Jenny & Justin
written by:
Jessamyn

Please note- There is a description of violence in this story. I do not condone or support violence of this nature. I included it in the story to illustrate how Jenny overcomes what happens to her. I again had help with the languages and all the mistakes are my own. To my special friend who also recovered from her own violent situation...you are my hero.

With one last thrust he emptied to in her warm and willing body. Well, into the condom actually. He knew better. He never went without one. Justin O'Leary was too young to be trapped by a woman and a baby. His lusted sated; he rolled off and went to dispose of the condom. Coming out of the bathroom clad in jeans, he saw Marnie look up at him with disappointment.

"I was hoping you would stay the night" Marnie crawled seductively toward the end of the bed, trying her best to convince him it wasn't time to leave.

"Sorry doll, I am working on a case. I have an early morning." Justin pulled his shirt over his head and slipped into his shoes, sealing the deal on his departure.

"Okay. I understand. What are your plans for the weekend?" Marnie was resigned to spending the rest of the night alone so she headed toward the bathroom to freshen up. Marnie was an attractive woman, about 5' 5'' with a small waist and nice, albeit surgically enhanced breasts. Justin flicked a glance at her as she strolled naked to the bathroom but nothing stirred. He sighed. His time with Marnie was coming to an end.

"I am working. Why?"

"I was hoping you wouldn't mind being my date to a party on Saturday night." Marnie walked out the bathroom tying a black silk robe around her. She moved to sit at the edge of the bed.

"Doll, you know I don't do the social thing. I thought we had an understanding." Justin was now positive it was time to end things with her.

"I know it's just..." Marnie allowed her full lips to form a pout.

"It's just what? You figured if we screwed around for a little while I would fall in love with you? This isn't a movie Marnie."

"Wow Justin, you are such an ass. I just figured it would be nice to go out, instead of spending all of our time in the bedroom. I think you should leave now." Marnie tried to hide her tears. She had fallen in love with Justin right after their affair started, and should have known better. She had heard from reliable sources that while Justin O'Leary was a great lay, he was a cold hearted son of a bitch.

"Take care Marnie." Making sure he had his keys and wallet, Justin left her apartment. Well that was delightfulhe thought to himself. Lately, his "relationships" had gotten shorter and even less fulfilling. Sure, the sex was great but soon after the affairs began he immediately wanted to end them. Most men would look at him with jealousy. Justin looked at people like his parents with true envy.

Justin O'Leary was the youngest of the O'Leary children. With five older brothers, his house growing up was always full. His mom Mary and his dad Michael had been married forever and probably loved each other more now than when they got married. You would think with relationship role models like his parents, Justin would be married already. It was just the opposite in fact.

Justin lived in a world of distrust and he didn't complain. It was other's people innate sense of deviousness that kept his bills paid. As a private investigator, he had seen one too many marriages go bust over a cheating spouse. He wasn't signing up for that kind of turmoil. Sure it made him a lonely bastard, but he wouldn't be losing it over a cheating spouse any time soon.

Justin thought about going to his office. With three active cases, something always needed his attention. He also started taking on routine employee background checks for a local Boston company. It was mundane work, but it paid for his house and allowed him to hire an assistant and two additional investigators. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. His assistant Mrs. Patridge was the only woman in his life, besides his mother, who had been with him for longer than six months. She started with him when he first opened, the wife of a retired cop. She was efficient and conscientious. At sixty, she was as sharp as ever. Justin really wanted to head home, but knew there was work to be done. With a sigh, he turned the car toward the office.

Jenny Morse was having issues. A lot of issues. To begin, her car wouldn't start this morning. Despite her pleading and cajoling, the hunk of junk remained parked in the lot at her apartment complex content to stay right where it was. That required Jenny to take the bus to work. As she stepped on the bus, she remembered exactly why she hated the bus. Jenny lived her life in a way not to attract attention. She kept her long black hair pulled back. She wore glasses over her ice blue eyes. She didn't need them to see, but she felt like they gave her a protective barrier. She didn't dress to enhance her figure, settling for ill-fitting suits and sensible low heeled shoes. Despite all of her efforts, men noticed Jenny. She wasn't tall, 5' 7'' but she had a knockout figure that even the most boring clothes couldn't hide. She had curves in all the right places and the nothing could conceal her olive complexion and full, naturally red lips. Those lips weren't smiling when Jenny exited the bus in front of her office. Some of the men on the bus were sitting a little too close for comfort and it took everything Jenny had not to scream at them to back off. Jenny was wary of being touched and anyone who knew what happened in her past wasn't surprised.

Jenny took a deep breath and tried to compose herself before walking into the office. As a paralegal for a prestigious Hartford law firm, she was expected to arrive early and stay late. The hours didn't bother Jenny at all. It saved her from having to go home to her apartment, where she would be alone with her thoughts. Her friends at the firm were constantly inviting her to NYC to go shopping or to a club, but she politely turned them down. At 26 years old, Jenny Morse was one step away from being a recluse.

Justin walked into the office after keying his code. Sitting down at his desk, he booted up his computer. Entering the appropriate passwords, he eyed the list of employee names that the company had provided. He divided the list and appropriated it to his two investigators. He opened another file and reviewed his notes on the Murdock case. Mr. Murdock was paying O'Leary Investigations to search for his granddaughter. Trevor had copious notes from Richard Murdock and his daughter Jeanette.

Jeanette had run away from home at sixteen and gotten pregnant. Finding herself alone, the father of her child running out on her, she left her baby at the hospital. After living on the streets for a year, she returned home. After reconciling with his daughter, her father was determined to find his missing granddaughter. Trevor had a few good leads and noted to follow up on them tomorrow morning. Despite what Jeanette went through, she was candid with Justin, giving him as much detail as she could. He could feel in his gut that this would work out and he would find out what happened to her baby. Justin sighed and turned off the computer. There was nothing he could do but head home.

Jenny's day ended earlier than she thought it would. She was pulled into her bosses' office and given the speech. Even though she was an excellent paralegal, they no longer needed her services. They would supply her with an excellent recommendation letter and she was to leave the cases she was working on with the assistant on her way out. Cleaning out her desk, Jenny was numb. She felt safe at this job and now she had nowhere to go. Trying her best not to cry, she hefted the box with her few personal effects on the bus and got off at the stop near her apartment. As she walked, she came to the conclusion she really had no clue what she was going to do. She had to start over and the thought scared her to death. There was only one person she could turn to. She entered her apartment and went straight for the phone.

"Hello, Patridge residence."

"Hello Miss Lucy."

"Jenny, is that you dear? How are you?" Lucy Patridge knew something was wrong. She could tell by Jenny's tone of voice. But she also knew not to press.

"I am okay Miss Lucy. Actually, I am having some trouble. I am not sure what to do. I was hoping you could give me some advice." Jenny was pacing the floor of her apartment. Miss Lucy was the closest thing to a best friend Jenny had. When Jenny was going through her hard time, it was Miss Lucy who saved her.

"Tell me what's wrong dearest, maybe I can help."

"I lost my job today. I won't be able to afford this place without a job. I am not sure I have any place to turn. I am so sorry to unload this on you Miss Lucy, but I have no one else." Jenny could feel the tears behind her eyelids.

"Jenny, come home to Boston. You can stay with the mister and I. We have an apartment over the garage that has been empty since Nathan moved out. You won't have to worry about anything right away. We live in a good neighborhood and with Harry being an ex-cop you can feel safe here. That way you can concentrate on finding a job."

"Miss Lucy, I can't put you and Harry out like that. You aren't responsible for me."

"Jennifer Marie Morse, of course we aren't responsible for you. But we do love you. Come home to Boston." Mrs. Patridge gave Jenny her best motherly tone.

"Miss Lucy, thank you so much. I will have to talk to the apartment manager. I have two months left on my lease, but I have been a good tenant. I will see what he says before I take you up on your offer. I will call you tomorrow. I love you Miss Lucy."

"I love you too dearest. Call me tomorrow at the office if you need to. You have the number right?"

"Yes ma'am. I will talk to you tomorrow." Lucy hung up the phone. She felt terrible imposing on the Patridge's but she couldn't think of any other way. There were a lot of law firms in Boston, so she wouldn't have trouble finding a job. It was going back there that made her hesitate. It brought a painful wash of memories that made it hard to breathe. Boston was where Lucy was assaulted in her own home by a man she cared about. Unable to keep the tide at bay, everything came back to her.

Jenny was 21 when she first met Roger North. He was older, more mature than the guys she had been dating. She was finishing college when he expressed a romantic interest in her. Jenny couldn't believe a 30 year old man was interested in her. He was handsome, smart and successful. For their first few dates, he treated her like such a lady. Jenny was living in the house her parents owned in the states. They spent the better part of the year cruising the Mediterranean. Roger would take her to dinner and the movies and would leave her at the door with nothing but a good night kiss. Jenny couldn't believe her luck. As things got busier for Jenny at school, she couldn't spend as much time with Roger. At first, he took it in stride. He said he understood. But then strange things started happening. She was getting weird phone calls at home, the caller always hanging up when she picked up. Then she started to feel like someone was following her. She couldn't confirm it, but she felt like someone was ducking around corners looking at her. Jenny chalked it up to paranoia. Until Roger showed up at her door and demanded to come in.

"You cheating whore!" He screamed at her when she let him into the living room.

"Roger! I don't understand what you are talking about?" Jenny backed away from him. She could feel the anger coming off him in waves.

"I treat you like a lady and you are fucking around on me! I saw you talking to that guy in the quad!" He advanced toward her, causing Jenny to back into the kitchen.

"Roger have you been following me?"

"Yes, that's when I saw you flirting with that idiot Brent. Did you sleep with him?"

"No Roger! He is in my class. Why do I have to explain this to you?"

"Because you are mine Jenny and now that I am here, I am going punish you for making me look like a fool." Roger backed her against the kitchen counter and roughly pressed his mouth to hers, thrusting his tongue between her teeth. Jenny pushed on his chest, but that only made him even angrier. He proceeded to hit her, his fist connecting with her face several times. Jenny could hear her teeth rattle and her jaw breaking. He continued to pummel her until she passed out. Satisfied he had punished her enough; Roger left her in a heap on the kitchen floor.

When Jenny awoke, she crawled across the kitchen floor and dialed the police. Passing out again from the pain, she came to when the police were in her kitchen. That is where Jenny met Harry Patridge for the first time. He was the first officer on the scene and rode with her in the ambulance to the hospital. Jenny was scared and clung to him. When she got to the hospital, she was told she had broken ribs and jaw along with a concussion. Harry tried to talk to Jenny, desperately trying to her to name her abuser. She adamantly refused, scared to his answer his questions. Harry left the hospital room and called the only person he could think of to help Jenny, his wife Lucy. She hurried to the hospital and within minutes had comforted Jenny enough to get her to tell Harry about Roger North. From that moment on, Lucy and Jenny shared a bond that was formed in tragedy but sustained by love and caring.

Jenny sat on her couch, shaking. She tried to block out memories of that night, but sometimes bits and pieces broke through her defenses. She tried dating in the 5 years since the attack, but never got over her distrust of men. She remained single and alone. Sighing, she called her landlord. After explaining the situation, offering her security deposit as compensation, he agreed to let her out of the remainder of her lease. There was no going back now. She would call Miss Lucy tomorrow and return to Boston.

Justin arrived bright and early on Tuesday, but no matter how early he came into the office, Mrs. Patridge was always there before him. She had the coffee brewing and had brought home baked coffee cake and put it in the small kitchenette. After saying good morning, he grabbed coffee and a slice of cake and headed for his office. He was expecting a call from one of the nurses at the hospital where Jeanette Murdock had given birth. Downing his coffee cake, he called his associates in his office to give them the list of background checks. As soon as they left, Mrs. Patridge poked her head into his office.

"Justin, I am sorry for the short notice, but I need to leave early."

"Sure Mrs. Patridge. When do you need to go?" Justin was surprised. In the four years she had been working for him, she had never asked to leave early.

"I would like to go right now if that is all right with you." She already had her coat and purse with her.

"Is Harry okay?" Justin was concerned now.

"Harry is fine. I need to go to Hartford to pick up a friend who needs my help. I want to bring her home as soon as possible. Her car is broken, so she needs a ride."

"By all mean Mrs. Patridge, go ahead. Are you taking Harry?"

"No, Harry is out fishing with Nathan. I am going to go by myself."

"I think not. I will take you. I know you are perfectly capable, but Harry would kill me if I let you run off to Connecticut by yourself. Let me forward my calls to my cell phone and we can leave right away." Justin picked up his desk phone and entered the code to forward his calls. He picked up his keys, locked his desk and escorted Mrs. Patridge out of the office. He made sure to shout to his associates that they would be out for the rest of the day. After settling Mrs. Patridge into his black Suburban, he headed toward the interstate.

"Mrs. Patridge. Are you okay? You look very uneasy." She was twisting the strap of her purse and tapping her foot relentlessly.

"I am fine Justin. Just worried about my friend Jenny. She is more like a daughter than a friend. She has found herself having a hard time, so I am taking her home to stay with Harry and me."

"That's nice of you Mrs. Patridge. May I ask what happened?" Justin merged into traffic on 95.

"Justin, while I admire you greatly and you are my boss I would prefer not to discuss Jenny without her permission."

"I understand Mrs. Patridge. And for the record, I also admire you." Justin drove in silence toward Connecticut, only speaking to ask Mrs. Patridge for the address. She gave it to him, and he entered it into the GPS. They spend the rest of the ride to Hartford in silence. Justin took the time to wonder about the mysterious Jenny. He wouldn't have to wonder for long. Two hours later, the GPS announced they were at their destination. They pulled up to an apartment complex and Mrs. Patridge told him to park in front of Unit 2B. He turned off the car and she exited, hurrying up the stairs. Justin got out of the car and leaned against the back of the Suburban. A few minutes later, he caught sight of Mrs. Patridge. She was walking with a woman that nearly took Justin's breathe away. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and Justin had seen a lot of women.

Lucy heard the knock at the door. When she looked through the peephole, see saw it was Miss Lucy. Opening the door, the woman embraced her warmly and Jenny found herself comforted in the way that only Miss Lucy could. She told her she had packed already and was ready to go.

"Jenny, I just want to tell you before we go outside that my boss Justin O'Leary drove me down from Boston. I don't want you to be afraid. He is a very nice man. I didn't tell him anything about you, just that you were my friend and you needed some help. I just don't want you to be surprised when you go outside and see him. Are you okay with that?"

"I am okay Miss Lucy. I am a lot better about things now. Your boss must be a very nice man to drive you all the way down here. Let me grab a box and we can get going. I don't want to keep you in Hartford for too long." Jenny grabbed a box of clothes and followed Miss Lucy down the stairs. They were heading for a black Suburban when she saw the man leaning up against the car. He was so young! When Miss Lucy mentioned that it was her boss, she expected an older gentleman. Instead she got a man, who couldn't be more than 35 with the sharpest green eyes she had ever seen. Along with those eyes was a tall, athletic looking body. He had dark brown hair that had shades of red that showed in the sunlight. He was dressed in jeans and a blue sweater and he was looking right at her. Jenny squared her shoulders, trying not to let the fear of getting in the car with a strange man engulf her.

Justin could see Jenny visibly tense when she caught sight of him. He saw Mrs. Patridge whisper a few words to her and he saw her spine straighten and she continued toward him. Justin continued to look at her. He had never seen such an alluring woman. Her hair was black as midnight, while her eyes were the lightest blue. She was either tanned or had a naturally darker skin tone. She was in one word...stunning. She carried a box in her hand, and as she approached the car he reached for it. She backed away for a moment and then set the box down on the pavement. Justin took this moment to introduce himself.

"Hello Jenny. I am Justin O'Leary. I am a friend of Mrs. Patridge's." He reached out to shake her hand. She hesitated, not wanting to be rude to Miss Lucy's boss and finally placed her hand in his hoping she wasn't trembling. She wasn't doing a good job. Justin noticed the slight tremor, but didn't acknowledge it.

"Mr. O'Leary, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Jenny Morse. Thank you so much for coming down here to get me."

"Call me Justin. No problem. I would do anything for Mrs. Patridge." Justin winked at the older woman and moved to put the box into the Suburban. "Do you have any more boxes Jenny?"

"A few more. I don't have much stuff. If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, I can go get them."

"No need. I can grab them. You get into the car with Mrs. Patridge. It won't take me long." Justin moved across the parking lot toward the stairs. He entered Jenny's apartment, taking note of the boxes on the living room floor. He noticed that the apartment was clean and that apparently the furniture was staying. Jenny was right. She didn't have a lot of stuff. There were only three boxes and a wardrobe bag left. He grabbed a box and the bag and went down the stairs. After loading them into the Suburban, he returned for the other boxes locking the door on his way out. As he got into the truck, he noticed that the hushed conversation between Mrs. Patridge and Jenny came to a halt. It didn't take a PI to know that it stopped because he was present. After stopping at the management office to turn in her keys, they were on the road back to Boston.

They made small talk on the ride. Mrs. Patridge told Jenny a little about the apartment over the garage. She also told her that she could use their extra car to get around town. Justin noticed that Jenny didn't ask any questions about Boston, so he assumed she had been there before. Mrs. Patridge told Jenny how Harry was doing and about her job at O'Leary Investigations.

"That sounds like interesting work Miss Lucy. You must enjoy it." Jenny was in the back of the Suburban, trying hard not to be sick as they got closer to Boston. She was silently thanking Miss Lucy for distracting her with conversation. She also noticed Justin looking at her in the rearview mirror.

"I love my job. I still can't figure out why Justin hired this old lady, but I am glad he did." Miss Lucy looked at Justin with a look that was filled with motherly affection. Miss Lucy seemed to think very highly of Mr. Justin O'Leary.

"Mrs. Patridge, hiring you was the best decision I have ever made. You are indispensable." Justin couldn't help checking the rear view mirror again. While not looking totally relaxed, Jenny looked less like she would be sick.

"You are a dear boy. Jenny, I don't think you will have any trouble finding a job when we get home."

"What did you do in Hartford, Jenny?" Justin wanted to know a little more about Mrs. Patridge's friend.

"I am a paralegal." Jenny took a deep breath as she saw the sign for Boston.

"Mrs. Patridge is right. You won't have any issues finding a job. There are dozens of law firms in Boston." Justin noticed her starting to tense as they entered the city. He wanted to know why it was such a struggle for her to be in Boston.

"Jenny we are almost home. We will get your stuff into the apartment before we head back to the office. There are already fresh linens on the bed. You can get settled and rest. We can have the phone line and cable hooked up tomorrow. Harry and I have a security system on the house, so I will give you the code." Mrs. O'Leary knew security was important to Jenny, so she made sure she mentioned that they had a system. She also knew this was very emotional for her and she would probably want to rest once they got home.

"That sounds lovely Miss Lucy. I want to thank you and Harry again. You always seem to come to my rescue when I need you."

"We both love you dearest. Ahhh we are here." Jenny calmed down significantly when they pulled into the driveway. The Patridge home was in a lovely neighborhood. A rambling Victorian with an attached garage stood at the end of the drive. Jenny immediately felt safer than she had in a long time.

Justin noticed Lucy had visibly relaxed when they arrived at the Patridge's. It was going to be tough, but he was going to figure her out. He liked a challenge, and something about this woman intrigued him. He turned off the car and moved to unload her boxes and bag. Following Mrs. Patridge up the stairs on the side of the garage, he carried her stuff into the small living room. One more trip and all of her stuff was deposited into the apartment. Justin had been in here before, so he knew his way around. He waited in the living room while Mrs. Patridge showed Jenny around. There was a small living room, separated from the kitchen by an island. Down the short hall, there was a bedroom and attached bath. There was one extra room that contained a desk and floor to ceiling bookshelves. Justin had helped Harry paint the apartment when their son Nathan moved out. He rose when the women came back into the living room.

"Justin, I am ready to go back to the office. Jenny, here is the key. I am going to have Harry replace the lock when he comes home. Go get some rest dearest." She kissed Jenny on the cheek and headed out the door. Justin moved to follow her when he felt her hand on his arm. He turned and he was almost bowled over by the look of sadness on her beautiful face.

"Thank you Justin. I understand you are a busy man and to take time out of your day to come get me means a lot." Jenny noticed she was touching him without shaking like a leaf. She couldn't explain why, but he just seemed like a good man. Miss Lucy spoke very highly of him during their brief tour of the apartment.

"You are very welcome Jenny. Feel free to call the office if you need anything." Justin turned and left the apartment. Mrs. Patridge was already in the truck waiting for him. He got in and headed to the office. She thanked him again for bringing her and headed to her desk to get to work. Justin returned some phone calls. He had a great lead on the Murdock case. The nurse had left a message on his voicemail saying that she remembers the little girl and that she had been brought to an orphanage. Her best guess was that the baby was in the foster care system. Justin called his contact in the foster care system. Explaining the situation, his contact promised to call him back as soon as he could dig something up. Justin didn't want to hope, but it was promising. His thoughts now wandered to Jenny. She was hauntingly beautiful, but something at some time had frightened her. She looked wounded. Justin tried to avoid wounded women; they usually carried to much baggage for him to deal with. But there was something about Jenny Morse that made him want to hold her, to try to fix whatever made her so sad and scared. He thought about doing some research on her, but deep down he knew he had to get the answers another way. And if you knew Justin O'Leary, he would get his answers.

Jenny unpacked all of her stuff. Three measly boxes and a garment bag was all she had from her life in Hartford. She put away her stuff neatly and went into the kitchen for a glass of water. While she drank, she thought about Justin O'Leary. He was handsome, but then again, so was Roger. She shook her head. She had to stop doing that. She was going to be alone forever if she compared every man to Roger. She had only been intimate with one man because of her fear of being touched. She could no longer be a prisoner inside herself. Finishing her water, she went to the bedroom to lie down. As she fell asleep, she vowed to make the best of this. She wasn't going to allow being back in Boston scare her. She was safe here with Miss Lucy and Harry. She also felt an odd sense of safety being around Justin O'Leary. Jenny fell asleep in her new place and for once slept dreamlessly.

"Mrs. Patridge, could you come see me please." Justin called out the office door to her. Her desk was located in the small lobby right outside his office. She walked in with a notebook and pen, prepared to take notes. He motioned to the chair and asked her to sit.

"What can I do for you Justin?" Mrs. Patridge took her seat and flipped open her notebook.

"Mrs. Patridge, I know you said you wouldn't tell me about Jenny without her permission. I respect that. But I also noticed how frightened she was on our way back to Boston. I know I might be pressing our friendship, but I would really like to know why Jenny is so scared. Now, you know I could just find out for myself, but because I respect you more than that so I decided to just ask."

Mrs. Patridge took a deep breath. "I am aware you could have found out the answers yourself, especially since you know her name, address and profession. I appreciate you not taking it upon yourself to research her. Besides, what you would find would best be explained by someone who was there, not by a bunch of records you could access." She proceeded to tell Justin Jenny's whole story. When it came to the part about Roger assaulting her, Justin's hands clenched with anger. He couldn't fathom ever hitting a woman, especially someone as delicate as Jenny.

Mrs. Patridge continued with story, telling him that Harry was the responding officer to Jenny's 911 call and that he phoned his wife desperate to have someone come to the hospital to comfort Jenny. Justin was now fully aware of Jenny's fear of returning to Boston. It probably brought painful memories to the surface for her. Justin felt his gut clench. While he normally would have shied away from someone with this kind of history, he felt his heart ache for Jenny. He thanked Mrs. Patridge for telling him. She left his office and returned to her desk. He picked up the phone and made a call. He found out Roger North was currently serving a 10 year sentence for aggravated assault and stalking. Apparently, Jenny wasn't his only victim. Other woman had come forward during his trial, but it was Jenny's brutal attack that had truly convinced the jury to lock him away. Justin was glad the man was in jail because if he could find Roger North he would probably beat the hell out of him. Justin felt the anger simmer inside of him. Men like North disgusted him.

Jenny awoke from her nap. She took in her surroundings for a minute. The apartment was very cozy. She rose to go to the bathroom to splash some water on her face. As she dried it with a hand towel, she heard a knock on the door. Her heart raced for a minute, before she told herself she was being an idiot. She moved through the living room and went to the door. Pushing aside the curtain, she was greeted by Harry's smiling face. She turned the lock and opened the door. Harry hesitated before entering. He moved through the door, entering the living room with a bag from the hardware store. He put it down and turned to greet her.

"Hello sweetheart."

"Hello Harry." Much to Harry's surprise, she moved to hug him. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tightly. She didn't stiffen and he relaxed and moved his hand up to brush her hair.

"We are very glad you are here Jenny. We want you to stay as long as you like. I am going to change out the lock and give you a key. Lucy and I will keep a spare locked in the toolbox in the garage. No one else will have one. You will be safe here sweetheart." He continued to hug her, soothing her in a fatherly way.

"Thank you so much Harry. You and Miss Lucy are the best people I know. I already feel safe here." She stepped away from him. Harry noticed that she looked as beautiful as ever, despite her ordeal.

"No need to thank us. Lucy is having a terrible case of empty nest syndrome since Nathan left. And he wasn't even living in the house. He was just here for a little while during his residency. Having you here will be good for both of us. Now let me get this lock installed." Harry moved to work on the door. Jenny sat on the couch to watch. She asked him about Nathan, how he like retirement and to her surprise she also asked him about Justin O'Leary.

"Nathan is good. He is in Boston doing his residency. Retirement is boring, but I have been getting a lot of things done around the house. As for Justin, to be completely honest with you, I haven't met a finer young man. He gave Lucy a job that she loves, he pays her a good wage but on top of that he makes her feel useful. I do hear he has quite reputation with the ladies. I don't want to say a "love them and leave them" kind of guy, but it seems it to me. Lucy on the other hand says he is searching for someone to complete him. She watches too many movies. Well there ya go Jenny, this lock is all set." Harry got up and handed her the key. He also gave her the spare key to the small Toyota parked in the garage. When she started to protest he told her they had bought it for Nathan a long time ago and now it wasn't getting used. They wouldn't miss it if she used it.

"Harry, do you think it would be okay if I went to go see Miss Lucy? I would really like to see if she could recommend some places I could submit my resume. I really want to get started looking for a job."

"I don't think it would be a problem sweetheart. She could probably use a coffee break anyway. Tell you what, I will bring you down. We can pick up drinks for the whole office and while you talk to Lucy I can head to The Harp and have a chat with Mike O'Leary."

"That sounds great. What is The Harp?"

"The Harp is an Irish pub. Mike and Mary O'Leary own it. They are Justin's parents. Good friends of Lucy and me. Are you ready to go Jenny or did you need a minute?"

Jenny realized she was still in sweatpants and a tee shirt. Excusing herself she changed into jeans and a cream sweater. After throwing her long black hair in a ponytail, she went back into the living room ready to leave. Harry waited while she gathered her purse and followed her out, locking the door behind him. They climbed into the old Chevy and headed for O'Leary Investigations. They stopped briefly for coffees. Harry stopped in front of the building and let Lucy out. After telling her to take to her time, just call him when she was ready, he left for The Harp. Jenny balanced the coffee, trying to reach for the door when she saw Miss Lucy rush to open it. Helping her with one of the trays, she showed Jenny to her desk.

"Jenny my dearest! You look well rested. And you brought coffee. You truly are an angel. Boys, there is coffee out here! I swear Jenny; I can't keep that pot full. These guys drink it by the gallon." Two gentlemen walked out of the door to the left of the lobby. One was average, about 5'6''. He carried a little extra weight around his middle, but smiled at her appreciatively and thanked her for the coffee. The other man looked Jenny up and down for a minute. He was a little more attractive, taller with an athletic build. He also thanked her for the coffee and they both retreated back to the office.

"So what brings you around dear? I thought you would be getting settled?" Miss Lucy sipped her coffee and motioned for Jenny to sit in one of the plush chairs in front of her desk.

"Miss Lucy, I really need to find a job. I hate being idle. I was hoping, since you knew so many people, you might be able to give me some direction on where to inquire?" Jenny sipped her coffee and settled back into the comfortable chair.

"Of course Jenny! It may take me a few days, but I am sure I can drum up some leads for you." Miss Lucy continued to sip her coffee, not quite meeting Jenny's eye.

"Miss Lucy, is there something wrong?"

"Jenny. I really hope you don't get angry with me. Justin asked me what happened to you, and I told him. I am so sorry. Please don't be upset." Miss Lucy started tearing up.

"Oh Miss Lucy, its okay. I understand he was probably curious, and I am sure he wanted to confirm I wasn't here to take advantage of you and Harry. I am truly not mad Miss Lucy, I promise." Jenny put down her coffee and went around the desk to hug the older woman.

"Oh I am so glad you aren't upset with me. Justin is a fine man, but he also sees everything. I suppose it is the line of work he is in." And before Jenny could stop her, Miss Lucy called for Justin.

"Justin, Jenny is here and she brought coffee!"

Jenny found herself nervous once again. Miss Lucy and Harry swore that Justin was a good guy, but even Harry himself said Justin liked the ladies. Jenny wasn't going allow herself to get to know him beyond what was polite. Apparently, her mind wasn't communicating with her heart, because it started racing the minute he walked into the lobby.

"Hello Jenny. Did I hear you brought coffee? Thank you." He reached for the cup and took a long swallow. He glanced at Jenny while he drank. She looked rested and even more beautiful. The ponytail gave her a youthful appearance, but he was very aware that she was all woman.

"You are welcome. I hope you don't mind me dropping in. I wanted a word with Miss Lucy."

"Of course I don't mind. You are welcome to come by any time." He winked at her and Jenny held her breath. He knew about her past, and didn't seem to be treating her any different. She found that the people who knew what happened had a tendency to treat her like she was made of glass. She actually found it very comforting that he was doing just the opposite.

"Thank you. Miss Lucy, I will get going. Harry dropped me off and told me to call him when I was ready. He headed somewhere called The Harp." Jenny reached for her purse and before she could grab it, Justin handed it to her. She smiled at him and Justin felt like he was punched in the gut. Her smile lit up her eyes, making them shimmer. He returned the smile, and finished his coffee.

"You know Mrs. Patridge...I can walk Jenny to The Harp. I am sure Harry and my parents are talking each other's ears off. Plus, I think I will have a drink to celebrate closing the Murdock case." He smiled at her look of happiness.

"Oh Justin! You did it! Jeanette will be so happy. Good job boss! You deserve an early day. Jenny, The Harp isn't far. Say hello to the O'Leary's for me." She shooed them out of the office, and resumed working on her part of officially closing a case.

They walked in silence for a few minutes. Surprisingly, it was Jenny who broke the silence.

"Miss Lucy let me know she told you what happened to me." Jenny turned to look at him.

"Yes she did. Don't be mad at her. I could have found out on my own, but out of respect for her and you I asked her. I am sorry that happened to you." Jenny saw a brief flash of anger in his emerald eyes.

"Thank you. It was a long time ago, but the wounds are still there. They are healing though. So tell me, how did you become a PI?"

"I kind of fell into it I guess. I am the youngest of six, all boys. Naturally curious, always wanting answers. I figured I might as well get paid for it." Justin motioned for her to turn down a side street. They were only a few blocks from The Harp.

"Wow, five brothers. I don't have any siblings. My parents spend most of the year on a boat. I don't think they have been back to the states in years."

"Well, it isn't all it is cracked up to be. There was always a fight for the bathroom. And hand me downs..ugh" He gave a mock shiver.

"Do you have any nieces and nephews?"

"I have several. My brother Trevor and I are the only unmarried O'Leary boys, though I think I will be the only one soon. I think Trevor is thinking about popping the question to his girlfriend Vicki." Justin could hide his contempt for Vicki. He didn't like her, and as soon as she found out more about his brother's financial situation he figured he would dislike her even more.

"I take it you either don't like her or don't like marriage in general?" Jenny could see the sign for The Harp about a block away.

"I don't like her. And I am undecided about marriage. I see a lot in my business. I suppose it has made me a cynic when it comes to happily ever after. I would guess after what happened to you, you feel the same?" Trevor reached to open the door for her.

"Ahh Justin that is where you couldn't be more wrong. After what I went through, all I am looking for is happily ever after." She whispered softly and smiled at him. Justin couldn't believe after suffering at the hands of a man, she could still believe in love. He admired her resilience and her rear end as she spotted Harry and trotted toward him. He followed after her, but instead of stopping at the bar he moved to go around it. His mother and father spotted him immediately and came rushing toward him.

"Mo chuisle! We didn't see you come in. How are you?" His Ma wrapped him in a fierce hug.

"I am good Mathair.How is business?"

"Good mo muhc. We were just talking to Harry about getting together for dinner." Mary looked over at Harry as she mentioned his name. She noticed there was a lovely lass sitting next to him.

"Justin, who is that talking to Harry?" Justin's father Michael came up behind Mary.

"That is Jenny. She is a friend of theirs who came to stay with them. Mrs. Patridge and I picked her up from Hartford this morning." Justin reached to pour himself a Guinness.

"Justin Donal O'Leary! I raised you better than that! Go ask that lovely young woman if she would like something to drink and introduce us!" Justin colored as his mother chastised him. He put down the Guinness and headed to where Harry and Jenny sat.

"Jenny, I would like you to meet my mother Mary and my father Michael. Ma and Dad, this is Jenny Morse."

"Ahh Jenny, it is a pleasure to meet you lass. Mo muhc tells me that you are friends of Harry and Lucy." Jenny smiled at the woman. She had soft smile, emerald eyes and the loveliest red hair. She reached to shake her hand over the bar. She also turned so smile at Mike O'Leary. He shook her hand, and then raised her hand to his lips to kiss it. She giggled at the gentlemanly gesture.

"Yes, we have been friends for a long time. Harry also tells me that you are also friends of theirs. It is a real pleasure to meet both of you. You have a lovely pub here."

"Thank you lass. We like it. Justin, don't just stand there. Ask the lady what she wants to drink!" Mary swatted him with a bar towel. He bent to kiss his Mom on the cheek and turned to Jenny to ask what she would like.

"Water will be fine thank you. " Justin poured her a water and went back to retrieve his Guinness. He didn't return right away, instead he watched as Jenny, Harry and his parents laughed and conversed. He was amazed by how her smile lit up her whole face. But, Jenny was a complicated woman and he avoided complications at all cost. He couldn't deny he was attracted to her. But there were a lot of other women with a lot less baggage. He sipped his Guinness and returned to the conversation. She noticed his approach and smiled at him. He nodded and smiled back.

He has a devastating smile Jenny thought. She actually felt the stirring of sexual attraction. It was an unfamiliar feeling. She hadn't thought about a man sexually in a long time. There was a time in her life where even being touched gave her the shakes. She briefly wondered if being touched by Justin would cause tremors of another kind. Shaking the thought off, she finished her water.

"Well Jenny, I think we should be heading home. Mary and Mike, it was nice to see you. Give us a call about dinner soon." Harry left a few bills on the bar and slipped from the stool. Jenny said her goodbyes and followed him out the door. As they walked out, she noticed the man walking in looked a lot like Justin, but taller. Jenny didn't give it any more thought as she followed Harry to the truck and they started for home.

Trevor O'Leary was surprised to see his brother behind the bar. He said hello to his Ma and Dad, answered their questions about Vicki and then they moved off to take care of customers leaving him to talk with Justin.

"Hey bro. What's going on?" Trevor reached for the Guinness Justin had poured for him.

"Nothing. How's Vicki?" Justin tried to keep his tone light, but he could help the acidity that crept through.

"Fine. How's what's her name..uh Marnie?"

"I am not sure. We aren't together any more. Did you tell Vicki yet?" Justin didn't need to elaborate any further. Trevor knew what he was referring to.

"Not yet. We are going to go away for the weekend. I am going to bring the book with me. Sorry to hear about Marnie."

"Things happen. Good luck with Vicki." Justin meant it. Trevor seemed to have similar issues with women that Justin had, except Trevor was having a hard time finding one who didn't want him for his money. Justin couldn't find one he felt like trusting.

"Justin, this is getting ridiculous. You are going to end up a cantankerous old man with fifty dogs and a cane."

"That's pushing it Trev. You don't see what I see. Wives cheating on their husbands, the husband banging the secretary. You would think twice about getting involved. I just met a woman today who was beat up by a guy she dated."

"Really? How did you meet her?" Trevor wasn't stupid. Justin's demeanor changed slightly when he mentioned the woman.

"She is a friend of Mrs. Patridge's. We brought her home to Boston this morning. Her name is Jenny Morse."

"Is she pretty?"

"What does it matter? She is definitely not looking, and I am not good at patching up the wounded. Hell, I am usually the one doing the wounding." He thought of Marnie. He knew he had upset her, but he knew he didn't belong with her.

"How do you know she isn't looking? Just because she had a bad experience, doesn't mean that she doesn't want a relationship. In the matter of fact, she probably wants someone to show her what love can be like. You think you know so much. You have a prime example of love in Ma and Dad." Trevor finished his Guinness and signaled for Justin to build him another.

"Ma and Dad are a special case. They were meant for each other." Justin gave him back a full glass.

"Yeah" Trevor snorted. "I suppose it could only be them. What about John and Mel? Paul and Dani? Graham and Nat?" Trevor was naming off some of their very happily married brothers.

"Listen Trev..." before Justin could continue, Trevor interrupted him.

"No you listen. I may not find what I am looking for in Vicki, but at least I am trying. You get with these women on purpose, because you know they aren't right for you. You use your job as an excuse, as a way to sabotage yourself. You deserve better. It is about time you realized it. I am going to say goodbye to Ma and Dad" He slapped a few bills on the counter and walked away.

Justin was stunned. Not because his brother called him out, but because he was right. He was making his own misery and it needed to stop. He went to the back of the bar and made a call. He knew his brother Paul would know someone in the law business. He and his wife owned a travel agency and were constantly setting up company retreats. After a few minutes on the phone, he had a few names. Satisfied, he said goodbye to his parents and headed home. He went to bed thinking about Jenny. He didn't have much experience with fragile women, but he was damn sure going to try his best with her.

Jenny spent her first night in the apartment above the garage. She slept through the whole night and woke up rested. She looked out the window and saw that both Harry and Miss Lucy were already gone. She went to the kitchen to make a quick breakfast. As she ate, she formulated a plan. She was going to pound the pavement until she found work, she would take anything at this point. It turns out that she didn't even have to leave the kitchen. Miss Lucy called while she was rinsing her dishes.

"Jenny dearest, I have some names for you. I even called a few and they were very interested in taking a look at your resume. Do you have a pad and pen?" She waited until Jenny confirmed that she was ready and she listed the names and contact info for her. Jenny wrote furiously. Five names, which was a good start.

"Thank you Miss Lucy. This is great."

"Don't thank me Jenny. Justin gave me these names when he came in this morning. He seemed determined to help. He is in a strange mood today. He had me clear out a bunch of names from his address book. Said he was starting fresh. Lord only knows what that means." Mrs. Patridge had noted they were numbers of all of Justin's previous conquests. She didn't tell Jenny that bit of information though. She had to keep something close to the vest.

"Well, starting fresh is always good. I feel like I am doing that myself. I think I am going to get dressed and drop off my resume to some of these firms. Would you like to meet for lunch?" Jenny mentally reviewed her wardrobe. She still had a few suits and a few pairs of high heeled pumps. She usually avoided dressing that way, but they fit her better than the other stuff she wore. She had to make a good impression.

"Lunch would be lovely. Does noon work?"

"Noon would be perfect. I will see you later. Have a good day Miss Lucy." Jenny hung up and ran into the bedroom. She decided to take a quick shower, giving her time to do her hair and compose her outfit. Standing in front of the mirror in a towel, she decided a French twist would be the best way to go. Gathering all of her waist length hair, she turned it into a tight spiral and secured it to her head with bobby pins. Satisfied it would stay, she moved to her closet. Rejecting some of her more frumpy outfits, she reached for the black pinstripe skirt and matching jacket. The skirt ended just below her knee, flaring out slightly. Adding a light blue blouse, she topped it all off with black high heels. After checking her appearance in the mirror, she added a small silver earrings and a simple silver chain. She made sure she had several copies of her resume, along with her recommendation letters. Armed and ready to go, she found the Toyota parked in the garage. As she headed downtown, she couldn't help but have a good feeling about today. It was nice of Justin to give Miss Lucy those names. It was also nice that he was thinking about her. It made Jenny tingle a little when she thought about Justin. Before she could think about it anymore, she found herself at her first destination. After meeting with the contact she was provided, she was confident when she headed to the next firm.

After all five firms, she had a good feeling about at least three of them. She checked her watch and realized it was five minutes to noon. She turned the car and headed for O'Leary Investigations. She walked in the door at noon exactly. She was surprised to see Harry waiting in the lobby. He was talking to Justin, who looked incredible in a dark grey suit, white shirt and red tie. They both smiled at her when she approached.

"Hello Justin, Harry. How are you today?"

"I am fine Jenny. I came to surprise Lucy and bring her to lunch." Harry held a bouquet of flowers behind his back.

"Well that is just lovely. I just popped in to say hello." Jenny didn't want to tell him that she was here to go to lunch with Miss Lucy. She didn't want to ruin his surprise.

"That's nice of you Jenny. Might I say, you look lovely." Harry leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. Justin took the opportunity to look her over. Lovely wasn't the word. Spectacular was more like it. She was wearing clothes that fit...and in all the right places. The skirt hugged her hips and showed off her muscled calves. The shirt gave her a hint of cleavage and the jacket emphasized her small waist.

"Thank you. I was pounding the pavement for a job. I think I got some good leads. Ahh, here comes Miss Lucy." Jenny nodded toward Lucy, who was coming from the storage area in the back. Jenny smiled when Miss Lucy noticed Harry and the flowers. Her face lit up with a smile and her eyes filled with love for her husband. Before she could say anything about having other lunch plans, Jenny cut her off.

"Miss Lucy, it looks like you have quite a handsome lunch date. You better get going. He looks anxious."

"But Jenny.." Miss Lucy stopped when Jenny winked at her.

"Go on Mrs. Patridge, enjoy your lunch. I think that I am going to take Jenny to a fancy restaurant and show her that I am not a complete Neanderthal." Justin smiled at Jenny's look of confusion. This woman was going to be tough, but then again Justin never backed down when he wanted something.

"Justin that would be such a good idea. You should try that lovely restaurant on 8th street. I hear rave reviews. And both of you look like you are dressed for the occasion. Come along Harry, I feel like Italian. How about you?" Miss Lucy laced her arm through Henry's and headed for the door. As she walked past Jenny, she winked and smiled. Harry opened the door for his wife and they went out into the sunshine holding hands and laughing.

Jenny's heart warmed at the sight. She always wanted something like the Patridge's had. Someone to love, to come home to each night. Roger North might have beaten her physically, but she was trying like hell not to let him beat her spirit. She turned to Justin and he was smiling at her.

"They are a sight aren't they?" referring to the Patridge's. "It makes me believe that there is someone out there like that for me. Shall we go to lunch?" Justin held out his arm, really wanting her to accept.

"Justin, you don't have to take me to lunch. It is a very nice offer, but I wouldn't want you to feel obligated."

"Jenny, one of the many things you will come to learn about me is that I never do something unless I want to. And I want to take you to lunch." His voice had dropped an octave and was deadly serious.

"Well then, I accept your invitation. I am ready to go if you are." She put her arm through his like she had done it a thousand times. There was no tremor of fear, no hesitation. Justin's heart soared. Someone, somewhere saw fit to give Justin O'Leary a chance with this woman. He wasn't going to screw it up.

"I think I will take Mrs. Patridge's advice and take you to Marjorie's. It is not that long of a walk, but we can also drive if you would like."

"A walk is just fine. I did miss Boston in the fall. It was my favorite time of year."

"Mine too. When the heat of summer fades away and the air gets nice and crisp, it makes me want to build a fire" Justin lead her out the door and locked up the office. Before Jenny could protest, his slipped his large and into her slender one and started walking.

"You are quite the paradox Justin O'Leary. You seem awfully tough on the outside, but I am thinking that may not hold true on the inside." Jenny tilted her face up to the autumn sun and drank in the warmth. Justin just stared. The sun shone over slightly olive skin, and made her hair gleam like polished onyx.

"If I tell you a secret, do you promise to keep it?" He smiled at her when she nodded her agreement.

"I am sure you have heard about my reputation. Don't deny it, people talk. I am also sure you got an earful about my family when you came to The Harp. I won't lie to you Jenny, I have been with my share of women and as callous as it sounds I never loved them. I cared about them, but never love. And my secret is..that is all I want. I want what my brothers have. What my parents and the Patridge's have. I want a wife and kids. I have the house with the picket fence already, so I just want someone to share it with. And to be honest, I am not sure what else. I kind of just came to these realizations quite recently." He looked a little sheepish at his confession. He felt he had to be honest with her. If he pushed her away, then he would have to deal with the consequences.

"What made you decide that you wanted all of his?" Jenny was startled, to say the least, by his impromptu confession.

"When I saw you at the bar. You were laughing a joking with my parents. It kind of reminded me when one of my sisters in law comes to visit. It all looked very natural. It let me know I was missing something. Plus, my brother told me off." He laughed.

"Are you trying to tell me something Justin?" Jenny tugged on his hand, forcing him to turn to her.

"I am usually much better at this. I am telling you something. I want to get to know you Jenny. I want to take you on dates, send you flowers. I want to be one of the people you turn to. I want to cook you dinner and then make out with you on my couch. I want to be able to call you when I am thinking about you. "

"You barely know me Justin. " Jenny tried to pull her hand away, but he gently tugged her closer to him. She was forced against his chest and she felt a slight stirring of panic. Justin could feel her tense. He berated himself and gave her some room. Tread lightly O'Leary. Do this right.

"Jenny, I would never hurt you. They only way I would ever put my hands on you is in a loving way. I won't take what you aren't willing to give. And I can give you time...all the time you need." His body language was contradicting his words. He was taut as a bow, and he was getting aroused from having her so close. She smelled like flowers and he wanted to breathe her in.

"Justin. Miss Lucy told you what happened to me. I am doing my best to overcome it, but I still find myself having moments. It may not be worth it to you to try." Jenny looked in his eyes, and saw them darken with intensity.

"Jenny Morse, may I kiss you?"

Jenny couldn't contain her surprise. She also answered before she could think.

"Yes..." and before she could finish his lips were on hers. It was a soft kiss, his lips pressing gently to hers. For a few moments, just their lips met. Slowly, Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. He still didn't touch her. She moved in to press herself to him and then his control broke. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand coming up to stroke the back of her neck. They kissed for what seemed like an eternity, before Justin gently pulled away.

"There is no way you can tell me that isn't worth it. Now let's go to lunch." Wrapping his arms around her waist, they walked to the restaurant. I feel so comfortable in his arms. It has been so long.Jenny moved closer to his side and he bent down and kissed her forehead. As they reached the restaurant, he opened the door and followed her in. They waited for a few minutes and found themselves seated at a small table toward the back of the restaurant. The waiter came to give them menus and asked them if they wanted beverages. After ordering glasses of iced tea, the waiter left them to peruse the menu.

"I haven't eaten here before, so I can't recommend anything. But it does get rave reviews, so I think they we will have good luck with just about anything on the menu." Justin gave it a once over and settled on the baked cod. Jenny thought that sounded good and ordered the same. The waiter came and delivered their tea and took their order for lunch. Jenny sipped her tea and noticed Justin was staring at her.

"Do I have something on my face?" She laughed.

"No. You are beautiful. I am just wondering how I got so lucky to have you as a lunch date." He grinned when she blushed.

"You have a way with words Justin O'Leary." Jenny could feel herself warming at the compliment.

"I only speak the truth. So, would you tell me more about you? I am sure you heard plenty about me from my parents." Justin sipped his tea and reached for her hand across the table. Not prone to public displays of affection, he was surprising himself every minute he was with Jenny. Kissing her on the sidewalk, now holding her hand in the restaurant.

"Well, I am 26. I will be 27 the day after Christmas. I went to Boston University, where I studied to be a paralegal. I think I told you I don't have any siblings and my parents live on a boat that they sail around the Mediterranean. I hear from them often, but they have no desire to become landlubbers any time soon. I was born in Boston. I traveled with them for a while as a child, but as soon as I became school aged they enrolled me in boarding school. I speak French, Spanish and Portuguese. I love peanut butter and hate the dark"

"Well, that was quite informative. Can I ask what ethnic background you are? Your skin is an amazing color." He was rubbing her hand, admiring the very skin he was asking about.

"My father is American, mostly of English decent. My mother is Portuguese. That is where my coloring comes from I suppose. My mother has a very dark complexion, while my father is the complete opposite with brown hair and blue eyes. They met when my father was traveling in Lisbon. He said he saw her on the road, walking with some groceries from the market and he knew she was meant to be his. They were married a short time after in both Portugal and the states. " Jenny smiled when she thought of her parents. People may have thought she might have felt abandoned by their constant need to travel, but she was always well taken care of and she knew they loved her dearly.

"Wow. How was your father so sure?" Justin didn't release her hand, even as the waiter set down their lunch.

"He said he followed her into a store and heard her talking with the shopkeeper. When he entered, she smiled at him. He said he felt that smile in his very soul. And then she laughed and he said that is what sealed the deal."

"Your mother must be quite a woman, but that doesn't surprise me. She has quite a daughter." He winked at her and started to eat his lunch. Jenny took a bite of her cod and agreed that it was delicious. They talked some more, she found why he became a private investigator, what he did in his free time when he had it. Justin found out that Jenny liked to bake and loved movies especially comedies. Halfway through her meal, Jennie excused herself to go to the rest room.

After washing her hands, Jenny checked her hair to make sure the pins were staying. As she fussed, another woman came to the sink and did the same thing. Just before Jenny turned to leave, the woman called out to her.

"I see you are here with Justin O'Leary...are you a client of his?" The woman tucked an errant strand of hair behind her hear as she spoke.

"No, I am a friend. Why do you ask?"

"Justin doesn't usually venture outside the bedroom with most women. At least he didn't when I was screwing him last week. I am a Marnie. I am the last notch on the bedpost...the one before yours." The woman smiled cruelly at Jenny. Jenny moved to leave the bathroom and the woman followed her. Jenny figured she was returning to her own table, but a minute later she was wrong. Jenny sat down and Marnie materialized at Justin's elbow.

"Hello lover, miss me?" Marnie purred and rubbed her hand up Justin's arm. Justin pulled his arm away and shot her a look.

"Hello Marnie. It's nice to see you. Have you met Jenny Morse?" He reached across the table for Jenny's hand.

"We met in the ladies room. So Justin, I was thinking about our arrangement. I am willing to go back to your terms. Very willing."

"Marnie, it is nice to see you again. But I have no desire to sleep with you again. Jenny and I are dating, and really must keep all of my focus on making her happy. I am sorry our arrangement ended on such a sour note, considering it was my fault but I would appreciate if you would allow me to finish my date uninterrupted." Justin squeezed Jenny's hand. He hoped this little scene with Marnie wouldn't make her change her mind about him.

"Well Justin, it seems you have made quite a turnaround in what...less than a week? Take my advice Jenny Morse, while he may not sleep with someone else when he is screwing you...he will move onto greener pastures. Well, in your case whoever was available." Marnie shot a scathing look at Jenny and returned to her table. Jenny looked from her retreating form to Justin. He looked a little sad.

"Are you okay?" Jenny moved her chair so she was sitting face to face with him.

"Did she screw this up for me? Not that I blame her, I didn't end things well with her. But that was a little uncalled for. She had no reason to insult you."

"I need to ask you. Did you ever make a promise to Marnie that you never intended to keep? Did you promise her a relationship and didn't follow through?"

"No. Marnie was aware from the start what we were about. Towards the end, she wanted something more. I will admit that I ended it badly but no I never make a promise I don't intend to keep." Justin grasped both her hands and scooted on his seat toward her. She looked in eyes and knew he was telling the truth. She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. When she pulled away he smiled.

"Thank you Jenny. I am sorry about that. Can I ask you. Do I have a chance with you?"

"Are you free on Friday night?" Jenny moved her seat back to the other side of the table and finished her lunch.

"I just so happen to be free. Would you like to go see a movie with me?" Justin felt like a teenager asking out his first crush. He practically held his breath until she answered.

"I would love to. There is a new comedy coming out on Friday I would like to see. Would you be interested?" Jenny pushed aside her plate. Her stomach was full of butterflies, she couldn't take another bite.

"I am very interested. Why don't you find out when it is playing and let me know when to pick you up. Are you all done?"

"Yes I am. Lunch was delicious. Thank you." Justin signaled for the check. After paying and leaving the tip, he reached for her hand and they walked back to the office. They arrived just as Henry and Lucy returned from lunch. Mrs. Patridge couldn't hold back the look of surprise when she saw them holding hands.

"Hello boss. Did you have a good lunch?" Mrs. Patridge kissed Henry goodbye and shooed him on his way. Shouting a reminder to go to the hardware store, she unlocked the office and all three of them entered the lobby.

"Yes we did. The restaurant was great, the company was even better." He winked at Jenny and squeezed her hand.

"Yes it was great. And now, I am going to head home and allow you both to get back to work. Justin thank you again for lunch." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. After hugging Miss Lucy, she left the office and drove to the apartment. After changing her clothes, she decided to call her parents and let them know she was back in Boston. While Jenny was catching up, Mrs. Patridge was giving Justin the third degree.

"So what happened on your lunch?" She followed Justin into his office.

"I have a date on Friday." He grinned at her shock. She had never seen Justin "date".

"With Jenny?"

"Of course with Jenny. I am surprised she agreed after Marnie had a tantrum in the restaurant. I know what you are thinking Mrs. Patridge, but I am not going to hurt Jenny. It is not the same with her as it was with the others. I am drawn to her. I know all about what happened to her, while I can't change it I want to do my best to show her that I am different."

"Justin, take care of her. She is toughening up, but she is still fragile. She is taking a chance on you. Please don't make her regret it."

"Mrs. Patridge I appreciate that you worry about Jenny, but please believe me. This is different. She brings out feelings in me I didn't think I was capable of having. We work in a business where most of the time we see the worst in people. Jenny gives me hope that even though we are sometimes knee deep in the worst of it, there is always someone there to make you feel better about it all. Jenny makes me feel that way."

"Oh Justin, I knew there was a reason that you chose the women that you did. None of them were right for you, especially that Marnie. With that being said, enjoy your date on Friday. I am going back to work." She smiled at him and returned to her desk. Justin took a look at the background reports his associates had run and emailed their findings to the client. He returned a few voicemails and asked Mrs. Patridge to set up a meeting with a potential client. Finding that he was pretty much caught up, he had an idea for a surprise for Jenny. But he would need some help. Picking up the phone, he dialed his mom.

"Thank you for calling The Harp, may I help you?"

"Hello Maithair it's Justin." He knew it was his Ma without her saying so. She had the soft Irish lilt that never went away.

"Hello mo muhc!How are you?"

"I am good Maithair but I need a favor mas e do thoil e"

"Of course Justin. What do you need?" Mary couldn't remember the last time her youngest asked her for anything.

"I need some cookies for Friday. I have a date."

"A date! With who?" Mary was shocked..and hoped it wasn't one of Justin's usual ladies.

"Jenny Morse, you met her at the bar the other day. We are going to the movies on Friday and I was hoping you could make me some peanut butter cookies to bring when I picked her up." Justin remembered Jenny mentioned that she like peanut butter.

"Of course. I will make them fresh on Friday. You can pick them up in the afternoon. Jenny was the young woman here with Harry. She is a lovely lass. So nice...but a little haunted. Did she have a bad time?" Justin hesitated, but decided that telling his mom would be a good idea. He trusted her opinion. So he told her what had happened to Jenny. His mom gasped a few times, but didn't interrupt him. He finished and asked her what she thought.

"She needs you mo chuisle.She doesn't seem like a needy woman, but every woman wants to be loved the right way, by the right man. I will make your cookies and you take this Jenny out. I have a feeling about this. Now I must go, your Athair needs some help. Ta gra agam duit Justin.

"I love you too Ma. Go raibh maith agat." Justin hung up the phone and decided to call it a day. He left the office, saying goodbye to Mrs. Patridge. As he pulled into his driveway, he looked at his home. It was too big for just him but would be just right for a family. He parked in the garage and headed in the house. After changing, he grabbed a beer and put a movie on. He didn't pay much attention to it, he was thinking about Jenny. It was only Wednesday, he had two whole days until his date. He had a feeling he would be counting the hours. He finally decided to give up on the movie and go to bed. He hoped he would hear from Jenny tomorrow.

Jenny had just finished dressing when she heard her cell phone ring. She dashed into the living room to answer it before it went to voicemail.

"Hello, is this Jennifer Morse?"

"Yes it is. Whom may I ask is calling?" Jenny sat down on the couch.

"Hello Jennifer, this is Derek March from March, Sloane & Grey law firm. I am calling because my assistant gave me your resume. I would like to see if you are available for an interview. We are currently looking for a paralegal for our contract department and from your resume it looks like you have a great deal of experience in contract preparation."

"Mr. March, I would like the opportunity to interview for the paralegal position. I have a lot of experience with contracts and I look forward to discussing my other qualifications with you."

"Excellent. Are you available this afternoon? I am checking my calendar and I have 2pm available."

Jenny thought quickly. She had another suit she could wear and 2pm gave her enough time to get ready. She tried to contain her excitement. She had an interview!

"Mr. March, 2pm would be fine. Thank you for the opportunity and your time." Jenny tried to remain calm while he explained that she should come into the office and ask for him directly. He said goodbye and Jenny hung up the phone and squealed. She dropped the phone and ran for the closet. Rifling through it, she found a dark grey suit jacket and matching skirt. Diving in again, she found a dark red shirt to pair with it and a pair of matching red high heels. Laying out the clothes on the bed, she ran for the shower. Washing and conditioning her hair, she wrapped it tightly in a towel so it would dry. Checking the clock, she realized it was already noon. While she waited on her hair, she called the movie theater to find out the show times for Friday. The movie she wanted to see was playing at 8pm. She called Justin, thinking he was at lunch. She decided she would leave him a voicemail or a message with Miss Lucy if she hadn't left yet. She was a little shocked when he answered the phone.

"O'Leary Investigations, Justin O'Leary speaking."

"Hello Justin, its Jenny. How are you?"

"Hi there honey, I am so much better now. I hope you are calling me to tell me what time to pick you up on Friday. I couldn't bear it if you are calling to cancel." Justin leaned back in his chair and smiled at hearing her voice.

Jenny blushed when he called her honey. The way he said it definitely made it sound like a term of endearment, not just something he called a random woman.

"The movie is at 8pm. Would you like to pick me up at 7:30?"

"Actually, I think 7pm would be better. We could have a drink at your place, if that's okay with you?" Justin didn't want to press, but he also knew that if they went to a movie they would be in the theater and not able to talk. He wanted some one on one time.

"7pm would be fine. I don't have anything to drink. I was going to go to the grocery store this afternoon, but I got a call from a law firm today. I have an interview at 2pm!" Jenny could help the excitement in her voice.

"Jenny! That is awesome honey! You know what, I will bring a bottle of champagne to celebrate."

"I haven't gotten the job Justin, just an interview." Jenny grinned at his enthusiasm. He sounded proud of her.

"Jenny, you will get the job. Have a little faith in yourself. I have faith in you. Knock em dead. Will you call me later and tell me how it went?"

"Of course. I will call the office when I get home."

"You should have my cell number so you don't have to try to reach me at the office. You can call me, or send me a text anytime." Justin gave her his cell number and without him asking, she gave him hers.

"Justin, I have to go get ready. I will talk to you soon." Justin wished her luck and she rushed to get ready. After a quick shower, she got dressed. A little lip-gloss and perfume and she was ready to go. She grabbed a copy of her resume and headed for downtown.

Two hours later, Jennifer Morse was an employee of March, Stone & Grey. She had nailed the interview and Mr. March had offered her the position before she even left his office. He was impressed by her resume, but was even more convinced after talking to her. She would start her new job in a week! The pay was excellent and Mr. March was enthusiastic in welcoming her to his team. Jenny was bubbling with excitement. She was even thinking of going shopping for new clothes. Without even thinking, she headed in the direction of O'Leary Investigations. When she got there, she told herself it was to tell Miss Lucy about the new job. That was part of it. The other part was a chance to see Justin. She walked into the lobby and Miss Lucy was at her desk, Justin was standing next to her pointing to something at the computer screen. Miss Lucy smiled widely at her. Justin smiled too, but there was a hunger in his eyes as he looked her up and down.

Damn, she looked good. Her suit fit like a glove and there was an excited flush to her cheeks. Her hair was pinned back tightly, and all he could think about was taking out the pins and watching it cascade down her back. The thought aroused him beyond belief. If he wasn't so aware of his proximity to Mrs. Patridge, he knew he would have a hell of an erection.

"Miss Lucy, Justin. I have some great news! I got a job!" Jenny rushed to the desk and Mrs. Patridge came around and hugged her. Jenny turned to Justin and found herself wrapped in his muscular arms. He squeezed her gently and bent to kiss her lips. Miss Patridge smiled at them.

"I knew you could do it baby! This is cause to celebrate!" He kissed her again, which just added to Jenny's excitement.

"I completely agree Justin. You should take Jenny over to The Harp for a drink. You can tell me all about it dear when you get home. Then we can go shopping for some new clothes! Now shoo both of you. I will call you if I need you Justin."

"I think that is a great idea Mrs. Patridge. Come on Jenny, let's go." He reached for her hand and led her out of the lobby. He was so glad she was here. His stomach was twisting in anticipation of waiting all the way until Friday night to see her. And now, here she was holding his hand. They walked to The Harp and she told him about her interview and her new boss. He listened intently, asking a few questions here and there but basically let her talk. He couldn't keep his eyes off her. She was glowing. The got to The Harp and headed for the bar. It didn't take long for his parents to spot them.

Mo muhc it is so nice to see you. And Jenny! What brings you both around?"

"Ma, my girl got a job today! I think we need some cider." Justin leaned over the bar to kiss his mother on the cheek. Her eyes twinkled. She caught what he said. Jenny did too.

"Jenny, congratulations mo run! You must be so proud!" Mary poured their cider and asked Jenny about her new job. Jenny described what she would be doing, taking a few sips of her cider while she told them. She needed something to calm her nerves. Something was happening between her and Justin and she wasn't sure what it was. He was looking at her with such pride in his eyes that she could feel the tears in the back of her throat. Willing herself not to cry, she asked Mary how her and Mike were doing. Justin got up to go see his father in the office, leaving Mary to chat with Jenny.

"He loves you ya know." Mary polished the bar in front of Jenny.

"Oh Mary, I don't think that is possible. He doesn't know me that well."

"Ah lass. That man knows all he needs to know. I fancy he probably loved you the moment he saw you. Much like his Athair in that respect I suppose. Jenny, I know that you have had a hard time, but open your heart to the possibility. It's not pity lass. It's love. And I know mo muhc.I think he is worried that you will break his heart."

"I had a feeling he would have told you. It's okay. I am scared too Mary. I am scared at what I am feeling. I can honestly say I have never felt this way. At first I thought it was because it had been so long since a man treated me right, but I know that's not true. It is just about the way Justin treats me, him alone. What do you think I should do?" Jenny put down her cider, unable to drink any more.

"Follow your path lass. It was a little overgrown before, but you are finding your way." Mary patted her hand and smiled at her. This woman belonged with her Justin. Mary just knew in her heart. Before she could say anything else, Justin returned to his seat.

"Some of my favorite ladies in one place...what else could a guy want?" Justin casually wrapped his arm around Jenny's shoulder and pulled her close to him. His mother smiled at him and headed for the end of the bar. Jenny tilted her head to look up at him and found herself just staring. He looked down and caught her.

"Like what you see baby?" He winked at her.

"Very much. Do you think we could walk back to the office and talk?"

"Of course. Let's go." Justin put a few bills on the bar and waved goodbye to his mother. With his arm around her, they walked in silence to the office. They were barely in the lobby when her quite voice stopped him

"I heard what you said to your mother."

"I figured you did. Did it bother you?"

"No. I liked hearing it. Actually, I loved hearing it because it came from you. Does that make you nervous..are things moving too quickly for us?" Jenny sat down on the couch in the lobby and stared at her hands.

"You are worried that I am going to cut and run. You just don't get it Jenny. I want this. I am hoping with all my heart that I am doing my best to convince you that I am someone you want in your life on a more permanent basis." He joined her on the couch and took her hand. She raised her head and he saw her tears. He bent to gently kiss her. He meant to soothe her, but then his baser instincts took over. He increased the pressure of his lips, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Jenny returned his kiss, moving her tongue to meet his. He groaned with delight and she pressed closer.

Justin lifted moved her off the couch and onto his lap. He continued to kiss her, moving his hands to release her hair from the tight bun. She wrapped her arms around his neck and heard him sigh when her hair fell into his hands. He massaged her scalp and she could feel his arousal against her leg. She shifted and he groaned again.

"Jenny a ghra we need to stop" He set her back on the couch and kissed her one more time. Jenny felt a rush of disappointment when he moved away from her.

"I understand Justin. I am going to go home. I will see you tomorrow?"

"Of course you will. We have a date. Good night baby." Jenny rose from the couch and walked out the door to her car. Her cheeks were red with embarrassment. He was treating her like a victim, like she was too fragile to get physical with. Jenny returned to the apartment and decided to go straight to bed. She felt guilty about not stopping at the house to talk to the Patridge's, but her emotions were too raw and she just wanted to sleep. She thought about what Mary had said at The Harp. After tonight, she wasn't so sure that Mary was right.

Damn! Justin pounded on the steering wheel as he drive home. That wasn't supposed to happen that way. They were kissing and all he wanted to do was touch her. He wanted to take her clothes off and run his hands over the body he had been admiring for days. Then all of those thoughts were replaced with fear. He thought he might be scaring her, making her feel uncomfortable. He let those thoughts take over his brain. He didn't notice how she was reacting to him, pulling him closer. If he had paid attention, he would have seen that Jenny wanted him as much as he wanted her. It was going to be a long sleepless night and tortuous day until he could see her again.

Jenny woke up early. She wanted to catch Miss Lucy before she went to work. They had coffee in the kitchen of the house and made plans to go shopping this weekend. She made no mention of Justin but as Miss Lucy gathered her things, she turned to Jenny and spoke.

"You have to show him that it is okay to love you. He is worried he is going to hurt you, so he will be too cautious. If you want him Jenny, you have to show him. Trust me, when he realizes it, he will be yours forever. I have to go. I love you." And she walked out the door and headed to the car. Jenny sipped her coffee and realized that Miss Lucy was right. She ran up to the apartment and grabbed her purse. She was going to do a little shopping before this weekend.

Justin was having a terrible day. He was counting the hours until his date with Jenny, both looking forward to it..and dreading it. He knew he messed up last night, but had no idea how to fix it. He locked himself in his office all day and concentrated on work. Even Mrs. Patridge left him alone. As he was pouring over another case, there was a knock at his door. His mother had come to deliver his cookies for Jenny. She didn't say a word to him. She didn't have to. She placed the cookies on his desk, blew him a kiss and left. Justin went back to his case files to work away the rest of the day.

Jenny returned home loaded with bags. She had tried on a thousand things, but finally settled on a few outfits. What excited her most was the lingerie. She had never worn fancy undergarments, but as she tried them on she couldn't help but feel so feminine and pretty. She had picked out something perfect to wear under her clothes for the date tonight. She decided to take a luxurious bubble bath before she got dressed. Lounging in the tub, she thought about how far she had come. There was no way she was going to let Roger North continue to ruin her life because of his actions. She was Jenny Morse. She was strong, intelligent and head over heels in love with Justin O'Leary.

After soaking for a little while, she got out and dried off. She smoothed a subtle flower scented lotion over her body. She spritzed on the matching perfume and went to the bedroom to get dressed. She knew what she wanted to wear and laid it out on the bed to give it one more look. Satisfied with her choice, she slipped on the light blue silk bikini panties. The bra was also a matching light blue silk and gave her a daring amount of cleavage. Over her new lingerie, she added a new pair of jeans. They were the correct size and molded to her rear and thighs. She added a light blue V-neck sweater, which allowed her cleavage to show prominently. She left her hair down, and added silver pendant and earrings. As she was brushing out her hair one more time, she heard the knock at the door. Quickly slipping on her new black stiletto boots, she went out into the living room and opened the door. She smiled when she heard Justin's breath catch. She leaned over and kissed him on the lips and invited him to come inside.

"Wow honey, you look incredible!" Justin couldn't believe it. She was wearing a pair of jeans that hugged her hips and rear. And that sweater! He had to drag his eyes away from her breasts. He was amazed at her transformation. She was still Jenny, but with an aura of sexy confidence that made him want to skip the movie and drag her to bed. Instead he handed her the cookies.

"Justin...oh my..are these peanut butter cookies?" Jenny took a large bite out of one and moaned with pleasure. Justin shifted his feet, thinking about how much he really liked the noises she was making. She offered him a cookie and he declined. She put the plate on the kitchen table and returned to kiss him. She tasted like peanut butter and he couldn't get enough of her lips. He dragged her closer and kissed her more thoroughly. Threading his hands through her hair, he pressed his hips to hers. Kissing her for a few more moments, he pulled his head away to speak.

"I promised you a movie..and if we don't leave now we will be late." He pressed his lips to her forehead and led her toward the door. They drove to the cinema. After getting their tickets, they decided to forego popcorn and went to go find a seat. They found two empty seats toward the middle of the theater. The theater darkened and he reached for her hand. She laid her head on his shoulder and they watched the movie. Well Jenny did. Justin kept thinking about her lips, her breasts, and her delightful rear end. He had to shift a few times to alleviate the powerful erection he found himself with. Jenny made it seem like she didn't notice he was uncomfortable, but she noticed and she smiled. They finished the movie and left the theater holding hands. He suggested going to The Harp, but she told him should would really like to see his house. So that is where they headed.

They pulled into the garage and walked through the door into the kitchen. He proceeded to give her the grand tour. Jenny commented on how nice and roomy it was. She looked at the pictures of his family and the awards he received at school. He took her upstairs and showed her his office and the guest bedrooms. At the end of the hall was the master bedroom. A king size bed dominated the room. Jenny walked in and sat on the edge of the bed. Justin sat next to her and reached for her hand.

"Jenny, I need to tell you something. I need you to know that I have never slept with a woman in this bed. I know this is kind of a stupid thing to tell you right now, but I think you have to know. Any woman I have ever dated, we went to their place. I guess I was always saving my first time in my home with the woman I loved. The one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with." Justin's shoulders sagged when she got up from the bed. He had blown it talking to about the other woman. He damn near swallowed his tongue when she stood before him and started to remove her sweater. She was wearing a light blue bra that cupped her breasts and almost glowed against her olive skin. His mouth went dry when she unhooked the bra and her breasts spilled out. He reached up to touch her and she moaned. He continued to caress her as she leaned down to kiss him, sliding her tongue into his mouth. Pulling away, she removed her jeans. She stood before him in her panties and he marveled at her beauty. Getting up from the bed, he pulled her toward him. Pressing her nearly naked body to his, he nuzzled her neck. Her hands gripped his shoulders and he turned to lay her on the bed. Quickly undressing, he returned to the bed to hover over her pressing kisses to her face and neck.

Jenny couldn't think for wanting him. His body was incredible. His erection rested in the juncture of her legs and she couldn't help lifting her hips to tease him. He chuckled and started to move his mouth down her body. He kissed and licked her cleavage, circling toward her nipple. When he gently brushed his mouth against it, her body jerked from the sensation. He smiled against her skin and drew her nipple deeply into his mouth. Jenny cried out in pleasure. He moved down her body, kissing and licking the skin of her stomach. He gently lifted her hips to remove her panties. He kissed the soft skin behind her knees and trailed his tongue up the even softer skin of her inner thighs. He looked up at her and she smiled at him, he could see the pleasure darkening her eyes. He moved to run his tongue up her center, gently parting her.

Jenny nerves singed when she felt him gently licking and nibbling her. He pressed into her with his finger and he could feel that she was ready for him. It almost broke his control. He was aroused and he wanted to feel himself inside of her. He increased the pressure of his tongue and fingers until he felt her body tense with climax. As she moaned his name, he raised his body up and entered her. Gritting his teeth, he tried not to succumb to the pleasure of being surrounded by her warmth. He gently thrust into her and she wrapped her legs around his waist to draw him in deeper. He increased his pace and felt her muscles clench around him as she trembled from another orgasm. He couldn't hold back any longer and with one last deep thrust he came.

Moving off her, he gathered her to his side. He reached for the comforter to cover them both. They lay in silence for just a moment. Jenny reached up to turn his head toward her. She looked into his deep green eyes and saw the contentment that must be visible in her own eyes. Moving to lay her head on his chest, he ran his fingers through her hair. Justin could lay like this with her forever. Her soft body pressed against his, her head lying on his chest. He was imagining going to bed with her every night when her voice brought him back to the present.

"We didn't use anything Justin."

"I know a ghra.Are you worried that we didn't?" Justin tilted her head so he could look at her face.

"No, I am not concerned. Are you?"

"No Jenny, I am not. I have never wanted to be with someone so much in my life. I was just thinking how great it would be if I could fall asleep with you like this every night. The thought of protection never crossed my mind, which is very unusual for me. I am typically the one who always remembers. But to be honest, I wouldn't mind if something happened..actually I think it would make me very happy. Imagine a beautiful little girl with her Mama's blue eyes or a little boy I could take to the office with me. Does what am I saying scare you?"

Jenny couldn't breathe. He was talking about her dream and he didn't even realize it. She always wanted children. But she wanted to be married first. But, they were jumping to conclusions. They had just made love once without protection and now they were both thinking about kids. Her heart starting beating faster.

"No, I am not scared but I didn't plan this. Well I did, but not in the way you think. I don't want you to get the wrong idea Justin." She leaned up on her elbow to get a better look at him. He smiled at her.

"Tell me something you have never told me before." He reached up to caress her cheek.

"Eu te amo Justin."

"What does that mean baby?"

"It means I love you in Portuguese. Now you tell me something you have never told me before." Jenny smiled when his eyes lit up.

"I have got you beat. I can tell you two things. One, I love you too Jenny. I think I have been waiting for you for a long time. Two, I want you to marry me. It doesn't have to be tomorrow, it could be a year from now, but I don't think I could live the rest of my life without you. I want you to be my wife, the mother of my children. I want you to share this house with me and go to bed with me every night." Justin leaned up to kiss her lips and waited with bated breath until she spoke.

"I don't think I could go to bed alone ever again after this night. I promise I won't make you wait too long but I would love to marry you. But I definitely think that I am going to require a few more dates that end like this...just to make sure" She laughed as he wrapped his arms around her and dragged her on top of him. They kissed and made love until they were both too tired to move. Falling asleep in each other's arms they dreamed of the future.

Jenny didn't make him wait too long. Six months later she became Mrs. Jennifer O'Leary. She continued to work at the law firm and Justin's business grew exponentially. Three months into their marriage, Jenny announced she was pregnant. Justin fawned over her, elated that she was having his baby. They redecorated one of the rooms in the house, and he went with her to all of her appointments. A short while into the pregnancy, tragedy struck. Jenny and Justin lost their baby. Overcome with grief, they clung to each other and their families.

Months passed and slowly the grief dissipated. They accepted that while they had lost the baby, there was no reason they couldn't try again. Their families were relieved when they both got back to their normal routine. Jenny returned to work. Justin returned to his cases. Life had returned to normal when Jenny started getting sick in the morning. She did her best to hide it from Justin; he almost caught her a few times. She made an appointment with the doctor as soon as she could. He confirmed it. Jenny was again pregnant. She made a decision to lie to her husband for the first time in their marriage. She wasn't going to tell him until she made it past the three month mark. She knew it would be difficult to hide, but she couldn't watch the man she loved devastated again.

It was tough, but she made it through the three month mark with her secret intact. Well..almost. She has a sneaking suspicion Mary knew, but didn't say anything. Jenny finished up at work and left for home. She entered the house and Justin was in the kitchen having a cup of coffee.

"Hello my love. How was your day?" He pulled her on his lap and kissed her soundly.

"It was good..yours?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss.

"Much better now." Justin continued to kiss her, slipping his tongue into her mouth. Jenny could always do this to him. He could be having the worst day and when she walked in the room, it always made it better.

"Mmmm..I am tired honey. Let's go to bed." Jenny wiggled off his lap and started for the stairs. Before she could take a step, she felt his arms wrap around her from behind. Justin pressed his lips her shoulder and nibbled at the soft skin. She pushed back against him, pressing herself against his very obvious erection.

"Bed is a very good idea. Let's go!" He picked her up and carried her up the stairs. Taking her into the bedroom, he undressed her. Jenny continued to wear the same kind of lingerie she wore their first night and it drove him crazy to know that his wife was wearing something so sexy under her no nonsense work clothes. He peeled off her suit and admired her lacy black bra and matching thong panties. He didn't look for long before he took them off of her. As soon as he was done, he lay down with her on the bed.

"I think you are overdressed." She smiled at him as he scrambled off the bed to lose his clothes. She didn't even get the chance to admire his body before he was on top of her, pressing his lips to hers and running his hands over her body. Jenny moaned and writhed beneath him. He bent to nibble on her ear, sliding his slick tongue over her earlobe. Jenny shivered.

Justin moved his hands down her body to cup her breasts. Her nipple responded immediately and he bent his head to circle it with his tongue. He felt Jenny's hands in his hair as he lavished her with attention. Distracted by his work, she caught him off guard when she rolled him onto his back. His eyes wide with surprise, he could do nothing but groan as she took him in her mouth. She moved her tongue up and down, rubbing her lips down his length. Justin gripped the sheets, trying to hold back. She took him deep in her mouth and his control broke. He grabbed her under the arms and dragged her up his body. Gripping her hips, he slid into her and moaned as her center surrounded him. He marveled at her body, as he watched it undulate over him. Her breasts swayed and he was once again mesmerized by his wife. Knowing he couldn't hold out for much longer, he lifted his hips for one last deep thrust and shuddered with his climax.

Jenny lay in his arms, her head on his shoulder. Justin ran his hands up and down her back, pulling her closer to him. They lay there for a while; enjoy the satisfaction of their lovemaking when Justin spoke.

"Tell me something you have never told me before." He felt Jenny smile against his neck. He knew she would remember from their first night. He knew he had never forgotten when she told him that she loved him for the first time. Jenny knew this was the perfect time.

"Congratulations. You are going to be a Daddy."