Chapter 4

Eve tried to withdraw her arm from Julian's grip, but he held it fast.Looking at him, she saw that his eyes were glassy with unshed tears--she'd never seen Julian look like that before. What did he want from her?

"Julian, let me go!" she demanded, again trying to pull her arm free."Damn it Julian, quit manhandling me!"

He shook his head."I have to talk to you--won't you please have coffee with me so we can talk?" It's been so long Eve, please talk with me, he begged silently, hoping she wouldn't refuse.

"So you can slip something in it to take advantage of me?" she hissed, still trying to loosen his grip.

Julian flinched, her remark hitting all too close to home. Redfaced, he conceded, " I deserved that. Please, I just want to talk. It can be a public place, Eve, if that will make you feel more comfortable. Please," he begged, praying that she would agree. He had to try to make things right, make her understand..

He seemed sincere, Eve thought. Looking at him, she considered that she was no longer the naive young chanteuse that she had been when she first met him. She was stronger now...

"All right, Julian. Where do you want to go?" she acquiesced, seeing relief and happiness wash over his features. God help her, Julian was still the handsomest man she'd ever known...how she hated to admit that, even to herself.

"The Book Cafe, unless you'd want to go to my home," Julian offered, watching her carefully for her reaction.

"Your home, Julian--I don't think you're stupid enough to try anything. I'm not the naive young woman you seduced all those years ago," Eve replied. "Plus, I don't want anyone to see the two of us together in public."

He brought her hand up to his lips, sending a shock wave through her body. "As you wish, Eve," he agreed, finally releasing her and opening the door to the limo for her and entering himself.. "Home, Wilson," he told the chaffeur, then turned to look at her. Eve sat as far away from him as she could manage, staring straight ahead. "Eve, I'm not going to do anything to you, I swear."

"I know you won't Julian...you'd better not. I'm not staying long, I have work in the morning." She glanced at him. "We'll just talk and that's that."

"Of course, my dear. I just have so much to tell you."

Eve didn't trust herself to look at him. Hearing Julian use endearments wasn't helping any--she could still feel his lips on her hand as if he had burned her with the simple caress. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, Julian Crane still had a powerful effect on her. And she would need all of her wits about her tonight...