I think Anthony gives a whole new definition to the word Creep!

Kim

I wonder what it is that Jack and the team have discovered. I could see Jack, Myles and Bobby trying to keep from tearing into this creep.

Well Anthony...I think you are really in trouble and I don't think any shrugg will help...
Creep!
Josy

Without further adieu, here's the rest of that scene...

“You have no proof of anything other than personal contact with these women yesterday, and I won’t have you harassing him when you don’t even have anything to charge him with!”

“Actually, Ms. Daniels, we have proof of a lot more than physical contact,” Jack told her. The woman glared back at him with ice-cold blue eyes, her dark hair pulled back into a tight knot, making her appear even more severe and older than her years. Jack held out a piece of paper in a clear plastic evidence bag, and when she read what was on it her eyes widened. She was obviously trying to keep her cool, and it seemed to Jack that she was nearly losing the battle. The letter was one of farewell and regret, telling Laura that he was sorry they’d had to say goodbye so soon, but that someday he would join her again, and that then they would be together for eternity. When Jack had first read it, it had made his blood run cold.

“I didn’t write that!” Anthony yelled, reaching to snatch the paper away, but Jack pulled it out of his reach.

“If you didn’t write it, then why did we find it in your apartment?” Bobby demanded.

“Someone else put it there!”

“So someone else addressed a letter to your girlfriend and signed your name?” Myles asked, his voice edged with sarcasm.

“I didn’t do it,” Anthony insisted, his voice weakening. “I loved them both.”

“Anthony…enough. You need to be quiet now,” Annabelle said firmly.

“Let me tell you what I think happened yesterday,” Myles began, standing as near to the table as he dared. “Somehow, both ladies found out that you were cheating on them—with each other. Both of them decided to end their relationship with you. Lydia was first. She told you when you visited her office today, and later you cornered her in the parking garage, where you strangled her and left her in her car. How am I doing so far?” Anthony’s pallor was several shades lighter than normal, but he continued to watch Myles with a look that contained both fear and hatred. “Later on, when you saw Laura, she didn’t let on that she knew about your affair with Lydia, but you knew, because Lydia had told you.”

“That’s not true!”

“Laura never got a chance to tell you, did she? You killed her before she could say a word.”

“I love her too much to ever let her say that,” Anthony said softly. “Now she’ll be mine forever. Both of them will.” Annabelle let out a groan, and Jack knew then that they had him.

Tina, that post made my blood turn to ice!! You have me cringing from Anthony, afraid he will notice I am here and listening!!!

Joy

Jack and Myles did it They broke him. And as far as that lousy excuse for a lawyer goes, she is just about as low as Dragon Lady Hillery Kern.

You got to love criminals like that They do say confession is good for the soul

So, I caught up on three posts at one time and you take me from the sublime with Jack and Sue (be still my madly beating heart ) to totally creeped out by Anthony. Now, that he's confessed though can we get back to the

kav

This is being posted beta-free (haven't done that in a LONG time!)...that'd be because said beta is racing to finish her own story, and it's almost midnight her time!!! Whose idea was this anyway? Anyhow...now that the case is over, we can get back to what's important.

She’d chosen to wear a dress that she’d bought on a whim during a sale after Christmas. At the time she wasn’t sure when she’d wear it, but she’d put it away in her closet for that special occasion, whenever it happened to arise. The dress was a dark blue and fell just below the knee, where the skirt flared a bit. It was sleeveless, with a cut that was sexy while still preserving her modesty, and it made her feel incredibly feminine. When she’d tried it on in the store, she’d wondered if Jack would like it, and now her heart skipped a beat as she realized that she’d soon find out. Slipping on a pair of heels, she looked at herself in the mirror once more before leaving her bedroom.

“Jack isn’t going to know what hit him when he sees you!” Lucy exclaimed when Sue walked into the room.

“Thanks, Luce.”

“You’re welcome. You really look gorgeous! Bet you’re glad you bought that dress.”

“Oh, definitely. It’s perfect,” Sue agreed. Suddenly she couldn’t wait for Jack to arrive so that they could begin their evening together. She felt a bit nervous, but it was a delicious sort of nervous, and she wondered if Jack felt that way too.

Thankfully she didn’t have to wait long before Lucy jumped up from her seat to gently take hold of Levi’s collar so that he wouldn’t make a beeline for Sue. “He’s here. I’ll let you answer the door,” she said with a wink. “Have a wonderful time!”

Giving her roommate a quick hug, she then leaned down to give Levi a pat, promising him that he could come on their next date. She opened the door to reveal Jack, wearing a dark suit jacket with a blue shirt under it and looking amazingly handsome.

“Wow…you look amazing, Sue…just beautiful,” he told her, and she smiled at him as he held out another bouquet of flowers. Her hand brushed his as she accepted them, and before she could say a word he’d put his other arm around her waist, pulling her in for a kiss. His kiss was more than enough to chase away the unpleasantness of the day, and she soon found herself getting so lost in it that she almost felt physical pain when they parted breathlessly.

“Thank you for the flowers,” she said, blushing furiously at how easily he’d made her forget time and place with just one kiss. “I’ll run and put them in some water before we go.” With some reluctance she pulled away from him, and she was grateful when Lucy wordlessly took the flowers from her and motioned for her to get going. Jack was holding her coat in his hands, and she let him help her into it, the touch of his fingers on the bare skin of her shoulders threatening to set her ablaze. His hand went to the small of her back as he opened the door for her, and she felt a flutter of anticipation in her stomach as she wondered what the evening held.

Flutter of anticipation? I can feel her flutter of anticipation

My tummy is fluttering in aniticpation as well. At last.... that's me and hopefully that's Jack.

kav

I definitely have butterflies in my stomach in anticipation of the evening!!!

Joy

Glad that they can put this creeepy guy behind the ... ...I forgot the word in English , well in jail and

I can´t wait for Jack & Sue date

Tere

Reaching for her hand as they stepped outside Sue’s apartment, he led her toward the sidewalk, watching her reaction with anticipation as they approached the black stretch limo waiting for them. Her eyes widened and she looked at him in surprise. “You rented a limousine?”

“I did.”

“Wow,” she breathed, her face lighting up in a smile as the chauffer opened the door for her. She slid in first and Jack slipped in beside her. “I can’t believe you did this,” she told him, still smiling as she shook her head.

“I wanted this to be special.” He was pleased that she seemed so delighted with the limousine; he’d wondered if it would be too much, but she obviously didn’t think so.

“Oh, it definitely is. You know what? The only time I’ve ever been in a limo was when I was in a friend’s wedding, and it was certainly more crowded than this. Plus we were running late and were in too much of a hurry to really enjoy it.” Grinning as he watched her take in the luxurious interior of the car, Jack put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as the car started and gently pulled away from the curb.

Suddenly, it was Sue who was initiating their kiss, and as it grew more passionate he found himself glad for the privacy divider that separated them from the driver. Pulling her onto his lap, he ran his fingers over the smoothness of her calves, his hands drifting under her skirt and onto her thighs as he caressed her silky skin. He could feel her breath catch at his touch, and her arms tightened around his neck as she pressed even more closely against him. Wishing for a moment that the thin layer of her pantyhose wasn’t there to impede his access to her bare skin, the voice of reason deep within him told him that maybe they were a necessary evil after all. She was quickly pushing him to the brink of control, and he knew he had to start slowing things down a little bit, or they were going to miss their reservations. Not that the thought of spending the evening in a limo was an unpleasant one, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t what Sue had in mind when she’d imagined what he had planned. Pulling his hands away, he moved them to her face, tempering his kisses before pulling away to look at her. Her eyes fluttered open to meet his, and he smiled at her. “It amazes me how quickly I lose myself when I’m with you. I can’t say that’s ever happened to me before.” He needed her to know that she was more special than any of the other women in his past, and he hoped that before the evening was over she would have no doubt about it. She was nothing like any woman he’d ever met, and as he looked into her eyes he knew that he’d do anything he had to in order to make her happy.

“I can definitely say the same thing,” she admitted, her smile almost shy as she looked back at him. “This is amazing, Jack. Thank you.”

You’re welcome, he signed. The voice of the chauffer came over the intercom then, letting Jack know they were at the restaurant. “Well, we’re here. Now, if you’re not hungry, we can certainly stay here. I sure wouldn’t complain.”

She blushed deeply as she read his words, and she shook her head at him, her eyes shining. “I don’t want a to miss a moment of what you have planned, Jack Hudson. And that means spending some time outside of the limo.” Kissing him once more, he groaned as she pulled away and extricated herself from his grasp. Jack reached for the door, thinking that if he couldn’t be alone with her, being out in public with her on his arm would be the next best thing.

Tere

Call me an optimistic, but they'll be driving back in the limo, right? And then there'd be no rush, right?

You do know some limousines have tubs in the middle Yes, Tina2... I'm still thinking about you.

This is it...thanks for all of the generous comments as I wrote this.

The evening was everything she could have wanted---and more. He’d surprised her at every turn, first with a limo, then with an intimate dinner for two at a restaurant in town that normally required reservations months in advance. They’d gone for a moonlit walk by the monuments before making their way back to the limo, and Sue felt like a princess as they sipped champagne from fluted crystal glasses. Jack had certainly made this a first date to remember, and in a way she was glad that it wasn’t on Valentine’s Day, because it meant that it would be a special day that they weren’t sharing with the rest of the world. It hit her then that this was a date that she would circle on her calendar for the rest of her life, and she suddenly knew without a shadow of doubt that she and Jack were going to end up together. Meeting his eyes, she smiled at him, and a confidence came over her that she’d never felt before. As if sensing the change in her mood, Jack reached for her hand as he smiled back at her. “Thanks for tonight,” he told her, even the simple touch of his thumb caressing her hand driving her to distraction.

“I should be thanking you,” she said. “This was an amazing night, Jack.”

“No…I’m the lucky one. After the mixed messages I’ve been sending you in all the time we’ve known each other, I would have deserved it if you’d have said no.”

“Will you please stop beating yourself up over that? I love you, and I want to be with you.” Her breath caught as she realized what she’d just said, and she watched his eyes widen with equal realization.

“I love you too,” he told her, his face full of emotion. “And I’m going to spend the rest of our lives showing you how much, starting right now.” Letting go of her hand, he took both of their glasses of champagne and put them back into the ice cooler beside them before reaching for a bag that he’d left on the floor of the limo. She was surprised she hadn’t noticed it there before, but she remembered with a rush of heat that she’d been pretty distracted by Jack during the time they’d spent in the limo so far. Curiosity threatened to overwhelm her as he placed a neatly wrapped package on her lap.

“Jack…you’ve already given me so much,” she protested, but he placed a finger to her lips.

“Go ahead and open it,” he said, and she couldn’t help but think that he looked a bit like an eager little boy as he waited for her.

Tearing the wrapping away to reveal a long, rectangular box, she couldn’t even begin to guess what was inside. Narrowing her eyes curiously at him, she slowly pulled the lid from the box and stared in wonder at what was inside. It was a large wooden spoon, but not just any wooden spoon. It was carved out of dark wood, mahogany maybe, and the design was exquisite. Definitely not meant for cooking, Sue imagined it would be perfect to hang on the wall. “Jack…this is beautiful. What does it mean?”

“It has several different meanings…it’s a Welsh Love Spoon, and I’d never heard of them before I saw this one in an antique store. As soon as I saw it I thought you might like it, and once I realized the meaning behind it, I knew it would be perfect. They were given as courting gifts in 16th century Wales, and every part of the spoon has some meaning.”

“Wow,” she said. She couldn’t believe he’d found her something so romantic and so different at the same time. Her fingers brushed against the polished wood for a moment, tracing the hearts and knots that had been painstakingly carved into it. Jack’s hand covered hers, and she looked up at him again.

“There’s a card underneath that explains the meaning better than I ever could,” he told her, and she immediately reached for it.

“This spoon symbolizes two souls that will be bound together in an everlasting, forever love. The hearts intertwined symbolize love,” she began, reading aloud from the small card. “The commas symbolize two souls, and the knots below them mean everlasting, forever love. The heart shaped bowl on the spoon promises a full and bountiful life together. Jack…this is so…” Her emotions got the better of her, her eyes filling with tears as she looked up to meet his gaze. It was such a thoughtful gift and meant more than she could say. Bringing her lips to his, she kissed him, feeling warmth flood through her as he responded immediately. Fingers intertwined, just as their hearts already were, and she sent up a silent prayer for the fact that February wouldn’t ever be quite so icy and cold again.

The End

Well this pile of mush would love to thank you from the bottom of her heart. I've just caught up on the last three, no... four posts and I'm all warm and gushy inside. Lovely mental image you've got now, huh?

Jack's, ahem... enthusiasm when they got in the limo at Sue's apartment was just meltingly wonderful and then Marlo got me all hot and bothered with her tub suggestion (I do so appreciate being "thought of" Marlo! What a friend!) and I was almost afraid (yeah, right) to read the last post! But I did, and it's such a lovely image to head to bed with.

Thank you Tina!

Tina2

Speaking of mush, Tina2, I think mine (the porridge kind) is burning on the stove, but I don't care. Couldn't collect my puddlefied remains to get on upstairs and remedy the situation anyway. Hope my house doesn't burn down. That kiss in the limousine. You know, the one that started like this:and ended all too soon like this I was already but went into a full when Jack said Can I just say that when turtle Jack finally comes out of his shell he does it in a big way?

And the Welsh spoons!!! I've never heard of them and while I love the symbolism in them I thought of a few other that pertain to Jack and Sue. Like:

Spooning (something Jack intends them to do the rest of their lives)

Only the spoon knows what's stirring the pot (and we all know that Sue stirs Jack...if you don't believe me, read two story posts ago)

Do not put your spoon in the pot that does not boil for you (promise of fidelity)

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down (Of course Jack is all sugar....)

Okay -- kind of punchy this morning...didn't get enough sleep. I loved this Tina!

kav

That was such a romantic date, filled with promise and love. Thank you for sharing this great story Tina. It was fun to see that the best laid plans can sometimes morph into something even more wonderful.

Wow, Tina, this was an incredible story and it's good to see that you finished by the deadline! That's always good, plus I was able to read it in one sitting which was even better!

You've eaved such a remarkable story just because of a day that most see as a day to be single and be happy! Of course, if you're single and happy and you STILL manage to find love on Valentine's day... well, nothing tops that!

Tina, that was absolutely wonderful. What a meltworthy treat from start to finish! Sorry I didn't make it to 3:00am to see your last post go up, but I loved being able to wake up this morning and see it there. (Okay, so I didn't love waking up - especially after only six and a half hours when I could have slept in!!!) At least I'm a fuzzified overtired reader!

Tina that was wonderful! I love the Love Spoon! Fantastic, absolutely fantastic!

Kim (who is going to be late for church but couldn't wait until she got back to see how this turned out!)

Tina, that was wonderful. I love the meaning of the spoon. What an amazing gift, saying so much with just a little.

Thank you !!!

If I had to be sick enough to miss church this morning, THIS was the morning to miss. I just re-read the last two or three day's posts of this story, and melted all over again. I started with the post with the first kiss in the office and on until the end. The spoon was a much more effective gift than an engagement ring would have been - much more imaginative! The whole things was . . . Wonderful. Amazing. WOW . . .!!

Thanks again for a terrific story!

Regina

Oh, Tina..........!! I love this from start to finish!! I had never heard of the spoon before either - what a wonderful story to share with their kids and grandkids!! And, when Jack gets started, there's no stopping him (thank goodness)!! The night was perfect - for Sue especially, but it wasn't half bad for the rest of us either!!!

Thanks so much for sharing!! I'm planning on reading and re-reading again and again!!!

Joy

Thank you so much for the story! I was amazed by the reference to the Welsh Lovespoon as we have one in my family (my great grand parents)!

Ironically, my other great grand parents passed on to our family a wooden carved rolling pin!

Congratulations on a great story!

Bug

Fabulous Tina! I of course love the whole spoon symbolism! I did think about going to bed then setting my alarm for 2am but I figured the rest of my family would just get up and wonder what I was doing!

Wonderful story, Tina. The spoon was such a great gift and it would put new meaning to "spooning" in the future. I just loved it! I'm not thinking that Sue will be participating in the next Singles Awareness Day.

Oh my Tina!! What a wonderful date!! I loved the meaning of the spoon
Thanks for this beautiful story...
Josy

I say this all the time, but I don't think's I've realized how much I've meant it until now.

I want a Jack.

He's so thoughtful and original, so warm and caring. And oh! those eyes. A girl could (and probably will in the near future) faint. This was an impeccable story! A pleasure to read. Maybe we could go into more detail about that date over in WIP... eh?...eh?

Paula

Tina this story was wonderful - from beginning to end. I enjoyed getting to read the last few posts without having to wait. Waiting is so overrated - sometimes!

that was amazing..i loved it from the beginning till the end. ana amzing story.

Wow! a wonderful love story.
thanks,
Terie

Tina, I have to admit, that date was worth waiting for. And I love the idea of it being their special day.

What a sweet romantic date Jack planned for a first date.

He was starting to be a bad boy in the limo, but he recovered well.

I loved the Welsh Lovespoon and it's meanings. Very sweet gift. I thought you were going to say that's where they came up with the spooning as we know it.

Great story, I loved it from start to finish.

That was amazing! I loved it!

I'm playing catch-up, and loving every minute of it and of this story....well, not the murder part, but the rest is so romantic!!!!

Jill

Loved it, Tina! Awesome read!

Em

Sorry I got so far behind while on my trip Tina. I mean, I was all caught up when I left but you posted 7 more times, bam. But I'm back now catching up.

Of course, I just had to go read the last few posts, starting with Jack's early morning Valentine's Day visit to Sue, you know, just to refresh my memory.

What was that? Of course it didn't have anything to do with wanting to reread Jack's move from turtle to hare...and that corresponding warm, fuzzy, butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling I got when reading the first time.

Uh uh! Purely punching the View-Refresh button in my brain, that's all it was! Now I'm ready to take off reading the rest, eagerly running towards those even better fuzzy feelings and conclusion of this great story. Be back later with the results of this race!

Lynn

P11-160 - Pizza and wine on the living floor...oh, that's setting the stage for some great fuzzies...
P12-176 - Kim said it best.
Oh, I see everyone else followed suit, so I'm right in step!

P13-186 - I'm so happy I'm

P14-196, 204 - Anthony is despicable...I had goosebumps reading these two posts. I'm glad he incriminated himself in front of his lawyer. And I could feel the anger in Bobby, Myles and Jack. I'm sure glad they were able to restrain themselves.
P14-209 - Oh, I'm all aflutter with anticipation too! I loved that Sue's dress is blue and Jack has on a blue shirt.

P15-214 - I can't help it, I just have to quote
P15-217 - A "Welsh Love Spoon" What a special, unique gift to give Sue. I'm crying buckets at the tenderness and love that symbolizes.
A perfect ending to a perfect story Tina!

Lynn

Great Job on the story

Dianna

I know this is three years late but that was beautiful.



Hope ~