Chapter One

“Jon! Over here…” The photographers were going crazy as soon as the car stopped and Jon stepped out of it onto the red carpet.

“How is it to be single again?”

“How do your kids feel about it?”

“What about Dorothea? How does she feel?”

They were firing all those questions at him. He smiled; his press smile. The sunglasses firmly in place. This all made him so sick. Why couldn’t they leave him alone? This was a charity event for God’s sake. Actually the only reason why he was here. He avoided red carpets in the last months. He wasn’t in the mood to answer any of these stupid questions.

For six months now he was single again and it still hurt that his marriage couldn’t last. After the last tour Dot and he realized that they were somehow living separate lives…or maybe they finally admitted it. Nobody cheated; nobody screamed…they simply decided it was the best to file for divorce. Maybe it was a good thing that they still could be friends.

The kids handled it extremely well. He bought an apartment only one block down the street and they could come over anytime. Steph showed up very often and just sat with him to watch a movie. He relished those moments, knowing very well that they would be over soon. She was sixteen now and growing up so terribly fast. With the boys he would have those moments a bit longer, but not with his baby girl.

“Jon here…” This screaming and yelling started to annoy him.

“Excuse me?” a female voice said behind him. Frowning he turned around. Don’t tell me those pap-rats are already on the red carpet. But he wasn’t blinded by a flashlight or a microphone was shoved in his face, instead he looked into the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen.

“You are blocking the way. Could you let me through please, I’m not very eager to pose for those…people.” She asked with a beautiful smile. He didn’t miss the small hesitation in her words. Seems she didn’t like photographers very much either.

Completely captured by those eyes he stepped aside and watched fascinated how she walked down the carpet, not reacting at all to the people screaming at her and vanished in the building. Who was she?

He shook his head when he felt a familiar tingle in his belly. Unbelievable…she wasn’t even his type! She was blond. But these blues eyes looked beautiful, soft and inviting. He shook his head lightly and focused on the photographers again.

Finally he reached the end of the red carpet and entered the building. I wonder whether I find her in here, he asked himself. His gaze roamed over the hundred of people in the room and finally he saw her. He grinned. That was easy. She was wearing this deep pink dress, Steph would probably tell him it’s not pink but magenta, and was easily to detect beyond all those black dresses and suits.

He cleaved his way towards her through the crowd, nodded with a fake smile to completely strangers who seemed to know him. Coming closer to her he realized that he was nervous. What should I say? He wondered.

“Did you escape?” she asked when he stopped next to her at the bar. Oh, thank God, she said something first!

“Yeah. Finally.” He answered. “Can I get you something to drink?” he asked with a smile.

“Sex on the beach, please.” She said.

“What?” he looked at her surprised and a bit shocked.

She laughed. “The cocktail…Sex on the beach. For everything else we don’t know each other well enough.” She added after a small break.

Jon bit his bottom lip. “Sure.” And ordered her cocktail and a wine for him.

“Thank you.” She said when he handed her the cocktail and took the straw between her full lips to take a long sip of the colorful liquid. Jon gulped and tried not to stare at her. Damn, she’s sexy.

Despite his efforts he found himself checking her out. She wasn’t tall, maybe 5’7’’, well, ok she was wearing heels. Her legs looked great in them, her complete body was great. Well, that was probably the understatement of the year. She looked fantastic in his eyes with her long blond hair fallen in thick curls down her back.

He knew some people, who would say she had too much weight on her hips, but he liked it. Her curves were all in the right place. No skinny girl, but a woman’s body. Even so she wasn’t that old, maybe 25, he guessed. The dress fit her like a glove and dipped low at the front. She wore a simple necklace with it, no big jewelry. The dress was awesome enough on her.

“Don’t you think you checked me out long enough now?” She suddenly said and faced him with a little flush on her face. Shit, he was so nice to buy you a drink and you’ll scare him away right after it! She mentally kicked herself.

“I’m sorry…” he stumbled and could feel the heat creeping into his face as well. Oh, great! Flushing like a schoolboy.

Her beautiful blues twinkled and the full lips revealed perfect white teeth when she laughed. “Well, I’m not. That’s why I’m wearing this dress. It’s good for my ego.” Wow, where did that come from? Normally she wasn’t that direct.

Jon breathed out relieved and smiled. She wasn’t mad. Thank God.

She watched him a moment. Somehow it was cute how he reacted and she was glad he didn’t turn and ran after her comment. She never expected him to blush though. “I’m Kimberly.” She said and extended her hand.

“I’m Jon.” He smiled when he shook her hand and was surprised to feel rough fingers tips.

“Are you playing guitar?” he asked surprised and turned their joined hands to have a closer look at her fingers.

“Among others.” She replied and had to laugh again when he leaned forward to check her fingertips exacting.

“Uhm, I’m sorry…” he said when he realized what he was doing.

“Again?” she said still smiling. “You shouldn’t apologize so often. It’s ok. You are a curious person.”

He only nodded and looked at the crowd for a while. He had no idea what to say. It was over 30 years ago that he had to flirt, well except on stage, but that was so much easier, the girls were crazy for him. Here he was completely out of his element. She didn’t seem to recognize him or be impressed with who he was; all he knew was that he had to say something. Come on! It’s not so difficult! Say something!

Kimberly sipped at her cocktail and watched him from the corner of her eye. She could tell he was nervous and had no idea what to say. Somehow she had pity on him. Didn’t she read a while ago that he got divorced after 20 years of marriage? Seemed he was out of training when it came down to flirting. Well, it wasn’t her favorite element either. She was nervous as hell, even though she didn’t show it as obvious as he did. I need to say something, she thought desperate and fiddled with the straw of her cocktail

“You look great in that dress. I like the color.” He said abruptly. She turned and gave him a small smile.

“Thank you. You know we are here to raise money for children, so why do we all have to wear black…as far as I remember it’s a cheerful event and not a funeral.”

Jon looked down at his black suit and white dress shirt. “Someone told me I look good in it.” He said with a small smirk. Great, criticized him the second time since you met. Damn Kim!

“And that someone was damn right. You do.” Kimberly hurried to answer and touched his shoulder softly. It was getting hot in here, right? Jon had the feeling she’d set his whole body on fire

But before he could say anything else an older woman from the charity organization approached them and asked Kimberly to come with her to meet someone very important. He wondered again whether he should know her.

“It was a pleasure Jon.” She said and shook his hand again. God, so strong and soft at the same time.

“Will we see each other again?” Jon asked a bit nervous.

“I’m certain about it.” Kimberly said and vanished between those other people wearing black.