TC laughed to himself as he walked back toward his car. Julian Crane had played right into his hands, and had been too stupid to realize it.

"When I get my hands on him and my slut of a wife--they'll know what it means to mess with me!" he vowed. Just then his cell phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket and flipped it open.

"Russell."

"Well, well, well. You do know how to actually answer your phone." Ivy Crane's biting voice was the last thing TC wanted to hear just then.

"What the hell do you want?"

"You were supposed to call me, remember? Just where are you, and what are you doing?"

"I'm at your ex-husband's place--I just had a little run-in with his secretary or something, but he's not here. Damn shame, too--would have loved to kill him."

Ivy rolled her eyes. Was it possible that anyone could be this idiotic?

"And just what, pray tell, do you mean you had a run-in with his secretary?"

"Just what I said. Are you deaf?" TC was getting more and more annoyed with her. Who the hell did she think she was, questioning him?

She took a deep breath, biting back the insult that she had almost said aloud.

"Mr. Russell, the last thing we want to do is alert Julian to your presence. He'd fly Eve and your daughter off to where you'd never be able to get your hands on them."

"Like hell he will."

"He's a BILLIONAIRE, or did you forget that little fact? He can do anything he wants, including unleash about ten thousand cops after you. So the both of us a favor and get off the Crane estate, now!" Ivy paused for a moment.

"Does his secretary know who you are?" He didn't answer right away, so she raised her voice. "Does she know that you are Eve Johnson's ex-husband?"

"Yeah, so what? She doesn't know my name, or anything else about me--so what good could that do?"

Ivy groaned--he really was an idiot. But she needed him to keep Julian in check, until she got her millions off of him.

"Let's just hope she doesn't open her mouth too soon. After all," Ivy smiled," you wouldn't want a man who practically raped your wife to be happy, now would you? And think about what he could do to your daughter if he managed to spirit them away from you?"

TC's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"What do you mean, raped Eve? And do something to Whitney?" His other hand clenched in a fist. "I will kill that bastard if he lays so much as a finger on my little girl!"

"Well, Julian has been known to sleep with women of all colors, shapes, sizes, and ages....and I wouldn't put it past him to look at Whitney as a younger version of her mother." Ivy was not about to let TC know that Julian was Whitney's biological father. Why bother him with details?

The veins in TC's neck began to bulge at the thought of Julian Crane trying anything with his daughter. And the fact that he was with Eve right now made him even more furious.

"There is no way in hell that I will let that fool anywhere near them--I plan to be here when he comes back from wherever he is!"

"And I'll be sure to find out when that will be--but for now, you have to get off the property before you are picked up!"

TC nodded as he got into his rental car. It wouldn't do any good for him to be sitting in a jail cell, he thought as he started the engine.

"You do that, Ms. Crane--I'm out of here for now."
 

Kathy had just finished telling Captain Wilkes and Captain Morgan about the man who had accosted her, giving them as full as a description as she could manage to remember. She had been very badly frightened, and her hands were still shaking.

"He was looking for Mr. Crane and Dr. Johnson--he said that she was his wife," Kathy explained. "I don't know what he wants, but it can't be good, if he was lying in wait for them like that."

"No, it isn't," Karen said grimly. "We need to go check the perimeter out, Ms. Lyons--you can stay here, with the other guards. You'll be all all right."

Ally nodded as she grabbed her jacket, smiling to try to ease Kathy's fears.

"We'll be right back, don't worry." Karen grabbed her jacket as well, and the two of them went out, guns drawn, to look over the estate.

Kathy sat back in her chair, overwhelmed by what had happened to her. She was glad that she had had her pepper spray with her, or else she might be worse off than she already was.

"I don't know know what that man did to Dr. Johnson, but I pray that she never has to see him again!" she thought worriedly.

Julian stood outside the coffee shop, smiling at the sight of Eve and Whitney talking.

"My love, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to have you back in my life," he whispered to himself. "And now that I know we share a beautiful daughter, there is nothing I wouldn't do for the both of you. We've spent far too many years apart."

His heart swelled with pride at the the two women, knowing that they belonged to him. And grateful that he had been given a second chance to make it right...to have Eve at his side once more, and the chance to be a real father.

"How I have missed you, my darling--in every way," he thought as he remembered the first of their special times together...the night they had first met.
 

**********Flashback**********
 

 
Julian and Eve had arrived in his presidential suite of the Boston Grand, and Eve couldn't hide her awe at the luxury that surrounded her. She could see an ocean front extra large private balcony with a glass sliding door, a fully stocked bar, and a sumptous living room. It was beautiful, and Eve couldn't help but appreciate it.

"This is so lovely," she whispered, as she held onto Julian for support. With all of the champagne that she had drank at the Blue Note, she was a bit unsteady on her feet.

"It doesn't compare in the least to you, my pet. Why don't we sit down, and you can have some more champagne." Julian's hazel eyes lit upon her full lips, wanting so much to taste their sweetness again.

"I think I've had enough."

"Nonsense, dear, this stuff coats the throat. One drink won't kill you." Julian lifted Eve's hand to his warm lips. "It just tends to relax one." He continued

Eve shook her head, nonetheless feeling drawn towards him.

"No thank you. I do want to sit down down though," Eve said as she made her way to the couch. She leaned against it and closed her eyes.

Julian was fearful that she might actually fall asleep, so he quickly went to the couch and sat beside her. He leaned close to her ear and blew in it softly.

"Why don't you let me let me help you to relax," he said, breathing in her ear. Eve was startled, and turned around to face him--which gave Julian the perfect opportunity to kiss her. Eve didn't resist, so he felt encouraged to deepen the kiss, his tongue enjoying a sensual dance with hers.

"Oh Eve." he breathed as they broke apart for air, "You are so beautiful...I knew you were special when I saw you up on that stage." His finger stroked her cheek, as he gazed into her eyes. "I knew I had to have you."

Eve looked at him through lowered lashes. He really was very handsome, but she had never been with a man, and the new sensations frightened her more than she cared to admit.

"Julian, I think we are moving too fast--I just met you tonight, and you've been very sweet and all, but-"

"But what? Do you deny that you want me, Eve?" He began to kiss her neck, causing Eve to moan softly in spite of herself.

"I just don't think that we should-"

"Shhhh," he coaxed. "Don't think, my darling, just let yourself go." Julian began again to kiss her, as his hands began caressing her shoulders. His lips were touching hers, and Eve had never felt this kind of passion, had never in her sheltered life realized that it was possible.

Julian's hands began to move down from her shoulders, until they grazed her breasts swelling against her low-cut velvet gown. Eve whimpered, her hands moving to thread themselves in his hair. He shuddered in response, his lips moving down her neck to sweep across her cleavage. She threw her head back then, her breath coming in quick pants, which only served to encourage Julian to move his hand carefully over one of her breasts.

"You do want me Eve, tell me that you do," he whispered, lifting his head to see the desire and innocence that lay in her expression. Eve found that she could not speak, so he raised himself up over to kiss her hungrily, feasting upon her mouth as if he were a starving man.

"Say it Eve,"Julian urged, as he bent his head down to press warm lips on her left breast, his lips moistening the fabric on her gown. She felt her breasts begin to ache with a sweet pain that she had never felt before, and her womanhood also began to throb in response to Julian's skillful machinations.

Eve felt the fire coursing through her veins, and she could no longer deny that she needed Julian. Yet she was frightened of the unknown, and it was apparent that Julian had far more experience than she did.

"I do want you," she managed softly. "I need you, but...."

"But what?"

"I-I've never been with a man before, Julian." Her admission startled Julian--this gorgeous, sensual looking woman was a virgin? The idea made Julian feel protective of her, yet it also thrilled him to no end.

"Oh my sweet Eve, you have no idea how happy you have made me."

Near delirous with desire, and ecstatic with the fact that she admitted that she wanted him, Julian moved to sweep her up in his strong arms, carrying her to the king-size bed that dominated the bedroom part of his suite.

He lay her gently, almost reverently on the bed, his eyes moving over her ripe curves. Julian's mouth went dry as he looked at her. She was truly the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and he couldn't believe she was here, in his bed.

"I want you too, Eve," he said huskily, as he looked at her. Eve's cocoa eyes were glazed with passion, but a tiny spark of fear was in them as well, and Julian was perceptive as to the cause.

"My pet, I will be gentle with you...you will feel nothing but pure delight," he promised her as he took one of her high heel pumps off, then slipped the other of her other foot, kissing her instep in the process. Eve shivered, and he smiled knowingly.

Julian held her gaze as his large hands eased her stockings off of her shapely legs, caressing and stroking his way up towards Eve's center of pleasure. Eve's breaths were coming in little gasps now, and he held himself in check, though as he moved up her body, his arousal brushed against her upper thighs.

"See what you do to me, Eve," he rasped, as he pressed against her, letting her feel his male strength against her. Eve felt his hardness, and timidly, she passed her hand over him, evoking an almost feral growl from Julian.

"Did I hurt you?" Eve asked nervously. She got her answer when Julian buried his head between her breasts, then lifted his head to hold her gaze captive to his.

"On the contrary, my dear." Julian began to ease the straps of her gown off of her shoulders, and Eve's eyes darkened with feeling. Soon he had managed to remove her dress completely, leaving her laying before him clad only in black lace panties. He then stood up and quickly shed his own clothing, leaving it on the floor in careless disarray.

His eyes feasted upon her full breasts, and Julian dipped his head to taste them, his own need becoming more apparent, but he was determined to give Eve her fulfilment before taking his own. Eve inhaled sharply, the fiery feeling burning its way throughout her nerve endings--she could feel the tension building within her.

For his part, Julian was shaking with the need to possess her, but he did not want to frighten her. He moved his hand down and expertly removed the last lacy barrier between them. He kissed her then, moving his body atop of hers.

"Eve," he breathed, as he looked down at her beautiful face, " you are mine, my darling, and you will stay that way." With that, Julian's skillful caresses probed her womanhood, making Eve cry out her need for him. He was only too happy to oblige.

"As you wish," he whispered, as he entered her slowly. Eve's eyes widened at the sweetness of the pain as he made her his, and then the two lovers began the passion-filled dance that many others had done before them......

That first evening that they spent together had marked Julian for life. He had lost his heart to Eve then, and then had stupidly lost her later in their relationship. He was so grateful for another chance with Eve that he could hardly bear it.

"And I will protect her this time--nothing will tear us apart, this time," Julian vowed.