Since there's no new Once tonight, have the second chapter of Tempted instead :)

Tempted

Chapter Two

Belle looked up from her book at the sound of jovial voices. Three men had just come into the diner and they sounded in good humour, laughing and talking excitedly. Their cheer was infectious and made her smile.

She was turning back to her book when she suddenly recognised the men: Victor, Jefferson, and Tristan, otherwise known as Desperate Souls. It had been a few weeks since their gig and she still found herself humming melodies from their songs and remembering lyrics. She also clearly remembered Tristan's voice and eyes, and the way he'd made her feel. Stop that, she told herself: don't go there, Belle.

'Belle?' Tristan's voice reached her and she looked up to see him coming towards her, walking with a cocky swagger and a grin on his face.

'Hey,' she greeted, trying to calm her suddenly racing heart.

'What brings you here?' he asked, very pleased to see her again.

'I'm meeting Ariel for lunch, but she's running a bit behind at the recording studio.'

He nodded. 'We just came from there.' He suddenly looked like he couldn't contain his excitement about something. 'We've officially finished recording our first album.'

She smiled at his obvious happiness. 'That's wonderful.'

'Yeah?' he asked, suddenly seeing something in her eyes that wasn't wary reserve.

She nodded. 'I'm very happy for you.'

She meant it, he saw, and that made him warm to her even more.

'We were gonna have a drink to celebrate: would you like to join us?'

'Oh, I don't want to intrude,' she demurred.

'Please?' he asked.

Something about him in that moment, something about the way he said 'please' like that, made her reconsider. It wasn't like she was a fish on his hook now, but the other way around, somehow. She didn't know why, and it surprised her, but he really wanted her company.

'Alright,' she murmured. He smiled.

It would be too cramped if they all tried to gather around the table she was sitting at, so she stood and looked for somewhere else.

'Hey, Trist!'

Gold turned at Jeff's hail and saw he and Victor sitting at a table by the window.

'That ok?' he asked Belle.

'Yes,' she said, and followed him towards his band mates.

Gold saw Jeff and Victor exchange a look as he approached with Belle and he knew he'd have to warn them to behave themselves: they could be a bit crude at times and he didn't want them scaring her away.

'Belle, you remember Jefferson and Victor?' he asked.

'Of course,' she said, shaking both men's hands.

'You're in the presence of a lady, so mind your manners, boys,' Gold warned, and pulled out Belle's chair for her.

Startled and touched at his words and his gesture, Belle bit her lip. God, he knew how to knock her off kilter, didn't he? Not that he was deliberately trying to do that, she realised: he was just trying to be a gentleman, but, starved as she'd been for any kind of male attention for so long, her soul gathered up his kind words and gestures to hoard like…well, like gold.

'What will you have to drink, Belle?' he asked now.

A waitress with long brown hair had arrived at their table. She was young, probably early twenties, and dressed in tight red shorts and a tight white shirt, its tails tied at her midriff. She was gorgeous, and her presence did something to sober Belle. No way could she compete with someone like that for someone like Tristan, not that she wanted or should be trying to compete anyway…

'Just an iced tea, please,' she told the waitress.

'Sure thing,' the younger woman returned genially, smiling at her. She took the three men's orders and sauntered off towards the bar.

Gold noticed Victor salivating after the leggy waitress and rolled his eyes.

'Close your mouth before you start catching flies,' he directed, and Victor did as he was told, shooting an indignant look back at Gold at the same time.

'So, um, what's the album called?' Belle asked, figuring she'd better try to make conversation. She regretted it somewhat when three pairs of eyes focused on her.

'It's self-titled,' Jefferson told her, smiling, 'considering desperation's kind of the theme of all the songs on it.'

She nodded. 'And when will it be out?'

'A few months,' Victor told her.

'That's good,' Belle said. 'It must be a lot of work.'

'Yeah,' Tristan agreed, 'but we've been working for it for five years, so to finally be here is pretty special.'

He looked happy and proud, and she was happy for him.

'Well, I can't wait to hear it,' she said sincerely.

'I'll make sure you get a copy,' he promised.

'Here you go, folks.' The waitress was back. 'Iced tea for the lady, Scotch for the Scot, and vodka for you boys: enjoy.' And she smiled and left them.

'Belle, you're the first person to know about the album outside the studio, so we'd be honoured if you'd lead us in a toast,' Tristan said, smiling at her.

Belle smiled, touched. 'You really want me to?' she asked.

'Yes,' he said, and the others chimed in with him. 'It'll bring us good luck,' he added.

Belle didn't know about that, but she was flattered to be asked.

'Alright,' she said, holding up her glass. 'Um: let's see… How about to Desperate Souls, the first of many albums: may it bring you all the success you've dreamed of and lead to even more success than you could ever dream of.'

There was silence for a moment and she wondered if she'd said something wrong.

'Well, now, if that doesn't bring us luck, I don't know what will,' Tristan said quietly.

'Hear, hear!' Jefferson called, raising his glass.

'Yes, indeed,' Victor added, clinking his glass against his band mate's.

'Thank you, Belle,' Tristan said quietly: 'that was a hell of a toast. Cheers.'

She smiled. 'Cheers.'

'Cheers!' the other two called out, and they all clinked glasses.

'Hey, guys.'

They turned to see Ariel coming towards them. She smiled and hugged Belle, who was about to stand up when Tristan spoke.

'I know you two were supposed to have lunch, but we're celebrating, so why don't you join us? My treat.'

'What do you think, Belle?' Ariel looked quizzically at her friend.

Belle didn't know how she could say no without offending anyone, and part of her didn't want to say no anyway. It was dangerous to indulge in this, whatever this was, but there was a rebellious voice in her head telling her to just have some fun. She didn't know when the last time she'd had fun was: didn't know when the last time she'd done something just for herself was. Why not just live a little without worrying about the consequences just once?

'Why not?' she said, and Ariel grinned at her.

'Great!'

Tristan smiled. 'Pull up a chair, Ariel,' he invited.

Ariel smiled and Jefferson moved over so she could slot in beside Belle.

'So, what are we celebrating?' she asked.

'The album's done,' Tristan said, smiling.

'Wow: that's great!'

'Thanks.'

'And in that case, lunch is on me.'

He tried to protest. 'You don't–'

'Not a word,' she commanded. 'When I finished work on my first album, I didn't pay for my celebration lunch either. Let me do this for you, please.'

The three men exchanged looks and finally Gold nodded.

'If you insist,' he said, though it went against his grain. Still, he realised it would make Ariel happy, so he went along with it.

Belle sensed he wasn't happy about it. For such a young man, he seemed to have rather old-fashioned notions about how men should act with women, with the way he'd insisted his friends behave around her, how he'd pulled out her chair, and now wanting to pay for lunch. Well, maybe 'old fashioned' wasn't quite right, because gentlemanly behaviour never really went out of fashion, she believed, but one didn't meet with his kind of chivalry every day. She wondered where he'd picked it up.

Ariel waved the waitress over and she came and smiled at her.

'Hey, Ariel: what can I get you?'

'Hey, Ruby: we'd like to order some food.'

'No problem: I'll bring you some menus.'

She did and they sat looking over the menus quietly.

'What are you having, Belle?' Ariel asked.

Belle pursed her lips. Something decadent, she decided. 'The hamburger,' she said, 'with everything, and fries.'

'Sounds good to me,' Tristan said.

Ariel was a bit surprised at Belle's choice: she'd never known her to eat a burger, but maybe she was fulfilling her promise to live a little. Heaven knew she deserved to have a little fun now that she'd finally kicked Greg to the curb.

As she studied her friend, she also noticed the way Tristan was looking at her. She realised the musician might have a little thing for Belle and she filed that information away until she could decide what to do with it.

They ordered their food and Belle and Ariel smiled as Tristan and Jefferson teased Victor about Ruby.

'Don't worry: you're not the first man I've seen fall under her spell,' Ariel soothed.

'Think she'd give me her phone number?' he asked hopefully.

'Why don't you ask her?' she suggested.

He looked like he'd consider doing just that and Belle had to admire the forthrightness with which young men and women went about dating: they saw someone they liked and just expressed their interest. Perhaps it had been like that when she was their age, but she'd never been brave enough to do that. Greg had done all the chasing in their relationship, and she'd been flattered and delighted that such a handsome, charming man was interested in her. Looking back, of course she could see that none of it was real: he wanted her money, not her. She had gone into their marriage with so much optimism and happiness, and nothing had turned out as she thought it would. She'd been so foolish. How could she have been so blind?

She took a gasping breath and realised with horror that she was actually going to cry in front of her best friend and three men that she didn't even know. She didn't mind crying in front of Ariel, but the others, especially Tristan, seeing her was not something she wanted.

'Belle?' Tristan asked gently: 'are you alright?'

She felt her chin trembling. 'I'm sorry,' she said. 'I'm fine: just…I'll be right back.' And she rose quickly and hurried towards the ladies' room.

Gold looked at Ariel, alarmed. 'What happened?'

'She just needs a minute,' she said: 'don't worry.'

He was worried. He'd seen Belle's expression go from tranquil to tortured in a matter of seconds and something had happened to cause that. He knew he barely knew the woman, but he didn't like seeing her like that.

He turned his head to look after her and Ariel nodded to herself: there was definitely something there.

'I'll go check on her,' she said.

She found Belle in the ladies room, looking into the mirror.

'I'm sure they think I'm crazy,' she said self-deprecatingly, tears trickling down her cheeks.

Ariel shook her head. 'They're just worried: me too. Feel like talking about it?'

Belle sighed. 'Oh, I was just thinking about how different my experience of dating was: other people just go for what they want, like Victor with Ruby, but I realise that I never really knew what I wanted. I thought I wanted Greg because he seemed to want me, but it was nothing like I expected it would be.'

'What wasn't?'

'Everything: there was no companionship, no friendship, no intimacy, no love, no…no passion. He…he never wanted me, and I-I just…' She sniffled as more tears fell.

'I'm so sorry, Belle: I'm sorry it was so awful for you.' Ariel went and hugged her. She knew that Belle must doubt her own appeal, and that was horrible. 'You'll have that with someone: I know you will,' she told her.

Belle shook her head sadly. 'I think that's past for me; besides, I won't risk getting my heart broken again.'

'Never say never, Belle. There's someone out there who will give you all of those things.' And maybe he was closer than Belle thought. Tristan definitely had some feeling for her, and even if that never turned into anything serious, his interest could really boost Belle's confidence. She deserved someone to make her feel good after Greg, and what could do that better than a hot young lover?

'Is that you being an optimist again?' Belle asked, smiling fondly.

'What can I say: it's just who I am.' Ariel shrugged and smiled.

'And I love you for it,' Belle said, and hugged her.

'Do you feel like going back out there?'

Belle took a deep breath and heard that rebellious voice in her head again.

'Let me just tidy myself up a bit.'

Ariel smiled.

0

'Everything ok?' Tristan asked solicitously, as they returned to the table.

Belle nodded. 'Yeah: sorry.'

He shook his head. 'No apology necessary: I was just worried.'

She smiled, touched. 'Thank you.'

He smiled back. 'You're quite welcome.'

She was caught by the look in his eyes: an intensity or heat that threatened to consume her, and she wasn't entirely sure she didn't want that. But she was being ridiculous: she was imagining that look, just like she imagined his gaze straying to her lips. Still, imagined as it was, it still made her heart flutter.

Luckily, their food arrived then and she had a reason to look away from him. She had to make herself remember what looking into his eyes did to her: she could really make a fool of herself if she wasn't careful.

Thanks for reading :) – chapter three coming soon :)