Chapter 25: Third time's a charm.

Half an hour later she heard him come in, she expected him to be longer than that.
'Shorty you awake?'
Rapping lightly on her door.
He slowly opened and stepped through. 'Babe?'
She felt the depression of the bed as he sat down on the edge.
'I know you're pissed at me.'
She didn't say anything.
'And I know you're awake because you ain't drooling.' He joked.
She unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh.
'Dammit Jon don't make me laugh, i have to be cross at you right now.'
'Sorry.'
He smiled in the dark. She's not that mad.
'At the airport i could understand it, i mean it's public, paperazzi could have seen. But Jon this was a private party, so what's your excuse tonight?'
'The airport?' he shook his head.
'God Jon you are so dense, forget it.'
'Come on babe, Can't you see that i'm trying?'
'Yes you are very trying.'
It was Jon's turn to try and stifle a laugh.
'It's fine really Jon...but it's late and i need some sleep.'
Not once had she turned to look at him, he sighed getting up from the bed.
'Goodnight Shorty.'

Jon walked out to the living area of the suite and poured himself a whiskey from the bar, downing it in one he grimaced slightly.
God if this girl isn't hard work.

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The next morning Ruby got up early, deciding to head down to the hotel pool for a swim.

She sat at the edge of the pool dangling her legs in.
She noticed she wasn't alone, there was one other peron in the pool doing lengths.
The person swam down to her end before popping up at the side.
'Hi shorty.'
'Oh it's you. Hey Alex.'
He put his hands on the side and lifted himself out of the water to sit next to her.
He had the broadest shoulders she had ever seen.
'Have a good time at the party last night?'
'Not really. Felt a bit out of the loop you know?'
'Yeah i get that, with all the old time friends there.'
'So how come you were there? Bit young to be a friend.'
'Yeah i'm not a friend, i'm family. Richie's my cousin.'
'Really? I thought you looked a bit familiar, you have the same eyes.'
Really nice eyes... She shook her head. Don't add more confusion into the mix...even if he is really hot....
'Anyway a bit early for a swim isn't it? The morning after the night before...'
'Well i kind of have to. I'm a swimmer.'
'For a living?'
'Yeah.' He laughed.
'Wow that's pretty cool.'
'Yeah it's ok, i get to do a load of travelling.'
'Are you good?'
He laughed again 'Want a race?'
'I would but, i'm a bit nervous to get in.'
'How come?'
'I don't actually know if i can swim.'
He looked at her strangely.
'It's complicated.....okay well it's not. I've got amnesia. I can't remember anything about myself before august.'
'Wow, that must be a bit weird.'
'A bit yeah....'
'Come on jump in, if you can't swim i won't let you drown.'

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Later on that morning she walked into the apartment to find Jon sat at the table, breakfast infront of him.
'Hey.'
'Hi Jon.'
'I can ring down for more if you want?'
'It's ok i've eaten.'
'Oh.'
She went to walk into her bedroom.
'Shorty, about last night....'
She turned back around to see him pushing a half eaten pancake around his plate.
'I know i hurt you, I never....I'm sorry.'
'That's ok, really don't beat yourself up about it.'
'So we're cool?'
She nodded firmly, 'cool.'

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That afternoon they were on yet another flight, this time to Detroit.
The atmosphere was a tad frosty.
The guys being guys attributed it to hang overs and mid-tour blues.
But Sandy knew different. After their talk earlier in the day she presumed something had gone on between Jon and Ruby.
She told Ruby in no uncertain terms that they were going to have a girls only night out. Ruby reluctantly agreed.

------------------

Jon was leaning against the door frame as she sat at the dressing room mirror.
He watched her silently for a minute.
Her blonde hair was down around her shoulders, styled with a slight curl.
She wore a turquoise blue dress, and matching stilettoes with a three inch heel. God if that dress doesn't hug her in all the right places. And those legs...how can they go on forever when she's so small...

'Can i help you Jon?'
Busted!
'I hope you aren't going to be getting up to any mischief tonight?'
'And if i did what's it got to do with you?' She said and stuck her tongue out at him.
Ouch. Her tone was light but he could tell she meant it.

He moved over to her and sat on the small stool next to her, budging her over.
She tutted at him as she moved across to give him more room.
'Why can't we go back to how we were?'
'How we were? You mean kissing and God knows what when we are alone and best buddies in public?'
He lent his elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand. Just looking at her. He hoped his eyes could tell her what he couldn't say.
'We're still on this?'
'Well i just like to know where i stand.'
'Okay. I just didn't want to go public when it was all so new. I mean we didn't even really know what was going on. It just...it piles the pressure on. You know?'
She put her lipstick down on the table.
'Why didn't you tell me this the other night? Because that actually is a good excuse.'
'It's not an excuse babe. I'm just sorry i didn't handle it differently.'
Ruby nodded. Maybe he's not such an asshole after all.
'We really cool now?'
'Yes.'
Raising his hand to her chin he brushed his thumb across her lower lip.
'Good because i've missed these lips.'
He leaned in for the kiss.

As his lips softly touched hers, he hoped the kiss could instill in her how he felt.
In between tender kisses she said.
'You're messing up my lipstick.'
'You're not going to like this then babe.'
The next time his mouth met hers he gently opened her mouth with his tongue, finding her tongue equally willing.
Just as it was heating up he let her go.
'If we don't stop now Sandy is going to have to find someone else to go out with.' Jon said. His voice deep.
'And that's a bad thing?'
She felt the loss of his thigh touching hers as he got up from the stool. Leaving her with just a racing heart and butterflies in her stomach.
Damn. What one kiss does to me. She thought.

Walking to the door once more he turned back to her.
'By the way you look stunning.'