Chapter 33

Jon was never so happy to board the plane and escape on tour. Unfortunately for his peace of mind, the source of his discomfort was leaving with him. Damn Dorothea and her crazy ideas! Even though he had no intention of going along with it, the idea was always in the back of his mind, especially when Brianna was close by. The scent of her perfume wrecked havoc with his concentration and sent his thoughts into a taboo area.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and groaned inwardly as Brianna walked by to take her seat. He didn't even want to think about what the sight of her legs did to him. Thankfully, they were encased in denim today instead of being bared by one of her skirts. Apparently Dorothea had finally convinced her that she didn't need to dress for the office all the time. When she turned and stretched up to stash a bag in the overhead compartment, he groaned again and jerked his gaze away. As if her damn suits and dresses weren't bad enough, the damn woman filled out a pair of jeans perfectly! Even though he's seen her in jeans plenty around the house, it didn't lessen the impact.

Jon leaned his head back, closed his eyes and wondered if he could sleep all the way to Japan.

"Hi Beautiful." David bent and kissed her cheek. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

Brianna frowned. "No. Why do you think something's wrong?"

"No suit." Richie replied as he joined them.

Laughing, Brianna explained. "Jeans are more comfortable to travel in and since it's just us...." She shrugged.

"It took you long enough to figure that out nina." Tico winked at her. "Nice to see you loosening up a little."

"You get a little.....tension relief.....over the break?" David waggled his eyebrows.

Brianna glanced at Jon before she could stop herself, but thankfully, his eyes were closed. Face heating, she swatted David's arm. "That is none or your business!"

David just laughed and settled himself for takeoff.

When they'd reached cruising altitude, Brianna undid her seatbelt and opened her laptop. She should have picked a different seat instead of one where she had a direct line of sight to Jon, but they had settled into a routine during the tour and that included where each of them sat on the plane. Originally she'd chosen her seat to be able to see Jon if he needed her for anything. Now it was just torture. She watched his lips move as he spoke and wondered what his kiss would taste like. She watched his hands and imagined them stroking her body. A shiver ran down her spine and her body tightened. Damn Dorothea and her crazy ideas! Focusing on the screen in front of her she forced herself to concentrate on work and not the man exuding sex appeal across the aisle.

The pinging of Jon's phone had him opening his eyes to check the message. He sat up and forwarded the message regarding exactly the type of project he'd been looking for the Foundation to get involved in to his assistant. "Bri..."

She didn't look up from reading it. "I'll look into it. How do you want...?"

"Email is fine for now."

"Do you want me to...?"

Jon glanced at his watch and calculated the time difference to Philly. "No, I'll call later."

Brianna nodded. "Okay."

Richie looked back and forth between the two - who had never so much as glanced at each other throughout the entire exchange. "You guys have been spending waaay too much time together."

Jon crooked a brow at him.

"You just had a conversation without enough words to even make a sentence!"

Blue eyes met amber and they both smiled crookedly and shrugged.

David eyed them closely. "Just how much time have you been spending together?"

Jon ignored him and scrolled through his email, so David turned to Brianna and raised a brow.

By now Brianna knew that when David wanted something from you he wouldn't stop hounding until he got it. Besides, she didn't think it was a secret. "I've been helping Dot."

"So.....a lot." David pressed.

"Yeah, I guess."

"How's she doing?" Tico interrupted.

Since it was clear Jon wasn't going to answer, they all looked at Brianna.

"Tired, but she's holding her own."

Richie motioned towards Jon and crooked a brow. Brianna made a see-saw motion with her hand.

"I can see both of you, you know." Jon commented dryly, not looking away from his email. "And I'm.....coping."

It was a long flight. Work completed for the moment, Brianna killed some time playing cards with the guys, then settled back in her seat with a book. 

Awhile later, Jon looked over and found her sleeping, her arms hugging her body as though she was cold. Rising, he went in search of Vicki and returned with a pillow and a blanket. Gently lifting Brianna's head, he slid the pillow underneath then covered her with the blanket. He started to step back and stopped. One hand lifted to brush aside a lock of hair that had escaped her twist, unconsciously trailing along her cheek and jaw as he did so. His eyes roamed over her face, peaceful in repose, and rested on her luscious lips, unable to stop himself from once again wondering what she tasted like.

"What are you doing?" Richie asked quietly.

Jon straightened and stepped back. "She looked cold. I'm just trying to make her comfortable."

"Uh huh. Just don't get too comfortable there yourself. It'll only hurt everyone involved."

"Give me a little credit." Jon scowled. "I'm not stupid."

Richie watched him stomp over to his seat and open his laptop. No, just hurting and lonely, and that's a dangerous combination.

By the time they landed in Tokyo, Brianna was more than ready to get to the hotel where she could get some time on her own. Being cooped up for hours in a flying metal tube with Little Jon and his band of Merry Men could be a bit overwhelming at times. Add that to the jet lag and she just wanted a hot bath and a nap, so she was more than thrilled when they were handed their keys and Jon gave her his instructions.

"Go get some rest. I'm going to sleep for awhile too. I'll call you if I need you before the interviews tomorrow." He thought for a moment. "Room service here is good....so is the hotel restaurant if you're hungry."

"Thanks." She was so tired she could have kissed him. Whoa! Better stop those kinds of thoughts, even as a joke!  Good thing she had some time to recharge and clear her travel fogged brain. She obviously needed some time away from Jon - and Dorothea's crazy idea - and get her head back on straight.

She was so lost in her own thoughts, she didn't notice whose room was where, other than they were all on the same floor. Before the door had completely closed behind her, she had her suitcase on the bed and open. A glance in the bathroom assured her it had a nice deep tub and she rushed back to grab her toiletries. In less than five minutes she was sinking into a pile of bubbles. Leaning her head back against the rim, she closed her eyes and sighed. As the warm water relaxed her body, her mind started to wander.

Gentle fingers traced a path over her collar bone and down over the fullness of one breast. One calloused tip circled her nipple, teasing it to rock hardness. His other hand came up to give her other breast the same treatment. Thumbs joined the play and plucked the stiff nubs. At her soft moan, smooth palms caressed the creamy flesh and massaged lightly.

After a few moments, one hand released her breast to trail down over her abdomen. Her legs parted in invitation, one he was only too happy to accept. Her back arched as two blunt fingers slid through her pulsing cleft and slowly penetrated her molten core. Her gasp was followed by a low groan.

He chuckled. "You like that huh Bri?"

Brianna's eyes flew open. "Shit!" Washing quickly, she climbed out of the tub and dried herself off. Staring at her reflection on the mirror, she blew out a breath and shook her head. "Get a hold of yourself and stop thinking of your boss that way!" Her lips twisted into a wry smile. "You need to find a man!" She snorted. "And make sure he's single." In the meantime, she made a mental note to stock up on batteries for her mechanical substitute.

Pulling on a robe, she organized her room, then, still restless, stepped out onto the balcony. She leaned over the railing to look out at the city, wishing she had a glass of wine.

The thought had no sooner entered her mind, then a familiar hand came around the screen blocking her balcony from the room to the right of hers holding a full glass. "Want some?"

"You really are reading my mind!" She stepped closer to take the glass. "Thanks." She took a sip. "I thought you were going to sleep."

"I am, but I needed to relax a bit first." Jon replied. He didn't elaborate.

Brianna didn't need him to. "You called home?"

"Yeah. Linda's there. Everything's okay." He sipped. "Oh! Jake wanted me to let you know he's sending you an email."

"Birthday list?" She guessed.

"As far as I could figure out. Apparently since you did such a great job for Romeo, Jake wants you to organize his party....and convince me to buy him whatever his latest favourite toy is these days."

"All I did was set up what Dot planned. I didn't organize anything."

"Well, he thinks you can do anything, and Dot told him to give you his wish list."

"What the hell does he want? Life size Thomas the Train?"

Jon snorted. "Wouldn't surprise me."

Brianna groaned.

"Don't worry, you'll figure something out."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I don't want to let him down."

"You won't. You haven't let any of us down yet."

Except for your wife's latest....suggestion. She drained her glass and handed it back over the screen to him. "Well, I'm going to need to get some sleep if I'm going to be in my best party planner mode."

Jon chuckled. "Sleep well."

As the door closed behind her, the occupant of the room on the other side of hers sat back in his chair and contemplated the conversation he's just overheard. That sounds like it goes beyond just spending time in the same house together. That sounds like she's becoming part of the family. David took a sip of his own drink. And what's with Dot passing off planning Jake's birthday party to Brianna? Is she really that bad? Or is something else going on? He had his suspicions.