Julian hung up the phone, Rebecca walked in the room, noticing his smile.
“Well I am so glad to see you are happy for once Julian, have you taken me up on my offer then?” she asked.

“What offer?”

“You know, little Julian.” She said trying to undo his belt again.

“Becky, come on, don’t you know how to play hard to get? You don’t leave anything to the imagination.”

“I want to have a little mystery in the bedroom Julian, the last time you showed me a bit of it was when you were standing in front of me in nothing but an eye mask and let me tell you, you were quite the turn on.” She said trying again to see how far she could get with him.

“Okay, well, this can’t happen tonight okay?”

“Julian, I can’t take this bull anymore, you have to start learning to give in again.”

“Look, we have already had this conversation, just let me be for now. If you keep pestering me, little Julian will be under lock and key.”

“Fine!” she said frustrated.

“Anyway, you are going to Gwen’s tomorrow right? To try to get her to patch things up with Ethan?”

“Yes Julian and you are coming with me.”

“I’m afraid I can’t Becky.”

“Oh yes you are, you haven’t been spending any time with me lately.”

“I just told you not to bother me, so leave me alone.” Julian said.

“You have to visit with Gwen, she needs us Pookie.”

“I know that, but I have business to attend to, seriously, I promise I will go with you to see Gwen another day. Besides she won’t want me there, she needs you, her mother, so go and be with her.”

“My God Julian, you are going to say no anyway, so fine, I give up, but you are going to start being seen with me. We need to make appearances together since we are going to be Mr. and Mrs. Crane.”

Julian shuddered at the thought of that. The next day Julian couldn’t get Rebecca out of the mansion fast enough.

“Goodbye Pookie, I will be gone for a few hours.”

“Thank goodness, peace at last.” He said to himself.

“Wish me luck with Gwen.” She said smiling.

“Yeah good luck.”

“Well?”

“Well what Becky?”

“Where’s my kiss?”

Julian couldn’t help but roll his eyes, but gave her a quick peck anyway.
When she shut the door, Julian rushed upstairs to get ready, he was so excited that Eve was coming over; it was like getting ready for a first date. He put on his cologne and had picked out a red oxford shirt and a pair of black pants, figuring it would be nice for a dinner. Just as he threw on his shoes, the doorbell rang. He had sent the staff away for the night, paying them well to take the night off. He wanted complete privacy with her so when the bell rang again, he practically slid down the banister to answer it.

“Hi Julian, where is everyone?” she asked.

“Um, they have the night off, this way there will be no one to interfere.” He said smiling.

“Oh okay, well are you ready to get started?” Eve asked.

“Started?”

“To cook silly.”

“Oh yeah of course, by the way Eve, you look great.” He said admiring her.

She had on a pair of black pants as well with a matching blue tank and sweater.

“Thanks Julian, you look good too.”

“Before we start, may I get you a drink?” Julian asked.

“Just a bottle of water would be fine, thanks.”

She followed Julian into the kitchen, as he poured her glass of water, he watched her as she looked in the cupboards.

“You really know your way around a kitchen Eve.”

“Well this isn’t mine, we don’t have everything as fancy as the Cranes, but I do my best.”

“Are you sure you want me to help with dinner? You are going to be so sorry.” He said smiling.

“Nonsense Julian, you will be fine, I am not sure exactly what I want to cook yet, but how about we start with a salad?” Eve said.

“Oh I can help with that, I can get the bottles of salad dressing out of the fridge and undo the caps, that is a job for a man with muscles like me.” He said pretending to flex.

“You are so funny, I am going to enjoy this.” Eve said.

“Well, we have ranch, blue cheese, French, holy crap, we have everything, I am going to have to start checking this kitchen more often, wow! Who knew we had these many bottles in here?”

“Why don’t you break up the lettuce?” Eve said.

“With my bare hands?”

“No Julian, with a pair of gloves on, of course with your bare hands.” She said laughing.

“Very well, but what are you going to do?” Julian asked.

“Supervise, someone has to be in charge.”

“You are going to be in charge darling? Oooo, that is a lovely thought.” He said laughing.

“Get your mind out of the gutter and back on breaking up that lettuce mister.”

“But I want you to supervise me.” He said pouting.

“If you don’t get going on making the salad, I am going to send you to your room instead.”

“Mmmm, that sounds like a plan.” He said kissing her on the neck.

“Julian…be a good boy okay? Keep your mind on one thing at a time.” Eve said smiling.

“Yes dear.”

As he made the salad, Eve boiled the water.

“What are you making?” he asked.

“I will tell you when that salad is done, now let me see.”

Eve looked at the bowl.

“Um, sweetie, I think you should break it up a bit more, I know I have a big mouth, but still.” Eve said.

“Oh sorry.”

“I don’t mean to criticize Julian, I am just trying to help you know.”

“I know Eve, that’s okay, I like it when you tell me what to do.” He said winking.

“Anyway, you are going to make spaghetti Julian.”

“You mean I have to cut up the tomatoes and everything?” he said surprised.

“No hon, we are going to cheat a little and use a jar.”

“Whew, I was worried there for a minute.”

When the water boiled, Eve made Julian put in the pasta.

“How much do I put in?”

“Well enough for the two of us Julian.”

“Yeah, but there is quite a bit in the bag, it’s not the same as looking at the directions on a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.”

“You actually know what that is Julian?”

“Honey, I am may be rich and have my meals made for me, but I am not that dumb, in fact, if the cook ever quit, I think I could make myself a box of it no problem.”

“Well then I am sure you can figure it out, I will leave you to it.”

“But Eve, how am I supposed to know when it’s done, the old let’s throw it against the fridge to see if it sticks?” Julian asked.

“Have you done that?” She said laughing.

“Maybe.”

“You will know when it’s done, believe me, it’s just a bit of trial and error, and you will get the hang of it. In the meantime, I will keep an eye on the sauce okay? You are doing just fine Julian, see, we start with a simple meal and go from there.”

“Ivy never wanted to do anything like this, she wasn’t adventurous like you Eve.”

“Julian, Ivy probably wouldn’t go to the bathroom unless someone was there to hand her a roll of toilet paper, so of course she is not going to cook.” She said laughing.

“That is a good point, but she wasn’t interested in doing normal things every day like you are.”

“Well Julian, if you want to eat, you have to cook it yourself. We were never blessed with hired help like you were. We do come from two different worlds Julian in so many ways.”

“But that is what I love about you Eve, you are so good and kind and you are willing to take the initiative to do things like this.”

“Like I told you, we weren’t fortunate enough to have the help, but you know what Julian? I wouldn’t have it any other way, my girls were not brought up with millions, but they have lived a comfortable lifestyle. But even if we did have as much money as the Crane fortune, I wouldn’t want it to go to their heads you know? I wanted to instill good values in them, no offence to you Julian.”

“None taken Eve, I was brought up with money, I can’t deny it, but I have learned to see that there is so much more to life than just how many bills you have in your pocket. I like experiencing new things and what we are doing tonight is one of them. It’s fun and it’s great because we are spending quality time together Eve and I really like it.”

“I’m glad Julian and now that we had this conversation, our spaghetti is ready, by the way, do you have Parmesan?”

“I don’t know if there is a can left Eve.”

“Oh forget the can, we will shred some cheese instead then, it will be fresh that way, can you get me a grater please Julian?”

He looked around not knowing where to go.

“A grater hon, you know, to grate the cheese?”

“I know what it is sweetie, I just don’t know where they keep it.”

“Oh for goodness sake, okay watch the stove, besides I need to find a strainer as well.” Eve said.

He watched her as she went through all of the cupboards, admiring her as she walked around. Julian then stepped back towards the stove.

“Oh crap!” he yelled.

“What’s wrong, what happened?”

“I burnt my finger Eve.”

“I told you to watch the stove.”

“I know it’s my fault because I was watching you.” He said smiling.

She shook her head laughing at him.

“Part of learning to cook is paying attention to what you are doing, now let me see your finger, run it under cold water and do as I say, keep an eye on the stove please.”

“It’s really sore.”

“Your finger Julian?”

“Yes, would you kiss it better?” he said winking.

“No, but you will be kissing this dinner goodbye if I have to get the garden hose, down boy!” she said laughing.

She then found what the she needed and he assisted her.

“See, we are ready, bowls please? At least tell me you know where they are?’ Eve asked.

“Um, yes I do and I will get some glasses, oh wait Eve, we need some bread, maybe garlic bread.” He said.

“Julian, I do like garlic bread, but I don’t want to be chewing through ten packs of gum afterwards, we can just have some Italian bread instead.” Eve said laughing.

“You are right, the last thing I want to do is turn you off.”

“Julian Crane, I know you were a sweet and kind man, but I can see a bit of the other side of you appearing from time to time, is there something you want to tell me?” she said smiling.

“No dear, I just feel so comfortable around you, not to mention you are gorgeous and I can’t help myself. This is exactly what I have been waiting for, a chance just to be with you, just to spend time with you.”

“Oh Julian, you are so sweet, you really are, I am glad you are comfortable around me, that’s good. Now what do you say we dig in?”

“Definitely, though it could get a bit messy, sometimes I can be so clumsy.” Julian said.

“Well do your best, anyway, thanks again for helping.”

“No thank you, holy crap write it on the calendar Eve, I actually assisted in cooking a meal, where are the fireworks?” he said laughing.

“Julian, you are too much.”

“Eve, I would like to make a toast, here’s to many more good times together, this is only the beginning.” He said raising his glass.