"What is about this human you find so interesting," Servius asked. He had made reservations at one of the ritziest restaurants in the city. He ordered a bottle of Barbaresco, despite the fact that neither he nor Gaia would drink it.

Gaia replied, "I find him charming. He's different from others." She ran her finger around the glass of her untouched wine. She smiled and whispered, "Don't tell me you're jealous, Servius."

Servius laughed. "Why would I be jealous when I have so many beautiful young men and women at my beck and call?"

Gaia rolled her eyes. "Unlike your amours, he is not some young pretty thing you can manipulate so easily. He's a grown man."

"How old is he?" Servius asked.

"He's forty-three."

"Not a bad age. I was forty-five when I was turned. He doesn't seem your type though."

Gaia looked at Servius strangely. "What do you mean?"

Servius replied. "Well, lately you have been bringing home young guys in their twenties in a variety of races and ethnicities. I don't recall any of them being American Caucasian." Servius picked up his wine glass and brought to his nose, pretending to sip. "The black gentlemen seemed to like you very much."

Gaia shrugged her shoulders. "They like my soft curly hair. One told me I had "good hair". I'm not sure what that really means." Gaia sat further back into her chair. "Another one told me he liked my "caramel" complexion. Never mind I don't even know what caramel taste like. Besides, you're making it sound like I don't date Caucasian men. I recall courting a number of them when we lived in Europe."

"Yes, you did and they liked you too. You draw people so easily. Like me I suppose." Gaia smiled at Servius. He continued, "But they were all rich men from well-to-do families. Is this human you're currently seeing wealthy?"

Gaia hesitated. "By American standards, he makes a comfortable living, but he's no Vanderbilt or Rockefeller, or Kennedy for that matter."

"So he's not old money," Servius intercepted. "How about new money? A Wall Street guy or the ones in that place in California where they make all those computer gadgets."

"That would be Silicon Valley and no he's not one of them. He's not a Wall Street guy either. I guess I would label him middle class or at least upper middle class."

"Not many of those around anymore" Servius replied. "What does he do?"

"He's works in the accounting department for a large firm."

"An accountant? I don't think I ever met an accountant who was interesting or charming."

Gaia shook her head. "Well, there's a first time for everything."

Servius smiled. "Well you always did pick them well. I must give you credit for that." He placed his wine glass down. He leaned over and took Gaia's hand into his. "You and I are two of a kind. We both love variety and the finer things in life. Not the bland and boring stuff everyone else has to live with."

Gaia replied, "Are you saying my friend is bland because he is an accountant?"

"Well I don't know. I won't know until I meet him." Servius replied. "Perhaps I'm wrong about this one. Maybe he is special like you. The reason why we've been turning heads for centuries whenever we walk together into a room.

"Interracial couples always turn heads, especially here." Gaia replied.

Servius replied, "I didn't notice that tonight."

"The people here tend to be more discreet."

Servius smiled. "So observant and beautiful. It's the reason why I kept you in my arms for, oh how many centuries now?"

"Too long," Gaia answered and smiled.

"So when are you going to bring this human accountant home to meet me? As your maker it's my duty to make sure you are safe."

Gaia sighed. "I'm not some naïve baby vampire, Servius."

"No, but you are mine. My daughter. The only one I will ever have."

"Not unless you make another" Gaia quickly interjected.

Servius shook his head. "No, I could never make another vampire like you."

Gaia smiled. "Well, father, you should know by now that I only like to bring home meals. I'm not interested in making him a meal."

"Not yet," Servius replied, picking up his wine glass again.

Gaia looked away. Servius could see that Gaia was acting different with this human. He wasn't sure if he liked it. "Well, if he means so much to you, then I really do want to meet him. You have been mine for over two thousand years. My true love."

Gaia turned to him. "We were never lovers, Servius."

Servius shook his head. "No, my dear, we were and are so much more."

A minute of silence passed before Gaia spoke. "I suppose we could invite him out for dinner. At least one of us will actually eat the food."

Servius nodded, "That would be lovely, except I already beat you to that."

Gaia looked at Servius in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Servius answered, "I invited your friend to join us this evening. I told him to come at 8:30 to give us a little alone time."

Gaia was in shock. "How did you?"

"Find him?" Servius laughed softly. "I'm very old Gaia and I have my ways. But to be honest, I secretly looked through your phone."

"Servius!" Gaia hissed. "I thought we agreed our phones would be private."

"Yes, but you left it out on the dining room table the other night and well, curiosity got the best of me. I thought you would have noticed the extra chair." Servius nodded towards the extra seating arrangement.

Gaia did notice the extra setting, but didn't say anything about it. She thought it may have been a mistake by the restaurant staff. Just then the waiter came up to the table.

"Sir, your other guest, Richard, has just arrived" the waiter reported.

"Very well, please lead him in," Servius said to the waiter. He then turned to Gaia "I told him to dress well."

Gaia sat up straight. She did not recall many instances in the last two thousand years of feeling this nervous. She was not sure how Servius would react to Richard. He had always been quite protective of her. Gaia had not fallen in love with a human this deeply in over seventeen hundred years. Unfortunately, that love affair ended badly which left a bad taste in Gaia's mouth. She did not want a repeat.

She looked across the room and saw Richard walking behind the waiter. He was gorgeous in Gaia's eyes. He was very tall and wore a navy blue suit that fit is frame in all the right places. The color of his suit brought out the blueness of his eyes. It was his eyes that caught Gaia's attention when they first met.

Servius looked at Gaia as she stared at Richard. He could see his suspicions were true. Gaia was quite smitten by this human. He saw a spark in her eyes that he had not seen in many centuries. However, Servius had to admit to himself that the man was quite handsome. He had dark brown hair, sky blue eyes and was looking delectable in his suit. Perhaps he could charm Richard like he had charmed others. Oh yes, Servius thought to himself, this might actually be fun.

Richard approached the table, smiling at Gaia. "Sorry I'm late, dear." He leaned over and placed a kiss on Gaia's cheek. He then turned to Servius. "Good evening, Mr. Servius. I apologize for being a bit late."

Servius replied, "Oh no, you are right on time Richard and please, call me Servius. I would like us to be on the first name basis."

Richard smiled. Servius then motioned to the empty chair between him and Gaia. Giving Richard his most charming smile Servius said, "Please, sit and join us."