That evening, flowers in hand, Rupert knocked on Jenny's apartment door. When it opened, he smiled at the sight of her. She was fit snugly in a short black dress, with a plunge neckline. Her shoulder length dark locks had been swept back onto her head with a clip, leaving some strands framing her sweet face, creating an elegant tussled effect. "Hi Rupert!"

"Er, h-hello Jenny. You look- - -beautiful." She smiled, pleased, at his compliment. "I'm er, sorry I'm late. My car was playing up." He held out the yellow lillies to her. "These are for you."

"That's sweet. Thank you Rupert. They're lovely." Stepping aside, she said, "Why don't you come on in. Oliver's already here. I'll just put these in water and then I'm ready to go."

Following her inside, he said, "Oliver's here?"

Hearing the surprise in his voice, she turned to look at him. "Yeah. Didn't you tell him to come over and we'd all have dinner together?"

"No. I certainly did not."

"Oh. Then. . ." Jenny broke off, not sure what to say.

"How long as he been here?"

"About half an hour."

Rupert was seething. He followed Jenny into the living-room, where Oliver had made himself comfortable on Jenny's sofa. "Rupert! I was beginning to think you were going to stand this beautiful lady up!"

"Never. I seemed to have trouble with my car. It turned out someone had tampered with the engine. Now, I wonder who that could have been!"

"The times we're living in!"

"What are you doing here Oliver?"

"Getting to know the lovely Jenny, of course."

"You told me Rupert had invited you over to have dinner with us. You lied." Standing beside Rupert, Jenny looked unimpressed at Oliver.

Oliver shrugged. "So I told a white lie. I only wanted to get to know you. Where's the crime in that?"

"I suggest you leave Oliver. Jenny and I have plans."

Oliver looked at Jenny. "Do you want me to leave?"

"I think that'd be for the best."

Oliver stood up and moved over to her. "All right. But have dinner with me tomorrow, Jenny!"

"No, I don't think so."

"Oh, come on darling. Why not?"

"I'm not your darling."

Rupert stepped forward and put his hand on Oliver's chest. "You heard her, leave. And leave town while you're at it. You're not welcome here."

Oliver snorted. "You two are a right pair. Talk about uptight. You're welcome to her Rupert."

Rupert locked his hand around Oliver's collar. "Get out. I'm not telling you again. I meant what I said earlier today, and it appears you didn't take my warning seriously. Maybe I should impart it on you with more force?"

"Nooo. I'm going."

Rupert shoved him towards the door. "Good."

Oliver nearly ran out of the door, and Rupert slammed it after his brother. When he turned around, Jenny was standing in the corridor. "What the hell was all that about?" She headed into the kitchen and Rupert followed.

He took his glasses off and cleaned them. "I'm very sorry about all of that Jenny."

She was silent for a few moments while she placed the flowers in a vase of water. When she had finished, she looked at him, tilting her head to one side. "The only other time I've seen you behave like that was with Ethan Rayne. What's the deal with Oliver?"

"Like Ethan, Oliver and I er, have a long unpleasant history together."

"I'm guessing it's to do with women this time and not magic?"

"Well, er, yes. But not just that. He's always been. . ."

"Jealous of you?"

"Yes."

"And you were worried he would take me from you?" Seeing the look on his face, she shook her head in disbelief. "Rupert, I thought you'd give me more credit than that."

"No, Jenny, that isn't what I was worried about."

"Then what?"

Rupert sighed. "Oliver has a tendency to try and ruin what I have."

"Rupert, he can't ruin what you have with me, because I wouldn't let him."

"I know. I was worried he'd hurt you."

"Hurt me! What do you mean?"

"Spike your drink and take advantage of you. Rob you. Crash his car with you in it. Should I go on?"

Jenny shook her head. "He's done all that before?"

"Oh, yes. And they were all my girlfriends at the time. He didn't care about any of them, he just wanted to get at me. Once he had done, he didn't want anything to do with them. The ones who wouldn't give in to his so called charm, he hurt. I didn't want that to happen to you."

"You think I can't look after myself?"

"That's not. . .I just want to protect you Jenny."

"I understand." Her face softened and she moved over to him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, she kissed him sweetly but intensely, taking his breath away. Rupert put his arms around her and held her close. Pulling back slightly so that she could look at him, she said, "So, are you gonna take me to dinner?" Smiling like a lovesick teenager, Rupert nodded.