Akane sat at the end of the bar feeling ridiculous for being alone and drinking - as if alcohol ever repaired a broken heart. How desperate and pathetic is a woman who comes to a bar and drinks alone? She was not desperate – just depressed. She was not pathetic – well, that adjective could fit because she was definitely feeling melancholy. Ending a relationship was never a good thing, and this one had been particularly bad. The man in question dumped her to ask another woman to marry him a few days later. Now that is a self-esteem builder!

"Miss, this drink is for you," the bartender said, sliding another margarita on the rocks in front of her. He pointed toward the opposite end of the bar. "From the gentleman right there."

"Thank you," she replied, craning her neck to see the mystery man. She smiled when her hazel eyes met a pair of steel gray ones – what an interesting color. He was a little scruffy looking with a slight overgrowth of hair shading his chin and cheeks. He had long, wavy brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. Despite looking like a surfer who just walked off the beach, he was dressed in an expensive looking business suit with a thick gold chain around his neck and a gold pinky ring. Quite a flamboyant man but good looking. What man doesn't like to show off how much money he makes whether he buys gaudy jewelry or flashy sports cars? Conspicuous consumption is king especially if you want to attract young and beautiful women. Money never had been a big draw for her; she had plenty of money of her own as a business owner. To her dismay, she guessed by the worlds standards, she was not particularly young anymore either. Over the hill at thirty. How sad. She lowered her eyes and shifted uncomfortably when he stood up to leisurely amble her way. She didn't know whether to be irritated or apprehensive with the slow, confident stroll. He gave her a million dollar smile that made her heart skip a beat like a twelve year old girl with her first crush.

"Hello, my dear," he said in a smooth deep voice that made her want to melt. He mounted the barstool beside her, his knees brushing hers when he turned to face her.

Oh, my, what has landed within her grasp tonight? DANGER! DANGER! Bells and whistles should be screaming a shrill alarm, but she heard nothing. 'All right. You get whatever you deserve you stubborn dumb ass,' a voice nagged from somewhere deep within the recesses of her common sense.

"My name is Shunsui Kyoraku," he said, putting his big hand out for her to shake it.

"My name is Akane Kato," she replied, putting her hand into his huge smooth palm. She felt a blush creep up her neck as he squeezed her hand and looked into her eyes.

"Very nice to make your acquaintance." So well-spoken and confident, bordering on cocky. He was reluctant to release her hand so he brought it up to his lips to press a kiss to the back of it.

"Thank you for the drink. And the company," she added, smiling at him. She lay her hand on the highly polished bar after he let it go.

"You're far too beautiful to be alone." He placed his hand over hers, staring into her eyes.

Oh, boy. This guy was smooth as silk with a voice to match. He reached to push a stray curl of chocolate brown behind her ear. His fingertips brushed across her cheek. She couldn't help but notice the huge gold watch encrusted with diamonds on his wrist.

"What is your occupation?" Akane inquired.

"I'm an investment broker. And you?" he asked, sipping his drink.

"I own a bakery. Kato's Bake Shoppe," she answered, wondering why she told him so many specific details. She could have just said she works in a bakery.

"An independent, well-educated business woman. Not a gold digger. Beautiful, polite, lady like. I've stumbled across someone quite unique and pleasing," he said, making heat rise to her cheeks with the high praise.

So charming. He's the type who could literally charm the pants right off of a woman. Was that his motive? Somehow she did not think so.

"Would you like to come home with me?" Shunsui queried in a surprisingly straightforward manner. Then again...

"I can't. I'm not that kind of woman." Oh, but she wanted to be. His smooth words and sensual voice tempted her to be that kind of woman.

"Very nice. I honestly did not think you were. I'll see you again soon, Ms. Kato. It was lovely finding a pearl among swine," he said, kissing the back of her hand. After standing, he bowed slightly.

"Likewise, Mr. Kyoraku. How will you find me?" she asked, waiting for him to request her phone number.

"I'll find you. I have a weakness for sweet things."

He was not the only one who had a weakness for sweet things.

Akane was sliding a tray of cupcakes into the glass display case when a gray pair of eyes on the other side caught hers. She stood up with a smile on her face to see her suave Romeo from last night.

"I told you I would find you. After all, you made it easy for me and told me where to look," Shunsui said, following her with his eyes as she walked around the counter to talk to him.

Akane was suddenly aware of her appearance and how horrid it must be. For work she always swept up her unruly brown curls in a ponytail, never wore make up, and her official uniform was jeans and a t shirt. She stayed in the back baking most of the day so what was the point of getting dressed up just to get messed up with heat and sweat. She nervously patted down her hair which she was sure had already frizzed into a puffy halo around her head.

"You're beautiful," he assured her as if reading her mind. He produced a single red rose from behind his back, tracing her lips with it before he handed it to her. "A single rose can be my garden... a single friend, my world.*"

Akane took the rose from him putting her hand over her silly heart that was fluttering like a butterfly in her chest trying to take flight from the sweet words. She inhaled the scent of the rose feeling slightly dizzy from the strong perfume of the flower and romantic words from her admirer.

"I picked that just for you from my own flower garden. You really will have to come see it soon," he said, taking her hand in his. "I'll see you tomorrow, my darling."

"Good-bye, Shunsui," she murmured.

"Never say good-bye, my darling. Good-bye implies I will never see you again. Until next time."

Akane had never before been admonished so gently or with such ardent words. She felt her skin tingle all over her body as his soft lips pressed to the back of her hand. After flashing her flirtatious, lopsided grin, he was gone.

"Oh, Miss Akane," her dreamy eyed employee sighed, propping herself up on the counter. "He was wonderful. He made me hot, and he wasn't even talking to me."

"Momo!" she cried out in surprise at the young girl's brazenness.

"Who was that?" Rangiku, her partner and best friend, inquired when she came from the back.

The excited black haired girl relayed the whole exchange in a rapid monologue before Akane could say a single word.

"Is that the man you told me about from last night?" she asked Akane when the girl was done. "Damn!" she muttered under breath after her friend nodded affirmatively. "I would have liked to seen him for myself."

"Oh, he will be back tomorrow!" Momo blurted happily.

"Really?" Her blond eyebrow shot up inquisitively. "Be sure to come get me if I'm not out here."

Akane rolled her eyes and sighed heavily. She wondered why her romantic life had suddenly become so fascinating. Apparently, it had to do with the debonair and alluring man who had taken an interest in her.

"Miss Akane!" Momo bellowed from the front counter.

"Momo! How many times have I told you –" Akane's words immediately died away when saw her silver tongued devil standing at the counter with another lovely red rose.

"There's someone who wants to see you," she added in a much lower volume.

"Thank you." Yeah, thanks a lot for the heads up, kid.

"Good morning, my dear," he murmured in his velvety voice that soothed her ears and her body as it flowed over her.

Akane was too mesmerized by him to notice her young employee waving wildly through the kitchen door for Rangiku to come to the front.

"In the garden of thy heart, plant naught but the rose of love*," Shunsui said, stroking her cheek with the velvety flower before putting it into her hand.

If this kept up, she would have to bring a change of clothes to work with her every day. He made her sweat more than the hot ovens ever could. This was a heat that erupted from the inside out and made her feel as if she were going to burst into flames. Men like this just didn't exist. Where did he come from and what exactly did he want from her? Why did he want her? He was being awfully patient and cunning about getting whatever it is he wanted.

"Will you come to my house for dinner Friday night?" he asked her, holding her hands in his.

Akane bit her lip as she looked into his amazing gray eyes that looked silver today from the light gray suit he was wearing. Finally, he was getting to the point. "Yes, of course."

"Wonderful. I can hardly wait to get you alone," he said, gliding his fingers over her chin and jaw, then down her neck to rest on her shoulder. His eyes momentarily took on a fierce gleam that she discounted as a surge of hormones from arousal.

'I bet,' Akane thought to herself. She thought he was going to kiss her right there in middle of her shop for a second, and he did – but a quick, innocent kiss on the cheek. The overgrown five o'clock shadow on his face was soft and tickled her cheek as it brushed over her skin.

"Until tomorrow," he said, grazing her forehead with his lips that was almost a kiss.

All three women stared after him, sighing loudly in unison when the door closed behind him.

"Oh, damn," Rangiku murmured, breaking into giggles. "You're in deep crap Akane."

"Thanks. I honestly didn't know," she snapped back sarcastically.

"Oh, yes. Miss Akane's been aware she's in deep shit from the first day he came in here!" Momo exclaimed, causing both women to yell at her for the expletive she used.

"How could you not fall in love with that? Why are you so afraid to just get carried and fall in love?" Rangiku asked. Her and Momo both propped up on their elbows with their fists on their cheeks to stare out of the door as if they were daydreaming.

"It's not falling in love that frightens me. It's that sudden stop at the bottom when it's over that I hate," Akane mused out loud.

"Don't think about it. Just enjoy the trip," her friend advised.

The next day brought another visit and another rose. Her audience of two was in attendance awaiting today's performance with baited breath.

"Have you ever watched a rose as it fades away; the color becomes deeper as the petals dry. That's how my love for you deepens as the days go by.*"

Oh, brother. The four letter word already? Yet she could not make her heart stop beating so fast. An audible sigh escaped the onlookers so Akane slid them a quick glare.

"You have the most amazing eyes," she commented, sniffing the rose and immediately experiencing a heady almost giddy feeling.

"The better to see you with, my love," Shunsui countered, smiling at her.

Had his canine teeth always been that prominent? Akane shook her head. She was going crazy, but she already knew that. Each day brought her one step closer to falling off the edge into something akin to emotional suicide – falling in love.

Akane was in the back, piping icing on a wedding cake when he arrived the next morning. She put the icing bag down, accidently squeezing out a big dollop. In a hurry and without thinking, she whisked it off the metal table with her finger and stuck it in her mouth before rushing out front. His grin seemed particularly big this morning. His dark gray eyes sparkled with amusement.

"You've got something…" Shunsui said, almost chuckling as he tried to point it out on his own face. He grabbed her hand and leaned forward to her. "Here."

Akane nearly fainted when she felt his warm wet tongue lick off the icing she had smeared near her bottom lip. She was not the only one overwhelmed by the unexpected and very sensuous act; the two fan girls had to run to the back and stifle their squeals. Her whole body felt like a single oversensitive nerve after that. His warm breath on her cheek caused a typhoon of arousal to be set off within her.

"I knew you'd taste sweet," he whispered, putting his hands on her shoulders. His thumb gently stroked over her madly pulsing carotid artery in her neck. "Love is sweeter than any rose. Love pricks you far deeper than any thorn.*"

Akane tightened her already gritted teeth to prevent herself from gaping. She did not want to think about pricks of any kind right now. She received a kiss on the cheek and her rose before he turned on his heel to walk away. Her heart stopped when he turned back at the door to give her a big smile that showed all of his front teeth.

My, what big teeth you have?

The better to eat you with, my dear.

Today was the day of the big dinner date. All three women were on pins and needles, standing at the door to await Prince Charming's arrival. Even Momo had arrived early today to assist with getting the baking completed so they could wait for him. The usual time came and went without a visit. Thirty minutes later, Akane began to feel the familiar sting of disappointment of being let down by a love interest.

"Well, back to work, ladies. I've got a wedding cake to decorate," she announced, getting up from her seat in the corner where she was sulking. How painfully ironic.

"Here he comes," Momo announced, then a bemused expression wiped out her smile. "I think it's him. It looks like a bouquet of roses with legs."

"Well, duh! Who else would it be?" Rangiku snapped, opening the door for him since he had his arms full.

"Good morning, ladies," Shunsui greeted them all.

"Good morning," Rangiku and Momo replied in unison.

"Good morning, my sweet," he called to Akane when she appeared beside him so he could see her.

"What is all this? Not just one today?" she asked, taking the crystal vase from him to sit it on the counter.

"Not just one. I'm sorry for being late. I was busy picking those for you and got carried away," he explained. Getting carried away seemed to be a habit for him. "If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I'd be picking roses for a lifetime.*"

"You're amazing," she commented, careful to keep the sarcasm from her voice.

"I'm glad you think so. I think you have bewitched me, my darling. You have cast a spell on me that I cannot get out of nor would I want to," he said, sliding his fingers along her jawline to cup her face in his hands. "Until tonight, my love."

This time her did kiss her on the lips. It was a brief, but intoxicating kiss that left her breathless. All three women gaped as they watched him walk away.

"Oh, yeah, you are so screwed, my friend," Rangiku snorted looking at the dumbfounded expression on Akane's face.

"Yeah," agreed Momo. "I got the feeling someone is going to be screwed in the literal sense tonight!"

"Momo!" the two women yelled at her in unison.

"The things that come out of your mouth," Akane admonished with a shake of her head. She knew the kid was right. Tonight she would give herself to that man. She would offer him anything he asked; even her heart.

*Quote 1 by Leo Buscaglia/ Quote 2 by Bahá'u'lláh/ Qu Quote 3 by Unknown/ Quote 4 by Unknown/Quote 5 Swedish Proverb