Chapter Nineteen

Jesse froze at the words, she backed away and grabbed a near by towel that was hanging on a near by hook and rushing out of the bathroom wrapping herself it in.

“Shit!” Jon muttered to himself, he hadn’t meant for it to slip out like that. He didn’t bother with a towel, more concerned where she would go and ran through the bedroom, she wasn’t there.

“Jesse!” he called as he ran down the stairs padding into the kitchen where she was standing in the corner, dripping wet shaking.
He came up and leaned her gently into the wall.

“Jesse, I am so sorry, it just slipped out, and I have a habit of doing that” he added wanting to touch her but he was cautious trying to read her.

She trembled, she was so shocked he had uttered those words to her, she loved the time she had spent with Jon so far and she knew a bond was quickly forming with them both, emotionally and physically but the thought of love hadn’t even entered her mind, and how could she even consider loving someone since, well since then.
A lone tear slipped down her cheek.

“I’m being pathetic” she said softly with a small smile.

“God, no you aren’t” he said wiping her tear away with his thumb still keeping a safe distance.

“Jesse, I am so sorry I scared you like this and please it’s the last thing I want, but you have to face that I am beginning to care about you very much” he softly said running his hand down her arm.

“I do too” she simply said back to him.

“I just-” she stumbled a little.

Jon backed away to give her space “You can tell me baby, anything” he said as he leaned back against the counter.

“I’m scared Jon, I am scared of letting go” she said quietly, as another tear fell down her cheeks. It pained Jon’s heart to see her like this. She wiped them away with her palm.

“I mean, I know he’s gone and he’s not coming back, and I accept that. And what I am starting to feel for you, it’s just, different and a big step” she admitted.

He smiled and took her hand pulling her closer to him this time and wrapped her in his arms. He kissed the top of her head.

“Jess, baby. I totally understand, and you know what, whatever pace you want to do this at, I am fine with as long as you just promise me one thing” he said into her hair. She remained silent as she buried herself into his chest. So Jon finished.

“Please just tell me, at anytime how you are feeling and or its going too fast or anything, if you aren’t comfortable with anything please just tell me and I will back off, not completely though” he chuckled.

“I promise Jon, and thank you for being so patient with me, you must think I am a nut” she sighed into his chest.
He pulled her chin up and stared right into those eyes which were freshly lined with tears.

“You’re no nut, trust me. You’re a beautiful, confident, sassy lady and I want nothing more to help you through this and maybe just one day…” he trailed off, he didn’t want to say it but Jesse knew what he wanted to say.

“One day” she confirmed as he met her lips in a soft kiss.

“Ok now I am going to get dressed, we have places to go and I just know where” he said with a gleam in his eye. As he left the kitchen not before kissing her forehead.
She watched his naked body walk back up the stairs.
How did she get so lucky to have someone so patient?

She put on another pot of coffee just as she flicked the switch on there was a knock at the door. She wasn’t expecting anyone as people would know she would be at work. She swung open the door to find Kia there armed with two tall takeaway cups from Starbucks.

“Kia!” Jesse said surprised.

“Hey you, I was so worried when I rang you at work, you are never sick!” she said as she bolted inside dropping her things on the table and handing her a latte.

“I am fine, really I just –“Jesse stopped as she saw Kia’s eyes widening looking right past her. Jesse turned around and Jon had come back sauntering down the stairs…still naked.

“Uh, hi Kia” Jon said slightly embarrassed before he grabbed a near by throw off the couch and slung it around him.

“Hi Jon” she looked back at Jesse and raised her eyebrow.
“Sick eh?” she asked with a smirk.

Jesse blushed “You got me, I was playing hooky” she laughed; Jon soon came to Jesse’s side and draped his arm around her waist and kissed her shoulder lightly.

“It was my entire fault Kia, I am being a very bad influence” Jon said with a grin that nearly floored her.

“Oh I bet” she laughed “Can ya’ll go and put some clothes on” she said, “You’re making me very jealous standing here all looking like this” she chuckled.

“Sure hun, I will go and throw some clothes on” Jesse laughed as she left Jon’s side and walked back up the stairs. Kia just smiled at Jon.

“I don’t know how you did it” Kia said to him.

“How do you mean?” Jon asked confused.

“She has never looked as happy in the last six months as she does right this minute” Kia said as it was true, the long seemingly forgotten sparkle had again returned to her friends eyes.

“Well I try, she’s still very fragile and I am aware of that, so I will be very patient with her” Jon added. Kia looked him hard in the eyes.

“If you hurt her, God, Jon, You have no idea what I have been through with her, so I want nothing more than he to be happy, but if she’s just a little Rockstar nibble on the side –“she trailed off.

“Hell no, Kia, listen to me. Jesse is not that, I am over all that shit, hell I just got divorced, but there is just something about her, I know she’s very special” Jon said sincerely.

“Well I am pleased about that, because if I find out you were lying, I would hunt you down” she warned with a grin across her face.

“I wont, I promise” he said as he walked away to go upstairs to change, or well put clothes on. Kia watched on as the tanned well maintained body walked away, Jesse came back down the stairs in jeans and a tight black baby v neck. She slapped Jon’s butt playfully as he walked past her on the stairs. Jon gave her a quick kiss before disappearing up the stairs.

“God I think I am going to puke” Kia said rolling her eyes dramatically, Jesse picked up her latte.

“So you going to give me the lecture?” she asked Kia jokingly.

“Nope, none at all – he seems great” she honestly said to her friend.

“He is Kia, I am very lucky, he’s so patient and wonderful” she said. Kia could see that Jesse still was hesitant about something.

“You still thinking about Jason aren’t you?’ she asked

“Yeah a little, oh and Jon asked me to go to Nashville next week or so to spend a few days down there, they are recording down there for a few weeks” Jesse explained as she slipped on her sandals that were on the floor.

“That’s great Jess, you deserve to get away, and I am really pleased for you” she said looking at her watch. “Oh I need to get to work, some of us have to work you know” she teased. They hugged goodbye and Kia left.

Jon returned into the living area now clothed again. The fresh smell of soap and his scent filled her as he wrapped his arms around her waist from the back.

“You ready to go?” he whispered as he buried his face into her neck.

“Yeah I am” she replied reaching up and ruffling his hair gently.