Aidan fought the rising urge to go after her and do what he had really wanted to do – kiss her luscious lips. Instead, all he did was watch as she disappeared through the crowd. 

You're a fucking vampire, Aidan. You could have any woman in here if that was what you wanted. Life had been a lot more fun when he still had the gumption to act the part. And that right there was the problem. He did not want any woman to be with him because she was compelled to be. He wanted a woman who could surrender herself to him unconditionally, one who would remain with him unbridled. 

The delicate smell of apple blossoms had invaded his senses since the moment she had sidled up to the bar earlier that evening; it was the scent of her hair. She was not wearing perfume, yet he would be able to sniff out the fragrance clinging to her soft skin even if he was blindfolded – that unmistakably feminine smell that every woman had that could never be replicated. Even the rhythm of her riotous heartbeat played itself over and over in his mind, the way a song sometimes got stuck in his head, but this was one song he never wanted to be free of.

He returned to the bar; the crowds were becoming restless, everyone wanting to order drinks before the band came back from its break.

"What's a girl gotta do to get served around here?" It was Lilah, the lead singer of Quixotic Tangent, the house band.

"Depends on how far you're willing to go to quench your thirst." He filled a tankard of beer and slid it across the bar without looking up at her.

"Depends on what's on offer... not beer on tap, I hope." She leant over the bar, her face so close to his he could feel her breath on his lips.

"Well, sweetheart, you're in luck. Tonight, and for one night only, I offer you the thing you've always coveted. Me." He flashed his most charming smile.

"That explains why I could hear your heartbeat from clear across the room." She laughed.

Aidan's eyes drifted towards the corner table across the room, a wistful smile his only reply.

"Special night tonight, then; you think it'll end with us popping that special bottle?" She grinned sheepishly. Everyone knew that Aidan had a bottle of champagne tucked away for the day he found the woman who could touch his heart. "I mean, it's not every night you offer me you."

"True. However, I was merely offering you my talents, sweetheart. I will join you in a song or two... I did, after all, promise the patrons an entertaining evening; nothing more entertaining than me attempting to croak out a tune." He winked at her, his heart threatening to beat its way out of his chest.

"I can hardly wait."

He could tell from the look she gave him that she sensed his anxiety; he could also tell that she had misinterpreted it, but he did not set her straight.

The band started the intro to the second set; she took a long drink of her beer, then winked and left to join them. 

He was fond of Lilah; everything about her oozed confidence and raw sexuality, not to mention that she was one of only a few of his kind left in the city. There was a time when he would have jumped at the chance to sleep with her; in fact, there was a time when he did, but that had been a long time ago, back when he had been a different man. He had changed a lot over the years; some would call it maturing, but he preferred to think of it as an awakening.

▼▲▼

"I thought you'd left."

"I wasn't gone that long, Ronnie."

Jacques leant in close to her and whispered, "I saw that."

"Saw what?" Alicia blurted, louder than she had meant to. She hated being tipsy. She had never been able to hold her liquor well, which was why she avoided drinking whenever she could. "Saw what?" she whispered back, but it was too late; everyone at the table was staring at her.

"Yes, pray tell; saw what, Jack-arse?" Veronica asked, using her pet name for Jacques.

"Err... nothing," Jacques said. "And mind your own damn business, you damn nosy troll."

Veronica laughed. Her laugh was as beautiful as she was; it was a shame she did not do it often enough.

There was a tap on her shoulder. She turned to find one of the other barmen standing behind her, balancing a tray laden with four glasses, a bottle of Dom Perignon, a bowl of nuts and a single red rose. "Sorry to disturb; I was asked to bring this over."

"Asked by whom?" Veronica asked, flashing the young man her sweetest smile.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, the gentleman wishes to remain anonymous. For now." He set the tray down on the table. Veronica smiled as she reached for the rose, but the barman was quick to the draw, clutching the stem delicately between his calloused fingers, lifting it and offering it to Alicia. "For you, Miss."

Alicia blushed. Trinity giggled, her eyes scanning the room for the mystery man. Jacques smiled. Veronica snorted with disdain.

"You're not serious." Veronica's eyes widened as Alicia accepted the rose with a shaky hand. "Oh, you've got to be effin' kidding me. Who would send her a rose?" Her eyes darted from side to side as she searched. "It's that pudgy guy at the bar who keeps staring at us, isn't it?" She pointed at the man in question; he smiled and waved. "I knew it. That explains it."

"Can you please shut the fuck up and allow her to enjoy her moment?" Jacques looked ready to explode as he spoke through a clenched jaw. "And it's fucken'... F... U... C... K... en. Not effin'... Grow the fuck up."

Alicia touched his arm. "It's okay, Jacquie."

"No, it's not okay, Ali." He took a deep breath and his tone softened as he lifted her hand to smell the rose. "Enjoy the moment, poppet. No one deserves it more than you do. And just so you know, this is the wine talking; in the morning, I will hate you for snagging the hottest guy in here." He winked at her and they laughed together.

"Hottest guy?" Veronica wore a puzzled expression as she continued to ogle the gentleman at the bar. "You're right. You're effin' drunk."

"I'm not interested in any guy. Okay. Besides, I'm here with my friends and we're here to have fun. That's what tonight was supposed to be all about, celebrating being single and blissfully content. No guys. It's all about going solo, right?" Alicia put the rose down, picked up the bottle of wine and started to fill their glasses. "So let the fun begin."

"Sweet girl, you're only on an anti-Valentine's date until somebody wants you. And girl, somebody waaaaants you. Uh huh... you're waaanted!"

"I don't wa..." Alicia started to protest.

"He reminds me of the penguin guy in that bat movie." Veronica was still eyeing the man at the bar. "Tiny little creepy eyes. He is your type, totally."

"Ignore her. Now drink up and go get your man." Jacques seemed more excited about the prospect than Alicia.

"Yes, go get him, Ali. Ohhh what an exciting night this is turning out to be," Trinity piped, then shook her head in confusion. "Who are you going to get again?"

"I don't want another drink." Alicia eyed the glass of wine with suspicion. "And I am not going out there to get any man."

"Girl, if you play your cards right, tonight will be the best F... U..."

"Ohhh Jacques! Oh you're so bad." Trinity giggled.

"Whaaat? I was going to spell fun." He winked at Alicia, the wicked gleam in his eyes belying his feigned innocence.