A/N: Still don't own any of this, but sure wish I had a chance with Emerald.

Early the next day, Rick reaches out by phone to Emerald from his hotel suite. "Hey, Emerald, this is Rick. I met with you at your club last evening and wondered if you might have some time to spend with me today? I would really like to sit down with you and talk about your life. What is the force behind Emerald? Can you spare a few minutes of your time for me?"

Emerald asks, "Maybe I could give you a little time in the afternoon before I dance tonight. I can meet you at your hotel restaurant, say 2:00 o'clock?"

Rick was ecstatic. He gave Emerald his hotel information and said, "I am truly honored you trust me with your story. I assure you I will not divulge your identity in any way. Yours is too fascinating a tale to hide in obscurity. I will see you at 2, then." He ended the call and immediately headed to the shower to both clean up and cool off. Emerald excited him just by speaking to him on the phone.

Kate was delighted and excited Rick had called her. She was both curious and fearful about the attraction she had felt with Rick. He affected her in ways no one else ever had and in ways she wasn't aware existed. She could feel the vibrations in the air with him just in the room, even if she didn't know he was there. How could he set her atwitter with just his presence near to her? She had no idea, but was determined to find out.

When 2:00 rolled around, Emerald walked into the hotel dining room wearing one of Kate's modeling dresses. It was the proverbial little black dress. The emphasis was on little. The dress fit her like a thin coat of paint, reaching just four inches below the curve of her hips. Her long toned legs were on prominent display in the dress, accentuated by the black 'stripper heels' she wore with it. The dress was low cut in the front and emphasized the swell of her pert breasts. She wore her hair up in the same type of style she wore at the club. She was magnificent and well aware of her impact on the room.

Rick was already seated when she strolled in. She literally stole his breath when he noticed her. He stood and Emerald came directly to his table and Rick seated her, ever the consummate gentleman. He was honored to have her meet with him and he was determined to make her see it. He beckoned for the waitress and ordered a white wine for her and a scotch for him.

"Thanks," Emerald said, looking demurely from beneath the few strands that had escaped her hairdo. "I appreciate your generosity."

Rick was delighted and began to ask her gently about whom she was and how she developed the persona of Emerald.

"I have a lust for life which nearly forces me to attempt this adventure," she offered. "I have a wanderlust and a desire to experience all that life can offer me. Emerald is one of those experiences I will hold dear, but also close so I am protected from undue notoriety. I have no small fear I can be severely hurt even by talking to you."

Rick is quick to assure her she has nothing to fear from him. "Emerald, if I should so choose to base a character in one of my books in the future, I will most definitely require you to agree with the character and the use of her persona in my context. I wish you no harm at all. I just find you so fascinating that I can't not include you in one of my books."

Rick and Emerald talked for what seemed hours. Rick had delighted her, made her laugh and cry with glee with stories of his not so glorious exploits. They decided to have dinner before Emerald had to leave for the club and Rick asked her to his room for the meal, not wanting to share any more of her time with the increasingly crowded dining room. To his amazement, Emerald accepted.

Rick ordered dinner to be delivered to his room and then made his way with Emerald to the penthouse suite. Of course he was staying in the best room in the hotel, Emerald thought.

"Nice room, Rick" she said as she perused his accommodations. She noticed the two bedrooms of the common area in the suite and wondered what it would be like to travel in this type of luxury all the time. Thanks to her modeling and dancing success, she could stay in nice hotels, but not at this level. This guy must be loaded to live like this. She still wondered exactly who he was. All she knew was she was intoxicated with his essence. He absolutely enchanted her with his relaxed confident air and his pure gentlemanly being.

After they had dined, Rick asked her some more of her backstory but Emerald was reluctant to give him much information. She, however, was more than willing to recognize her physical attraction to him. She knew he was smitten with her, having seen it many times in her modeling gigs. She was not sure where the evening was headed, but she wanted to find out. As did Rick, not knowing Emerald was feeling the same attraction in which he was enveloped.

However, Emerald had to get back to the club for her evening performance. She asked Rick if he was going to watch her dance tonight and he replied, "How could I not be there? I am entranced with your performances and wonder how you could have learned to dance as you do and still be as young as you seem."

Rick was amazed at the talents of this young woman. She held absolute authority over him with just the look of her eyes as she gazed at him. He was a jester in her court, a servant to her whim.

He did not understand or comprehend he held that same dominion over her.

Such was the power of destiny between these two 'ships in the night'.

A/N: Thanks again to all you wonderful readers that have been following the story of Emerald. I hope you continue to enjoy.