Chapter 4

Brianna checked her briefcase one last time to make sure she had everything, reread the directions for the hundredth time and headed for her car. A glance at her watch assured her she had plenty of time to get to Red Bank.

By the time she pulled up to the gate, she was angry, frustrated...and glad she’d given herself lots of extra time to get there. But she really needed to find an alternate route. As much as she loved the Eagles and the song, she never wanted to see Seven Bridges Road again!  She hated driving in circles. If she had to do that again she might well jump off the Brooklyn Bridge!

She announced herself and when the gates opened, drove through and parked near the French Chateau style house. As soon as she stepped out of the car she was met by a shaggy medium sized dog that looked to be some sort of cross between a Rottweiler and a Shepherd. She reached down to pet him. “Hello Copper. How are you?”

Brianna fell against the car under the weight of the furry body suddenly leaning on her legs, his tail thumping rhythmically against the metal. Panting in the heat, a big pink tongue licked her hand and he leaned even more heavily against her.

“Easy boy, don’t knock me over!” She laughed and patted his side. While she ruffled the dog’s fur, she took the opportunity to glance around the vicinity. From where she stood she could see part of the Pub and the guest house. She guessed the studio was further down the drive.

Easing away from Copper, she headed for the house. The door opened before she could knock, the dark haired woman standing there snapped her back into professional mode. “Hello Mrs. Bongiovi, I’m Brianna Prentiss.”

Dorothea accepted the outstretched hand, a smile curving her lips, amusement sparkling in her dark eyes as she gave the woman in front of her the once over. Jon had definitely understated her attractiveness. I knew it! The yellow linen suit accented the auburn highlights in the tightly coiled tresses and brought attention to the unusual colour of her eyes. The sleeveless jacket hugged her curves and the skirt revealed slender, toned legs that drew a man’s eye – and sent his blood much lower down his body – despite the modest, just above the knee hemline. “Come on in. And please call me Dorothea....or Dot.” She glanced down and sighed. “I see you met our fierce guard dog. Are you coming in or staying out Copper?”

The dog ran through the doorway and disappeared into the house.

Brianna stepped inside and glanced around the large foyer. Movement on the stairs had her glancing up to see a boy, who looked to be about ten years old, descending, a video game in his hand.

Dorothea noted him as well. “This is our oldest son Jesse. Jesse come say hello to Brianna. She’s Dad’s new assistant.”

“Hi.” Jesse didn’t even pause or look up from his game.

Dorothea rolled her eyes and shook his head. “Sorry.”

But Brianna waved aside the apology. “I can hardly compete with a video game....especially at his age.”

“Give him a few years.” Dorothea agreed.

Brianna blushed at the implied compliment.

“Mommy?”

Both women looked down at the sound of the young boy’s voice. Dorothea smiled and ruffled the blonde hair. “Jakey, this is Brianna, Daddy’s new assistant. Can you say hello?”

“Hello.” Jake smiled at her shyly. “You have eyes like Mommy’s necklace.”

A glance at the amber pendant hanging around Dorothea’s neck explained his comment. “Yes they’re the same colour. Hello Jake, it’s nice to meet you.” Brianna couldn’t help but grin. Man! This one is Jon all over again!

“Steph and Romeo are in the living room and Jon’s in the office. I’ll sh…” Her words were cut off by the ringing of the phone. “Jakey, can you show Brianna where the office is please?”

“’Kay.” Jake reached out and slipped his hand in Brianna’s as his mother left to answer the phone. “I show you. DADDY! BIANNA’S HERE!”

Brianna winced at the high pitched yell, but dutifully accompanied the toddler down the hallway.

At the first doorway, he turned to enter, pulling her with him. “Dis movie woom.”

She glanced around, recognizing the blue couch and yellow curtains from pictures she’d seen.

“Dat Daddy and dat Mommy and dat Stephie and dat Jesse and dat me and dat Romey.” Jake had paused in front of one of the family pictures that covered the sideboard along one wall, identifying each person in it. “Dat Daddy and dat Mommy” he moved to the next frame “and dat Jesse and dat Copper.” He kept going until they’d reached the end.

“Where’s the TV?” She knew, but she wanted to see what he would say.

Jake moved to a bare area of floor. “Here.”

“Where?  I don’t see it.”

He pointed down. “It seeping in da froor.”

“Ahhh.” Brianna smiled.

“Come on.” He grabbed her hand again and led her from the room.

As they passed each room, he took her in and explained what it was used for. “Dis payroom. Dis bafroom. Dis book woom....Mommy calls it a wibawy.”

Brianna made appropriate – she hoped – noises, amused and highly entertained by her tour guide. 

“DADDY! I BING BIANNA!” Jake announced from the doorway to Jon’s office. “I SHOW HER EVEYTING!”

“Inside voice please Jakey.” Jon admonished gently before picking his son up for a hug. “And thank you.” He smiled at Brianna and motioned to a chair in front of his desk. “Hi. Sorry about that. Have a seat.”

“I enjoyed it.”

“I go pay now?” Jake asked.

“Yes, you can go play now.” His father set him on his feet.

Brianna was grateful for the few seconds of their conversation to get control of her reactions where her boss was concerned. She’d always thought he was an extremely attractive man, but when she walked in and saw him at his desk, leaning back in his chair, bare feet propped on a corner of the wooden surface, she was struck by it again.....like a kick in the stomach – or a little lower. My God he’s pretty!  Better get a grip Brianna. If you want to keep this job you’ve got to think of him only as your boss – your very married boss! “Thanks for the tour Jake.”

“Wecome.”

The affectionate look on Jon’s face as he watched his son skip out of the room caused a warmth to spread across her chest. Sitting down, she set her briefcase in her lap, opened it and kept her head bent over the contents until she could be sure of her expression.

Since her attention was elsewhere, Jon took the opportunity to let his gaze roam over her, unguarded. The buried fire of her hair, the sun kissed skin that made him wonder if it felt as silky as it looked, a body that had curves in all the right places, all caught his admiring attention. When she set aside the brief case and crossed her legs, her skirt hiked up her thighs just a little higher and made his mouth go dry. Down boy! If you can’t resist this temptation you’ll have to let her go. But he didn’t want to have to do that. He’d had a hell of a time finding a decent assistant – and he desperately needed one, or so his wife kept telling him – and she had every sign of being a very good one. All he had to do was keep reminding himself that having someone who he could trust to take care of the minutia of his life, freeing him to spend more time with his family and develop his philanthropic ideas into something that could become reality was more important than a few hours of physical pleasure. Of course whether he could ever find someone he trusted that much remained to be seen. Especially since it meant letting them into the inner circle – in a big way – and he wasn’t really comfortable doing that. But Dorothea had convinced him that if he didn’t he would miss out on watching his kids grow up and being a part of their lives. And he hated that idea more!

“Here’s the folder you asked for.” Brianna handed it over. “There were several pieces of correspondence I felt should be answered. I took the liberty of drafting responses for your approval.” She glanced up. “Unless, you’d rather dictate them to me instead.”

Jon sat up, took the folders from her and read the letters and her replies...and was pleasantly surprised. “This is pretty good. Just a couple changes to make it sound more like me. I think what I’ll probably do is make you notes about what I want to say, and some I’ll write myself. We’ll see how it goes.”

“Here are some others I need your direction on.” She handed over another folder.

They spent the next half hour discussing the items and determining a course of action. Jon glanced around his desk and frowned. “I had some notes here for a presentation I want to make to the Soul board. I’d like you to look them over and format them for me. Where the hell did I put them?” His brow cleared. “Must have left them upstairs. I’ll be right back.”

While he was gone, Brianna reread the notes she’d made and started organizing her next steps. Lost in thought, she was startled to feel a hand on her leg. She glanced down to see brown eyes regarding her with curiosity, while small hands used her leg for support and balance. “Well hello there little man. You must be Romeo.”

He grinned at her and wobbled on his little legs. She reached down to steady him, then changed her mind and picked him up and sat him on Jon’s desk.

A few minutes later, Dorothea stood in the doorway, having tracked her youngest down and watched them play Peek-a-Boo, smiling at her son’s giggles. “Well, I see you’ve met the charmer of the family.”

Briana turned her head and grinned. “He’s going to be a heart breaker.”

Dorothea smiled. “Lunch is ready. You’re staying. Don’t argue.” She turned towards the hallway. “Bring the heart breaker with you.”

“Well. I guess now I know how she deals with your Daddy.” Brianna told Romeo as she picked him up and followed his mother.