling her sweet scent. She really didn't know the effect she had on people. "They'll call Cil. You'll see."
They stood and watched the crowd below for a moment longer. He was ready to be done, ready to get them out of there, to get her alone. He had enough of schmoozing and being around all these people. He pushed away from the railing, taking her hand and dragging her with him. "Come on, let's get out of here."
He led her back down the stairs and out the front door, never letting go of her hand until the valet had pulled his car up and he had her settled inside.
*The link above for the Tuscan Villa is not spam, it is pictures of the house and from the actual event that Jon attended last summer.
Chapter 67
Chapter 66
The pop of a plastic bat meeting a plastic ball mixed with a child’s shout of glee greeted Cilla as she stepped out onto the porch. Jon was standing in the middle of the wide expanse of grass playing baseball with his boys.
Romeo was standing on first base, his face a mask of delight at having hit the ball. Jake was standing at home plate, plastic bat in hand, waiting for his father to toss the ball to him. “Nice job Ro” he called out to his brother. "Come on dad, throw the ball!"
As she watched Jon with his boys a pang of bittersweet longing filled her heart; she would never know this kind of unconditional love. No! She shook her head. I’m not going think about what I can never have. She looked over at Jon and smiled, she would dwell on what she did have.
Jon turned his head; he could feel her eyes on him. He smiled and winked at her before turning back to the game. Tossing the ball to Jake, his laugh mingled with Jake’s shout of “yea!” when the ball was hit right back at him and he dropped it.
Tearing her attention away from the game, Cilla set her laptop on the table and sat down.
“Hi Cilla.”
Startled, she turned, surprised to see Steph lying on the chaise. “Hi Stephanie, it’s nice to see you again. How are you?”
Steph smiled, “I’m fine.” She went back to the fashion magazine she was thumbing through.
Cilla sighed and opened her laptop, rubbing absently at her back as she waited for the computer to boot up. She might as well get a little work done.
Jon looked over to the porch. Cilla was clicking away at her computer, the screen shielding part of her face. She could have easily passed for one of Steph’s friends. Her hair had been pulled into a ponytail high on her head and her tank top and shorts were much like what his daughter had on today. Although his thoughts toward Cilla were anything but fatherly.
His gaze slid across to his daughter, she was stretched out reading a magazine. At least she was outside. Jesse, he was sure, was holed up in his room in front of his computer or whatever video game he was into at the moment.
“Hey!” he called out. “Do you two wanna help me out over here? These guys are kicking my butt!”
Cilla looked over at Stephanie, “what do you think?”
Steph looked out at her father and brothers then smiled conspiratorially at Cilla. “I think we can take all three of them,” she held out her hand to Cilla, “come on.”
By the time Jo came out with their lunch Jesse had joined them and Cilla, Jake and Steph were behind by one run. Cilla swung the bat and missed. Jon waited while she retrieved the ball. "Thanks for the breeze babe." Smiling, he wiped his arm across his forehead. "We needed that; it's a bit warm out here today."
Cilla threw the ball at him, "stuff it Bongiovi and give me a pitch I can hit!"
The kids were all laughing and Jon just raised his eyebrows at her, "tsk, tsk, that's not very sportsmanlike Sweets."
She stuck her tongue out at him and took a practice swing, "just throw the ball."
The bat connected with the ball this time and whizzed past Jon's head and somehow landed right in Romeo's hands.
"You're out!" Jon laughed.
Cilla frowned, "I see that." She turned her attention to Romeo, "nice catch bud."
He beamed at her, "thanks!"
After they put the baseball paraphernalia away Jon hoisted Romeo up to his shoulders and led the group up to the porch for lunch.
Jake and Romeo chattered all through lunch about what they wanted to do while they were with their father. “Dad,” Jake asked, “can we go to the beach after lunch?”
While the guys headed to the beach, Cilla and Steph lingered on the porch. Stephanie set her magazine down and sighed. She still wished her mom and dad could have stayed together. She looked over at Cilla. At least she’s nice. She hadn’t tried to force herself on them either. Thank God.
The last woman her dad had been with had been all honey, sweetie, let’s do this, let’s do that together, come on, it’ll be so much fun. Steph shuddered just thinking about it. She hadn’t really been in to her dad either. She just wanted to be with him so she could say she was with him.
Cilla, though, she seemed more like her mother in some respects. She just wanted to be with her dad because she liked being with him, not because of who he was. She stood and moved over by Cilla, she hadn’t seen her dad look at anyone the way he looked at Cilla either. And she made him happy. If her mom and dad couldn’t be together anymore he should at least be able to be happy with someone else. Shouldn’t he?
“What are you working on?”
Cilla looked up, surprised to see Steph standing there, “the design for a cake, a surprise for your dad; and a surprise for Richie for his birthday.”
Steph smiled. “A surprise for dad, can I see?”
Cilla pulled out the chair next to her, smiled and angled her laptop so Steph could see, “just don’t tell your dad what I’m doing.”
~
When Jon got back he found Cilla in his bedroom, stretched out across the bed, asleep. He hated to wake her but they were going to need to get ready for that dinner tonight. Creeping up on the bed he gently pulled her hair away from her face and stroked her cheek lightly with his fingers.
Today had been a good day. The kids seemed to really like Cilla; even Romeo had warmed up to her. He wanted her to stick around, maybe even for the long haul and that couldn’t happen if his kids didn’t like her. They may not love her yet, but at least they liked her. That was a start.
He stroked her cheek again. “Sweets.”
Her eyelids fluttered open. “Oh you’re back.”
He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers. “How long have you been asleep?”
She rolled and stretched to look at the clock, “an hour. We have to get ready, don’t we?”
He pulled her against him, “in a few minutes.” He kissed her again.
She pressed back from him, “you’re all gritty. You need a shower.”
He laughed and rolled off the bed, pulling her with him, “come on, you can wash my back for me.”
Chapter 65
Opening her eyes, Cilla let them roam over the man sleeping on her left. He had been so patient with her over the last couple of days putting up with all of her past bullshit. He could have told her to just get over him and let it go already, but he hadn’t. He had taken the time to plan such an intimate, unforgettable night for her, to show her what his words alone couldn’t.
He never failed to surprise her.
She stroked her fingers lightly over the tattoo on his shoulder. He’d made her feel so special as they lingered over their dinner. They had sipped the most delicious champagne, curled up together on the chaise and watched the stars come out. She couldn't remember feeling more content or more loved.
Her fingers walked from his shoulder to his chest as she mused, trailing through the healthy smattering of hair that was now more silver than dark. She wondered, as her hand wandered, if he would ever understand just what last night had meant to her. She glanced at the clock on his bedside table. They still had a couple of hours until the kids arrived. She smiled, maybe she could show him.
His hand covered hers. "What are you smiling about?" His voice was hoarse with sleep as he opened his eyes and reached for her.
She moved closer, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "I was just thinking about last night."
"Yeah?" He pulled her on top of him, his hands sliding under the silky pink nightie she wore.
She nodded her head as his hands roamed over her butt, caressing her lower back. "It was the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me."
“Stick with me and you may find more of them in your future.”
Smiling, she pressed her lips to his chest. "Promises, promises.”
He pushed her up until she straddled his hips, “you doubting me?” He shifted his hips groaning as he moved. He could feel her heat even through the sheet that separated them.
She shook her head and her fingers danced across his chest and down along his sides. “Nope, I just don’t want you to think I expect that kind of treatment; because I don’t.”
He dragged his eyes up to her face; her eyes were clear and playful this morning. “I know you don’t, Sweets.” His hands slid along her hips and down her thighs, his fingers curled inward, stroking lightly up the inside of her thighs, to the crease where hip and thigh came together. “That’s why I do them. Keeps you on your toes.”
She closed her eyes. She didn’t want to talk anymore. “I love you Jonny,” she whispered as she leaned down, pressing her mouth to his, tracing his full lower lip with her tongue.
She skated across his jaw, the stubble scraping her lips as she went. With every pass of her lips against his hair-roughened face and neck she could feel his cock growing harder and pressing against her.
Sliding lower, she took the sheet with her as she went. Her mouth and hands played over him, touching, tasting, teasing each bit of him she revealed.
Her warm breath and light touch had Jon shifting restlessly. When her tongue stroked over the hard length of him he couldn’t quite hold back the groan. “Jesus Cil.” She only smiled and moved on, nibbling along the inside of this thigh before coming back to stroke him again with her tongue. “Are you going to tease me all morning?” he growled when she did it once more.
She looked up at him, his eyes were closed and his nostrils flared with each inhale. Taking him in her hand she stroked him lightly. “I could if you want me to,” she teased.
His eyes flew open and his hands reached for her. “It’s not nice to tease.” Grabbing a fistful of pink silk, he dragged her up, trapping her hands as he rolled her over. “Two can play this game,” he told her with a leer as he nuzzled into her neck.
Playfulness ebbed and passion flowed. His hands seemed to be everywhere and his mouth... oh God his mouth was hot and wet and hungry as it cruised over her. She struggled to free her hands, wanting to touch, to hold to please. His mouth found the underside of her breast, his whiskers tickling as his mouth incited. When he took her taut nipple into his mouth she arched up, silently pleading for more.
Freeing her hands they slid over his smooth shoulders, down along his arms, anywhere she could reach. Her hips cradled him, undulated against him. She could feel the swollen tip of him pressing against that little bundle of nerves, teasing her unmercifully and damn it if he wasn’t doing it on purpose.
Shifting under him again she could feel him poised right there, hovering, waiting. And he called her a tease. “Damn it Jon.”
He looked down at her, “I told you before, it’s not nice to tease.”
She tightened her grip on his hips and pushed his shoulders, flipping him under her. “I’m done teasing,” she told him as she took him inch by tantalizing inch, slowly sinking down until their bodies met.
Leaning forward her hair surrounded them like a curtain and she purred out her delight in finally having him where she wanted him. She lapped at a nipple as she rocked her hips, rubbing herself against him.
“I thought you were done teasing,” he ground out as he pressed her up. She moved, slowly at first, then faster as his hands moved over her. Agile fingers found her clit and had her shuddering with the first touch. He waited her out, holding her as the storm passed. Sitting up, he held her close and lowered her to the bed, driving into her with the need of a man possessed, holding back nothing, giving her everything.
Hearts still thundering, he found the energy to move. They lay next to each other, their fingers laced together between them. Cilla managed to turn her head and look at the clock. She winced. “When will the kids be here?”
Jon shrugged his shoulder. “Not sure, eleven or so. Why?”
She brought their entwined hands to her mouth, kissing his fingers, “we need to get dressed.”
