Saturday, October 26, 2013

Chapter 42



Brianna lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. It was after midnight, but she couldn't sleep. It had been an uncomfortable afternoon and evening. The way Dorothea kept looking at her, she was sure she knew something had happened between her and Jon, but she'd avoided being alone with Jon, so she hadn't had the opportunity to ask him - not that she would anyway.

Sighing, she threw back the covers and got up. She wandered downstairs and found herself gravitating towards the living room and its wall of windows. On impulse, she opened the French doors - remembering at the last minute to punch the code in the panel off to the side to avoid setting off the alarm- and wandered around the back yard lit only by moonlight. It felt.....liberating....to be able to walk outside in a nightgown and not worry about someone seeing you. Another point for a private estate. Finally, she settled on a bench facing the river. Closing her eyes, she listened to the night sounds and the gurgling of the Navesink and tried to relax and find some mental peace.

Jon rose from his chair in the living room and walked into the kitchen where he pulled a second glass out of the cupboard and another bottle of wine out of the fridge. Making quick work of the cork, he tossed it into the garbage, picked up the bottle and glasses and followed Brianna outside.

He stood for long moments behind the bench watching her, debating. But fighting her magnetic pull was like banging his head against a brick wall - it felt so good when he stopped. "Can't sleep?"

Brianna jerked, her eyes flying open. "Oh! Yeah, I mean, no, I can't. Still on vampire hours, I guess."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Gesturing as if to ask permission, he waited for her nod before sitting down beside her. Handing her a glass, he filled it and his own and set the bottle on the ground beside the bench. "I know what you mean. It always takes me a few days to get my sleep schedule straightened out."

They sat and sipped in silence for several minutes.

Finally, Jon took the bull by the horns and confronted the elephant in the room...so to speak. "I think we need to talk about our....situation, don't you?"

Brianna sighed. "Yes, I guess, but I have no idea where to start or what to say." She sipped, gathering her courage for this conversation - and to find out the answer to the question that had been nagging her all day. "Does Dot know?"

He considered his wife's strange looks and words earlier. "Not from me, but she may suspect." He cleared his throat. "I'd rather she not know for sure." Realizing how that might make her feel, he started to stammer. "Not that you...that I......I don't regret..."

She waved his stuttering explanation aside. "No, I agree. Despite what she's said, it would only hurt her."

He blew out a relieved breath. He didn't want to hurt Bri either. "Yeah."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. This time it was Brianna who broke it. "So....what are we going to do? Try harder to not let it happen again? Avoid each other as much as possible?" She paused. "I thought about quitting."

Jon frowned. "No! I don't want that. We....I need you." He snorted as a thought occurred to him. "And the guys - and especially Paul - would rather castrate me than see you leave."

"I don't want to leave either. I really love the job, but..."

"But we seem to have a problem controlling ourselves?" He asked wryly. "I know. But, Bri.....we need to figure out a way to deal with this." He watched his fingers trace his glass over and over while he searched for the right words. "I....you've been my anchor through all of this. You've gone above and beyond what anyone had a right to ask of you." He turned his head to look at her. "I know I have no right, but I'm going to ask for more. I need to know you'll be there through....what's still to come. I need that anchor to help me cope - and help me help my kids to cope - with losing Dot. I...." He swallowed heavily and his voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "I don't think I can do it on my own."

Tears burned Brianna's eyes and her hand reached out to clasp his. "I'll do whatever I can to help."

His hand squeezed hers. "Thank you."

After a few moments silence, Jon released her hand, picked up the bottle of wine and refilled their glasses.

Brianna sighed. "So...what are we going to do about our.....lapses in judgement?"

"Is that what you think they were?"

"Yes. Don't you?"

He shrugged. "Maybe partly. Mostly, I think....we're two healthy adults who obviously are attracted to each other....and who spend a lot of time together....and are dealing with a lot of stress and emotional upheaval."

"So...you needed comfort and to scratch an itch...and I was handy?" Why are you sounding so snarky? Did you think he actually had feelings for you? "Sorry. I have no right..."

"No! That's not what I meant!" Jon raked a hand though his hair. This is why he didn't want to have this conversation. "And you have every right. Look. Of course I have feelings for you. I don't sleep with women just to get laid." She raised her eyebrow at him and he laughed under his breath at her skeptical look. "Not anymore at least. I've grown up. I finally realized the physical release is nothing without some feelings involved." He tried to read her expression in the dim light. "Do you have feelings for me?"

"You're my boss and you're married. Having romantic feelings for you is wrong." She stared towards the river. "Morally and ethically wrong." But that doesn’t seem to stop them.

"I understand why you feel that way, but you didn’t answer the question."

"Please don't say it's not cheating if your wife is okay with it. If you believed that you wouldn't be worried about hurting her by telling her."

"I'd say she's a little more than okay with it and that's not what I was going to say.” He paused to collect his thoughts. “Look, I don't know what this is between us, and maybe it's not morally right, but..." He blew out a breath. "If it gives us comfort in the middle of all this pain and loss....and isn't hurting anyone....is it really wrong?"

She scrubbed a hand over her forehead. "I...I just don't know. It goes against everything I thought I stood for. I feel so awful...after."

Jon decided to try a different tact. "Didn't you and your husband or a boyfriend ever have a 'free pass' list?"

Brianna snorted. "My husband wasn't all that concerned about fidelity, especially his.” Her lips twisted. “Mine was expected. But an old boyfriend in college and I used to joke about one. Taylor Dayne was on his list." She smirked. "You were on mine."

He grinned. "Well, there you go. You're not cheating on anyone and Dot has given us a free pass with each other." When she grimaced, he continued. "I'm not saying we shack up together and go at it like bunnies for days on end. I'm just saying if our emotions and....needs....overwhelm us again, we accept it and not beat ourselves up about it." He reached out to squeeze her hand again. "No guilt trips. Okay?"

She stared at him for a long minute, her mind swirling. He's giving us a reasonable excuse. And he's right about no one really getting hurt.....except me if my feelings go too deep. Besides, I obviously have no will power where he's concerned. Sighing, she nodded. "But not in this house."

"Not in this house." He agreed. He reached down for the bottle and refilled their glasses again.

They sat companionably, sipping and enjoying the night.

“You still didn’t answer my question, you know,” were the only other words that passed between them.




Above and behind them, the French doors on the balcony closed quietly, and Dorothea shuffled back to the bed, a satisfied smile curving her lips. She couldn't hear their conversation, but body language told her whatever they were discussing was very serious and they were in disagreement. She was happy to see that Jon was talking to Brianna and not dictating. That bode well for their future happiness.

Lying back on her pillows, she adjusted the oxygen hose under her nose. It had been obvious all day that something was bothering Brianna, and it had something to do with Jon. Maybe now that they'd sorted it out, the tension would be gone and she could regain Brianna's attention. She still had much to teach her, and she had a feeling her time was running short.


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Chapter 41


It was a quiet flight back to New Jersey. Everyone was tired and looking forward to a few days off on home turf. The guys alternated between sleeping and playing cards quietly. Even David and Richie were subdued.

Brianna answered a few e-mails, but spent most of her time staring out of the window trying to figure out what was happening to her. She was changing, becoming someone she didn't recognize and she didn't know why.

Jon was likewise buried in his own thoughts. Guilt was weighing heavily on him - not just what he was doing to Dorothea, but what all this was doing to Brianna. None of this was fair....to anyone.



At the airport, they cleared Customs and split up, each heading for the car that would take them home - or in Tico's case a connecting flight. David paused before driving off to watch his frontman and his assistant.

Jon stood by the open car door motioning for Brianna to climb in first.

But Brianna shook her head. "I've got some things I need to do. Tell Dot I'll be out the day after tomorrow."

He studied her face for a long moment, then nodded and climbed into the car.

David watched Brianna, her shoulders drooping, tow her suitcase towards the cab stand and wondered what was going on.



"Daddy, Daddy, you home!" Jake met Jon at the door with a hug, then immediately looked behind him. "Where Bianna?"

"She had to go to her home for a couple days."

"Why?"

"Yes, why?" Dorothea asked from the doorway to the living room. 

His heart lurched at the sight of her, seeing the changes the last month had wrought. She was thinner, a pale ghost of the woman he loved, and her breaths were a little gaspy. He frowned in concern. "Where's your oxygen?"

Dorothea waved towards the room behind her and ignored his frown. "Why isn't Brianna with you? Did you have a fight?"

"No, we didn't have a fight, she said she had some things to do and she'd be out the day after tomorrow. Let's go sit down."

Dorothea allowed him to help her into the living room and attach the oxygen hose. She studied her husband. "What happened between you two?"

He'd already decided she didn't need to know. Despite her pushing for it, being faced with the reality of it would still have to hurt. And she was in enough pain. "Nothing happened. She just had some personal stuff to do." He moved to stand in front of the windows and watch the Navesink flow by. "With everything we expect of her, don't you think she deserves a couple days to herself?"

Dorothea smiled to herself. He could deny it all he wanted, but she knew him, and she knew something had happened. The signs were all pointing in the right direction: he was protecting Brianna and considering her feelings. That told Dot that Brianna had managed to get under Jon's skin - a long way under - and he cared about her. I knew she was the right woman for him! "I know we've asked a lot of her, but it will get easier soon. There's only nine more shows left and football's done for awhile. So, it'll just be us....the family."

Jon turned to look at his wife. "You really want her here that much? All the time?"

"Yes, I do. I need her here. We need her here."

"Why?" Maybe he could find an alternative and then he and Brianna could get some much needed space from each other.

"Because she's the one I feel the most comfortable having around to help...all of us."

He sighed. So much for that idea. He was going to have to find a way to cope with both the women in his life. Shouldn't be too hard. And after that peace in the Middle East ought to be a piece of cake. Just the thought made him tired.



Dry cleaning, laundry and errands done, apartment clean, Brianna opened a bottle of wine and sat on her balcony, enjoying the city lights.....and trying to find some answers. She couldn't understand her own behaviour.  She'd always been disgusted by women who screwed around with married men, thought they were heartless whores, one of the lowest forms of the female half do the species.

And now she was one of them.

It didn't matter that his wife had encouraged it, it was still cheating and it was still wrong. So why couldn't she stop? Was it some defect in her? Was it something about Jon that overruled her morals and conscience? Or was she so hungry for a man that her libido over ruled everything else? Face it Bri, you care about the man. Despite his temper, despite his control freak tendencies, you care about him and what he's going through. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against her chair. Still doesn't make it right! He's married....and his wife is dying! The last thing you should be doing is getting involved with him on such a personal level. What are you hoping to get out of this anyway?

And that was the big question. Was she truly just trying to give aid and comfort? Or was she hoping for something....more? But that was crazy! Even if he did have feelings for her, it could be years before he was emotionally ready for a relationship again. And where would that leave her? Waiting on the sidelines for something that might never happen?

No. That way led to nothing but unfulfilled hopes and pain. She'd be better off stopping this....whatever it was.....now and keeping their relationship strictly professional......and looking for an available man as soon as she could find some time. Maybe she should quit and find another job. But the thought of leaving him and those children to face Dorothea's death alone was more than she could stomach. They wouldn't be alone. They have family to help them through it. 

She sipped her wine and frowned. But you are the one Dot is counting on to help them. And regardless of her own feelings, she couldn't let her down. She was going to have to find a way to cope with being around Jon, and the feelings that created. She snorted and sighed. Sure, easy.....piece of cake.



When Brianna parked and got out of her car, she was greeted by Copper. "Hey boy! Are you keeping watch?" She ruffled his fur.  A snort told her they weren't alone. She looked up to see Jesse walking towards the house from the garage. "Hi Jess."

"Hi." He looked down at the dog. "The only thing he keeps watch on is his food dish.....and anything Jake drops on the floor."

Brianna laughed and slid an arm around his shoulders. "How ya doing?"

Jesse shrugged. "Okay I guess." He frowned and scuffed his foot against the driveway's asphalt. "It's.......hard.....to watch her like this."

"And you wish you could help her, right? Make her better?" He nodded. Brianna hugged him. "I know. I think the best we can do is make sure she knows how much we love her and help her any way we can." And I need to remember that's why I'm here. "Are you doing football camp again this summer?"

Jesse shrugged again. "Don't know. Haven't decided.”

Brianna studied his face for a moment. She had a feeling she knew what was going through his head. "Jess.....you do whatever you feel up to. You don't need to feel guilty and no one is going to be mad either way, okay? If you want to go play, go. If you want to stay home, stay. It's totally up to you. And whatever you decide is totally okay. I promise."

He looked at her for a long moment, trying to determine if she was telling the truth. He finally decided she was. "Okay. I'll think about it."

"Good. Any idea what your mom's got planned for dinner tonight?"

"I think Dad's in charge tonight."

"Okay, so..." She caught his eye. He grinned.

"Pizza!" They spoke in unison and laughed.

Dorothea and Jon stood looking out the window and watched them.

"She's good with the kids." Dot noted.

"Mmmmm." Jon agreed.

"And they really like her."

"Mmmmhmmm."

"And you really like her."

"Mmmmhmmm....wait! What?" His head swivelled sharply to look at her.

She chuckled and patted his arm. "It's okay honey. It's how it's supposed to be. Don’t screw it up."

Jon watched her move towards the door to greet Brianna, a frown creasing his brow. After a few seconds he shook his head. Even sick, her mind was still an enigma to him.


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Chapter 40


While Brianna didn't make a conscious decision, the choice was kind of made for her a few days later. It was their last night in England - in Europe actually - and they were heading home in the morning. 

Just a few more hours and I'll be safe from temptation for awhile. She kept reminding herself of that as she moved around Jon's dressing room packing up what he wouldn't need anymore that night. The show was almost over and she needed to hurry and get out before he came off the stage. She'd taken to finding something else to do rather than be standing under the stage when he came off and stripped off his shirt. Some might call it being chicken, she called it prudence....or self preservation. Just do whatever works!

She was finishing up with his dressing table, when she felt something on her garter belt digging into her thigh. Pulling out the chair, she lifted her foot onto the seat and slid up the skirt of her suit to find the problem. 

And that's what Jon saw when he opened the door. 

What happened next was beyond his control. He just couldn't fight it anymore. Closing the door softly behind him, he quietly turned the lock and started towards her.

The sound of the door opening told Brianna she'd run out of time, and her opportunity to escape was gone. The look in his eyes as they locked with hers in the mirror confirmed it. As he neared, she straightened, but when she would have lowered her foot to the floor he stopped her.

"No. Leave it there." His voice was husky, but he couldn't help it. The shirt that he'd stripped off when he stepped off the stage and clutched in his hand now got tossed to the side. He didn't bother to look where it landed. His focus was completely on the target in front of him.

Brianna watched him approach, amber eyes eating up the masculine scenery reflected in the mirror. When he stopped, chest against her back, the heat and scent of him had her pulse racing and her libido revving up. She watched one strong hand settle on her upraised knee, the other gripped her opposite hip. Moving together, they raised her skirt higher until it was bunched around her waist.

His hand returned to her knee and stroked the length of her thigh, slowly, softly. Up and down. Soft lips brushed her ear. "Open your jacket."

It took a few seconds for the words to process in her brain. She shivered at the rasp of his calluses on her stocking and his voice in her ear. Almost involuntarily, her fingers rose to the buttons on her jacket.  One by one she opened them, mesmerized by the heated look in his eyes as he watched the revealing of her body.

The cloth fell away to reveal her full, round breasts encased in black lace to match the silk and lace thong barely covering the mound of female flesh between her thighs. He growled low in her ear. His other hand rose to cover one breast and squeeze, pinching the hardening nipple between two fingers. The hand on her leg slid higher to slide a finger along the damp silk covering her cleft.

Brianna leaned her head back against his shoulder and watched his hands play with her body. Before long even the little bits of lace were too much of an obstruction to his touch for either of them to take. Her hands lifted to the front closure of her bra to open it and move it back out of his way. His hand clenched around the silk of her thong and yanked sharply, ripping it from her body.

"Oh!" She gasped in surprise.

Once again he took possession of her body, fingers stroking in time, one hand on her breast, the other on the pulsing flesh between her legs. He watched in the mirror as she held on to him wherever she could to brace herself and undulated against him, the rubbing of her ass against his already throbbing cock a delicious torture. Very quickly, his fingers were coated with her juices. "So fucking wet."

"Mmmmmm." Brianna let her eyes drift closed and focused on sensation. "Feels good!"

Jon didn't disagree, but he knew something that would feel even better. Retrieving one hand, he flicked open the button on his pants and slid down the zipper, soothing her with his lips on her neck when she protested the loss of this touch. "Shhhh. Wait. I've got something better."

Shoving his pants down over his hips, he  positioned himself along her cleft. Gripping her hip to hold her steady, he thrust slowly, her liquid heat almost scalding is flesh. "Fucking hot!" He nipped her earlobe. "Look."

Brianna forced her eyes open and was instantly riveted on the vision in the mirror in front of her. The broad head of his erection appeared and disappeared with his movements, slick with her juices. It was the most erotic thing she'd ever seen! She licked lips suddenly gone dry and caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

Unable to resist, she reached down to rub his swollen head and watched the pleasure contort his face. As she reached farther, the heel of her hand brushed her clit and she jerked. His hands tightened to hold her in place and he continued thrusting.

After only a few minutes, as good as it felt, the teasing wasn't enough for either of them. Brianna licked her lips and swallowed heavily. "Jon, please."

"Tell me what you want."

"You." She shuddered. "Inside me. Now. I can't wait!"

Neither could he. Easing back, he tilted her hips slightly. "Then put me inside you."

The feel of him stretching her as she guided him in made her groan. "Mmmmmm. Yes."

Buried to the hilt, Jon held still. His hands came up to cover her breasts, holding her to him, stiff peaks spearing into his palms, while he savoured the feel of her hot, wet flesh surrounding him. When she flexed her inner muscles to squeeze him, he groaned and scraped her neck with his teeth, his fingers spreading to allow her hardened nipples to poke through and squeezed them rhythmically......but remained unmoving.

Brianna couldn't stand the teasing torture for more than a few minutes. She couldn't understand why he wasn't moving. The pulsing hardness filling her told her he wanted this as much as she did, so why was he holding back? She caught his gaze in the mirror and the glint of challenge in the cobalt depths answered her silent question. So he wants to play it that way does he? He may call all the shots when it comes to the band, but in this arena, I'm his equal....and I'll prove it!

Leaning back against him, she slid her hands under his arms and up to grip his shoulders. She watched him beneath long black lashes, tightened her internal grip on him.....and undulated against him. Her hips rocked and swivelled and gyrated, trying to get the alignment just right to hit her sweet spot. If he wouldn't participate, she'd find a way to take her pleasure on her own.

Little did Brianna know, it was taking every bit of control Jon had to remain still. But the sight of her writhing against him was too good to give up. Sweat beaded on his upper lip and ran down his spine as he fought the urge to pound into her until he found his release.

Close....so close. But it wasn't in her to be selfish. Brianna was determined to break him and take him into ecstasy with her. Bending forward slightly, she retrieved one arm and slid her hand down between her legs until she could touch him. She heard his breath hiss through his teeth at the skin on skin contact, even more so when her nail raked lightly. Reaching further, she cupped his sac, stroking the loose flesh with her thumb. 

His hands tightened on her breasts in reflex and he growled in her ear. "You're playing with fire."

"I like it hot." She purred. "Burn me." She squeezed his buried shaft as hard as she could for several seconds and relaxed.

He retaliated by squeezing her nipples. "Brat."

Brianna straightened, once again leaning back against him. Her hand rose to grasp one of his and drag it down her torso to her throbbing cleft. "Touch me."

Still, he resisted, rotating his hips and pushing deeper. "You first."

She shook her head. "Together."

Eyes locked in the mirror, their fingers tangled together, they stroked their joined flesh. Jon rocked his hips against hers.

Brianna moaned. "Mmmmmm, yes. Right there! Harder!"

Jon flexed his hips and thrust harder, scraping his calluses across her clit at the same time. He would have smiled at the cry he drew from her.....if every muscle in is body wasn't tensed against his imminent explosion. But he still wanted her to go first, so he ignored the friction building with his every movement inside her tight passage, and focused on her clit.

Brianna could feel her peak rapidly approaching and she knew she wouldn't be able to hold it back. She reached as far as she could, her goal the sensitive spot behind his scrotum. Finding it, she voiced her channel around him and pushed with her finger.

Jon grunted, pinched her clit and thrust as deep as he could reach.

Their cries echoed around the room as they both lost their battle - or won, depending on how you looked at it - and fell off the edge together.

As he waited to get his breath back, Jon noted Brianna's hair was still in her neat twist. Next time I want to see it spread across my pillow. His gaze slowly roamed over her body, still displayed in the mirror, pausing when he got to her glistening flesh still pulsing around his softening shaft. And next time I want to taste that cream.....until she screams.

Realizing where his thoughts had gone, he stiffened and pulled out of her body. One hand squeezed her waist and he disappeared into the shower. Next time? What the fuck am I thinking 'next time'? This has got to stop! On the upside he'd found out that her eyes did indeed glow...under the right circumstances.

Brianna blew out a shaky breath, picked up the towel that was lying on the table and cleaned herself up as best she could. As she set her clothes to rights, she stared at herself in the mirror. You have no self control at all where he's concerned!  And the things she'd done! When did you become such a wanton hussy? You've got to get your shit together Brianna. You're a better person than this!

Not waiting for Jon, she finished packing his things, left out his street clothes and ducked out to climb into the back of one of the waiting vans. When Jon arrived he climbed into the front without looking her way.

David sat in the middle, his assessing gaze studying both of them.


Saturday, October 5, 2013

Chapter 39

The tension increased over the next few days until Brianna wanted to scream.....or haul Jon off to bed to release it. Part of the problem was that she couldn't get away from him - at least not for more than a few hours at a time, and then only on off days. And it seemed that once the seed was planted she couldn't get it out of her mind. Every time she looked at him, smelled him, touched him, even in the most casual manner, all she could think about and imagine was the two of them in bed together. And the guilt and shame didn't seem to be enough to drown out the other feelings. The fact that Jon seemed to be in a similar state - if she was judging the frequent, intense looks she caught him throwing her way correctly - wasn't helping either.

The end of this leg couldn't come fast enough. She really needed some time away to get her head back on straight if she was going to make it through the rest of the tour without doing something really stupid that would have permanent repercussions. Once they got back Stateside, she was going to have to find a way to get a few days for herself.

In Southampton, Brianna was in Jon's dressing room checking his supplies when Jon opened the door and walked in. He’d been trying to ignore her, but he'd never been very successful at that and now it was even worse. Now when he saw her lips he remembered how they tasted. When he saw her hands he remembered their touch. When saw her breasts lifting the silk of her shirt he remembered how they tasted and how they felt under his hands. And when he saw her legs - those damn, supple, eight foot long legs!- revealed by her suit skirts - or a leather mini-skirt like today's instrument of torture - he remembered the comfortable cradle they provided when they opened to let him in. And his cock remembered the hot wet welcome it found in her velvet passage.....and it wanted more. It stood at attention every time she came anywhere near him.

But he was married and he loved his wife. Brianna was off limits.

He watched her move around the room, the sun that streamed through the window highlighting the buried fire of her hair. She has a lot of buried fire! He knew he should find somewhere else to be, but couldn't force himself to move. She drew him like a magnet. He didn't know why, but it was getting harder and harder to fight it. And their night together had only made it worse......much worse. Every muscle in his body tensed as she came closer.

"Do you have everything you need?" Brianna asked as she neared the door, looking for an escape from his nearly overwhelming presence.

Her scent washed over him, a heady combination of vanilla and woman, and he snapped. "Not quite." 

Before she could ask what he needed, he closed his hands around her upper arms and backed her up against the wall. Her surprised cry was cut off by his lips. While his mouth ate at hers, he stepped closer, pressing against her, grinding his pelvis into hers. One hand came up to cup a firm breast, his fingers rubbing the stiffening nipple.

"Mmmmm." Brianna moaned softly, her senses overwhelmed before she could even think about formulating a protest. Her fingers laced through his hair, holding him closer while her body shifted to rub against his.

It was Jon's turn to groan. His free hand coasted down her side and over her hip to grip her thigh and tug it upwards until it draped over his hip. Blunt fingers traced the hem of her skirt then dipped under to leave a trail of fire over her silky skin.

Brianna fought for sanity. "Jon....we....shouldn't....Oh!"

"I know." But he didn't stop. Reaching the top of her thigh, he stroked along her cleft, noting the moisture dampening the silk of her panties.

They froze at the sound of loud knocking on the door. "JB! We're ready for sound check!"

Jon could have cheerfully strangled Obie at that moment. "Fuck!"

Whether he was cursing at the interruption or that it – whatever this was between them - had gone that far, even he couldn't say for sure. He leaned back to look at her, his hair pulling slightly until she let go. Her eyes were closed, her head leaning back against the wall. Beautiful. David named her right. "Sorry."

Brianna just sighed and nodded. Lowering her leg, she released him, but never opened her eyes. When the door closed behind him, she lifted her head and let it bang back against the wall...several times. "This shit has got to stop!" Her eyes burned with unshed tears, the stress of it all beginning to get the best of her.

She made it through the show and back to the hotel where she escaped to the bar as soon as Jon was settled in his room for the night. Ordering a bottle of wine, she found a table in a quiet corner and sat down to try and get her head straight.

That's where David found her. "Hey Beautiful. What are you doing sitting here all alone?" He waved over a waitress and ordered another bottle and glass.

Brianna shrugged. "Just trying to sort through a few things."

David poured himself some wine, considering his words carefully. "Like how to deal with the very strong attraction between you and your boss?"

Brianna choked on her wine. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't try and deny it. It's obvious to anyone to looks. We warned Jon this might happen."

She frowned, fingers tracing the stem of her glass. "It's not the attraction....exactly. I'm an adult. I can control my base urges." Or at least I've been able to up until now. She paused, then muttered. "As long as I'm not being undermined."

She'd spoken quietly, but David heard her. "Undermined by Jon? Or Dot?" He watched her face closely.

Brianna stared at him, trying to figure out how much he knew. "What do you mean, Dot?"

He smiled gently. "She told me about her 'plan'."

Brianna closed her eyes and groaned. "Who else knows?"

"No one that I know of."

"Thank God for small mercies. The last thing I need is for everyone knowing that my boss' wife wants me to sleep with her husband!"

That's not all she wants, but it doesn't sound like she's filled you in on the big picture yet. Probably a smart move on her part. "And you don't want to? I mean, most women would jump at the chance to.......jump him. And you have permission."

"It's not about wanting, it's about what's right. And having his wife's permission doesn't make it right." She laid her head down on the table and groaned. "David, what am I going to do? This whole situation is driving me insane,"

"So....you do want him." It wasn't a question, but he wanted her to say it....admit it ...out loud.

Brianna snorted. "I'm female and I'm breathing, what do you think?"

Ever since Dorothea had told him about her plan, David had spent some time thinking about it. He could see where she was coming from. Brianna was a good match for Jon. She understood his needs, and how his mind worked.....and how to deal with his temper. She was great with the kids, and they liked her. And he sensed there was a backbone there they hadn't had the opportunity to really see yet. If push came, he doubted she'd be shoved too far.

The more he thought about it, the more he thought maybe Dorothea had the right idea - as creepy as the whole dying wife picking her successor thing was. Jon and the kids would need someone, and Brianna filled all the requirements, she just needed a little convincing that it was okay. "Then go for it."

Brianna lifted her head to stare at him. "You're as crazy as Dot is."

"Why? You want it, Jon wants it - don't look at me like that, I see the way he watches you. Dot's all for it. You're not married or in a relationship. What's the down side? Who can get hurt?"

Me if I get in too deep."I may not be married, but he is. And regardless of what Dot says, it's still wrong. Cheating is always wrong." She grimaced and took a large swallow from her glass.

David could hear the echo of past pain in her voice and took a guess. "Been there, had it done to you?" Having recently been through a painful divorce himself, he recognized the signs.

Brianna nodded. "And I swore I'd never do it to someone else. I refuse to be the 'other woman'.

He decided to try a different tack. "Don't think about that way. Think of it as helping out a man in need....and fulfilling a dying woman's wish." When she just stared at him, he shrugged. "It's a thought. Or maybe you should just tear up the sheets a few times and get it out of your systems and it won't be an issue anymore."

Brianna snorted. Hasn't worked so far....just made it worse. "I hear what you're saying, but I don't know if.....I just don't know. I have to live with myself."

David reached out and squeezed her hand. "Such an honest, good woman. We don't see many of those anymore. If it really is more than your conscience can handle, then don't do it. But don't say no because you consider it cheating." He smirked. "Now, if you decide to go for it and he doesn't please you, you let me know and I'll take care of it."

Brianna laughed and squeezed his hand. "Thanks. If I find him.....lacking.....I'll let you know." If the other night was anything to go by, I doubt help will ever be needed.

Neither clarified what he meant by taking care of it.