Summary:

They were always going to meet one day, fate had decided that very early on... It just all depended on which direction their lives ended up going in.

Chapter One:

The music vibrated through her body as she nursed the tumbler of whiskey. People milled around her, either dancing or attempting to order a new drink. She shifted as yet another person crashed into her and bit her lip to stop herself from giving them a verbal thrashing. This wasn't her usual place for a night out but the case she had been working on that day had been trying and she'd wanted something a little bit different. She remembered one of her clients recommending this place and before she realised it she had taken position on a stool at the centre of the bar. The club was crowded and she had spent most of the night dancing with anyone who asked, now though she was looking for some quiet but it didn't seem like she was going to find it with all the people around her. As she emptied her glass and stood to leave, the bartender slid another glass her way. She glanced down at the piece of paper wedged under it and cautiously opened it. The handwriting was messy and she squinted in order to understand what was written there.

'You looked like you needed a drink.'

She glanced around and nodded her thanks when the bartender indicated to a cordoned off area of the club towards the back.

"You're welcome to join him." She narrowed her eyes as the young lad smiled brightly at her before disappearing to serve someone else. She picked up the glass and drained it quickly, relishing in the burn of the alcohol as it made its way down her throat. Glancing towards the darkened booth she bit her lip nervously before standing and sauntering her way towards the cordon.

A burly security guard made to stop her progress until a hand appeared from the darkness and offered her a hand up the step; she didn't need the help but there was something mysterious about this man who had ordered her a drink and invited her to join him without even letting her see his face.

As she settled into the leather seats she glanced towards her companion as he handed her a glass. He was slightly older; nearing 30 as opposed to her 24 year old self with dark brown hair and expressive blue eyes. He smiled broadly at her as she took the glass from him and she found herself returning it without thought.

She had no idea what was going on; this wasn't what she usually did. She didn't end up in clubs like this, let alone accepting drinks and company off a complete stranger. She relaxed into the chair and sipped the sparkling liquid as he stared at her.

"I'm Rick." He offered his hand out for her to shake and she couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her mouth as she offered her own.

"Kate."

He laughed along with her as they relaxed into the soft leather.

"Nice to meet you Kate." Shivers shot up her spine as he murmured her name and she hid her smile in the champagne glass. What on earth this man was doing to her she didn't know, but she was sure as hell going to enjoy it.

The noise had died in the club as people steadily made their way home. Kate had been talking with Rick for hours without even realising it. She'd discovered that they had a lot in common without really finding out anything about Rick himself. Then again she hadn't revealed a lot about herself either. He knew her interests, the kind of music she liked but he didn't know much more than her name on a personal level. That was the way she always played it though; burnt one too many times by men she would meet in places like this and Kate had learnt the hard way to keep herself to herself. The main lights flicked on and dragged them both back to reality, she placed her empty glass on the table and gathered her bag up.

"I'd better get going." She watched him check the time and glance around the club before nodding.

"Can I get your number?" He had what she called his puppy-dog eyes on. He'd used them to get her to talk other times that same night. She had never lost track of time like she did with him but the lights had brought her stumbling abruptly back to reality. She should have left hours ago.

"You don't really want it... trust me." He could see the darkness appearing in her brown eyes and mentally sighed. There was something about this young woman that had enthralled him since he first set eyes on her across the club. He wasn't even meant to be here tonight, the club ran itself without all that much input from him day to day but the divorce had been finalised the week before and he found himself seeking the sanctuary he knew the club would bring. Then Kate had caught his eye. She had a darkness about her that he could sense from the other side of the room but he had noticed it vanishing as she relaxed more with him. Now it was reappearing in her eyes and he couldn't help but want to make it disappear all over again.

"Why don't you give it me anyway? It's my decision to make after all." He really wanted the opportunity to see her again, it would seem anyway. The logical part of her brain knew she shouldn't give it to him; she didn't really know anything about him beyond his name and that he had a connection to the club but the drunken part of her wanted so badly to give in and see him again.

"Don't say I didn't warn you then." She paused before leaving forward and scrawling her name and number on the star shaped mat her glass was resting on. He picked it up as soon as she had finished and slid it inside his jacket.

"Let me walk you out." He held her coat up and she allowed him to help her slip her arms into it. She moved slightly unsteadily on her heels and he placed the palm of his hand on her back and guided her towards to the entrance. Heat rushed through her body at the physical contact and she shivered, tugging her coat tightly around her frame. As he pushed the door open to the outside of the club, she found herself being led towards a waiting car.

"The car service will get you home safely. Thank you for an interesting night Kate." He opened the door and she leaned against it. Offering him a small smile she leant forwards and brushed her lips across his cheek.

"Thank you." She knew her words were just a little bit too heartfelt but her brain couldn't seem to filter her behaviour properly around him. She slid into the car grateful for his thought and leaned her head back as the driver pulled away. She told him her address and relaxed as the night rushed past the windows. A bright smile pulled at her lips and she covered her mouth as giggles escaped. She couldn't remember ever feeling like this before; and all because of a stranger in the night.

Please Review... I'd like to know what you think.

I have the next two chapters written if people enjoy this one.

-Aimee