Brenda stretched leisurely. For a full five seconds, she completely forgot where she was. Then she sat up with a start.
“Oh my goodness, what time is it?” she gasped. She looked at the bedside clock.7:00 a.m.
She jumped out of bed. If she hurried, she figured she could be dressed and long gone before the gorgeous stranger woke up.
“No one wakes up at this hour,” she reasoned to herself. “Besides, I’m sure the jet lag has caught up to him by now.”
Brenda ran around the room gathering her stuff. She went to the door and slowly opened it. Sticking her head cautiously out the door, she looked first one way down the hall and then the other way. The house was eerily silent. Brenda quickly crept down the hall and down the back stairs. She figured it was safer to go out the way she came in. Trying to make as little noise as possible, Brenda crept into the kitchen.
“Surely you weren’t going to leave without saying goodbye.”
Brenda jumped at the sarcastic voice that came from behind her.
“You have got to stop sneaking up on me,” she accused Jax.
“I, unlike some people, was not sneaking anywhere,” Jax told her.
My goodness how can anyone look so sexy this early in the morning, Brenda was busily wondering.
“Earth to Brenda,” she heard Jax saying.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Were you talking to me?”
“I was just asking if you wanted something for breakfast,” Jax told her.
“No thanks, I really do have to be going. I really appreciate you giving me a place to stay for the night, especially considering the circumstances and everything. I’ll probably just grab something to eat on the road.”
“Do you have any money?”
Jax’s question shocked Brenda. She was even more shocked when she looked at him and saw by his expression that he was truly concerned.
“I have a few bucks stashed away. I’ll be fine. Really Jax.”
Jax hadn’t meant to ask her that question. He knew that it was none of his business. But for some reason, the thought of Brenda sleeping in the woods, starving, with no place to go really made him uneasy.
Snap out of it Jax! Just because she looks sexier than any woman had a right to this early in the morning and she is smart, and spirited, and. . .
“I really insist that you at least stay for breakfast. My mum would never forgive me if I sent my bride of two days off with nothing to eat,” Jax said, giving Brenda that devastatingly handsome grin.
“Please let’s not start that this morning. Its toooooo early,” Brenda begged.
“Really, Brenda. It’s the least I can do. You helped me out so much last night with the information on my aunt and uncle.”
Brenda knew that she hadn’t shed any more light on the situation after the two guards had left last night and that Jax was only doing this because he felt sorry for her. She really didn’t like the idea of accepting charity from anyone. If she had inherited anything from Harlan Barrett, it was his pride. That was the reason she hadn’t gone begging back to Julia when her savings had run out last year. Still the idea of spending a little more time with Jax, was very tempting.
“A quick breakfast and then I’m outta here, okay?”
“Okay,” Jax agreed, with a smile that looked so much a little boy who had gotten his way.
Brenda made her way to the table and dropped her bag on the floor.
“You really don’t expect me to eat that, do you?” she asked, eyeing the granola, plain yogurt and bananas that Jax was putting away with enthusiasm.
“I’ll have you know, that this is a very nutritious breakfast,” Jax told her.
“Nutritious for rabbits, maybe,” Brenda said with disgust. “There must be something else to eat in this house,” she said, getting up to rummage through the cabinets.
“Ah ha!” she said. Jax watched as she walked back to the table holding a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal.
“You are not going to eat that, are you?”Jax asked, mimicking Brenda’s earlier statement.
“Hey, I’m going to put milk on it.”
They both laughed at that.
“So Brenda, where do you think you’ll be heading,” Jax still couldn’t help worrying about her.
“Oh, I don’t know. I was thinking of maybe heading up to San Francisco. I’ve always been a Niners fan,” Brenda kidded.
Jax didn’t find the situation humorous at all.
“Brenda, where’s your family? Aren’t they worried about you? If you’re in trouble, I can help you find them. I have. . .”
“Look Jax, its been real,” Brenda interrupted him, “but if you don’t mind, I’ll just be on my way.”
“No Brenda, wait,” Jax said. “I was just worried about you. You know a woman really has no business doing what you’re doing. Suppose, I hadn’t been the nice guy that I am. You could have been in real trouble last night. You could have been hurt or even killed.”
That thought made Jax’s stomach clench with fear.
“Jax, I’m a big girl,” Brenda told him. When Jax looked like he might argue, Brenda pushed on. “I’ll be fine. I can take of myself. I’ve been doing that for longer than I care to remember.”
Brenda and Jax stared at one another across the table. Brenda was the first to break away from Jax’s gaze. She could feel herself being drawn into those eyes.
“I have to be going, Jax. Thank you again. For everything.”
Jax reached into his pocket and pulled out one of his cards.
“Brenda, if you ever need anything, anything, call me. This card has my assistant Addy’s number on it. She will know how to reach me, no matter where I am.”
Brenda looked at the card. She contemplated not taking it, but decided that it couldn’t hurt. She put the card her pocket.
“Well, I’ll be seeing ya, Jax.”
“Yeah,” Jax said with a small smile. He watched as Brenda picked up her bag and headed for the door. He didn’t want her to go, but short of using brute force, he didn’t know how he could stop her. When Brenda reached the door, she turned and gave Jax a big smile. “Bye,”she said and then walked outside, closing the door behind her.
Jax stared at the door for what seemed like hours, but was actually only a few seconds. He went back to his breakfast. He picked up the morning paper and started thumbing through, looking for the financial section. What he saw though, made him choke on his orange juice.

Brenda made her way down the long driveway that led to street in front of the Hart house. Her thoughts, though remained firmly in the kitchen with Jax. She was remembering her reaction to him the first time that they had met. The only thing that she could picture were those eyes and that smile that he gave her this morning. If only they had met under different circumstances. . .but if the last year had taught her anything, it was that she had no time for “if only’s”. In her life, the only thing that mattered was cold, harsh reality. She reached the gate and stepped outside.
Immediately she was surrounded by a hoard of people, who were shoving at her and pushing microphones in her face.
“ARE YOU THE NEW MRS. JACKS?”
“WHAT’S YOUR NAME?”
“HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO GET JAX TO THE ALTAR?”
“WHY THE SECRECY?”
Suddenly, Brenda felt a pair of hands wrap around her waist and pull her to safety, inside the gates. When she turned, she was relieved to see that it was Hal, the security guard.
“Oh, thank goodness Hal. What is going on around here? Are these people crazy?”
“Well, Mrs. Jacks, Mr Jacks called the guard house and told us that news of your marriage had been leaked to the press somehow. He told me that the two you had a misunderstanding and that you had left to get some air. He was afraid that the paparazzi would be swarming the place by now. Looks like he right,” Hal added with a rueful smile.
Brenda noticed that Hal was leading her back to the house.
“No, Hal. I’m not going back there. Will you call me a cab?”
“Now, Mrs. Jacks, all couples have their differences. You and the mister need to talk things out. Mr. Jacks seemed really upset about the little tiff the two of you had.”
They had reached the house by then and Brenda saw Jax standing outside on the porch. He looked so handsome, that for a few seconds, Brenda wished that he really were her husband. The smile on his face let her know that he knew that she would be furious with him.
Brenda walked into the kitchen and watched as Jax thanked Hal. When he walked in the door, she attacked.
“Did you leak this to the press?”
“Leak what?”
“‘Leak what?’ he asks. The fact that we are ‘married.’”
“No, I didn’t. Hal and I are guessing that it was his new and now former partner.”
“Jax, this is so not good. I mean this is really not good.” Brenda began pacing around the room.
Jax just stood there lost in thought.
“Jax? Are you listening?”
“Brenda, I’m sorry. Were you talking to me?”
“This is not the time for you to space out on me, Jax. I was asking you if you had any ideas of how we can handle this. We need to do some serious damage control,” she said.
“Well, the way I see it,” Jax said. “We do the only thing that we can do.”
“What’s that?” Brenda asked.
“Get married.:
 

HART OF THE MATTER (Chapter 4)

“Have you lost your mind?” Brenda couldn’t believe that she had heard Jax correctly. “We. . .”
Just then Jax’s cellular phone rang. He motioned for Brenda to stay put and walked across the kitchen.
“Jax here. What did you find?”

While Jax talked on his phone, Brenda silently fumed. She couldn’t believe that he was talking to whoever that was on the telephone when they had a problem here, a serious problem. Brenda slowly prowled around the kitchen, picking up an object every now and then and slamming it down again in an attempt to recapture Jax’s attention. To her consternation, Jax seemed oblivious to her.

Brenda would have been shocked had she known just how much of Jax’s attention that she had. He had just asked Jerry to repeat  the information that he needed for the third time. Watching Brenda walk around the kitchen was a definite distraction. Heck, she’d be a distraction doing just about anything, Jax thought to himself. He heard Jerry calling his name and realized that he hadn’t heard a word that Jerry had been saying. Again.
“Listen Jax. Is everything okay there? Do you need me to come to Los Angeles?”
“No Jer, I’m fine. I’ve got it under control,” Jax told his older brother.
“You sure don’t sound as if you have it under control. You called me at the crack of dawn. Interrupted what had been a very promising evening here, I might add. You asked me to find all this information about missing limos and flights out of LAX. Then you don’t listen to what I’ve found.”
“I’m sorry. Look, there’s just some, uh, distractions here.” Jax turned to face the window. Surely if I can’t see her, I can pretend that she just isn’t here. “Go ahead, Jer.”
“Okay, the limo was found by the police at LAX after the limo company reported it stolen. Whoever rented it just abandoned it there. The driver was found tied up in the trunk. The four occupants boarded a private plane.”
“Any leads to the destination?” Jax asked, while stealing a glance at Brenda.
“Well the pilot filed a phony flight plan, but my sources say that the plane turned up in Monte Carlo. I hit a dead end there, but I can continue looking. . .”
“Ah, no thanks, Jer,” Jax said looking at Brenda  with a grin. “I’ll head there myself. Is my jet on its way out here.”
“Yes it is, but Jax, you can’t go into a situation like this by yourself. Let me call Thao or Kieran...”
“Oh Jerry, I’m not going by myself,” Jax mysteriously told his brother.
“Then who are you taking.”
“My new bride of course,” Jax said as he hit the “END” button on the phone.

By this time, Brenda was absolutely furious. No one ignored her like this. She saw Jax end his phone call and turned to face him mutinously.

Jax had only been joking when he suggested to Brenda that they get married, but Jerry had unwittingly given him an idea. He could look for his aunt and uncle and keep Brenda off the streets at the same time. He saw the expression on her face as he walked across the kitchen. He knew this was not going to be easy. Time to pull out all of the Jacks charm, he thought to himself. Giving Brenda a devastating smile, he began to formulate a plan.

“Okay, so where were we?” Jax asked.
“Well, I was trying to figure a way out of the mess that you got us into. But obviously, you have better things to do,” Brenda told him in a huff.
Jax surveyed Brenda. She stood with her hands folded across her chest and her brows drawn together in a frown. God she’s beautiful, he thought.
“I thought we had this settled. We are going to get married, as soon as I can get everything arranged,” Jax said matter of factly.
“HELLO! Jax we cannot get married. Are you not listening to me?”
“Give me one good reason why,” Jax dared her.
Brenda just stared at him.
“How about the fact that we just met 12 hours ago? Or what about the fact that we don’t have a marriage license? Or that this whole idea is completely INSANE?” Brenda finished in a huff.
Jax walked over to Brenda and took her hand, attempting to lead her to the table. When it looked like she might resist, Jax gave her a look that would have melted the heart of an iceberg. They walked over to the table and sat down across from one another. Jax took note of the fact that Brenda did not attempt to withdraw her hand once they sat down. He took that as a good sign.
“Brenda, let me tell you a story. ‘Once upon a time, there was a young man who worked in a coal mine in Australia. One day, he had to go to the owner’s house to get him to sign some contracts. One glance at the owner’s only daughter and he was smitten. She felt the same way. They ran away together the next day and got married. They were deliriously happy. . .”
Brenda interrupted him, “Until they woke and realized that they had made a terrible mistake.”
“No. If I may finish? The next year, their first son was born. They spent many happy  years living off the land. Fifteen years later, their second son was born.”
“Jax. . .”
“Brenda, my parents have been happy for almost 40 years. They knew each other less than a day before they got married.”
“But that doesn’t mean that that will happen to us. I think I know why you’re doing this. I know you are worried about my living from hand to mouth, but you don’t have to go to this extreme. You’re handsome, nice, rich. If you are this ready to get married, I am sure that there are millions of women who’d jump at the chance. Aren’t you dating someone?”
Jax thought of Miranda and felt an involuntary shudder go through his body at the thought of marrying her.
“Brenda, there’s more to this than just my wanting to get married. That was my brother Jerry on the phone. He was able to gather up some leads on my aunt and uncle. He tracked the limo to LAX and the people from the limo went on to Monte Carlo. Now I can think of only one person who would take them there. I need some type of cover to go into Monte Carlo without arousing his suspicions. What better than a blissfully happy groom on his honeymoon with his beautiful bride?”
“But. . .”Just then Brenda’s gaze fell to the newspaper that Jax had been reading earlier. Right across from the article about their “marriage she spotted an article that made her heart nearly stop.
“Police Closing in on Riviera Burglars” the headline screamed from the page. Brenda quickly scanned the article. “Police spokesperson Bob Colbert says that it is only a matter of time before they identify the accomplice in one of the city’s most perplexing robberies. Six weeks ago, two people walked into the Riviera apartments and walked out with over $1,000,000 dollars worth of jewels. Surveillance cameras in the lobby identified one of the robbers as Sonny Corinthos, a suspect in numerous robberies across the country. His accomplice was not clearly identified by the cameras, but officers are certain that she is a woman of small build with dark hair. . .”
“Brenda? Brenda? Are you listening to me?”
Brenda jumped as she realized that Jax had been talking to her the entire time she had been reading the article.
“Brenda, I know that you. . .”
“Okay Jax I’ll do it. I’ll marry you.”

HART OF THE MATTER (Chapter 5)

Brenda leaned  back in the comfortable seat of the limo and sighed. It had been so long since she had been in a car this nice. Closing her eyes, she reflected on the events of the morning after accepting Jax’s “proposal.” She couldn’t prevent the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouth as she thought back to that morning’s events.

“Okay, Jax. I’ll do it. I’ll marry you,” Brenda had said.
“I don’t understand why your so against this. If it helps, you don’t have to think of this as a real marriage, Brenda just consider your options. You can either go back to not know where you are going to sleep at night. Or you come with me. We’ll be staying in the finest hotels, traveling first class. The whole works.”
“Uh, Jax. I said “yes.”
“I know Brenda, but. . .Wait you said yes?”
Brenda nodded.
Jax couldn’t help the wide grin that spread across his face. He couldn’t understand why the thought of marrying Brenda made him so happy.
Brenda couldn’t help but smile at that little boy grin that Jax seemed to always get when he got his way. Then she frowned when Jax immediately pulled out his cellular phone and began dialing.
“What are you doing, Jax?”
“I’m getting this show on the road,” Jax told her with a wink.
The speed with which Jax was able to arrange for everything made Brenda’s head whirl. What Jax was able to accomplish with just a few phone calls was unbelievable.

Brenda came back to the present with a smile still firmly set on her face. Then her thoughts drifted back to the newspaper article and her true motives for agreeing to this whole ridiculous scheme.

Jax watched Brenda from his seat across from her in the limo. He wondered what she was thinking as he watched the smile dance across her features. He was beginning to wonder what had caused her sudden about-face regarding his “proposal.” Just then, Jax watched a frown distort Brenda’s beautiful features.

“Brenda?”
She opened her eyes with a start. “Yes?”
“Is something wrong? Are you having second thoughts?”
“No, Jax, of course not,” Brenda answered him hastily. “I was just thinking about all of the things that can go wrong with your plan,” she added.
Jax watched her. He knew that she was hiding something. Brenda quickly averted her gaze. She turned to look out the window at the passing city.
“Hey! This is not the way to the airport. Where are we going?”
“We have a couple pit stops to make on our way.”
“Wha.. .” Brenda broke off as she realized that they were driving down Rodeo Drive. “Jaaax,” she said warningly. “Why are we here?”
“If you are going to play the part of my wife, you’re going to have to look the part. And I seriously doubt that you have a whole wardrobe stashed in that duffle that you carry around.”
“You’d be surprised,” Brenda muttered, as they pulled up outside one of the most exclusive shops on Rodeo Drive. Jax’s cellular phone rang as they were getting out of the car.
“Jax here. Yeah Jer, just a second,” he said into the phone. To Brenda he said, “Why don’t you go on in and start picking some things. I’ll be there in just a minute.”

Brenda walked into the shop and was immediately transported back to her days as an heiress. Back to before Julia had cut her money off; to before Sonny. . .
“May I help you?”
The saleslady’s question interrupted Brenda’s thoughts.
“Oh,” Brenda said with a laugh. “You scared me.”
The saleswoman lifted an eyebrow and tossed her red hair off of one shoulder, as she looked Brenda from head to toe.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Brenda shook her head, as she walked over to one of the items on display. “I’m just looking.”
The saleslady followed Brenda.
“You know miss, I really don’t think that you’re going to find what you’re looking for here,” she told Brenda snottily.
Brenda squared her shoulders as she turned to face the clerk. “Look lady. . .”
 
Jax listened as Jerry raved on and on. Because of the big difference in their ages, Jerry sometimes tended to act more like a father than an older brother.
“Do you know what Lady Jane is going through right now? Jax, she hasn’t stopped crying since that reporter called to inform her that her son was married and to ask for a quote. She actually thought that I was the one who had taken the plunge. I gotta tell you, Jax, that would make a lot more sense. Just what in the hell were you thinking, Jax?” Jerry was really on a roll now. “What about Miranda?”
“What about her Jerry?” Jax rubbed his temples. He had heard enough. Besides, he needed Jerry and his “sources” for more important things. “Look Jerry, tell Lady Jane that I will call as soon as I can. Now, I need you to find out everything there is to know about Sonny Corinthos. . .”

Jax ended his call with Jerry after promising once again to call Lady Jane soon. He walked into the shop just in time to see Brenda and the clerk engaged in a heated exchange.
“Excuse me. Is there a problem here?”
“Mr. Jacks!” the clerk was suddenly all peaches and cream as she addressed Jax with a saccharine smile. “No sir, there’s no problem. I was just trying to save this young lady some embarrassment by suggesting that she might be happier shopping in a less exclusive store. Perhaps on the other side of town.”
Jax looked at Brenda. He could tell that despite her outward anger, her feelings had been deeply hurt.
He glanced back at the clerk. His blue eyes were like two hard edged pieces of ice.
“Is that so? Tell me something,” Jax looked at her name tag, “Renee’. Do you treat all of your customers in this manner?”
“Uh I’m not quite sure what you mean, Mr Jacks,” Renee said, her smile frozen in place.
“Well, if the wife of a valued customer gets this type of treatment, I’d hate to see how you treat the rest of your clientele.”
“Wife?!? Oh, I, um, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. . .” the clerk stammered.
“Well Renee’ I suggest that you stop to think before you harass a potential customers. Now, as you work on commission, I think you are beginning to realize just how big a mistake you’ve made.”
Jax walked over to Brenda and took her hand.
“Sweetie, are you okay?”
Brenda looked into Jax’s eyes and to her surprise saw genuine concern. She had thought he was just playing his “role.” She felt tears prick the backs of her eyes. No one had ever stood up for her before. Not trusting herself to speak, she nodded. Jax gave her hand a reassuring squeeze and flashed her one of his trademark grins.
“Jax, my boy! Good to see you,” said the owner of the shop, who had just witnessed the exchange between Jax and Brenda. Now there is a couple who is truly in love, he thought to himself with a satisfied chuckle. He had known the Harts for years and Jax had often bought gifts for his aunt Jennifer and his special “friends” at the shop whenever he was in town. But he had never looked at any of those women the way he was looking at his young bride.
“Reginald, good to see you too. I’d like you to meet Brenda, my. . .”
“Oh Jax, I read the papers this morning, but you were a naughty boy sneaking this on all of this. I heard the collective sigh of millions of disappointed young women around the world. Now let me get a look at the woman who stole your heart. Enchantee’ madame. What can I help you with today?”
“I’m truly sorry, Reginald,” Jax said, “but after the treatment Brenda received here today, I don’t think we are quite in the mood to shop here anymore.”
Reginald walked over to Renee’, who was busying herself by adjusting a scarf on a nearby mannequin.
“Renee’, in the back now. I will deal with you later.”
“Jax I must apologize for any unpleasantries encountered by you and the beautiful lady. Please accept my hospitality. I am sure that we can find something that won’t be over shadowed by the pure loveliness of your wife’s smile.”
Brenda couldn’t suppress the smile that spread across her face. She felt an instant rapport with the portly, older gentleman.
“Ah, there it is,” Reginald said. “I knew that your smile would be pure sunshine.”
“Brenda?” Jax queried, leaving the decision to her.
She linked her arm through Reginald’s.
“Let’s shop!”

The next few hours flew by for Brenda. Reginald escorted them into a VIP lounge, where a succession of models came and went, wearing the beautiful clothes. It was like something out of a fairytale. At first, Jax sat with Brenda as she picked her new wardrobe. Then, after making a few secret purchases of his own, he went to the back of the shop to make a few phone calls. Still he watched her, delighting in the way her face lit up each time she saw something she liked.

They left the shop with Brenda wearing one of her new purchases–a bright red pants suit and matching sandals. They arrived at the airport and boarded Jax’s plane. Brenda was a bit shocked to learn that Jax was the pilot. It was a very long flight, which meant they had to re-fuel in New York. Brenda managed to convince Jax to give her a flying lesson over the Atlantic Ocean. After her lesson, she must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, they had landed and Jax was shaking her awake.
“Are we in Monte Carlo?” she asked.
“Not yet, we have just one more pit stop to make?”
“Where?”
“You ask too many questions,” Jax told her.
“Is it wrong for me to want to know where you’re taking me?”
“See what I mean,” Jax said, with a laugh
Jax ushered her into the waiting car. Brenda could tell that they were headed for a marina of some sorts. Jax got out of the car and took Brenda’s hand, leading her to the most beautiful yacht she had ever seen.
“Oh Jax. Its gorgeous. But what are we doing here? I thought we were going to Monte Carlo?”
“We are here, my dear Brenda, for our wedding.”

Meanwhile, in Port Charles, Miranda Jamieson walked into the Outback to visit her friend Felicia. She had just spent all day at the spa and shopping. She wanted to look her best when Jax returned from this ridiculous trip to California. When she walked into the club, Felicia ran over and hugged her.
“Oh Miranda. I am so sorry. I know how upset you must be. I can’t believe he would do this to you. You just go on and let it all out.”
“Felicia, what are you talking about? Let what out?” Miranda asked as she untangled herself from Felicia. She can really try my nerves sometimes, Miranda thought.
“You mean you don’t know?” Felicia asked in a shocked whisper.
“Know what?” Miranda asked, quickly losing patience.
Felicia handed her a newspaper. Miranda eyes fell to picture of Jax and beautiful brunette boarding his plane. She let out a howl of pure fury as she read the caption.
“Jasper Jacks and his beautiful new bride board the billionaire’s private jet, as they head for parts unknown following their secretive wedding. . .”
“JASPER JACKS I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU DID THIS TO ME!” Miranda screamed. “You will not get away with this.