The snow was accumulating with serious attitude on my windshield as I waited on Katrina to arrive. Katrina was my oldest friend from school. She was in town over the holiday to spend time with her family. I was her last visit before she hit the road. She was driving to home to New York City to finalize her divorce. I thought that was a heck of way to spend the last days of the year. But, I have learned with Katrina, just go with the flow.
Norman Brown was crooning to me via Sirius radio, when my phone started to buzz. "OK, I know I am late!" Katrina's energy vibrated through the phone. "I am parking now. Go ahead and get us a seat and start the Cosmos rollin'!" Before I could respond, the phone went blank again. Katrina always kinda felt like a hurricane as she talked to you.
I pulled my black mink stole close around me as I hurried to the entrance of the jazz club. At that moment, I wished with everything I had that I hadn't been so vain and had settled for my trusty woolen coat that came down to my ankles. But, every time I had this particular dress on, I felt I had to give it the right background setting. Black satin and form fitting, it made my curves resemble an old fashioned cola bottle. My diamond necklace and earrings shimmered against my mocha skin, looking all the more brilliant for it. This is the only dress that I have every owned that is strapless. It always makes me feel a little bit daring and seductive.
I could see that I made the right choice for the night as the doorman held the door for me. His eyes followed my every curve as if he was undressing me right there. I looked over my shoulder at him and winked. I wanted him to know that I saw his appreciation.
"You ain't neva gonna change, are you?" A heavy bass voice wafted down to me from the stairs heading into the bar area. Moments later, 6'6 of chocolate man appeared. His smile, deep and bright, warmed me.
I blew him a kiss. "Baby, if I change, who will you have to corrupt you?" We both laughed as we embraced. Templeton Henry and I had known each other since college. We had briefly dated, only to realize that neither of us had been ready to settle down yet. I hadn't seen him since he invited a few of us over for a small dinner party a few years ago.
We pulled back to look at each other. Neither of us had changed too much from when we were kids in college. The only difference I could see in Temp was a more commanding air about him. Time had yet to age him with crow's feet and gray hairs. Still fine as wine, I could see the cogs in his head, trying to figure out if I was there with a date.
"Templeton, man! You will never guess who is here with me." I was slyly trying to guess for myself if Temp was here alone or with a date. No woman was lurking behind him in wait. And trust me, Templeton Henry was the kind you lurked for in the shadows.
Temp's slow sexy smile tempted me. It was drawing me back to memory lane of him and me intertwined in bed for hours. "Your husband? Your boyfriend?" Temp's hand slid up my back and drew me close to him so only I could hear him. "Your girlfriend?" I was enveloped by his aftershave. He smelled so good I forgot what we were talking about.
I was just about to pull him closer when I hear, "Templeton! Well, whaddya know!" Katrina burst past the door man with a swirl.
Templeton looked past me to Katrina. I saw the look in his eye and knew Katrina had decided to dress just as sexy as I had. I turned in Templeton's arms and smiled. "Your timing still sucks eggs, man! I was just drawing him into my web of seduction!"
We all laughed as Templeton dropped his arms from around me and gave Katrina a quick hug. Her peach colored lace dress looked painted on. If you weren't paying attention, with her honey complexion, she gave the impression of being naked. I could tell that Templeton approved of the dress by the way he was checking Katrina out. Her hair, always enviously long and silky, was held up by two chopstix, with a few tendrils escaping.
Templeton gave Katrina a playful swat on the behind. "You still gotta interrupt right when I am about to get me some lovin'." In college, Katrina and I were roommates. She was famous for bursting in the door right as Templeton and I were about to seriously get to the gettin'.
Katrina smiled up at him, "Hey, it's a gift."
"I am here with some colleagues, but I would very much enjoy if you ladies were to join us." Templeton offered each of us an arm. "Come on, you will have fun. And I will look like a stud."
We all laughed as Katrina and I each took an arm and went with Templeton into the bar. I looked around and saw that on this night, there was a variety of parties out. Some people were there in big loud groups, competing with the music to be heard. Others were paired off, romance seemed to be in the air.
Templeton's three friends were all like him. Mid 30's, lawyers, and they all seemed to share his quick wit. It was awkward all of two seconds before Katrina and I were blending right in with them. We traded bawdy joke for joke, martini for cosmo. It was the wee hours of the morning when we realized that we were the only ones still left in the bar.
Guy, a particularly hot specimen of guy from France, stood up and announced that he had to head home. He was leaving the country in the morning and he had yet to pack. He stumbled uneasily from the table and toward the stairs of the bar. Templeton headed him off before he got to the valet. "Guy, I have a limo for the night. Why don't I give you a ride to your condo? That way you don't drive drunk."
By the time we all headed to the door, it was easy to see that none of us was in the right shape to do any driving. Templeton herded us all into his limo and took stock of who lived where. For someone inebriated, he seemed very sure of himself when he was giving his driver directions on how to take everyone home.
