As Jax was kissing Brenda to celebrate her acceptance of his proposal, neither one saw the Cerullo car pull into the driveway.

Gloria grabbed Carmine’s arm tightly. "Look, Carmine! It’s our Brenda, and she’s kissin’ Jax! They got back together!" Gloria had been worried about Brenda ever since Lois had informed her secretly of the break-up that had taken place at L&B’s offices.

Carmine used his left hand to pry Gloria’s right hand off of his arm. "Geez, Glo, let go of my arm. You almost made me run over old lady Schnatbaum’s petunias." He took the car out of gear and turned off the engine, finally getting a glimpse of the passionate kissing that was going on in their front yard. "Holy cow, Glo, would you take a look at that! And it’s broad daylight!"

They got out of the car as quietly as possible, although Carmine was beginning to complain to Gloria that the neighbors would come out and turn a hose on Jax and Brenda if they kept it up.

Brenda, meanwhile, was reeling from Jax’s kisses. Although she thought he would be happy that she had accepted his proposal, she certainly didn’t expect him to try to start the honeymoon right there in the front yard. The sound of the Cerullo car vaguely registered in her mind, but then the slamming of the car doors made her jump, and Jax finally broke off the kiss.

He looked into her still-misty eyes. "Looks like we’ve got company!" he said wickedly. "Shall we tell them the good news?" He looked around at the Cerullo’s as they stood off in the driveway, not wanting to interrupt this moment for Brenda.

"Good morning!" Jax called to them, waving for them to join the party. Gloria pulled Carmine along over to the smiling couple. "We’ve got great news for you." Jax looked down into Brenda’s eyes and then put his arm around her waist. "Mr. Cerullo, Mrs. Cerullo, this morning Brenda has made me the happiest man on this planet by agreeing to become my wife."

Gloria squealed in excitement and hugged Jax, and then Brenda. "Oh, honey, we’re so happy for you!" Carmine looked a little puzzled, but then shook Jax’s hand. Gloria was still hugging Brenda as Carmine leaned over and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"That’s great, you two," he said happily. "So… when’s the big day?"

Brenda was about to answer that they hadn’t discussed a time frame when Jax interrupted her. "Well, she just said yes this morning, but I don’t see any reason to wait. I came dressed to go to church with her." He looked down at Brenda. "Why don’t we go talk to the priest now about having it next Saturday?"

"Next Saturday?" Brenda croaked.

"Oh, honey, you could have something small here at the house. I bet Father Joe would agree to that," Gloria gushed. "We would be so happy, wouldn’t we Carmine?" She had to jab him in the side because he was still standing with his mouth open. "Why don’t you two go and talk to Father Joe now? I’ll make lunch and call Lois and we can celebrate your engagement together when you get back."

Jax was grinning from ear to ear. "OK, but don’t tell her yet. We want to surprise her."

Brenda looked from one person to the other as though she had slipped into the Twilight Zone. {WAIT A MINUTE!!! I’m the bride here. I’m the one who’s supposed to be deciding things. There’s really no rush.} But when she saw the happy look on her in-laws’ faces, and Jax continued planting little baby kisses on the side of her neck as they talked, Brenda could hardly refuse. Maybe a small, quiet wedding was the right idea. She certainly didn’t want a grand ceremony like when she married Louie.

They gave Anthony to Gloria and after Jax helped Brenda into his car and they drove off, Carmine turned to Gloria in amazement. "I thought you said she didn’t want to be around him anymore. I thought Lois Marie said they broke up. Do you understand any of this?"

Gloria linked her free arm through his. "Not a thing, Carmine, but can’t you see the love in Jax’s eyes when he looks at her? Who cares what happened before? They’re getting married!" She pulled her along with him towards the porch. "Now come on. I want to make a special lasagna for lunch and you can watch Anthony!"

*~*~*~*

Jax and Brenda returned about an hour later to find the Cerullo household permeated by a wonderful smell. As Jax sniffed the air and tried to guess, Brenda put her hand on his chest. "That’s Gloria’s lasagna. She only makes it for special occasions."

Jax pulled her into his embrace. "I would definitely say this qualifies as one. I love you, soon-to-be wife!" Then he frowned, and she wondered what caused it.

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

He took one finger and pointed at the corner of her mouth briefly. "You’ve got something on your mouth and I need to get it off."

She put her hand up, but he grabbed her wrist. "What is it?"

He smiled wickedly back at her. "Your lipstick!" he replied, and then lowered his mouth to hers for a mind-numbing kiss. She groaned against his mouth as he began to lightly lick the corners of her mouth. "How will I be able to wait a whole week until you’re mine?"

They were suddenly interrupted by Gloria’s discreet throat-clearing. "OK, you two lovebirds. There’ll be plenty of time for that later." She had to smile as she looked at them. She never thought she would see Brenda this happy again. "Brenda, Anthony is getting impatient for his lunch. I thought you might want to feed him now so that we can have a nice celebration for just the grown-ups while he takes his nap."

Brenda reluctantly pulled out of Jax’s embrace. "Right, Mom, I’m coming." She smiled back at Jax, and then walked into the kitchen, where Anthony could be heard loudly proclaiming his hunger.

Gloria looked at Jax, who was standing in the hallway still in his sportcoat. "Did you think you get fed around here without helping, mister?" Gloria asked with a smile. She had an apron over her arm. "Come on, take off that coat and put this on. I have to finish the lasagna, and Carmine went down to the frozen custard stand for some of that stuff that clogs his arteries for a special dessert. So you’re elected to make the salad!" She walked over to him and as he pulled off his sport-coat, still laughing, she slipped the red and white gingham check apron over his head.

Brenda was just trying to convince Anthony to eat another piece of hot dog when Jax appeared in the kitchen door. She almost fell off the chair when she saw him in her mother-in-law’s favorite frilly apron. Gloria showed him where all the makings were for the salad, and he fell to work peeling carrots and skinning celery. "You look comfortable doing that," Brenda said to him quietly.

"I enjoy cooking," Jax said, not taking his eyes off the sharp knife he was using. "My mum always said that no woman worth her salt would have her boy if he didn’t know how to handle himself in a kitchen. I’ve been cooking for myself for a lot of years now." He looked up at Brenda and stopped his work momentarily. "I’m afraid I took some liberties in designing the kitchen in our new house and included some of my favorite gadgets."

"Like?" Brenda asked, dodging Anthony’s flying mustard-

covered fist.

Jax put down the knife and came over to sit next to Brenda in front of Louie’s high chair. He picked up a piece of cut-up hot dog and popped it in his mouth. Anthony watched Jax with wide eyes. Jax then picked up another piece of hot dog and brought it up to his lips as though he were going to eat it. Anthony reached his chubby hand out for it, and Jax placed it in his fingers. As Anthony brought it near his mouth, Jax picked up another one, and their eyes locked as they ate simultaneously. Brenda’s gaze traveled from one to the other. They really did seem to have some kind of psychic connection. As Jax continued to hand Anthony the hot dog chunks, he continued his thought.

"Like… I had them install a tap on the sink that dispenses boiling water, and there’s an extra large built-in refrigerator and side freezer." He made a funny face at Anthony. "And, I had them section off a small portion of the basement to put in an extra oven. Just in case you feel like baking something in the dog days of July, it won’t heat up the house." He tore his gaze away from Anthony to look at Brenda. "Is that OK with you?"

"Perfect," she breathed, and as he leaned forward to kiss her, she found herself leaning in, too. The ringing of the front doorbell made them both jump.

"That must be Lois," Gloria said, pulling open the oven door to check on the lasagna. "Jax, you’re the only one available. Could you go let her in?"

He looked into Brenda’s eyes with a fire that burned down to her soul. Never taking his gaze away from her, he answered Gloria. "Sure. Be glad to. Sorry the tiger here distracted me from the salad." He still couldn’t resist the urge to give Brenda a quick kiss, and she reached her hand up to wipe the corner of his mouth. "You taste like mustard," he said in a low voice. As he got to the kitchen door, he looked back at her. "Did I ever tell you how much I like mustard?"

As he left the kitchen, Gloria looked over at Brenda, who was still smiling to herself and blushing while she was feeding Anthony. "That man sure loves you," Gloria cooed, coming over to stand next to Brenda. "I’m so happy for you, honey. I think Louie would be happy, too."

Brenda smiled up at Gloria. {Would he be happy to know that my body is burning for another man?} As Gloria walked back over to the stove, Brenda shook her head to clear her brain. {Get a grip, Brenda. This is strictly a marriage of convenience. You’re doing this for Anthony’s sake. This is not hearts and flowers time.}

Jax, meanwhile, had gone to the front door and opened it to find a shocked Lois. Part of her surprise was seeing the suave, sophisticated corporate raider dressed in a frilly gingham checked apron, with the words "Kiss the Cook" emblazoned across the top.

"Jaaax," Lois purred, "what ‘cha doin’?"

"Come on in, Lois," he smiled. She walked through the door slowly, never taking her eyes off of him. She walked right up to him and fingered the frilly border around the edge of the top of the apron, skimming her nail across his broad chest.

"’Ya know, I was always real good at readin’ in school," she cooed. "Is that a dare or an order?" She pointed to the words on the apron.

He smiled at her flirtatious nature. "Why don’t you come out into the kitchen and I’ll let Brenda explain it." He led the way and she followed him through the hall, admiring the view of his backside the whole way. "Look who came to join our celebration!" he said as they walked into the kitchen.

Lois now looked puzzled. "Celebration? What’s goin’ on?"

Brenda waited for Gloria or Jax to say something, but obviously they felt it was her place to make the announcement. She smiled weakly at Lois. "Jax and I have decided to get married."

Lois whooped so loudly that Anthony trembled in his high chair for just a moment. She grabbed Jax, who was closest to her, and placed a noisy, wet kiss on his lips. "Congratulations, gorgeous!" Jax was delicately wiping her lipstick off of his mouth as Brenda looked at Lois askance. "Well, he and I ARE going to be kind of related, and I was just doin’ what the apron told me to!" she explained.

Jax recovered and pulled Lois into a dramatic embrace. "I think the occasion absolutely calls for lots of kissing!" he said, and then bent her back to give her another noisy smooch. Lois came up after a few seconds, and she almost lost her balance when Jax let go of her.

After regaining her composure, and while Jax went back to fixing the salad, Lois went over to where Brenda was taking Anthony out of the high chair. "Congratulations, Brenda." Once Brenda’s hands were free, the two hugged. While she was still close enough for only Brenda to hear, Lois muttered, "He is one H*LL of a bodacious kisser, Brenda, and if you screw this up, I will be first in line for your leftovers!"

Brenda just smiled at Lois, and then Carmine walked in with the frozen custard to add to the merriment.

*~*~*~*

Anthony was completely exhausted from his morning’s adventure, so he was out like a light immediately after he finished his lunch. This gave the adults some time for a celebratory lunch without having to dodge food thrown by the "tiger."

Brenda was becoming a little disturbed by all of Jax’s attentions to her. He sat next to her at lunch, and frequently draped his arm on the back of her chair, bringing his hand to rest on her shoulder. As he sat and listened to the conversation, he occasionally brought the hand up to caress the side of her neck, and it was beginning to give Brenda chills. He waited on her constantly, bringing her empty plate to the kitchen, passing her the salad, and even stealing the tomatoes out of her salad when he heard she didn’t like them.

As they ate the creamy frozen custard for dessert, Brenda thought she might lose her mind. Jax turned to her once and slowly put a spoon of the sweet stuff in his mouth. His eyes locked with hers, and he slowly pulled the spoon out, licking it once or twice to make sure he had gotten all of the thick ice cream off. Brenda chose to put chocolate syrup on hers, and as she was eating, trying not to think about the desperately sexy man next to her, he surprised her by taking his thumb and swabbing the corner of her mouth. As she watched him, he put the thumb in his own mouth and sucked it. He didn’t need to make a comment as his eyes sparkled like two brilliant aquamarines.

Brenda was never so glad to have a meal over with. Conversation had centered around the wedding. Father Joe had agreed to perform a small service the following Saturday in the Cerullo back yard. Brenda insisted that she didn’t want it to be a large affair. The guest list finally was narrowed to Lois and Eddie Maine, Mac and Felicia Scorpio and their two daughters, Carly (and a guest of her choice), and the Cerullo’s.

"Are you sure your parents won’t be able to make it, Jax?" Gloria asked one more time. They sat at the dining room table, with pad and paper, trying to finalize the plans for the wedding.

Jax sat in a dining room chair, leaning back, with his arm around Brenda. She was half-sitting on her own chair, and half-reclining against his broad chest. She could feel the rumble deep in his chest when he spoke. "No, dad’s got a big multi-national conference in Jakarta this week, and he decided to take Mum with him for once."

Carmine sat down with his coffee. "What is it exactly that you said they do?"

As Jax was about to answer, Brenda interrupted with a giggle. "They’re pirates, Pops." She looked back up into Jax’s smiling eyes. "Or more like Robin Hood – they steal from the rich and give to… themselves!"

Carmine nodded slowly and then understanding lit his face. "Oh, well then you must know Edward Quartermaine!"

Jax nodded and chuckled. "Yes, old Eddie and I have tangled once or twice since I opened the Port Charles division of J&J Jacks." At Gloria’s confused look, he elaborated. "J&J Jacks is the name of our family business. Actually, it’s J&J Jacks of Alaska. Mum and Dad live most of the year there on Jacks Island, although they have other houses all over the world."

"Alaska!" Gloria looked worried. "Are you and Brenda going to be moving there?"

Jax leaned forward then to cover Gloria’s hand with his own. "I have no intention of spiriting your daughter and grandchild off to some frozen wasteland, Mrs. Cerullo. You and Mr. Cerullo are Anthony’s grandparents, just as my parents will be. He needs you and loves you. You can rest assured that you will always remain a part of his life." He sat back and pulled Brenda to him again. "Actually, Brenda and Anthony and I will be moving into a house that I just finished out the outskirts of Port Charles."

The rest of the afternoon was spent in describing the new house and making wedding arrangements. The phone started ringing non-stop, and Gloria came back to the table once after a long conversation. "That was Mrs. Quartermaine, honey. She wants to throw a shower for you sometime this week." Gloria spoke as an aside to Jax. "Brenda worked for the Q’s as Mrs. Q’s personal assistant before she got married to Louie."

Lois was already crinkling up her nose in disgust, since she and the Quartermaines were at odds most of the time over Eddie’s career. "Oh, mom, I don’t think I want all that fuss. Please tell her thanks but no thanks. I think Jax already has everything for the new house that we’ll ever need."

Dusk was falling over the city when Jax finally made his way back out to the Jag. He had his sportcoat slung over his shoulder and his other arm around Brenda. Once they got out into the darkened driveway, Jax threw the coat into the car and pulled her into his arms for a scorching kiss.

He held her face tenderly in his hands while he made love to her mouth. His tongue darted in and teased hers, and then he pulled back just an instant, only to bring her in again and re-claim her open mouth as his. Her body felt so warm as he held it against him.

He broke the kiss and looked into her dark eyes. "How will I be able to wait 6 more days until I can make you mine?" He kissed her tenderly, and then trailed his lips down to place a warm kiss in the hollow of her throat. "I can’t wait to kiss every inch of you and touch you, Brenda," he whispered raggedly. The boldness of his words made her gasp, and he continued to kiss her until she felt tempted to crawl into the back seat of his expensive car and let him make love to her right there and then.

As if he could read her mind, he stopped the kiss once again. He leaned his forehead against hers. "We’d better stop or I’ll end up taking you back to the penthouse tonight and making love to you tonight. You just feel so good to me, love." He took a shaky breath. "But I want our first time together to be perfect, and I want it to be as man and wife."

He got into the car, but not before he gave her one last kiss. He looked at her from the driver’s side and started the engine. "6 more days, Brenda. Clock’s tickin’."

She watched him drive away. {God, help me. If he had taken me with him to the penthouse, I would have let him make love to me tonight. What will I do 6 days from now, when he’s my husband?}

*~*~*~*

The week flew by in a daze for Brenda. Lois took her on a shopping spree to Windom’s and insisted they go into the lingerie department for some sexy nightgowns.

Lois was trying to decide between a lilac and pink peignoir set and Brenda let out a sigh. "Just pick one and let’s get this over with," she said in exasperation.

Lois chuckled to herself. "Actually, it’s kind of a waste of time, since you probably won’t keep it on long enough for him to see the color! Which one do you think he would like better?" Brenda just shrugged her shoulders, and Lois got a wicked gleam in her eye. She came close enough to whisper in Brenda’s ear. "Oh… you mean maybe we should go to that other place in the mall? Is he more the edible undies kind of guy?"

Brenda gasped and Lois waved her hand in the air. "Oh, don’t play so prim and proper with me, missy. I saw the two of you out in the driveway when he left the other night doin’ the tongue-tango." She held up the nightgowns again. "Oh, what the heck," she said, and gave them to the clerk. "She’ll take them both."

Jax called her every day to see how the wedding plans were going and offer his assistance. He wanted to have a designer flown in to make a dress for her, but Brenda insisted she would find something in Port Charles.

The following Saturday as she stood in front of her full-length mirror, she still couldn’t believe that it was all happening. She took one more critical look at herself as Lois smiled.

"You look beautiful, Bren," she said softly. The dress was a pale pink silk sheath with a matching lace bolero-length jacket. The tag on the dress had described the color as "blush," and Lois said it reminded her of the way Brenda’s cheeks looked anytime Jax was around. Brenda had to admit as she checked herself out that the color did look good on her.

She had bought shoes and had them dyed to match (at Lois’ insistence), but then frowned at herself in the mirror. "What’s the matter now, girlfriend?" Lois asked.

Brenda walked over to the dressing table. "I probably should wear some kind of simple necklace with this dress, but I’m not sure what color would go best."

Lois smiled and pulled a foil-wrapped box out of her pocket. "Your loving groom has thought of that already." Brenda’s mouth opened, but Lois pushed the package at her. "Go ahead, open it. He says it’s your wedding present from him, and today’s your wedding day."

{And wedding night.} Brenda hands shook as she tried to open the gift, but it wasn’t from excitement over its contents. She had thought of nothing else for the past few nights. How could she keep the promise she made to Louie at his graveside when Jax was making love to her as her husband?

Playing a mind game worthy of Scarlett O’Hara, she pushed the thought out of her mind for the time being. She took off the wrapping paper, and revealed a jewelry box from Tiffany’s. Her hands shaking, she opened it to reveal a pink sapphire pendant and matching solitaire earrings. They enhanced the color of her dress perfectly.

Lois’ mouth was hanging open. "Gawd, Brenda, they are so beautiful!" She took the pendant out of the box and Brenda lifted her hair so that Lois could do the clasp. As Brenda sat at the vanity trying to put the earrings in, Lois sighed in envy. "Do you know how lucky you are? I’m just beginnin’ to think that Eddie might be Mr. Right, and you’ve already had two men in your life who were willing to give up everything, just to be your hubby. You lead a charmed life, girl."

"I know, Lo," Brenda answered. "But I’m glad you reminded me." Brenda smiled weakly at Lois and then took a deep breath.

As she was about to stand to go downstairs to her wedding, Lois covered her hand with her own. "Brenda," she said gently, "you need to take that off." She nodded her head at Brenda’s hand, and suddenly Brenda realized that she was still wearing the plain gold band she had gotten from Louie on their wedding day. Brenda slipped it off carefully, and placed it slowly in her jewelry box.

As she stood looking at herself once more in the mirror, Lois took a large box from next to the bed. "This is for you, too. Jax has been driving me and Carly nuts this week ordering special stuff for you and checking on colors." Brenda saw the box was from Flowers by Jean, and when she opened it, it held a beautiful nosegay of pink roses with several delicate white orchids mixed in. She lifted it from the box and inhaled its sweet fragrance.

"I swear Brenda, if you mess this up with him, I’ll drop Eddie like a hot potato and grab him for myself!" Lois smiled broadly at Brenda, and then pulled her in for a huge hug. "Now, why don’t we go downstairs. Everybody’s waitin’."

"Is Anthony..." Brenda started to say, but Lois stopped her.

"He’s already downstairs with Mom and Pops. Jax even had a little rose thingy sent over for him to wear in his coat that matches yours." Lois shook her head in disgust. "Last time I saw that charming nephew of mine, he was trying to eat it."

Brenda laughed softly at the thought of Anthony trying to eat everything in sight and went into the hallway with Lois. She could hear the low rumble of voices downstairs, punctuated every now and then by Anthony’s squeals of delight.

As she and Lois walked down the stairs and then onto the back patio, Brenda caught her breath. The entire yard had been turned into a tropical paradise. There were large sprays of pink roses and white orchids in huge urns at the corners of the yard. White folding chairs led up to a small podium, where there was a larger arrangement of roses and orchids. The end chair in each row had a rose and orchid mini-nosegay attached. As Brenda’s eyes swept the yard, she caught sight of friends and loved ones. And then she saw Jax, who was standing with Father Joe at the side of the yard.

Jax had on a dark blue pinstripe suit and had a pale pink rose boutonnière in his lapel. His shirt was the palest shade of pink, almost identical to her dress, and his tie was a dark mauve and navy stripe. His eyes lit up at the sight of her, and he began to walk slowly to her.

At that precise moment, Anthony saw his mom. He had been near the podium, playing with bugs in the grass, but he came running when he saw her. Gloria and Carmine immediately made a beeline for him, trying to stop him from ruining Brenda’s dress or hair in any way. But Jax was too quick for them. Since Jax was coming crossways across Anthony’s path, he scooped the toddler up in his arms before he could reach his mother. Anthony squealed again, and reached out to pat Jax on the cheek.

They looked like a matched pair, and it took Brenda’s breath away. Brenda found out later from Lois that Jax had sent over a small sport coat of dark blue and some dark blue jeans for Anthony. His little dress shirt was identical in color to Jax’s. As Jax stood there, holding the baby and watching her walk to him, she thought he had never looked so handsome, squirming child and all.

She came up to him, and he leaned down as best he could while holding Anthony. "Happy Wedding Day, love," he whispered in her ear, and she heard the soft click of his teeth against the solitaire earring there as he took a quick nibble.

Carmine came up to take Anthony, but the baby would have no part of anyone but Jax. He wrapped his arms around Jax’s neck for dear life and shook his head vehemently. "He’s OK where he is. We’ll manage," Jax said to Carmine, and then looked at Brenda with a smile that could melt rocks. "Shall we?"

The three of them looked back at Father Joe, and he came to lead them to the podium and the ceremony that would change Brenda’s life forever.

To be continued….