6.

They continued chatting and laughing as the afternoon wore on. Jon marveled at the ease in which Linds just seemed to fit, with him and Rich at least. He couldn’t stop the smile that kept creeping onto his face as he watched the two of them. The talk had moved from the living room into the den when Ava had called them and even that had him smiling. There was none of that usual pre-teen angst he’d witnessed when Ava had been around Richie’s other girlfriends. No one was good enough for her daddy and she’d let the world know about it with some of the exes of Richie’s. He wasn’t sure exactly what had happened on that road trip they had talked of, but obviously Linds had shown Richie’s little girl something that had won the little girls heart.

The more he saw of this new woman in Richie’s life the more he liked her. She had a no nonsense way about her that had the small lead weight that had settled in his heart after Richie’s drinking problems just vanishing. At one point when he’d offered them a drink he knew Richie was about to ask for his usual drink only to stop, nearly stutter and change his request to iced tea and all because of a tiny brow arch by Linds. Fuck she was just good for him, and when she’d started explaining her plans to pay back David Jon’s mind was made up. She was the perfect addition to the Jovi family. Fuck he didn’t need a lot of time to decide on people, he always trusted his first impression and she’d made one hell of an impression on him.

When Dot and Stephy returned, Richie didn’t even have time to introduce her before she was off of his lap, introducing herself and moving to help bring in the grocery bags and that spoke volumes to Jon. Normally the women attracted to Richie and his way of life would lay around and let Dot or his staff do for them, as if they owed it too them, but not Lindsay. Even now she was in the kitchen laughing and helping with the meal Dot was doing and Jon knew that if anything would win Dot over it was a woman who acted like a human being and not a plastic doll.

“Richie sweetie could you come help a moment?” At Lindsay’s call Richie was off the couch like a shot and on his way to see what she needed and that had Jon in stitches. Standing he moved quickly to the kitchen only to see Richie happily chopping things for a salad and before he knew it Linds had put him to work too, to Dot’s never ending mirth.

“But I burn water!” Jon snorted as he made his way to the counter and leaned back. That one statement always worked with Dot and would work on Linds, he just knew it. He’d get out of helping like he always did.

Lind’s glanced up and chuckled. “Good thing breaking lettuce apart isn’t water right?”

Jon’s brow furrowed as he caught the lettuce coming his way. Well hell he had no defense to that.

Dot stopped her eyes going wide as Lindsay explained how to break lettuce up and Jon started doing it. “Well I never thought I’d see the day…”

Linds grinned as she looked over at Dot, “Even a rock star can handle breaking up lettuce.”

Jon flicked her the finger without even thinking about it and before he knew it a wet dish towel snapped at his ass cheek as various small veggies came hurtling his way. He dodged and ducked as he muttered only to stand straight and see a slender lady like finger returning the favor. Linds shrugged and glanced at Dot, “Whaa? I can give as good as I get.”

Richie’s brow flicked up as he tossed the carrots, cucumbers and other veggies into the salad before pulling her into his arms. “Boy can she.” He nuzzled the back of her hair as he glanced over at Jon and smiled as he saw the acceptance in those famous baby blues. He’d dated a few that the guys or Dot hadn’t liked and life hadn’t been too pleasant, that Dot and Jon seemed to like Linds just reinforced in his mind at how perfect she was.

Linds leaned back against Richie and heard a soft grunt and started to grin. She shifted slightly against him and was rewarded with the feel of the big guy starting to tremble. “Something wrong Rich?”

Richie straightened and cleared his voice. “Not a thing Darlin, not a thing.” His brow waggled as promises began to burn in his dark gaze, his hand sliding up over her back to her arm. Tonight he was free to do what he wanted; tonight there was no daughter in the small bed just a few feet away. Tonight he’d have another taste of Lindsay, if he could make it through this meal.

After calling all the kids in to eat Jon watched as each person got settled into his or her place, and just as he suspected Richie had made sure to seat himself right next to Linds. He glanced over at Dot and saw she was watching the the both of them as intently as he was, her brow lifting as Richie would lean into Linds and get a blush for his efforts. Oh man was the King ever in full on flirt mode. Scooting closer to his wife he leaned in to whisper, “Wanna bet they vanish before the day’s ever over babe?”

Dot shook her head, “I never take your sucker bets babe, and I ain’t about to take one concerning him. I give it ten minutes.” She winked Jon’s way and turned back to their favorite momentary past-time, watching Richie.

Jon snorted as he turned back to his meal, ten minutes? He didn’t give Sambora five to finish his meal and disappear with the new woman in his life. Hell he was looking forward to the next few days thanks to Linds. He had missed the old give and take of Richie and the guys and their practical jokes, to know that she had brought the life back to Richie, hell that Richie had gotten smart and chosen a *Real* woman had him eager to take part in the shenanigans himself. His grin widened as he thought over what they had planned. David would never know what hit him.

Jon watched as Richie pushed away from his half finished meal and nodded at Dot and Jon, “Man, that was good, but I was driving a long way and I’m beat, you’ll watch Ava for a few? I think I wanna get a nap. I ain’t as young as I used to be.”

Dot’s snort had Jon’s laughter roaring as Richie leaned in to Linds and lifted her. Yeah he was gonna nap all over that woman, it wasn’t involving sleep and every adult there knew it, including Linds who had blushed a vibrant pink. “Nap huh? Yeah I guess ya have to take little naps when you’re an old fart.”


Richie and Lind’s voices echoed back to the table as he walked from the room, “NOT OLD, OLDER!”

Dot glanced over at Jon as the laughter started, “Man, used your own words against ya again. I think I like that little lady.”

Jon nodded as the weight of worry over his friend finally lifted completely. “Yeah, she’s gonna fit in just fine.” As the kids cleared the table Jon and Dot left the room, a chuckle leaving Jon, “And lemme tell ya what they have planned for David..”

Dot’s laughter rang through the house as she listened to what Jon had to say. God was the Joker ever in for it.