Chapter 30

After Katie left the hotel on Friday morning, Jon went down to the fitness center for a long, hard workout. They had stayed up late into the night, rediscovering each other. It had only been a week since they had seen each other, but it felt like to forever to him. She complimented him so well, he though, fit just like a glove. It had been hard jumping back into the real world after she left New York. He had spent a couple of days with the kids at the penthouse after they had returned from Europe with Dot, and finished up track selections for the greatest hits album. He knew he had to start working on the lyrics for his solo album, but just wasn't in the mood. Richie was flying in that night for a couple of days to hash out some ideas with him. Even thought it was his album, he had collaborated with Richie on other solo projects in the past. He found it helpful to have a sounding board when he was working on lyrics. And Richie, being his best friend, was happy to help.

Later that evening he heard a knock on his hotel room door. Looking out the peep hole he saw Richie standing there. He opened the door to his good friend.

"Hey, Kid," Richie said giving him a quick hug. "How's it shakin'?"

"Its ok." Jon grumbled.

Richie looked at his friend, clearly seeing he was not in a good mood. "What's up, Bro?"

"Nah, nothing." Jon snapped at him. "I told you, I am fine."

Richie knew him too well to take that. "Ok, I know you better than that. A week ago you were on cloud nine and today your a grumpy ass. Did something happen with Katie?" Richie asked cautiously, hoping he wouldn't have to say, told you so.

Jon shook his head. "Nothing. We actually got together yesterday and she spend the night. She is awesome. I don't know. I am just in a funk, I guess."

Richie nodded his head slowly, understanding, "You miss her!"

Jon looked at him sheepishly, "Could be part of it. I tried writing a bit today and I just couldn't get anything down. Nothing sounded right."

"Ah. Love sick. We will take care of ya!" Richie said as he slapped Jon on the back. "Lets head down to the lounge and work through it."

They worked until the early hours of the morning. Jon was able to snap out of his writer's block and get some material down on paper. He got so mad at himself when he got into one of these funks. Richie knew him well enough to know he would work through it. Jon sort of worked the opposite of most people. During his divorce he had thrown himself into work, when most would curl up in a ball. Now here he was with a new love interest and he couldn't write a single line until Richie dragged him back to reality.

"Oh boy, Kid. You got it bad, huh?" Richie sad as they headed back to their rooms. "She has really done a number on your head." Richie could see something in Jon's eyes that he knew Jon did not even realize yet, and wouldn't for a while.

Jon nodded, looking slightly bewildered, "I guess."

Richie didn't need to ask him how far things had gone, nor how far things would go. Jon's expression spoke for itself.

After Richie went to his room, Jon stripped down to his underwear and climbed between the cool sheets. He let out a long, slow breath. He looked up at the dark ceiling. Yesterday he had contemplated how he could see Katie as much as possible, with their crazy schedules. Spending the day and night with her had just reinforced wanting to be with her all the time. He realized it had been a very long time indeed since he had been so wrapped up in a woman. He wanted more and more of her. She was like a drug. He was normally very motivated to work, but the last few weeks had really taken him on a detour. He was frustrated with himself more than anything for not being able to focus. And the quandary of fitting everything in was weighing heavily on his mind. Richie was right. He had been thrown for a loop since meeting Katie. He would do whatever it took, he though as he drifted into a fitful sleep.


The next week found Katie swamped as she got the kids off to their first week of school and eased herself back into work. With the new school year upon her, she was getting a flood of calls for high school senior portraits. Not to mention booking into the fall for her usual holiday promotions. She was very careful to keep all of her weekends free that the kids would be with their dad. She also thought about blocking out a couple of weekdays at some point to surprise Jon by flying down to Nashville when he least expected it. She talked to Jon at least once every day on the phone. She had made airline reservations for that Friday afternoon since the kids would be picked up after school by their dad. Between work, sports schedules and getting caught up, Katie was exhausted by Friday and couldn't wait to get out of town. From just a month ago when she hardly left the state for weeks, she was becoming pretty well traveled these days. And her fear of flying was slightly lessened as she distracted herself with thoughts of seeing Jon again. She had told her parents that she was seeing someone and that she was flying down that weekend to see him. Her mom had suggested she invite him for dinner on Sunday night before she flew out Monday morning. Jon had been more than willing to meet them, even sounding excited.

Arriving at the airport she went down to baggage claim to retrieve her bag, then hailed a taxi to the hotel. Jon had wanted to pick her up, but she thought it would be safer if she went on her own. Being spotted was still a bit of a concern, she knew. She took the elevator up to the his suite and knocked on the door. Jon knew it was her, and after he opened the door, he grabbed her around the waist and swung her around burying his face in her neck.

"God, Kat. It is so good to see you." He said, then kissed her deeply. Once they came up for air, Jon brought her suitcase into the room. They ordered room service for a late dinner, took a bath together in the whirlpool tub, and made love until late into the night. In the morning Jon woke up before her. He knew how tired she was, so he tiptoed around getting ready to work out, and let her sleep.

Katie woke up feeling the bed next to her, the sheets cool to the touch. She looked at the clock, 10:15 a.m. Figuring he had went down to workout, she hopped into the shower to wake herself up. Just as she walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her head, but nothing else on, the door opened and Jon walked in with coffee.

He stopped short, "Well, hello there," he smirked.

"Hello, yourself. What have you got there? Is that for me?" She walked over to him grabbing for the cup of coffee. He held it above her head just out of her reach. "Not until I get a kiss."

She sighed and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, then reached for it again. "And what was that?" He said, laughing, holding it up higher.

She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. Then she pretended to pout, sticking out her lower lip. Jon could not resist kissing her while still holding the coffee above his head. This time it was a slow, deep kiss. When he pulled back he promptly handed her the coffee.

She took a long slow sip, "Oh, yes! Now that is good." She sighed.

Jon watched her, laughing, "Should I be insulted?"

Katie looked at the coffee, then at him, "Nah, I still like you best."

After an early lunch, they walked around Nashville for the afternoon, a few curious glances were directed at them. But no one knew for sure who he was, or just didn't bother him. After dinner in the hotel restaurant, Jon suggested they go out to a private club run by friends of his. Katie agreed, excited to see some Nashville nightlife, even if was a private club. She hadn't been out to Nashville in years. The club hosted a band every weekend, and they invited Jon up to jam with them for a few songs. Katie had a blast watching them. After leaving the stage, Jon took her by the hand and led her to the dance floor.

Katie showed him a few country dance moves, and laughed so hard she had tears streaming down her face as he tried to follow. "Cowboy, you are right. You can't dance!"

Jon pretended to look very offended, then when she turned around he placed a sound slap on her ass. "Hey!" Forgetting there were any other people around, she devoured his mouth with hers, causing a low groan to erupt from his throat. She pulled away and walked to the ladies room, looking over her shoulder, she gave him a sly wink and smile. Jon returned the smile with a nod, vowing he would get even later. He quickly turned around and found their table, wondering if it was such a good idea to go commando when he went out with her in public.


They both slept late on Sunday, then worked out in the gym. Katie thought it felt so good to work out. Her schedule the past week had not allowed for much of that. After a shower, they relaxed in the hotel room. Jon called down for his car a while later as they got ready to meet Katie's parents for dinner. Jon had thought about offering to take them all out somewhere. But he thought better of it, deciding he wanted to see where she grew up. Besides, he didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable.

The car pulled up to the farm house, and Jon got out, holding his hand out for Katie. "Jon, let me go in first and sort of prepare my mom, at least. She may have a coronary. She knows how crazy I was about you as a teenager, and this is going to be a shocker."

Jon nodded, chuckling. "Ok, babe." He waited on the porch. Katie walked in the house and made her way to the kitchen. Her mom was standing at the counter preparing a salad for their dinner. Katie walked up behind her mom and gave her a quick hug, causing her to jump.

"Oh goodness, Katherine. You startled me" her mom laughed giving her a hug. "Where is your fellow?"

Katie had to laugh at the reference to Jon. "Momma, I need to kind of prepare you. He is right on the porch. But I wanted to let you know that this isn't just any fellow. He is kinda famous."

Abigail looked at her daughter for a moment. "Ok, I can handle it. Bring the fellow in, then."

Katie went to the door motioning for Jon to come in. She took his hand and led him through the front room into the kitchen. "Momma, I'd like you meet Jon."

Abigail turned back from her salad, wiping her hands on her apron. The shock in her face was apparent. "Oh! Good gracious! Your...Katherine Francis! That's HIM!"

Katie couldn't help but smile at her mom's reaction. "Jon, this is my momma, Abigail McKenzie."

Jon reached out for her hand, Abigail composing herself, let him. "I am so pleased to meet you, Mrs. McKenzie." He said, shaking her hand.

Abigail looked at Katie and then back to Jon, "The feeling is mutual, Mr...."

"Just call me Jon." He smiled at her. She slightly blushed, "Jon, it is very nice to meet you. I can't wait to hear how this happened." She said smiling.

Hearing the commotion in the kitchen, her dad walked in. "So Katherine, let's meet your new beau." He said as Jon turned around. Her dad had a faint look of recognition. He really had not seen Jon since he graced Katie's walls as a teenager. Jon put his arm around Katie's shoulder, feeling her slightly tense up.

"Dad, this is Jon. Jon this is my dad, James." Katie introduced them, her face becoming slightly drawn.

Keeping his arm firmly planted around Katie's shoulder, he reached out to her dad, shaking his hand, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. McKenzie."

Her dad, looking a bit confused, said, "Nice to meet you, Jon, is it? You look kinda familiar. Do I know you from somewhere?"

Abigail stepped forward, "He's a singer, Jim. Pretty famous one. You probably saw him on TV." She knew he wouldn't remember all those years ago when Katie worshipped Jon. He had been too absent from their lives.

He nodded, satisfied with that. "Well, it was nice you could join us."

Abigail broke the awkward silence. "Ok, well dinner is about ready. We can head into the dining room and sit down."

Jon said "Can I carry anything in for you, Mrs. McKenzie?"

Abigail, again, blushed a tad. "You can call me Abby. You make me feel old calling me Mrs." She smiled at him.

"Alright, Abby. Let me give you a hand." He said, turning on that rock star charm.

"Sure, thank you." She led him into the kitchen, and they both came back carrying the plates and bowls of steaming food. He then stepped out to the car to grab a bottle of wine he had brought. Dinner was an easy affair. Katie's dad asked the right questions and didn't push any of her buttons. He seemed to like Jon. Jon had her mom in stitches, telling her about how they had met and some of the band's adventures. For the first time in a long time, Katie enjoyed dinner with her parents in the house that held so many painful memories for her. Despite who he was, it felt so right to be sitting here with him, she thought. He seemed to fit right in.

After they returned to the hotel, they collapsed into bed, both tired from the two late nights. Katie had to catch an early flight out so she was home in time for an afternoon photo shoot. The kids were not due back until Friday, but she had a full schedule. Jon woke Katie before the alarm, with tiny kisses on her cheek. They made love, quickly and passionately, then Jon rushed her to the airport for her 9 a.m. flight.

"Have a safe flight, baby. I will call you tonight." He said with one last hug.

"OK, can't wait to talk to you then. It just isn't the same, though." She said, holding onto him tightly.

"I know, baby. I know." He said burying his face in her hair, thinking maybe he would surprise her later in the week by flying up to Boston.

Later in the week when Jon talked to Katie, he realized he wouldn't be able to pull it off. He had a meeting on Thursday morning to arrange a fundraising concert at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York for late September, and the kids were going to her house Friday after school. Knowing it would be a full week before he could see her again, Jon wore a scowl on his face for a the better part of that week. He tried to distract himself by hooking up with some musicians he had worked with before on previous solo albums. He met them at a local recording studio and worked through a couple of songs he had managed to write despite his grumpy mood.

With the kids at their dad's house for most of the week, Katie was able to catch up on some much needed sleep and even worked in a trip to the stable later in the week. She talked to Jon daily, but could tell he wasn't in the best of moods. She missed him incredibly, but found instead of making her grumpy, like it did Jon, she was always smiling and humming her way through the day.

During one call, Katie finally asked him outright what the matter was. "Alright cowboy, you can come clean with me. I can tell your in a bad mood."

"Its nothing, really. Nothing to do with you, your amazing. Next weekend can't get here soon enough for me. I guess I am just mad at myself. I am writing crap. Like stupid words from some boy band love song." He admitted.

Katie had to laugh a little. She was sure it wasn't that bad. "I highly doubt that. Your much more talented than that. And I imagine your just having a little case of writers block. I mean Jesus, Jon. You have written how many hits and songs that people go wild over? Your "off" day is the best day for most artists, I would think. Why don't you just take a day off and get out of your own head for a while? I know you are a workaholic, but even you need to chill once in awhile. And stop being so hard on yourself."

Jon figured maybe she had a point. He did have a way of getting caught up in his own head junk sometimes. It has been a crazy year, first the divorce and huge tour. Then meeting Katie. From extreme to the other. "Your probably right, babe. Ok, I will take the day off and do something else."

Being in Music City, he decided to go bar hopping. Nashville had bars and pubs all over with local musicians playing at all times of the day. Jon spent the day listening to different bands, jamming with a few once he was recognized, which was often, and just submersing himself in the flavor of the city. He had originally found the inspiration for the last album here, he had to believe it still held magic for him. Trying on the local music did manage to clear the fog, and Jon stayed up until the sun peeked over the edges of the horizon, scribbling words down on his notepad. Finally as the sun took over the eastern sky, he closed the curtains and collapsed into bed, feeling more motivated and productive than he had in a long time.

The next time Jon called Katie, he mentioned the concert to her. "Hey, babe. In a couple of weeks the boys and I are putting on a gig at the Hard Rock in New York. It is a private fundraiser event for Habitat. Do you think you and Becca could come joins us?"

Katie loved the idea of it, "That sounds like a blast. What is the date? I just have to make arrangements for the kids."

"Saturday the 27th." He told her.

"OK, that should be fine. I can see if they can stay with their dad that weekend." Katie made a mental to note to herself.

Later that day, Becca and Katie cut out of the studio early and went to grab dinner. She couldn't wait to tell Becca about the concert. "Becs, you need to take off the 26th."

Becca gave her a funny look, "Ok....can I ask why?"

"Jon and the band will be playing a small private function at the Hard Rock in New York. He asked if we wanted to go. I figured you would want to." Katie waited for her friend's reaction. "You would get to meet the whole band."

Becca, being Becca, just about jumped out of her seat with excitement. "Are you kidding me? Would I like to go? HA! I see a shopping trip coming up! Oh, don't you have the kiddos that weekend?"

"I called Kevin and he is able to take the kids, so we have ourselves a weekend in New York City!" Katie was almost as excited as Becca. Even though she had met the whole band, this would be the first time she would see them live since meeting Jon. She had a feeling it was going to be an experience unlike any other.

Chapter 31