Chapter 77

When she drove through the gates, Brianna sighed in relief. The snow may have stopped, but the plows hadn't had enough time to do more than take a quick swipe at the roads. The gusting wind did its best to replace the snow as fast as the plows removed it, making for a treacherous journey. Luckily, there wasn't much traffic on the roads. The smart people stayed home.

But they didn't have four motherless children and a gorgeous, lonely, horny rockstar waiting for them.

Still, it was a harrowing drive. She really would have been smarter to wait until at least the afternoon and given the road crews more time to work. It wouldn't have killed anyone if she didn't get there for a few more hours. But her longing overrode her common sense. She told herself it was for the kids, but deep down she knew it was as much for herself as it was for them.

Easing by Jon's Navigator that was parked in front of the door, she pulled into her usual spot and climbed out. She grabbed her suitcase from the back seat and started for the house. 

The front door opened and Jake came running out to hug her. "Bianna!"

"Hi buddy."

He grabbed her suitcase and tried to drag it into the house, but it was too heavy for him. When Jesse stepped out of the house, Jake called out to him. "Jesse hep!"

Jesse sighed, but obliged, turning the luggage around and pulling out the handle. "This way squirt, remember?"

"Oh yeah! Thanks." He continued towards the door, walking backwards so that he could keep an eye on his job.

Stephanie stepped out of the way, but Jon, with Romeo in his arms wasn't so lucky.  "Ow! Jake watch where you're going."

"Sowy, beep beep, coming through." 

Brianna winced as she watched her suitcase bump and bang into the foyer, but figured it had been through worse in the various airports she'd travelled through.

"Bina! Bina!" Romeo saw her and threw himself at her, causing Jon to scramble to hang onto him.

"Romeo! Take it easy before you fall on your head!"

Quick reflexes shot Brianna's arms up to catch the toddler. Taking him from his father, she cuddled him close. His arms slid around her neck and squeezed. "Hi little man. Did you miss me?"

He nodded his head against her shoulder.

Rubbing his back, Brianna looked around at everyone in their winter coats and boots. "Going somewhere?" Did she risk life and limb to get there only for them to leave? Surely Jon would have told her if he had to go somewhere.

"Gocey store." Jake answered as, bellboy service complete, he rejoined them. "Come on. Let's go."

Jon opened the back door and stepped back so that she could put Romeo in his car seat.

"You're going grocery shopping?" Domestic chores were not his forte.

The shock and disbelief in her tone made him scowl. "Don't you think I'm capable?"

"I see you more like one of the kids, throwing whatever catches your eye in the cart, with no plan, while someone else pushes it, grumbling the whole time, impatient to get the job done and get out."   

Stephanie laughed and climbed in to help Jake into his seat. "Bingo!"

Jon turned his scowl at his daughter, but there was too much truth in Brianna's assessment to argue. "That's why we waited until you got here. We need to restock after the storm."

"Did you at least make a list?"

He shrugged. "We'll figure it out."

"I started one." Stephanie pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it over.

Taking it, Brianna glanced it over as she climbed into the front seat. She pulled a pen out of her purse with a sigh and started throwing out menu ideas for approval.

The drive to the store passed quickly amid much debate. Climbing out of the car, Jon picked up Romeo to carry him.

"No!" Romeo squirmed, pushing against his father's chest. "Want Bina! BINA!"

"Okay, okay. Calm down." Jon handed him over.

Brianna smiled, took Jake's hand with her free one and headed inside.

They got two carts so that both little boys could ride. Brianna and Stephanie pushed while Jon and Jesse filled. About ten minutes in Jon started looking at his watch.

"Uh uh." Brianna wagged her finger at him. "We've barely started."

He groaned and sighed, but dutifully turned his attention to the next aisle.

Half an hour later, they loaded the car and headed for home. Before they were halfway there, it started to snow again. Groans filled the car.

"Bianna you got here just in time." Jake pointed out.

"Looks like you're right Jake. Good thing you called me."

By the time they reached the house, it was really coming down.

"Wooks wike we have to pway inside again." Jake sighed.

"That's okay," Jon murmured in Brianna's ear. "Daddy likes inside sports."

She swatted his arm, grabbed two handfuls of grocery bags and started for the kitchen. Jon and Jesse followed suit while Stephanie helped Jake and Romeo out of their coats and boots.

Brianna was putting the last of the groceries away when she felt two arms slide around her waist. She leaned back against his hard chest and tilted her head when he nuzzled her neck. "Mmmm."

"We're finally alone. I can greet you properly." Turning her in his arms, he bent to capture her lips. "I've missed you."

"Brianna, can we.....oh. Sorry." Stephanie halted in her tracks and glanced around the room, not sure where to look. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

Jon straightened, but didn't let go of Brianna. "It's okay. What did you need?"

"Nothing. It can wait."

"Steph." Brianna watched the young girl closely. "Are you okay with seeing me like this with your dad or do you need us to cool it for awhile until you get used to it?"

Stephanie shrugged. "It's fine........I guess."

"Steph?" Jon frowned. "I thought you wanted us together."

"I did. I do. It's just.......I don't know."

"Actually seeing it is different than the idea of it?" Brianna guessed.

Stephanie shrugged again.

"Okay. I understand." Brianna patted Jon's chest and stepped back. "We'll take it slow and cool it with the PDAs for awhile."

"We will?" Jon wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. He'd thought that once the kids were on board his restrictions would be lifted and he could touch and kiss her whenever he felt the urge.

"Yes we will. The kids need to be comfortable with our relationship or it's never going to work." Brianna reminded him.

"I'm sorry Daddy. I'll try harder." Stephanie's eyes filled.

"It's okay Baby Girl." He stepped up to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I don't mean to pressure you. I know this is hard. There's no time limit. It'll come."

Brianna had to blink away her own tears. When Jon caught her eye and raised a brow, she smiled and nodded, her approval and pride evident in her face. "What did you come to ask me Steph?"

Wiping her eyes, Stephanie leaned her head on her father’s chest and looked at the older woman. "Um...oh! Can we make a cake or something for dessert?"

"Sure. What should we have for the main course tonight?" Brianna started pulling out cookbooks.

Stephanie and Jon looked at each other with raised brows, then answered in unison. "Spaghetti."

"With garlic bread." Jon added.

"And Caesar salad." Stephanie put in.

"And maybe this?" Brianna spun the open cookbook in front of her to show them the recipe and picture of Cannoli Cake.

"Mmmmm,." Father and daughter agreed.

"Okay then. Jon, you're on Daddy duty with the boys and Steph, I'm naming you my sous-chef. We'll get the sauce going first." Brianna directed.

"BINA! I TINK!!!"

"After I change your brother." Brianna amended.

"Have I told you how happy I am that you're here honey?" Jon blew her a kiss.

"Yeah, yeah,"

Watching her leave the room, Stephanie leaned against her father again. "How do we love her without forgetting Mom?"

Jon sighed and rubbed her back. It was a question he'd been asking himself for weeks - not that he was in love with her....yet, but he had a feeling it wouldn't take much. He passed on the answer he'd finally discovered. "Those are two different things, Baby Girl. We'll never forget Mom. And Bri would never want us to. She promised Mom she'd help you to remember. And in all the time I've known her, she's never broken a promise."

When she sighed, he squeezed her and kissed the top of her head. "One day at a time honey. It'll all work out. There's no rush."

She was silent for a moment. "You really like her, don't you."

"Yes, I do." He answered honestly.

"So do I."

After dinner they decided to watch a movie. Once again Jon and Brianna found themselves sharing the loveseat. One of the trailers for upcoming releases twigged her memory.

"Oh! I got a call from Bobby Bandieri yesterday about this year’s Hope Concert, wondering if you're still interested in participating." Her lips twisted. "And Southside called about his gig on New Year's Eve."

Jon snorted. "Was he inviting me or you?"

She grinned. "You to play on stage..."

"And you to play off of it?"

"Something like that."

He turned his head to stare at her. "What did you say?"

"That I'd talk to you and let him know." When his brows rose, she rolled her eyes. "About you playing." She nudged him with her elbow. "He knows my play time is all booked up."

Jon grunted.

"It might do you good to get out and play a little."

He leaned over to murmur in her ear. "I'd rather stay in and play with you." Heat flared through his body to match what, judging by her flushed face, was also shooting through hers. When she elbowed him again, he chuckled. "Might not be a bad idea. I'll call them tomorrow."

When the kids had all gone to bed, the adults sat by the fire with a glass of wine. Snuggled beside him, Brianna leaned her head against his shoulder and sipped while she watched the dancing flames.

This was one of the aspects of her personality that drew Jon to her - her capacity to sit quietly and not feel the need to fill the silence with inane chatter. He kissed the top of her head and sighed. Normally her calm presence beside him was soothing, but they'd been apart so long her scent, combined with the heat of her body reaching out to him was steadily working to destroy his serenity.

He shifted restlessly. "Do we really have to abstain from the PDAs?"

He sounded so much like a kid told he'd have to wait for his dessert that she had to chuckle. "Just in front of the kids and just until they get used to seeing us together as a couple. We'll start slow with touching, holding hands, that kind of thing."

"So I have to suffer until they're comfortable?" He grimaced. "I'm getting blue balls here Golden Eyes."

Those eyes twinkled. "Well, there might be a way to relieve your pain and frustration." And my own!

His face lit up in eager anticipation. "Yeah? How?"

Downing her wine, she handed her glass to him and stood. "Meet me in our pleasure palace in ten minutes. Bring the wine....and the baby monitor."

A frown creased his forehead as he watched her walk towards the door. "Pleasure palace? What are you talking about?"

"If you want me, you'd better figure it out." She paused in the doorway. "By the way, I got some new lingerie."

His frown turned into a scowl at her taunt. "Evil wench."