The Jazz singer's lyrics resembled soft candy, carefully crafted words so sweet they were like sugar slipping from his tongue. I sat at my table, straight black hair falling against my shoulders, a white blouse holding in my cleavage, a knee-length black skirt wrapped around my waist and one stocking-clad leg draped across the other. My fingers outlined the rim of a glass, which was once filled with bourbon as I watched the way he moved his broad, pink lips.
I found myself oddly fascinated with the stranger. His hair was dark, slicked to the side in a Cary Grant fashion, and I could almost see the lines beside his dark eyes when he hit a high note, causing them to slightly squint. The singer was tall with a medium build, not so large it looked as if he could crush a woman with a warm embrace, but not lanky enough to be swept away by the wind.
When the song ended, he lifted a drink from a nearby stool and tossed it back as if he had been nursing hard liquor for years, and I knew the brown liquid carrying the ice cubes that clanked against the glass was no iced tea. I could tell by the hint of hardness in his expression as he swallowed it down. Running a hand against his forehead, he took the mic in his hands and said, "Goodnight," walking off the stage.
Chairs scooted across the floor and people shuffled toward the exit. Waitresses snatched up their tips and recovered water-downed drinks. I remained in place still sipping my beverage and watching the singer make his way to the bar. I eyed him carefully, waiting to see what he'd do next. Part of me wanted to lift myself from the chair and go talk to him, but a small voice in my head haggled me, reminding me that I was no groupie and that I should put my spent body to bed. The voice grew silent when he turned, facing me. Our eyes met, and the window of opportunity opened.
Flashing him a quick smile, I lowered my head to hide the fire burning in my cheeks. He must have noticed me blushing, because as soon as he had a fresh drink, he approached me, slowly, his legs almost floating across the white-tiled floor. My heart raced. He was beautiful, every wrinkle on his forehead and every freckle below his eyes. Desperately, I grabbed my drink and wetted my whistle, trying to think of something to say.
"Did you enjoy the show?" he asked, willing to start off the conversation.
I nodded my head, avoiding his eyes. I felt like a panicky schoolgirl about to get a lashing from my instructor. "Yes. Yes I did. You have a marvelous voice." Looking up, I observed his heart-stopping smile.
"Good. I'm glad I could entertain you. Can I buy you a drink?"
No!
The voice in my head screamed, and for once I thought it would be wise to listen to it. "I can't. I should get going. The club looks like it's about to close and I'd hate to keep them waiting."
Rubbing his stubble-covered chin, he reached out and took my hand. "Let them wait. They won't mind. I practically own this place."
The heat drained from my cheeks, flowing to other areas below my skin. He looked at me with intense eyes, as if he were trying to read my thoughts through my expression, which I'm sure looked a lot like a deer in headlights. His hand was warm and soft like the voice that had drawn me to him in the first place. I wondered what the rest of him felt like and if he tasted as sweet as he sounded.
"I'd ask you if you came here often, but that line never works for me." He paused as I let out a let out a short, breathy laugh. "So, do you?"
Smiling, I shook my head. "No. I've been here once, a long time ago."
"And what brought you here tonight?"
His index finger moved gently across my hand in smooth circles, caressing the gooseflesh forming on my skin. "I was on this side of town and figured I'd stop in."
He leaned forward. "Do you have a name?"
"Yes," I replied, a smirk forming on my lips.
Something inside me was stirring, and for some reason, I was in no mood for chit-chat. "Do you?"
"Maybe." There was a brief silence. "But do names really matter right now?"
He must have sensed my thoughts. I had no interest in small talk, which was very unlike me, and if I had been, I would have referred to him as the "
jazz speaker
". I longed for his voice in song, his rhythmic words trickling down my body like hot wax. Perhaps I was caught up in the fantasy of being with a man who could woo me without too much detail, a mystery.