"Taxi! Taxi!"
Sabrina Kelley waved her hand furiously as the icy Manhattan wind whipped through and around her bones.
The New York skyline was rapidly approaching dusk and the evening forecast predicted a heavy round of snowfall in just a matter of hours. Though there was no one there to greet her or make her feel at home, Sabrina desperately wanted to make it back to her hotel room before the bad weather began.
Despite wearing a well-tailored, gray wool coat, cinched tightly at the waist, with a full business suit underneath, Sabrina trembled at the cold frost surrounding her. Bitter gusts of wind blew her shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, the color of cinnamon, around her smooth, light brown skin.
"Thank goodness," she sighed as a taxicab artfully maneuvered its way to the curb directly in front of her. As she stepped in and closed the door, she heard a feminine voice shout from the sidewalk.
"Wait!"
Sabrina, now settled in the cab, looked out the window to see a stunning chocolate beauty racing toward her. The raven-haired woman had delicate features, luminous cocoa-brown skin and long, dark braids that were pinned behind her ears but left to flow freely down her back. She was dressed in a dazzling, black sable fur coat with matching gloves and hat. Elegant gold jewelry dangled from the woman's ears, neck and wrists. The woman stopped and stood shivering outside the taxi window.
"Please? It's cold out. Can we share?" The tall, dark, slender woman had a pleading look on her face.
The cab driver looked at Sabrina through the rear-view mirror. "Yes?" he said, his accent thick and heavy.
Sharing a cab with such a beautiful woman? "Sure." Sabrina motioned the woman in. She slid over on the seat as the woman opened the door. As she stepped in, Sabrina was immediately greeted with the tantalizing scent of vanilla.
"Ladies?" the driver asked. "Where are you going?"
"Columbus Circle," they said in unison. Surprised, the women turned and looked at each other.
"Really?" Sabrina asked. "What a coincidence."
The woman smiled. "Looks like today's my lucky day."
Sabrina blushed and turned back to her window.
As the driver sped off, the neon lights of New York City sped by in the sparkling glass of the car windows. Not wanting to be caught staring at the beautiful woman next to her, Sabrina focused her attention on the view outside her window. However, she was unable to ignore the heated presence right beside her.
After a few moments, Sabrina couldn't help herself. She secretly eyed her new companion. Sabrina smiled when she realized she was immediately taken with the woman's natural beauty. Sabrina thought that her smooth, milk chocolate skin looked simply delicious.
As she snuck another peek at the lovely woman, Sabrina ever so slightly wrinkled her nose at the woman's fur coat and accessories.
The woman seemed to read her mind. "It's faux fur, honey," she smiled. "Don't worry. I love animals too. It's just that it's freezing out and I needed something warmer than an ordinary, old coat."
Sabrina flushed scarlet and turned back toward the window. She wrung her hands in her lap, completely embarrassed by her elitist attitude.
After a few moments, the woman spoke. "So...what's at Columbus Circle?"
"My hotel," Sabrina sighed as she thought of her empty room. "It's right in the area," she said sadly.
The woman lifted an eyebrow.
"Wait. It's not that bad," Sabrina corrected. "It's just that I'm new in town. Well, I'm not here permanently yet. I'm just visiting. But I don't know anybody here. I haven't made any friends yet." Damn, Sabrina chided herself. I'm babbling, she thought. I sound so pathetic.
"So what about you?" Sabrina asked, changing the subject.
"I'm a music writer," the woman said smoothly. "I'm heading to a jazz concert to review a performance." She took off one of her gloves and smiled. "I'm sorry. Where are my manners? I'm Kai. Kai Roman."
"I'm Sabrina Kelley." She gently shook Kai's hand, which was remarkably soft and warm, given the frigid temperature. Sabrina trembled at the warmth radiating from their touch.
"How about this?" Kai asked. "Since you were so nice in sharing your cab, why don't you let me treat you to a fun night out? I just happen to have an extra ticket to the concert, so please join me."
Sabrina hesitated. Was Kai just being nice or –? No. She's just being polite. "I couldn't," Sabrina answered. "I mean, we hardly know each other," she said weakly.
Kai was persistent. "Well, how about this? Why don't we grab a quick cup of coffee at a café up the block? If we don't hit it off, you can go back to your hotel. But if we do, then you're mine for the evening. How's that sound?"
Kai gave Sabrina a saucy wink.
Then Sabrina looked up and saw the driver staring at her in the rear-view mirror. He winked at her too.
Sabrina grinned, outnumbered. "Sure," she said. "Why not?"
~~~
"So what brings you to New York?" Kai asked.
The two women sat across from each other, nestled comfortably out of the cold and into a small booth in the Stone Rose Lounge, located in the Time Warner Building right across from Columbus Circle. Kai ordered a cappuccino while Sabrina enjoyed a large mug of rich, hot chocolate.
As Sabrina sipped her cocoa, she suddenly wondered if Kai's chocolatey skin tasted as rich and warm. Sabrina blushed and shook her head to clear the image out of her mind. Who's to say that Kai's even interested like that?
"I'm here for a job interview," Sabrina answered. "Actually, I finished the last round of interviews just before I went outside to hail that cab."
"What kind of job is it?"
Sabrina hesitated, but for some reason she decided to be honest with the woman who'd turned her world upside down in just a matter of moments. "It's a job with the New York office of the Democratic National Committee. It's for a fundraising assistant position."
"Wow. The DNC. I'm impressed," Kai said. "In fact, I think I'll call you Ms. Moneybags," she laughed. "No, wait. I'll call you Ms. Do-Right. For being so cute and kind and compassionate."
Sabrina giggled. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
"So how do you think you did?" Kai asked.
"Pretty well, I think. I'm a bit nervous though. But they said they'd call if there was room for me," Sabrina shrugged.
Kai shook her head as she took another sip of her cappuccino. "Well, they'd be crazy not to have you on their team. You just shared your cab with me, a total stranger. That makes you compassionate. That's an important trait to have. Means you won't leave a poor girl out in the cold," Kai teased.
Sabrina laughed. "I'm a real ambassador for goodwill, huh?"
"I think so," Kai whispered.
Sabrina tingled at Kai's soft voice. She had to change the subject again.
"So...who's in concert tonight? And where is it?"
Kai leaned back in the booth, getting more comfortable. "We're going to the Rose Theatre at the Frederick P. Rose Hall."
Sabrina had a blank look on her face.
"Are you familiar with Lincoln Center?" Kai asked.
Sabrina frowned. "Barely. I saw it in the guidebook, but I haven't been."
"Well," Kai began, "Lincoln Center is where the New York Philharmonic performs. And it's where the Metropolitan Opera House and the New York City Ballet perform as well. But Lincoln Center also has a jazz outfit in the Rose Hall, which is located in the building we're in right now."
Kai sipped her drink before continuing. "Tonight's performance is a jazz concert featuring the Kings of the Crescent City. It's a tribute to the music of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Joe "King" Oliver and Sidney Bechet. It's a really great focus on the jazz music of New Orleans. I think it should be fun and pretty educational at the same time. And I think you'll have a great time."
"Oh. So I'm definitely going, huh?" Sabrina asked.
"Well...we're getting along great, no?" Kai looked Sabrina directly in the eye.
Sabrina looked down. "Yes. I guess so."
Kai motioned for the waiter. Sabrina sat there nervously fidgeting with her hands while Kai settled the bill.
"Ok. We're all set," Kai said as she grabbed her handbag. "Are you ready for the night of your life?"
Sabrina relaxed a bit at Kai's enthusiasm and smiled. "Sure. Let's go."
~~~
As the women walked inside Rose Hall, Sabrina was struck at how beautiful the building actually was. The entire front of the structure was glassed in and Sabrina was awed at the nighttime view of the city.
Several patrons were gathered in the lobby, talking and laughing animatedly. Walking past them, Kai gave Sabrina a quick tour of the place. She showed Sabrina the various classrooms and meeting rooms, and finished with a peek inside the gorgeous glass-enclosed Atrium.
Afterward, Kai led them to the coat check and she gently helped Sabrina out of her overcoat.
"That's a nice suit," Kai commented.
"Thanks," Sabrina replied, smoothing her skirt down.
Kai then removed her coat. Sabrina was taken with at Kai's gorgeous clothes and beautiful figure. We were just in the restaurant, Sabrina thought. How did I miss that?
Kai wore a stunning, sleeveless black cocktail dress, embroidered with a silvery, metallic thread. The dress fell just to her mid-thigh, with a slight flare at the hem. Sabrina loved how the garment perfectly showcased Kai's toned arms and legs.
Sabrina sharply drew in a breath, then licked her lips at Kai's luscious, chocolate skin.
"Are you ok?" Kai said, as she handed her coat to the young lady at the counter.
"Sure. I'm fine. Pretty dress."
"Thanks. Though I'm more of a T-shirt and jeans kind of girl," Kai winked.
Sabrina laughed. "Me too."
"Ahhh. One more thing we have in common."
Sabrina reflected on their conversation on the way to the theatre. They were pleased to discover that they had similar tastes in music, TV and movies. "I guess so," Sabrina remarked.
"So," Kai held out her hand to Sabrina. "Shall we take our seats?"
Again, Sabrina was warmed at their heated touch as they grasped hands.
After handing their tickets to the usher, he led the ladies into the theatre and down to the front row.
