~ Reno, White family villa ~
Jeff and Oscar returned just on ti for lunch.
As soon as Jeff entered through the main door, JoAnna jumped on him, still excited from the show she watched earlier that morning.
Jeff was surprised for a mont and didn't have ti to keep away bag from his hand, so it just dangled off of his wrist while he tried to hold JoAnna who was clinging onto him like a monkey. It took them a second to adjust their positions. JoAnna wrapped arms around his neck, her legs around his waist while he supported her bottom with his hands.
Jeff observed her excited expression. "I will take this as a sign that you approve of my performance."
JoAnna vigorously nodded.
He gave her a smacking kiss on the cheek. He was going for her lips, but when he saw with corner of the eye his parents staring at them. He shifted his target to the cheek at the last mont. "Did you have lunch?"
"No, I waited for you, so we can eat together."
"Good." He was happy to hear that. "I just need to change, and we can eat."
Jeff wanted to keep her down, but JoAnna protested. At the end, he walked to the bedroom with her stuck to him, and large bag attached at his wrist.
Oscar watched after them with a frown. 'They ignored … again!'
Elanor smiled seeing Jeff and JoAnna show their affection for each other without noticing anyone else around them.
JoAnna let go of Jeff when they reached the bedroom, and at that ti noticed the bag. "What is that?"
"Cake." He smiled mysteriously.
"Cake?" JoAnna didn't understand why he would bring a cake from outside. They have a cook and a pastry chef in the villa. "What kind of a cake is that?"
"I got it for you."
"Oh? Now I am curious… " She peeked into the bag and reached for the box inside.
Jeff's hand wrapped around JoAnna's waist and pulled her away from the bag. "It's for after lunch."
JoAnna pouted in protest. "Fine. Go change quickly so that we can eat as soon as possible." She likes sweets, and chips, and ice cream… and he knows it. JoAnna was happy he got her a cake, but not happy that she needs to wait for it.
"Where are Aiden and Sarah?" Jeff asked as he entered the closet.
JoAnna walked right behind Jeff and stared at him while he removed his suit jacket and kept it on the hanger. "Sleeping?"
Jeff was confused noticing the tone JoAnna used. "Was that an answer or a question?"
"I don't know. I was watching you all handso and dashing talk to those people on the screen and next thing I know, two of them left. I didn't go to check on them. Not after what I saw this morning." JoAnna was still embarrassed that she let herself into Aiden's room while they were sleeping.
Jeff was unbuttoning his shirt and grinned. "Handso? Dashing?"
JoAnna was next to him in a flash, helping him with buttons. "Yes, yes! Don't you know that my fiancé is the most handso man?"
Jeff was grinning so much, that his cheeks hurt. But he was not able to stop it. His mouth stretched on its own.
JoAnna thought how Jeff fired all those people, and they didn't like it. No one likes to be fired. However, Jeff didn't show any emotions. He looked cold, distant, powerful. It's impossible that he didn't have any thoughts. JoAnna looked up at his handso, grinning, slightly goofy expression. "What is on your mind when you fire people?"
Jeff was so surprised by her question that his grin faded away. He pulled her in his embrace and held her while thinking about the answer. "No matter what people say, it's not a pleasant experience. I look at them as people with a salary, job, dignity. It's not easy, but when I focus on why I'm taking those away… it makes it bearable."
JoAnna rested her head on his bare chest and inhaled deeply.
Jeff looked at her and saw that her eyes are closed. "Did you sleep off?" He had a feeling that he spent ti to co up with an elegant answer to her question about firing people, and she didn't listen at all.
JoAnna pinched his waist playfully. "How can I sleep? We are standing."
"Oh… then you must have been lost in my handsoness." His expression matched his shaless words.
He was right about her getting dazed, but she would not admit to that. JoAnna squinted her eyes, ready to start bickering when she rembered sothing. "A package arrived for you while you were out."
Jeff's eyes lit up. "Where is it?"
"In the study."
"Co, let's go…"
She laughed seeing him all excited. "Wait! Cover up first." She grabbed a t-shirt from the shelf and threw it at him.
…
In the study, there was a large package on the floor. Jeff circled it few tis while examining the unmarked brown box. He nodded in approval and looked at JoAnna. "Open it."
"?" JoAnna was surprised.
"It's for you."
JoAnna's curiosity was piqued. The box was tightly secured with several layers of tape and zip ties. She didn't dare jab the knife into the box, because Jeff refused to say if what's inside is breakable, or it can be cut, so she had to work around the edges carefully. It took her so ti to open it.
Jeff didn't help. He watched from the side.
All JoAnna's frustration that built up while she was opening the box evaporated when she reached contents of the package. It was a black case, and based on the shape, JoAnna could roughly guess what is inside. She smiled and opened the box. When her eyes landed on an exquisite rifle, her smile was replaced with a surprise. She stared at the rifle, and then at Jeff. "TAC-50?!! How did you get this?"
Jeff didn't respond. He enjoyed seeing her excited.
JoAnna carefully took the rifle out of its case. Her eyes were sparkling as she caressed it. After so ti, she looked up at Jeff. "You said this is mine, right?"
He gave a small nod. "Do you like it?"
"Yes!" She nodded vigorously. "Is there an occasion?"
He laughed. "You can make one if you want. I don't need an occasion to gift sothing to my future wife."
JoAnna tried to look upset at him, but she could not stop smiling, which ended up in her making a silly face, and Jeff laughed even more. Eventually he stopped laughing. "Do you want to try it out?"
"Do you need to ask?"
Jeff took her to the roof of the villa. JoAnna was not disappointed when she saw that he arranged a shooting spot for her, with ammunition on the side, and a target just over 1.5 miles away. Jeff sat next to JoAnna and quietly observed her while she took few shots.. It was obvious that she wanted to shoot more, but she reluctantly left it for later because lunch was overdue.
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