The next morning Julian was fast asleep, but was woken up quickly when he felt Rebecca on top of him.
“Good morning Pookie.” She said smiling.

“Oh God, what the hell do you want now?”

“I am sorry we had to have that little fight last night, I was wrong to threaten to call Luis, but I was in the mood and you rejected me, I am a very emotional person you know.” She said running her fingers down past his stomach.

“I don’t think so Becky, there won’t be any make up morning sex today.” He said firmly.

“Oh come on Julian, I need it!” she said whining.

“The more you annoy me, the more I am going to reject you. I told you how I felt yesterday, I am in love with Eve.”

“And I told you that you will never have her, so why don’t you just face up to the reality that the only sex you are going to be getting is from me. Julian, you know you can’t go on without it, you need it.”

“I am fine without it, believe me, I am.”

“Come on, Eve would never be adventurous enough to play the games we do, they always got us in the mood.” She said trying to move her hand down farther again.

He grabbed her hand and held it.

“I don’t need to play games to have a good time Rebecca.”

“But you love playing them, you always got a real rise out of them.” She said laughing.

“I am not amused my dear, Eve wouldn’t need to be adventurous to get my attention. She only has to be herself for me to love her.”

“You know what, you are not going to let this obsession with Eve go.”

“It’s not an obsession, it’s love.”

“Yeah whatever it is, it’s pathetic, but until you get her, you are not going to give into me are you?”

“I don’t want you, that’s what it is.”

“Well then perhaps maybe it’s time I let you have what you want then. You do love her don’t you?”

“Yes very much, you have to understand how much.”

“But even if I let you go, you can’t have her.”

“I will love her from afar, I would rather be single and just know that she is happy.”

“Okay Julian, I have changed my mind, I am going to let you out of this arrangement, you don’t have to marry me. I can see you are never going to give up on Eve.”

“What’s in it for you?” he said skeptical.

“Nothing, perhaps I can convince your father to give me a shot.” She said smiling.

“Are you serious?”

“Well I want the Crane money, so he is just as good for that as you, maybe even better. But before I leave, I want you to do one more thing for me?”

“What’s that?”

“I want you to give in and do it, I want to know one more time what it’s like to have the great Julian Crane.”

“I don’t believe you, this is too easy.”

“Come now Julian, I just want the Crane fortune you know that, so if you really want to be free, then you will take off those boxers.”

“Why the hell should I sleep with you to get out of this marriage?”

“Because it’s the only way I will let you go.”

“You want the sex and the money, call my father, he is the real player.”

“I intend to find that out Julian, but just because you have a lousy attitude, doesn’t mean you are a lousy lover, so get naked.” She demanded.

“No, I won’t do it, I don’t trust you one bit Rebecca.”

“I am going to go after your father instead I told you.”

“Please, what do you think I am, an idiot? You can’t fool me, sorry you are out of luck my dear.” He said glaring at her.

“Well you had your chance, to be free, guess you will never know what it was like. Imagine, being able to play the field with any woman you want, instead of me, wouldn’t that be great?” Rebecca said.

“To be free of you, yes, you are like a pest that never goes away. But to play the field, no, that’s not me anymore. It’s Eve or no one else.”

“Well fine then, but just remember Julian, you can only avoid sex with me for so long, otherwise if you procrastinate too much, you will be wishing for me more than ever when your bunk mate is wanting his needs met.”

“Just put a sock in it already, you harp over and over.”

Julian got dressed and sat down in his office chair, looking at some files, a Martimmy in his hand, which he needed very badly after that evening. He thought about Eve and how close they came to being one again. He smiled slightly, hoping that they would have their chance again very soon. He was in a daze when the phone rang, he sat back putting it on speaker.

“Julian, we need to talk.”

“Father, what do you want? I have had a long day and night, I just want to look over a few things and have my drink.”

“Why do you continue to pursue Eve Russell?” Alistair asked.

“And why do you keep bringing this up?” he said.

“I told you to leave her alone, you are just putting yourself in hot water. T.C. will kill you if he finds out you are seeing each other again.”

“We are not seeing each other father, you are crazy.”

“That’s not what I heard, how do you think Rebecca would feel if she knew Eve was over there last night?”

“She wasn’t here father.”

“That’s bull Julian, I know she was there, what are you trying to do? You are going to ruin us if you keep up with stupid stunts like you are pulling.”

“I love her.”

“I don’t care Julian, put a stop to it now.”

“You can’t tell me what to do anymore, I am going to stand up to you, and something I should have done years ago. Because of you, I lost the love of my life. Eve and I would have been married and happy if it were not for you.”

“And that is why I am standing up to you because I am going to be with Whitney.” Fox said walking in.

“My God, can’t you knock? Father, Fox, would you please just leave me the hell alone?” Julian said annoyed.

“Julian, you stay away from Eve, and Fox, you stay away from Whitney, both of you need to have your heads examined because they are definitely up in the clouds.” Alistair said and then hung up the phone.

“Fox, what do you want now?”

“Nothing, I wanted to see what you were up to.”

“Well apparently I am not going to get anything accomplished today am I?” Julian said putting the paper down.

“Dad, I want to be with Whitney.”

“Yeah I know, and I have told you that if you love her, don’t hurt her like I did with Eve.”

“I want to live your dream Dad.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You want Eve, but you can’t have her, but I can have Whitney, so can’t you at least let me change the ways of the Crane?” Fox asked.

“I give up, you aren’t going to listen to me anyway, but if you hurt her, I swear I will come after you Fox.”

“I won’t, I promise you that. Hey, I have to say thanks by the way.”

“For what?”

“Whitney told me you had a chat with her, I think that is the nicest thing I have seen you do for anyone, next to saving Dr. Eve’s life.”

“Well, she is a sweet girl and let’s keep it that way.” Julian said glaring at Fox.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Fox asked.

“Because you may love her, but you are still a Crane and if we don’t get what we want, we tend to become a bit pushy. Well I am not like that now, but back in the day, I like to have my way with the ladies.”

“No surprise there dad.”

“The point is, there is more to love than just sex Fox.”

“Don’t you think I know that, I am not looking for just that with Whitney, I want it all with her, I want a relationship, a commitment, everything you want with Dr. Eve.”

“Yeah, well….you are still sewing your wild oats.” Julian said.

“She is not another notch on the belt dad, honest she isn’t, and you have to believe me.”

“I would like to Fox, I really would, but right now you don’t have the best track record with women.”

“And you do Dad, I think you have gone through about ten belts if you know what I mean.” He said.

“We are not talking about me now, Eve is married, we are talking about young Whitney who is still very naïve and impressionable after having her heart broken by Chad.”

“I won’t hurt her and I am going to going to say it again, anyway, I will let you get back to work then.”

“Thank you.” Julian said.

“See you around then.”

Julian put his head on the desk, he had so many thoughts going through it, it seemed like everything was going on at this time and he just didn’t know which problem to tackle first. When his cell rang he picked it up, his head still down on the desk.

“Julian, you sound like you are in a basement.”

“Eve, honey.” He said lifting his head.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“In my office, just having a moment, how are you doing today?”

“I am okay and you?”

“The same, just okay, I would be a lot happier if you were here with me. How would you like to be my private secretary?” he said laughing.

“Glad to see you haven’t lost your sense of humour.”

“No dear, but if I seem a little off, I am just tired and nursing a drink here.”

“Did I keep you up too late?” Eve asked.

“Oh God never, I would stay up with you all night if I could Eve. No it was Rebecca, she was a pain in the ass last night and one again this morning. How did it go with T.C.?”

“Don’t ask he was a jerk again as usual. You know I need a new start, my life is too predictable Julian, I need to spice it up a bit.” Eve said.

“Well, I want to see you again, when can we get together? I feel sort of bad about what happened last night, we didn’t exactly end the night…um, well, the way it should have been, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes I do, but it’s okay, don’t worry about it Julian, that’s life. Anyway, when can we see each other?”

“Yes Eve.”

“Well, I have to work tomorrow and I haven’t exactly been home a lot, so I think I better stay home for a day or two in case Whitney needs me you know?”

“Yes of course, will you call me when you are available then?” Julian asked.

“For sure I will.”

“Okay.”

Julian spent the next few days trying his best to concentrate on other things besides the love of his life. It was hard for him not to be with her, but he knew that he had to just be patient. And he wanted her to be there for her daughters especially, and to be able to focus on being a doctor; she was still a career woman and a mother. Rebecca continued to bother him, wanting to sleep together and talk about the wedding, but he simply ignored her, her voice could be so annoying, that he felt better tuning her out. The one afternoon, Eve had been sitting in her office, when she looked up to see Liz at the door.

“Hello sister.”

“Get out.” Eve said.

“Not yet, I just wanted to see how things are going with you? I mean with Rebecca so close to revealing your secrets, you won’t even need me; she is doing all the dirty work. Soon enough, T.C. will be mine and you will be banned from Harmony for all of your past. I can’t wait for that day.” She said grinning.

“You are never going to get T.C., you never will, he doesn’t want you Liz.”

“What do you care Eve, you know deep down inside you want to be with Julian.”

“No, that’s not true, Julian and I are good friends.”

“You and Julian are friends with benefits, I am sure you have already slept with him.”

“Oh get over it, Julian is a good man, he is not who you think he is Liz.”

“Regardless, I know you two have already done it, you can’t lie to me.”

“We have not, you are just jealous because I have T.C. and you will never have him so you want to believe that I am cheating on him.”

Eve didn’t dare tell Liz that she was actually seeing Julian that was a bomb that if dropped in Liz’s hands, would certainly explode.

“Look, would you get out? I have work to do, quit being a bitch and leave me the hell alone!”

“What are you yelling at Liz for?” T.C. said suddenly standing in the doorway.

“Never mind T.C., Liz was just leaving.”

“Oh I don’t have to go just yet Eve.”

“I would like to speak with my husband please, in private Liz.”

“Yes Liz, if you don’t mind, Eve and I need to talk.”

“Okay T.C. no problem.” She said listening to him.

T.C. closed the door and looked at his wife. She wondered what he wanted, considering they weren’t still exactly on the best of terms since their fight the other night.

“T.C. what can I do for you? I am still quite busy.”

“Never mind that, since you are working, I just wanted to surprise you.” He said smiling.

“Oh?”

“Yes Eve.”

“And what’s my surprise?” she asked.

T.C. moved his wife over to the desk, sitting her up on it.

“What are you doing T.C.?”

He removed her lab coat and threw it on the couch and then took off his shirt, practically ripping the buttons off of it.

“Um, T.C., I am on the go right now, can’t we do this later?”

“Eve, come on, I am trying to be spontaneous here, the bed is so boring sometimes, let’s do it right here on your desk.” He said devilishly.

“What, T.C. no, we can’t.”

“Yes we can.” He said taking off her blouse so that she was sitting only in her bra.

“This isn’t a good idea.” She said hesitantly.

“What’s up with this? I want to please you right here, right now, and it’s so much better at work, the idea of getting caught Eve, oh that turns me on so much.”

“But T.C.”

“Would you stop talking and just go with it, come on, I’m your husband, you are my wife Eve, and we love each other, let’s do this baby.” He said devilishly.

Eve wasn’t sure what she could do, T.C. really wanted to have sex right there, and she was his wife, but she felt so uneasy about it. He began to shower her with kisses, but she couldn’t get into it.

“What’s your problem Eve, why are you being so cold with me? Don’t you love me?”

“Yes, but I just feel awkward doing this at work, I am a doctor and I have to be professional T.C.”

“So you are a professional who is going to make love on her desk, big deal, live for the moment Eve.”

“I don’t know, I….”

“Eve, I need to talk to you, I….

Eve looked up to see Julian standing there with the door open, a look of shock on his face.

“Julian!”

“Um, sorry, I…, will come back later.”