Chapter 83

She couldn't believe she'd slept the whole car ride. She remembered maybe the first two songs into the ride, then it was all a blur. She lifted her head, realizing she'd curled toward Jon in sleep. For the love of Mike what was it about him and sleep?

She sat up, and looked around. The sun was just starting to disappear behind the row houses and business that mixed along the street they'd parked on. She smiled at Jon. "Joanie's I take it," as she nodded at the large old fashioned sign on the brick face.

He nodded and smiled, his gaze taking in her sleepy eyes as she stretched. He had to behave, but the urge to just yank her into him was strong. "Yep, Joanies. Sleep well babe?"

"Actually, it was just what I needed." Following instinct she pressed a quick kiss on his cheek and tugged on a lock of his soft hair. "Thanks for letting me sack out."

He pulled the key from the ignition and opened the door. "Anytime babe, anytime at all." Stepping from the car he made it around and opened the door for her and grinned, "Prepare yourself for the insanity of my world Katie."

"Am I going to get trampled by Jersey natives ten deep?"

He grinned before starting to laugh. "Naah, but you'll feel that way once Lema and the crew get going good. They ain’t right, every single one of them is touched somehow. But experiencing is believing babe. So come on and welcome to my world."

"Lema? Is that a girl or a guy?"

Jon laughed softly, "Lema is David, our keyboardist. Julliard trained and insane to boot. You'll wanna have him committed before the night is over."

"Lema is David. Do I want to know?" She asked him with an arched brow.

"No Katie you don’t, trust me on that one." Jon grinned and opened the door to the restaurant and headed inside. "You really don’t."

"Gotcha, I'll be sure to watch out for him." She followed him in and was instantly teleported back to Italy. A large mural took up the far wall and she decided Tuscany was more like it. Small pillars glowed from sconces on the walls and the tables were swathed in white base table clothes with burgandy toppers that draped in a diagonal. The settings were clean and simple enough for a family, but dressy enough to make it a nice evening out too.

A large bar took up the back of the main restaurant with deep dark wood and a roster of regulars filling the stools that were already well into happy hour. A balding man with a loosened tie recognized Jon and waved like crazy. "Jonny! You decided to come see the little people, ah?"

A slight blush flooded Jon's cheeks as he grinned, "Yeah and I aint coming alone. I hope you have enough room for the entire gang tonight."

"What, you think I don't have space for my best customers?" He clasped his hand on Jon's shoulder. "Ma would kick my ass if I turned you guys away anyway. She loves you more than me." He turned to Kate. "And you bring a looker to class up the joint. Helluva lot prettier than Sambo, that's for sure."

Kate held out her hand. "I'm Kate."

The man clasped her hand and tugged her forward into a hug. "I'm Bobby. Come away with me, I'm a better man than this joker."

Jon's brow arched slightly as he grinned, "Well prepare for them all Bobby. King is bringing a girl, Dave, Teek, Alec and King's mom and dad. He's throwing a welcome home party tonight."

He hugged Kate closer. "Quick we'll run out the back." He let her go and Kate laughed good naturedly. He glanced at her boobs briefly, but had the good grace to go straight back to her eyes.

Damn boobs would be the very death of her, she thought darkly. "We'd appreciate whatever you guys can do to accommodate everyone. We realize it's quite an imposition."

Bobby snorted. "Baby, the Bon Jovi clan is always welcome. Besides, we're just glad they didn't become traitors." He laughed at his own joke. "We got the back room available. No other parties tonight, so you can have the space to yourselves."

"Traitors?" She mouthed to Jon.

Jon snorted and shook his head. "They’re just glad I’m still a Jersey boy, that fame didn’t go to my head.” He slipped his arm around her waist, "Bobby get the wine and drinks set, ya know what they all like. Me and Katie will go get a seat."

The door chimed and Kate looked over her shoulder. "The real party has arrived. I knew that you were all waiting for me!" A man strolled through the door, wild streaks of blonde stuck out everywhere from a frizzing mass of brown hair. Tight jeans and a t-shirt were molded to his lean body, while a calf length duster floated out behind him.

"Hey!" Bobby said with a laugh.

"Hey!" David answered in kind as he came up behind her and Jon. "Did you miss me? I know that you did!" he said and dropped an arm around each of them. His voice changed, deepened a little, as he turned to her and bright blue eyes twinkled. "I know you don't know me, but seriously, you should. I'm much more exciting than this guy."

Jon flicked the finger towards his friend and laughed, "Katie babe, I'd like you to meet David, our resident idiot savant."

David glanced at her red hair and the sweet curve of her body. "Aye Katie m'darlin' I've been waitin' for ya all my life," he said in an atrocious Irish accent.

She laughed. "Dr. Kate to you," she said with a teasing grin.

The bell over the door tinkled again as a cool night breeze entered along with a shorter dark haired man, dressed all in black and sporting a perpetual grin. "Hola Amigos!"

All of them at once said "Teek!" and Kate smiled again. He was sexy in a way that never could quite be explained. His dark eyes were quiet and wrinkled at the corners as if he spent his time smiling a lot. A cigarette cupped into his hand as he opened his arms wide. Jon turned to the older man and a quick bear hug was shared.

David dropped Tico low with a noogie and was tossed through the back door for his trouble.

Teek grinned as he was greeted by his friends, his dark eyes taking in the fine looking redhead standing by Jon. That had to be the one called Kate, the one Richie claimed Jon was so knotted up about. "And you must be the famous Kate I've heard so much about. Nice to meet you lovely Kate." He dipped low over her hand before standing.

Kate grinned. "There's a gentleman in the lot, good to know."

Dave called from the back room. "Are you really a doctor, Katie? Cause I think Tico just broke my ass."

Jon groaned, "Did I mention he can be quite the hypochrondriac at times?" His gaze moved up as the door tinkled and Richie's parents entered. "Ahh teh gang's almost all here."

"I'm almost afraid to go back there," Kate said with a smile to the older couple that made their way back to the bar.

Joan Sambora smiled, "Ahh honey, You'll get used to it, their just a bunch of big kids. I’m Joan Sambora by the way and you are?"

"Kate Morrison." She shook the older woman's hand. "Pleased to meet you Mrs. Sambora. My roommate is dating your son."

Joan’s brow arched slightly, "You mean hes settled into dating just ONE girl? Praise the Lord."

"He seems to be pretty taken with my best friend, Elena." Kate said with a quick glance at Jon. God, was she digging a hole?

Jon walked up and gave Joan a big hug. "Yeah Ma, he's taken with just one girl now, ain’t that something?" Stepping back he smiled at Kate. "Don't worry babe, Ma here understands her son a lot better than most mothers."

"She's a really nice person. Just graduated from SUNY," she said helpfully.

Joan smiled gently, "I'm sure she’s a very sweet girl if my Richie is that taken with her. She'd have to be to hold his scatter brained attention." Joan laughed softly, "He has the attention span of a gnat unless it involves that guitar of his."

Jon laughed out, "See told ya Katie, she knows her boy." Wrapping his arm around Kate and

Joan both he escorted them into the back room. "Hiya Pops, how’s it hanging?" He glanced over at Adam Sambora who was walking along side Joan quietly.

"Oh you know, Jon. It's always a good day if we get to see Richie." He shook a smoke out of his pack and lit it.

As the rest of them filed in, Dave met them at the door with a big hug for Joan. "Hey Mama Sambora."

Joan reached out and pulled David into a hug, "Well hello there sweetie. How are you today?"

"Much better now," Dave said with a tongue wag at Tico. "At least someone loves me."

Teek punched David in the arm. "Amazing aint it Dave?"

"Ma, tell him to quit it, I'm fragile."

Joan glanced at Teek and winked, "Just hit the other arm next time Teek, so he has matching bruises, but not too hard, ok?" Joan turned to smile at David a moment, "If you want to play in the big leagues Davie ya have to roll with your punches."

"Awww man! No respect, I tell ya. No respect even from one of the moms!" David turned to Kate. "Do you see what I put up with?" he asked.

Kate laughed. "You're on your own."

Jon glanced towards the doors then back to the group around him, "Figures he'd be late to his own damn party."