“Do you want to sit here for a while or would you like to do something else?” he asked.
“Like what?”

“Oh…I don’t know.” He said, kissing her shoulder.

She moved him away and looked into his hazel eyes, he was thinking and she knew exactly what about.

“Look, let’s get something straight Mr. Crane.”

“Yes my love?”

“I did not decide to come on this trip just so you can take me to bed, is that understood?” she said firmly.

“Who said anything about that?”

“Let’s see, you’re a man and you have a one track mind.”

“Darling, that’s not me anymore, okay, maybe it is little bit, but just being here with you, that’s enough. How I wanted to take you to Paris, but how I did that, wanting to give you my courage, that didn’t go exactly as planned and I’m sorry. So now I just want to take our time and have fun, but when I mentioned about us living together, I was serious. That’s something I just want you to think about okay?”

“So…you want to take your time but you want to move in?”

“Yeah.” He said simply.

“Julian, we have to take things slow at this rate okay?”

“Yes my dear, I understand that, but the thing is, we’ve known each other forever, this is not a new relationship really. I mean, think about it, we’ve been together, we have a baby together or rather a grown up son now. Eve, this is not like a first date, I’m in love with you, plain and simple.”

“It doesn’t matter, I’m married to T.C. and spent the last two decades with him, I have girls and I tell you this over and over.”

“And I tell you over and over I’m in love with you, you’re the only woman for me. And Rebecca, I’m married to her on paper, but she’s not my heart Eve, you are.”

“But marriage is sacred.”

“And marriage doesn’t have to mean forever.” Julian said.

“But I don’t want to go through a divorce.”

“Because you’re scared to follow your heart.”

“No.”

“Yes my love, you know that’s the truth. If I mean that much to you, you’ll do what’s right for you, not what’s right for T.C. I’m not trying to make you feel guilty by any means, but you should do what’s right for you and stop worrying about what T.C. will think if you tell him you love me. I don’t give a golly if he’s kicks my ass, it’ll be worth every punch if it means you choose me permanently.”

“Julian, why do we keep having these serious conversations about the hardest decision of my life?”

“Because if you don’t face it and avoid it, it will only come back to haunt you my darling.”

“Can we talk about something else?” Eve asked uncomfortably.

“Okay, how about sex?”

“What?”

“I’m kidding.” He said hugging her.

She smiled at him and felt a bit at ease. She knew what she had to face, but the idea of it, the idea of T.C.’s temper was something that was just killing her, so many lies she had told her husband. She feared greatly for Julian’s life, she couldn’t bear him beating him again like he did outside of the club. She was very scared she had lost him that night and it still did anger her often.

“Honey, don’t worry, you know I’m not going to run away if you don’t make this happen right away. There is plenty of time to make our love permanent, but I do think ahead in the future which is why I mentioned living together.”

“What about Rebecca, she’ll never let that happen.”

“Eve, I’ll give Rebecca so much money, she’ll be seeing dollar signs in her sleep if it means getting that pain out of my hair. Don’t worry, I’ll make it happen, somehow.” Julian said.

She got up and walked along the shore of the water, splashing her feet up and down in the waves. He looked at her, still sitting on the sand, he could see that she was unhappy again and Julian didn’t want this trip to represent that so he would have to make her smile again. She stared out to nowhere and it made her think even more about the two men in her life, T.C. and Julian.

“Come on.” Julian said grabbing her hand.

“Julian, what are you doing?”

“Going for a swim.” He said pulling her into the water.

“I’m dressed.”

“So am I, who cares, come on, water’s pretty warm.”

“My clothes are going to get soaked.”

“Oh Eve, lighten up darling, I’ll buy you some more, besides we can dry off.”

“You’re nuts.”

“Nuts about you, let’s go my love.” He said continuing to drag her out farther.

“Couldn’t you at least wait until I change into my bathing suit?”

“There’s plenty of time for that, that’ll be my extra bonus on this trip to see you in one, oooo mental picture.”

Eve couldn’t help but laugh at him, both of them soaked as the waves hit them as they continued farther into the lake.

“See, I look like a drowned rat now, would you love a picture of me like this?” he said smiling.

“This isn’t something I thought you’d do.”

“I never would before, but being with you Eve, I love being spontaneous, I love you so much that I’ll do anything to bring a smile to that lovely face, no matter what, even making a fool of myself. But I don’t really care one way or the other, I just want to have fun with you, I just want to love you.” He said, taking her close into his arms.

Eve smiled at him and to his surprise; she pushed him under the water.

“Hey!” he said, shaking the water from his ears.

“Yes?” she said innocently.

“You play dirty.”

“Only when it really counts.” She said pushing him again.

“Oh don’t even attempt to think you can win this war my love, I’m Julian Crane remember?”

“So that makes you the champion, please.” She said dryly.

“Damn right, water fight!” he said splashing her.

“Julian!”

“Oh don’t tell me you can’t handle a bit of competition.”

“What are you, a kid?”

“Looks like it, doesn’t it?” he said getting her again.

“My hair!” she said moving away from him.

“It’s looks beautiful, just like you, now come here.” He said, pulling her close.

Eve took his arms away from her and began to swim back towards the shore.

“Come back here young lady.” He said, catching up to her.

He grabbed her arm and before she could say another word or object, he kissed her very tenderly, loving the taste of her moist mouth against his. He brought her hands to his neck and she loved feeling his wet hair against her fingers as his warm and wet mouth met hers. She had never kissed anyone like this, unfortunately T.C. wasn’t exactly that daring and she had to admit there were times even when she hated Julian, she thought about him. He was right in saying that T.C. truly didn’t know her, the only man who would was Julian and that scared her to death.

“Oh that was nice, wasn’t it?” he said, stroking her damp hair.

“Yes.” She said softly.

“Sweetheart, you ready to dry off yet?”

“Maybe.”

“Maybe not, hmmm?” he said taking her back farther into the water.

Julian admired how her wet clothes clung to her body and when he moved his hand under her shirt, she stepped back from him.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I don’t know, just playing.” He said, kissing her neck.

“Julian, there are children on the beach.”

“Oh darling, we’re in the water, unless they have x-ray vision, they can’t see a bloody thing.” He said laughing.

“This isn’t going to work.” Eve said.

“We’re not having sex, we’re just having some fun, what’s wrong with that?”

“You know it’s inappropriate, we’re not teenagers.”

“Not at all, we may be thirty-nine and holding, but we’re not dead yet Eve, we can hold our own just like the young ones.”

“Look, we’ll keep our distance from the beach, no problem, I respect that there are kids around.”

“It’s day time too.”

“Honey, do you always have a reason to not try something?” Julian asked.

“It’s just the way I am.”

“It’s how you’ve become, the Eve I know would be more daring than even me. Darling, you have to live a little, life is too short.” Julian said.

“Are you saying I’m not any fun to be with?”

“Well…you do have your moments where you would rather not try anything.”

“So?”

“Let’s not fight about something so silly, now kiss me.” He said smiling.

“Fine.” She said laughing.

She had to admit that he was a great kisser; she just didn’t always like to tell him how she really felt. For then, she would be showing a vulnerable side and she wasn’t exactly willing to show all of it when it came to admitting how much she loved being with him. They kissed for quite some time until they realized they were going to be shriveled up like prunes if they didn’t get out of the water.

“Why aren’t you wearing a bathing suit?”

Julian turned around to see the little angel he had been talking to before.

“I’m sorry sweetie, but my suit isn’t here.”

“Mommy said you have to wear a suit when you go swimming.”

“Well your mommy’s right, but I was hot and decided to just go in.”

Eve laughed at Julian; he had an answer for everything.

“Well I hope when you go swimming next time, you’ll wear your suit.”

“I will honey, don’t you worry.”

“Did you have a good swim?”

“Yes we did.” He said, winking at Eve.

“Natalie, it’s time to go home now.” Her mother said, gathering up their stuff.

“You really do impress me Julian.”

“Why Eve?”

“You were so sweet to that little girl, God how I wish our son was in our lives.”

“I know sweetheart, I told you we’ll find him.” He said, fidgeting on the sand.

“What’s the matter?”

“I think I have sand in places I could have only imagined.” He said laughing.

“And we’re dressed and imagine if we weren’t.”

“Sex on the beach, hey, that’s a drink, say how about one?” Julian asked.

“A drink?”

“Sure Eve.”

“Well, I think I would like to change now before we start venturing out again.”

“I agree, let’s head back to our room then.”

“Good idea.” Eve said.

They walked back which wasn’t really that far, and they continued to dry off in the sun on the way. When Julian entered the room he flopped on the bed, on his stomach.

“Don’t lie there.”

“Why not?”

“You’ll get sand in the sheets.” Eve said.

“That’s okay, I can just dig us out with a shovel and pail then.”

“Off the bed.” Eve said taking his arm.

But he pulled her onto the bed and brought his body on top of hers, kissing her quite passionately.

“I thought you wanted to get that drink, sex on the beach?”

“Never mind the actual drink, I just like the sound of that period.” He said, kissing her ear.

“You’re so bad, I thought you were going to behave yourself, take things slow?”

“I am, okay I’ll give you five minutes and then we can start, let me set my watch.” He said smiling devilishly.

“You’re acting more like the old Julian Crane more than ever on this trip, what happened to the sweet one I have learned to love again?” she said, playing with his rumpled shirt.

“You love me.” He said smiling.

“I do love you, you know I do.”

“Oh Eve.” He said, touching her cheek.

“Why is that surprise?”

“I don’t know, just hearing you say the one you learned to love again, I like hearing that Eve, well, I’m going to take a shower, I’m getting rather itchy from all this sand.” Julian said getting up from the bed.

“I’ll be here.” She said staring at him.

“I’ll be in there.” He said, pointing to the door as if it were a hint.

It was tempting as hell for Eve to just jump in with him, but she was just going to play it cool. He was in there for a while and she wondered just how much sand he had on his body, lord knows, she was covered as well and when she looked at the sheets, she already had sand in them. She wondered if it was possible to get the bed changed so she called the front desk. She didn’t want to be fussy, but sleeping in the sheets like that, wouldn’t exactly be good. When Julian came out of the bathroom, he was surprised to see the housekeeper making their bed.

“Oh hi.” Julian said, standing only in a towel.

“Oh sir, I’m sorry.” She said, averting her eyes.

“No problem, what’s wrong with the sheets we have?”

“Your wife wanted fresh sheets, too much sand.”

“Yes, MY WIFE likes clean sheets.” Julian said looking at Eve.

“There you are ma’am, I hope that will be to your liking.” She said.

“Thank you.” She said, when Julian handed her a hefty tip.

“So are you going to take a shower now, since you have fresh sheets darling?” he said smiling.

“Yes, just don’t mess them up.”

“Not until later on.” He said under his breath.

“Pardon Julian?”

“Oh nothing sweetheart.”