David Bautista was as happy as he could've been in his entire adult life. His divorce was settled and he was a free man. His new arm ornament had just surprised him with tickets to the New York Jazz Awards, the most sought out ticket for a jazz lover this season.

"And do you know who has just been named as being on the bill?" she asked him.

"Who?

"Kasia St. James," she said a smile forming across her lips.

Dave could've fainted right there, Kasia St. James was his favorite songstress to date. He had stumbled upon her debut album; Jazz it up, by mistake. He had fallen in love with her single, 'Rush, Rush'. The way her voice would lilt ever so slightly as she sang the lyrics was intoxicating to his senses. So by the time her second album Jazz Joint hit stores, he was infatuated completely.

"Baby," he said to the woman in the room not incredibly certain of her name at the moment, "Put on my song,"

The woman sashayed over to the CD player and hit play. Soon Kasia's sultry voice filled the room. She tried to sway seductively to the beat of the music however she would never have the grace that Kasia had as she swayed to the same lyrics.

I'm gonna run, I'm gonna try

I'm gonna take this love right to ya

All my heart, all the joy

Oh, baby, baby, please

Rush, rush

Hurry, hurry lover, come to me

Rush, rush

I wanna feel, I wanna feel you breathe in me

Rush, rush

I can feel it

I can feel you all through me

Rush, rush

Oh, what you do to me

David picked up his play thing and walked into the bedroom, he was dreaming of Kasia and he was going to cash in on his fantasy.

-

It was one of the hottest nights for Jazz artists both new and veteran. If you got called to perform at the N.Y. Jazz festival at Radio City Music Hall you were doing something with your life.

Kasia stepped onto the red carpet wearing a Victorian Lilac tinted side draping and a rhinestone brooch satin ball gown. Her hair was swept up in a bun a top her head with slight bangs surrounding her round face.

"And there is Kasia St. James, former girlfriend of Arion Salazar. And she looks fabulous." Melina Perez, fashion columnist of Couture magazine.

"She's going to perform tonight and to tell the truth she's one of the ones I'm looking forward to."

"And speaking of Arion, there he is, let's go to Carlito on the ground. Can you hear us Carlito?"

"Yeah Melina, I hear you." He said with his deep Latin accent. "I'm here with Arion Salazar, how are you Arion."

"I'm good. I'm good. Glad to be here,"

"You're from here right?"

"Harlem baby," Arion smiled.

"That's cool," Carlito said. "We just saw Kasia St. James walk in and I gotta tell you dude," Carlito leaned in, "She's hot."

Arion cringed at the mention of is ex girlfriend but took it in stride, "Well I can't lie to you, she always looks fabulous."

"Did you know she's performing tonight?"

"Yeah, I'm proud that she got the invitation, I know it's important to her."

"That's cool," Carlito said, "Back to you Melina."

The show went off without a hitch. Kasia would be lying if she wasn't nervous. This show was a big deal and one screw up and she would be plastered all over every tabloid she known to man and that would be the easy part. If she screwed this up it would be paparazzi would swear it was because she was so "broken up" over Arion and it would be the news story of the century.

"Calm down Kasia," Bobby patted her on the shoulder, "You're going to be fine, we got this."

Kasia put her hand over his, "I know Lash, I know." She looked over to Shelton, "You know when to come out don't you?"

"I have it Ms. St. James, I promise."

Kasia smiled, "Call me Kasia."

"Okay," he smiled, "Kasia."

She took a deep breath as she was introduced. She said a quick prayer and crossed herself, let's do this Kasia.

-

"Performing her hit single, 'If you Asked me to', Kasia St. James."

Kasia walked on stage wearing a white hot jersey halter with sassy front slit. Gorgeous beading accented the neckline and waist as it brought attention to the beautiful dangling earrings that hung from her ears. Kasia took her place, sitting on the stool provided for her.

"Good evening, how are you all out there?" Kasia began, "I regret to inform you that I will not be performing 'if you asked me to' tonight."

"What the hell is she talking about?" Shawn yelled from where he stood backstage. "Has she lost her damned mind?"

"Calm down," Rey said his lips twitching, "it might be okay. Trust her, besides, this is not the place to cause a scene."

"I hope you're right Rey, I really do." Shawn took a deep breath, "Because if not we're screwed."

"Royally,"

"Instead I'm going to sing a song I wrote for a very special man entitled 'Harlem Blues',"

The piano started softly, the lights dimmed allowing a soft spot light on Kasia. The light illuminated her making her look as if she were singing while being basked in moonlight. Her soft contralto voice portrayed all the hurt she felt being left by Arion in the prime of career.

You can never tell what's in a man's mind
And if he's from Harlem, there's no use of even tryin'
Just like the tide, his mind comes and goes
Like March weather, when he'll change
Nobody knows, nobody knows

The man I love, well, he just turned me down, he's a Harlem brown
Oftimes I wish that I were in this ground, six feet underground
He idolized me, as no other could, no, no
Then he surprised me, leavin' me a note sayin' he's gone for good
Gone for good...

And since my sweetie left me, Harlem

Shelton made his entrance accompanying Kasia with his soprano sax. He came and stood next to Kasia as she sang from her stool. The audience applauded him, they made beautiful music as Kasia continued to sing. The band softened to allow the audience to only hear Kasia and Shelton.

Well, it ain't the same old place
Though a thousand dandies smile right in my face
I think I'll mooch some homemade hooch and go out for a lark
Just to drive off these mean ole Harlem Blues

You can have your Broadway, give me Lennox Avenue
Angels from the skies stroll 7th and for that thanks are due
From Madam Walker's beauty shops to the pro-ro system, too
That made those girls angels without any doubt

There are some spots up in Harlem where I'm told it's sudden death
To let somebody see you even stop to catch your breath

Kasia stood up to sing the rest of the piece. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as she remembered how when she and Arion visited Harlem and he warned her what part to stay away from.

If you've never been to Harlem, then I guess you'll never know
The power of these mean ole Harlem blues

Ah, there's one sweet spot in Harlem known as Striver's Row
'Diddy folks come call them, one thing you should know
Is that I have a friend who lives there I know he won't refuse
To put some music to my troubles and call 'em Harlem blues

The tears flowed harder as she remembered all the times she and Arion would play music, her song and his bass guitar. They wrote 'First Love' together. How could he leave her?

Harlem, the Harlem blues, Harlem, the Harlem blues

She opened her eyes to a standing ovation, Arion staring at her, "I love you."