Duncan stiffened in shock at what his eyes beheld. His daughter, Bonnie Louise, sat cradled in the arm of the handsome stranger as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Her trusting little face smiled up at him before bestowing a ferocious hug around the stranger's neck.

Before Duncan could react, the man extended a hand back toward the limousine. A graceful mocha hand placed itself within the man's and Duncan watched as the love of his life and mother of his child - Jessica Griffin - exited the limousine and took her place at the side of another man.

An insane jealousy gripped Duncan. Who the bloody hell was he? The man so familiarly touching what was his.

He did not feel his feet carry him speeding outside the hotel. Nor did Duncan feel the tightly clenched fists that he held at his sides. All he felt was the urge to wrench both Jessica and Bonnie away from the stranger, and bring them back to his side where they belonged.

Before he got too close, the two burly bodyguards placed themselves in his path. Alert but unmoving, they formed a human barrier between Duncan and his goal. "What the bloody hell is this?" he roared, unaware of the picture he presented. His features were distorted with jealousy, and his voice was loud and threatening.

A single word from the stranger served to part the two guards, though they stood carefully nearby. For the first time Duncan gazed fully upon the man who had seemingly usurped his place among his family. The stranger's sandy hair accentuated a pair of piercing green eyes. A neatly trimmed mustache and goatee gave him an aristocratic air that was reinforced by his manner. This was a man of substantial means, Duncan realized. He had dealt with men such as him all his adult life.

"I suggest you establish some semblance of control," the stranger said coolly. "You have already managed to frighten the little one."

The words were a wakeup call to Duncan. For the first time since spying them through the window, he truly looked at his young daughter. She stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. "My wee Bonnie lass," Duncan gentled his tone and reached out to her, "come and say hello to Daddy."

The little girl jerked back as if scalded and clung to Stefan's neck. "I want to stay with Uncle," she cried clearly. Her sides heaved with fright and she hid her face from her father's gaze.

Duncan felt his ire grow at the thought that his daughter's affections had somehow been turned against him. Before he could speak, however, Jessica stepped up before him.

"Get a hold of yourself, Duncan. Bonnie senses that you are angry and it frightens her." She gave him a hard look. "Now I suggest that you calm down before we meet again this evening. I want you to be a part of your daughter's life, but not if you continue to upset her this way."

Jessica turned and gently took the weeping child into her arms. With a last angry look at Duncan, she moved toward the hotel entrance.

"Where are you going?" Duncan demanded to know.

"I am going to get Bonnie settled in and give her time to calm down. I suggest you go somewhere and do the same."

Duncan's face grew hard. "And where will he be during all this?" He nodded angrily toward Stefan.

"You no longer have the right to know that." Without a backward glance, Jessica walked gracefully into the hotel. Silently, Stefan followed.

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