DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANYTHING.

Chapter 4: Lost Without You

Previously …

"Good Evening sexy ladies and smooth brothas and welcome to the Velvet Lounge right now it's about that time to welcome our first live act of the night. He hails all the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico and calls himself Blue Eyed Soul, so come on now lets give him a Velvet Lounge welcome!"

Taylor and Gabriella giggled at the retro demeanor of the announcer. "Wow they really take this old school jazz club thing seriously." Taylor murmured to Gabi as they turned their attention back to the delicious drinks and food on the table. "I think we should make this a weekly thing, or at least monthly ya know? I could get used to this girls night out." "Me too I just feel like every since I got married we haven't been able to chill like we used to when we were roommates." "Yea girl those were the days." They both laughed but their heartfelt trip down memory lane was interrupted by the sound of an acoustic guitar strumming the chords in a familiar tune, one that made Taylor's heart swoon. She gasped "Ohh Gabi I love this song!" she whispered loudly not at all embarrassed by the amused looks thrown her way from surrounding tables. She closed her eyes and swayed from side to side mouthing the words, "Lost without you. Can't help myself. How does it feel to know that I love you baby?" she couldn't help but remember a time when this song summed up her feelings for her husband, if you could even call him that. At the thought of Chad she stopped swaying and opened her eyes, the moment gone. She sighed. "Remember when I danced to this for my senior piece in college, it was for him of course." Gabi nodded silently unable to find words that could ease her friend's distress. Taylor looked down to her hands and then suddenly felt the urge to look up at the fiend who decided to play this stupid meaningful love song knowing full well that she is hurting, okay so maybe he didn't know but he should be punished. Let's take a look at this mysterious man who is causing my misery.

She raised her eyes slowly to the stage traveling leisurely up the form of a man seated on stool. He was dressed casually in jeans and worn black chucks. She stopped oddly at his hands admiring the smooth yet calloused fingers that strummed so sweetly on those weeping strings. He was wearing a white button down that was rolled up to his elbows and a black skinny tie. Finally she worked up the nerve to look at his face, hoping to God that he didn't notice. There are plenty of people in here it's totally normal to look at a performer, Taylor huffed in her mind boldly lifting her eyes once more. She looked right into the face of her torturer surprised that he had already returned the favor. Her breath stopped in her chest for a moment. She was trapped in the gaze of his captivating azure eyes set ablaze by the stage lights. Never had she seen something so beautiful it was as if it was unreal. She broke away from his torturous trap long enough to scan the rest of his features, all shame thrown out the window. She might as well stare overtly at him since apparently he had been doing the same thing to her. All of his features seemed to be amazing in their own right with his chiseled jawbone and thin lips singing lyrics to the song she now despised. His cute nose and glorious cheekbones tugged at her heart strings and don't even get her started on that hair. It was shaggy and unruly yet well kept sweeping perfectly right over his somewhat bushy eyebrows giving his crowning glory, his eyes, all the space they needed to entice unsuspecting women like Taylor Mckessie. As Taylor rapped up her assessment of the beautiful stranger the song whined to an end. Good gracious that was the longest song… Taylor broke away from her thoughts long enough to notice that this "blue eyed soul" was smiling at her. Before she could think correctly she smiled back and he winked in appreciation. "Thank you everyone thank you!" It was at this point that Taylor realized there where others in the room who were probably adoring him as much as she was during those lovely four minutes, well maybe not as much.

"My next song is for all the ladies who have been done wrong in the past." All the women clapped in appreciation but Taylor just looked up at him with disbelief. That bastard! How does he seem to know so much about my life…. Without knowing. She snapped out of her inward conversation long enough to hear the rest of his introduction which looked to be directed to her the way his eyes were smoldering through to her soul. "I may not be able to make it right but I just want to let you know that I feel for ya." The women whooped and hollered out "You go boy" and "That's right! You betta work!" Taylor felt like she was in church. Oh gosh did I just compare this to a religious experience? I've got to get out of here before more blasphemy floods my mind. She scanned for the bathroom planning to hide out in there until his set ended when she heard something that paralyzed her in the seat.

"But I'm gunna need somebody to come up here and help me out a little bit." Taylor scanned the room watching the composed beatniks transform into adolescent horn dogs and panicked. Need out now! She repeated over and over again in her head but again was interrupted by his velvety voice. "How about you in the front, with the Zebra shoes on" Taylor gasped and lowered her head to find that she indeed had on her Zebra print pumps. She also noticed that she was sitting in the front. Dammit! I'm not looking at him! I'm NOT! She screamed to herself but alas she did it anyway and the sight of his seductive stare combined with his out stretched hand melted her resistance like "butta". She looked over at Gabriella for the first time in what felt like forever and forced her legs to work for her. As she raised she could hear some disappointed sighs but mostly applause coupled with the loud "That's my best friend!" comments coming from her table as she took his hand for the first time and he helped her on the stage.

Now that he was standing up, Taylor realized how tall he was which caused her heart to flutter even more. She looked up at this smiling face and her eyes immediately went to his lips. She shook her head and looked away fully ashamed now that she was acting like a boy crazy teenager again. He let go of her hand and walked back to the middle of the stage where the microphone stand was waiting a signal to the band to begin the music again. As soon as the keyboard player struck the first notes, Taylor recognized the melody and felt the blood rush to her face, Geeze he's going to sing to me. She silently thanked God for her complexion that hid her blushing spells so well. She walked slowly over to him swaying her hips slightly to the beat as he sang the first verse…

On that sunny day
Didn't know I'd meet
Such a beautiful girl
Walking down the street
Seen those bright brown eyes
With tears coming down
She deserves a crown
But where is it now
Mamma listen

He reached out to Taylor's face when he mentioned those "bright brown eyes" and she shivered. Oh he is just not playing fair! She quickly spun away from his touch and danced around him once more as he watched with his blazing eyes…

Senorita, I feel for you
You deal with things, that you don't have to
He doesn't love ya, I can tell by his charm
But you could feel this real love
If you just lay in my...

Taylor was really feeling the music now and her inner dancer emerged from its hibernation turning up her stage presence a little more she became a little – bold. She walked behind him while tracing a path with her fingers from shoulder to shoulder across his back.

Running fast in my mind
Girl don't you slow it down
If we carry on this way
This thing might leave the ground
How would you like to fly?
That's how my queen should ride
But you still deserve the crown
or hasn't it been found?
Mamma listen

She continued walking and broke out into a spontaneous salsa step matching the tempo of the song. Raising her arms above her head she spun around gracefully stopping with a sensuous body roll and an attitude filled head snap…

Senorita, I feel for you
(Feel for you)
You deal with things, that you don't have to
(No, no)
He doesn't love ya, I can tell by his charm
(He don't love ya baby)
But you could feel this real love
(Feel it)
If you just lay in my...

At this point the mystery man had made his way to an oblivious Taylor grabbing her hand and spinning her around. She gasped as he fell into step with her and giggled as he pulled her to him singing

Ah, ah, arms...
(Won't you lay in my)
Ah, ah, arms...
(Mama lay in my)
Ah, ah, arms...
(Baby won't you lay in my)
Ah, ah, arms...

The audience was going wild and Taylor was on a high she hadn't felt in years. The drug of performing had been out of her system for some time and now she wondered how she could have let it go, husband or no husband. Just as Taylor believed she had reached her peak of joy she felt herself being swept across the stage to a waiting stool. Damn he is smooth. She thought while looking into his brilliant blues…

When I look into your eyes
I see something that money can't buy
And I know if you give us a try
I'll work hard for you girl
And no longer will you ever have to cry

Senorita, I feel for you
You deal with things, that you don't have to
(Deal with things you don't have to)
He doesn't love ya, I can tell by his charm
(No, no)
But you could feel this real love
(Feel it)
If you just lay in my...

Not wanting him to have the last laugh, Taylor leaped from her place on the stool and spun around grabbing the microphone with her singing out the last notes of the song…


Ah, ah, arms...
(Whoa)
Ah, ah, arms...
(My baby)
Ah, ah, arms...
(Oooh, yea)
Ah, ah, arms...

She stepped easily in her stilettos with her hand on his chest pushing him back gradually until his butt met the seat. She grinned in satisfaction and ended the song with some mind blowing adlibs. He stared at her in disbelief and the applause throw out the lounge reached a level she didn't even know possible from the size of the establishment. But despite all the noise all she could hear was her heart beat pulsing in her ears. She treated her hand from its frozen place and turned toward the adoring audience. She looked to her right at the mystery man and realized she still didn't know his name. She opened her mouth and said "Taylor." He smiled and replied "Troy."

Sorry for the gaps in chapters. I should be getting better now that all my college apps are in! Review please... :D