Julian knew he should go in to the cafe with Eve and Whitney, but he couldn't help but be transfixed at the site of his love and his daughter talking together.

"Dear Lord, how did I ever get this fortunate?" he wondered happily to himself. "If anyone had ever told me that I would have had this chance to make things right with Eve, I would have said that they were dreaming...yet here we are." As he watched Eve, who was facing him, smile at Whitney, he recalled the morning after they had spent their first night together--and how wonderful it had been....and how mischievous he had been.
 

*******Flashback********
 

Julian watched Eve as she slept, his mind going over and over the lovemaking that they had experienced the night before. What he had shared with Eve was something that he never had before--and he did not know what to do about the feeling that were coursing through him right now.

"The most exhilirating experience I have ever known," he whispered, as his eyes took in every minute detail of her lovely features. He longed to awaken her so that they could make love again, but he was perceptive of Eve's exhaustive state. Four times they had indulged in love's ageless dance, and with each interval, she had become more and more enjoyable. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt such pleasure in the bedroom--for that matter, he couldn't recall ever wanting to please a woman more.

"Eve made me feel so alive...God, I've never felt this way before." He couldn't wait to see her beautiful face looking at him again.

She sighed in her sleep, and Julian caught his breath as her mouth opened slightly. "Oh, please wake up, my pet," he urged. Eve turned over onto her back, and as she still slept on peacefully, he shrugged, smiling to himself. She'd be awake soon enough, and he would gently woo her back into his arms.

He decided to take a shower, so that he would be completely refreshed when his little morsel awakened. As he got up from the bed, Eve suddenly stirred, and opened her eyes to the sight of a very naked Julian facing her.

"Oh my God!" she gasped, and quickly shut her eyes. Julian couldn't help but laugh at her reaction to his state of undress.

"My dear Eve, it's not as if you haven't seen me --all of me--before. No need be so shy, my pet."

"Can't you put some clothes on?"

"Well, I was intending to take a shower--but now that you are awake, perhaps you'd care to join me. Think of all the water we could save that way," he said, hazel eyes twinkling.

Eve didn't have the same sense of humor about the situation, and she scowled at him as she got up from the bed, clutching the sheet to her.

"No, thank you. I just want to get my things and leave."

"Why would you want to leave? " Julian was stunned. He could not let her go, not now! He hurried towards her, but Eve shrank back, her cocoa eyes wide with apprehension.

"What's the matter? Why do you want to leave all of a sudden--didn't you enjoy yourself with me last night?" Julian could not understand what would drive her to flee--no woman that he had been with had ever been in a hurry to leave, though there were many times that he had insisted that they did so.

But not Eve. Not Eve. She couldn't leave.....

Eve carefully kept her eyes on his face, as Julian had not bothered to clothe himself and stood directly in front of her. "I-I had fun last night, really, but I have to be going now." The truth was, Eve was frightened--she had never been with a man before, and she was fearful of the emotions that were racing through her right now. She had always intended to save her innocence for the marriage bed. Yet, this handsome stranger, had swept her off off her feet, and she did not know what to expect, from him or herself.

"Eve, please don't leave." Julian was not used to pleading for anything in his life, but he could not bear Eve walking out of his life. His chest tightened at the mere thought of it.

"Julian, I-"

"You can't leave, Eve--you simply can't!" He was growing desperate now, trying to think of a way to keep her there. How could he prevent her from leaving?

Suddenly, an idea came to him, and he was hard pressed to keep from smiling. He nodded at Eve, schooling his expression into one of understanding.

"You're quite right Eve--I have no right to prevent you from leaving. Please forgive me if I made you feel uncomfortable in any way."

Feeling greatly relieved, Eve bestowed a breathtaking smile upon him. He didn't mind, he really didn't seem to mind.

"Thank you, Julian. I'll just get my things and go."

"Wouldn't you like a shower? I'll let you get in there first, as I have some overseas markets that I need to call and check on, anyway."

"I would, actually--that sounds wonderful." Eve smiled again at Julian, who noticed with amusement that her gaze was still trained on his face.

"As you wish, my dear."

With that, Julian got up from his kneeling position, and restraining an urge to laugh at Eve's quick glance away from his still-nude body, went to grab a robe from the bathroom. Clothing himself, finally, he re-entered the bedroom suite, smiling gently at Eve's valiant efforts to keep the sheet wrapped around her as much as possible.

"The shower is all yours, my dear." He did laugh as Eve sped by him into the bathroom, and laughed even harder as he heard the door click locked.

"Poor Eve--she really hasn't learned yet to be wary of a Crane."
 

Eve felt much better after she had locked the door. She was greatly relieved that Julian was not going to stop her from leaving--for a moment there, she was uncertain that he wouldn't.

"At least he's come to his senses,", she thought. "Thank goodness he didn't try anything."

Yet another thought came unbidden--the thought that she had truly enjoyed herself with him. He had been so tender and caring with her when they had made love--and she had felt cherished and precious. She had never known that a man could be that way.

She felt so conflicted--a part of her did want to stay with him, but her pride refused to just be another one of his no doubt, many conquests.

"He probably won't even bother to remember me after today," she mused. Surprisingly, the thought upset her more than she had considered. Eve shed her makeshift robe and started the shower, hoping the sensation would wash her worries away as well.
 

Julian reclined on the bed, pleased with himself. In the amount of time that Eve had been in the shower, he had managed to retrieve her clothing and shoes, which he promptly had his valet dispose of;had her purse placed in the hotel's safe under his name; and called the management of the Blue Note to state that Eve would not be singing that night. He assured the manager that he would glady subsidize Eve's work time with a generous donation to "improve" the club.

"Now she won't have a reason to leave--I can enjoy the pleasure of my songbird a while longer. I do hope she won't be too upset at my methods." Julian smiled.

Eve chose that moment to come out of the bathroom, her long black hair forming damp ringlets around her face. Dressed in a terry cloth robe that matched Julian's, she shyly smiled at him.

"I do feel so much more refreshed now--thank you for suggesting it." Julian nodded at her, his hazel eyes fixed upon her bare toes curling against the carpet.

"My pleasure," he said, his voice taking on a huskier tone. Eve noticed the change, but did not comment on it. Instead, she walked over to the chaise longue, then looked around the room. Frowning, she then looked at Julian.

"Have you seen my clothes? And my shoes?"

Julian did not make eye contact with her. "They're not available."

Eve's eyes widened in confusion. "What do you mean, they're not available?"

"I had my valet dispose of them. " Julian still did not look at her. Eve stared at him unbelieving, but as the realization dawned on her that he was telling the truth, she stomped over to the bed, glaring at him.

"Why did you do that? I don't have anything to wear now--how can I leave?" she said hotly. Julian finally looked at her then, and Eve was enraged at the self-satisfied look in his eyes.

"I know, my dear."

"What--why? I can't stay here Julian, I can't! I want to leave NOW!" Eve screamed at him, tears of frustration on her face. Julian cringed slightly, but his resolve remained firm. Infuriated, Eve spun around and began searching the room again. "Fine, I'll leave in this-" she indicated her robe--"and once I find my purse, I am out of here, you insane--"

"Eve, you are a lady of too much class to stain your luscious lips with foul language. It doesn't suit you." Julian got up the bed and began to walk towards her. Fearful of his intent, Eve backed away from him, only to come up against the wall. He then stood in front of her, a sheepish smile on his face. "I'm afraid you won't be able to find your purse eithier, my pet--I have it locked away in the hotel safe. Only I can sign it out, so it would be useless to try to retrieve it." He reached out and caressed her cheek, but Eve slapped it away, panic rising in her.

However, she could not discern whether it was him, or her reaction to his presence, that unnerved her so.

"Why would you try to trap me here? I can't stay here, Julian--I need to go home," she cried softly, burying her head in her hands. Seeing her obvious distress, suddenly Julian felt something that he had never felt before...remorse for his actions. He then took her in his arms, holding her tightly as she sobbed.

"My dear Eve--I am so very sorry. I couldn't let you just walk out of my life--I had to do something. I want you here--please stay with me tonight," Julian whispered in her ear. Eve's body still shook with sobs, so he hugged her then held her at arm's length so he could see her face. Her chocolate eyes were red rimmed and tear-filled, so he lifted her hand to place a kiss upon it.

"I didn't know how else to keep you here--I was afraid of losing you. I swear I will buy you an entire wardrobe to make up for the liberties I took with your clothing." Julian looked down, then met her gaze, his eyes pleading. "Please say you'll stay with me tonight."

Eve looked at him, seeing the earnestness in his expression. "I don't know if I can, Julian. I have to sing at the Blue Note, tonight." Seeing her remark as a crack in the door, Julian hurried to explain.

"I have already contacted Sal, the manager. He was most happy to give you the night off, in exchange for my offering to fund the dance floor renovation to the club."

"Julian, that has to cost a fortune! Why would you do something like that?" Eve stared at him in disbelief. Julian held her to him once more, and this time, Eve hugged him back, with no reservations. She could not believe that someone, even a billionaire like Julian Crane, would go through so much trouble to be with her.

"Because--last night was the most wonderful, perfect experience of my life. And I did not want that to end," Julian whispered in her ear. Eve shivered at the sensation, at which Julian began to kiss her neck. "Stay with me," he chanted, as he continued to kiss her, burning a path upwards to her lips. Eve felt her protestations slipping away as Julian deftly removed her robe, his sharp intake of breath revealing the pleasure he had at viewing her shapely curves.

"Stay with me," he continued to chant, sweeping her off her feet and carrying her back to the bed. By this time, he had shed his own robe, and he lay with her, his eyes adoring her lovely form. Eve slowly placed her arms around his neck, and the two lovers began to soar to the heavens once more.
 
 

*********End Flashback**********
 

Julian laughed to himself--that morning was spent with even more incredible lovemaking than the night before. After that time, however, Eve had always made sure she had a locked suitcase for her clothes.

"I wonder why," he mused. "It was only that one time."