One with the music, she swayed along with the rhythm of the bass, the sweet whine of the saxophone, and the teasing melody played out on the ivories. With eyes closed, she let the music take her to smooth places, sensual places … places she hadn’t visited in oh, so long.
As the notes of the song faded away, she smiled like a woman well pleased by her man.
“That was a little sumthin’ for the lovely lady in the blue and white dress at the side table.”
Without opening her eyes, she reached for the glass of Kendall-Jackson chardonnay.
“Any special requests tonight, love?”
“Something mellow, Mr. DJ. Something smooth and mellow.”
“It’s yours for the asking, baby. Here’s the piano man to take us on home here at Della’s Place.”
She smiled, pleased with herself. She had a regular table, a regular drink, and a regular special place in the DJ’s playlist.
Now all you need is a regular life, she thought as she finished off her wine. But that sort of thinking wasn’t allowed, at least not right now. In a few minutes, maybe, but not right now.
She signaled for the waitress to take the DJ his usual glass of ice water with lemon. He didn’t drink alcohol. She’d discovered that the first time she’d sent him a drink. As the waitress delivered his bottle of water and glass of ice, the woman enjoyed a few more bars of the mellow tones. Then, as was her custom, she left a big tip on the small table and slipped from the lounge before the song ended.
Outside, she hailed a cab and quickly stepped inside. She gave the driver her Central Park address, and after they were what she considered a safe distance away, she pulled off the long, curly wig and took out the bobby pins that kept her own flat brown hair tucked securely out of sight.
The cabbie glanced at her in the rearview mirror, but she paid him no mind. This was, after all, New York. Strange things happened in cabs all the time and the driver had probably seen stranger as he drove the city streets.
Slipping off the strappy high heels, she swapped them for a pair of comfortable blue flats that she pulled from the small tote bag she carried. Then, leaning her head back on the seat, she took a deep, calming breath. By the time the driver reached her apartment building, the physical and mental metamorphosis was complete.