The Road to Justice/Sins of the Son combo pack - A John Fowler Novel (John Fowler (Books 1 & 2)) (63 page)

Jessica glanced over at John.  He was looking at the floorboard.  She knew she should let him off easy, but their relationship has been built on them going back and forth since they became partners.  She wasn
’
t going to let their new relationship change that.

“
First off, you
’
re forgiven about how you were acting.  We
’
re all a little on edge, and very sleep deprived, and quite frankly you
’
re
learning how to coexist with human beings again.
”
 
John chuckled and looked over at Jessica.  She looked quite serious.  The smile fell from John
’
s face and he tried to appear serious as well.

“
As for the other,
”
she continued. 
“
It doesn
’
t bother me that you don
’
t have a lot of experience with women.
”

“
Hey! I have plenty of experience!
”
 
John exclaimed.

“
What bothers me is you
’
re just like all typical men,
”
she went on, ignoring him. 
“
You talk a big game and when it comes to game time you all fall short.
”

“
Now wait just a minute!
”
 
John retorted.

“
For just once in my life,
”
Jessica plowed ahead. 
“
I would like for a man to be upfront and honest about what they are looking for.
”
 
She held up a finger before John could speak.  John had never seen this side of Jessica before, but then again, he had never been in this situation with Jessica before. 
“
I would like a man to understand it is my choice what I do or do not do and what I do or do not do does not make me a tease, or scared of a real man, or, my personal favorite,
”
Jessica threw up air quotes. 
“’
You know what would fix her?
’
 
What I agree to do or not do with my body is my choice, and not only do I expect to have that right, but I expect to be respected for it; whatever it is I decide to do.
”

“You know you covered a lot of ground there about a man being up front, and you being respected,” John said.

“Well, I did get on a bit of a roll, but
it’s
how I feel,” Jessica replied.

“Let me ask you this,” John said.  Jessica nodded for him to go ahead.  “If you expect for a man to be up front
,
shouldn’t a man expect you to be up front with him?”

“That’s reasonable,” Jessica replied, nodding.  John waited.  Jessica glanced over at him and shrugged her shoulders.  “Oh
,
so you expect me to be up front first?”

“Any reason why I shouldn’t?”
  John asked.

“Ever heard of being a gentleman and going first?”  Jessica asked.

“I’m a liberated man,” John replied tugging on his jacket.  Jessica sputtered laughter with that remark.  She looked at him for a second and decided to be bold.

“So
,
you want to have sex with me?”  Jessica asked.

John
’
s mother had always warned him to be careful what you asked because the answer you got may not be the one you wanted
, or was ready for
.  John thought for a second very carefully.  He glanced over at Jessica who didn
’
t look the least bit nervous or embarrassed with what she had just asked him.  John thought she could at least have the decency to look slightly uncomfortable.

“
John,
”
Jessica said quietly. 
“
Big boys and girls can talk about these sorts of things now.
”

John nodded, and still was silent.  It was time to put on his big boy pants.

“
I don
’
t think it
’
s a question of me wanting to have sex with you,
”
John responded.  Jessica raised one eyebrow quizzically. 
“
I don
’
t know of any heterosexual male that wouldn
’
t want to have sex with you.  The question is when do I feel comfortable having sex with you and when do you feel comfortable having sex with me.
”

Jessica thought about John
’
s answer for a moment.  She began to worry that John
’
s statement had a very deep meaning.

“
Jess, this has nothing to do with Sam,
”
John said. 
“
This has to do with my feelings and what I believe and who I am.
”

“
You don
’
t want to
have sex until you get married, do you,
John?
”
 
Jessica asked.  John looked down at the floorboard. 
“
Answer me
,
John,
”
Jessica said. 

“
No,
”
John replied. 
“
It
’
s not you; it
’
s just something I believe in.  I know it
’
s old fashioned and many guys would think I
’
m out of my mind, but no.  It
’
s not even necessarily religious.  It
’
s about commitment.  I know I talk and make innuendos sometimes, but I believe there is only one for me, and I am going to honor that other person.  I know that sounds very 1800s and Puritan, but it
’
s what I believe.  In case you wondering, I also realize this is my
decision and I cannot hold anyone I choose to have a relationship with to my beliefs.  What they did, or didn
’
t do, before me is none of my concern.  But if they
’
re going to be in a relationship with me, th
e
n they
’
re going to have to accept who I am.
”
 
He paused and looked over at Jessica.  He spoke very softly. 
“
Is that a deal breaker?
”
 

“
Who says I would have sex with you or anyone else before I married?
”
 
Jessica asked.  John grinned at her.

“
Well . . . ?
“
 
John asked.

“
John,
”
Jessica began, smiling. 
“
That
’
s a very personal question.  That
’
s the kind of information I
’
d only share with someone I
’
m in a deep committed relationship with.   I am in a relationship with you.  I have no idea what kind it is at this moment, but I am committed to it.  Is that enough?
”
 

John thought for a minute.

“
This relationship is going to get me committed one day,
”
John said under his breath.  Jessica heard him, and tried to fight back a smile.  John glanced over and saw her fighting the smile, but decided to let it go.

“
So basically you
’
ve managed to get me to tell you my entire past,
”
John began.

“
What there was of it,
”
Jessica responded.

“
Got me to admit my feelings for you and what type of relationship I want with any woman and you
’
ve told me . . . nothing?
”
 
John asked.  Jessica nodded.

“
You
’
re the one who said it was none of your concern.  Got a problem with that?
”
 
She asked curtly.  John shook his head no.  Jessica smiled. 

“
Let
’
s, just for fun, say I did,
”
John said cautiously.

“
Fir
st, you
’
d be a hypocrite with that little speech you just gave.  Second . . . . I
’
d tell you to get over it,
”
Jessica said as she pulled into the Staples drive. 
“
We
’
ve got a big bad to take down.
”
 
Jessica stopped at the gate,
leaned over to John, and kissed him.  When she pulled back, she winked at him. 
“
I
’
ll say this, whenever we decide to do whatever, I promise you won
’
t be sorry.
”

“
I believe you,
”
John replied breathlessly.

John and Jessica were admitted to the house by one of Archibald
’
s lackeys.  As they approached the house, John looked back toward the road and saw a whole fleet of cars and vans headed toward the house.  John smiled inwardly.  Trip had said fifty agents would be joining them, and apparently he wasn
’
t kidding.  Jessica was serving the warrant to Archibald and one of his lawyers when John spotted the former First lady.

“
Mrs. Nichols,
”
John said, tipping his hat.  He paused and looked at Archibald.  Archibald looked very unhappy. 
“
My apologies
,
ma
’
am, is that Staples now?
”

“
You may call me Veronica,
”
Veronica replied, her voice dripping with honey.  John smiled at her.  Jessica shot John a look.

“
Jessica,
”
John began. 
“
Have you met Veronica?  You remember she
’
s the lady I got
Trip to
arrest
in the White House a few days ago.
”

Jessica smiled sweetly at Veronica.  Veronica began to scowl and huffed off.  Archibald roared with laughter.

“
John,
”
Archibald began, slapping him on the back as he led the two agents to the house. 
“
I needed that.
”

“
Hear some bad news there, Archibald?
”
 
John asked. 
“
I
’
m sure by now you
’
ve heard the news about Senator Cosby.
”
 
John stopped and faced Archibald. 
“
Or is it that you had some investments bought off you, and the
‘
assets
’
that were in those packages won
’
t be able to be used the way you thought they would?
”
 
Jessica had a scowl on her face as John said this.  Archibald spread his hands.

“
I
’
m quite sure I don
’
t know what you
’
re talking about, Agent Fowler,
”
Archibald replied.  He looked over at Jessica. 
“
Miss Hammerstein, why the look on your face?
  You
’
re much too beautiful to look like that.  Come in, and feel free to search wherever you want and talk to whoever you want.
”

John smiled. 
“
Whoever?
”
 
John asked.  Archibald nodded. 
“
Are you sure Archibald?
”

“
Be my guest,
”
Archibald answered as he walked away from the agents. 
“
Most of the housekeeping staff can
’
t speak English.
”
 
John was glancing around as Archibald was talking.  He noticed one of Archibald
’
s staff.  A slow smile spread across his face. 
“
Oh, and if you should find any of them to be illegal, please, deport them immediately
,
“
Archibald continued. 
“
I do try and make sure they are legal, but you know how they can be.
”