"It was awful once I stopped going to brothels. I had trouble seducing the ladies when they thought I was a child. I was getting verra hungry, so I resorted to using mind control to make them see me as older. I left them happy, but..."
"You felt guilty?"
Ian clasped his hands together. "Aye. I deceived them. Every relationship I have ever had was based on trickery and deception. I canna stomach doing that again."
"I see."
He sat up. "Now, for the first time in my life, I can be honest. I can finally find the right woman for me."
Vanda smiled. "Then you've come to the right place. With your handsome face, you'll have no problem getting lucky tonight."
"I'm no' looking for one night. I've had centuries of one-nighters. I want to find my true love. I want the same kind of happiness that Roman, Angus, and Jean-Luc have."
Vanda's smile turned into a grimace. "Then you've come to the wrong place. The ladies who come here aren't usually interested in commitment."
Ian slouched against the back of his chair. "Then how can I find her?"
"Maybe I can help." Vanda eased off the desk. "I was thinking about finding a nice guy for myself, so I joined a site online." She sat behind her desk, grabbed the mouse, and clicked. "This is the hottest new place for singles."
Ian leaned over the desk so he could see the computer screen. He scanned the site called Single in the City. It boasted more than half a million clients, all in the vicinity of New York. "That willna work for me. I canna date a mortal."
"Why not?"
"I told you. I refuse to deceive the woman I'm courting. I would have to lie to a mortal until I knew she could be trusted. And then, when I confessed my true nature, it would destroy her trust in me. It wouldna work."
"I disagree. It worked for Roman and Shanna."
"He was no' courting her from the start. He just wanted a dentist. Their romance happened accidentally. And believe me, she was verra upset when she found out the truth."
Vanda shrugged. "She got over it."
"I willna lie to the woman I'm courting. So she had better be a Vamp. A Vamp would understand all I've been through. A mortal woman would no' take kindly to the way I used other women in the past. And I wouldna blame her."
"If she loved you, she would understand."
"My mind is made up. All I want is a vampire."
Vanda sighed. "Okay, but I think you're limiting yourself."
"And she must be a bottle-drinking Vamp who is honest, loyal, intelligent, and pretty."
"Now you're severely limiting yourself." Vanda frowned at the computer screen. "Luckily for you, there's a way to tell who's a Vamp." She clicked on her profile. "See this?"
Ian read the line she pointed at.
I enjoy life to its fullest. (V)
"All the Vamps slip these Vs into their profiles," Vanda explained. "It's our secret code to let each other know who we are. If someone asks to meet you, and she doesn't have the V in her profile, you simply refuse."
Ian's heart beat faster. This was not how he'd envisioned hunting for his true love, but it was a lot better than nothing. "It might actually work."
"Of course it'll work. I have a digital camera here." Vanda opened a drawer. "We'll take your photo and fill out your profile. It'll take a few hours."
"Hours?"
"The profile is quite extensive. You'll have to write an essay." Her face brightened. "I know! I'll do it."
"You? Why?"