“…Like a song of love that clings to me… How the thoughts of you does things to me…”, Shane sang huskily, as her fingers moved skillfully on the keyboard, “…Never before has someone been more…”.

It was an old song and it was perfect. The small orchestra behind Shane’s back started playing and violins and drums filled the room.

Carmen sat on the piano and crossed her legs slowly, and Shane gave her a rapid, prudential wink.

“Unforgettable…”, Shane sang.

“…Unforgettable…”, Carmen echoed in her sultry soprano voice.

“…In every way…”.

“…In every way…”, Carmen agreed.

“…And for evermore… that’s how you’ll stay…”, the both sang together, staring at each other intensively, “…That’s why darling, it’s incredible… That someone so unforgettable… Thinks that I am… Unforgettable, too…”.

Shane looked down at the keyboard as the instrumental interlude started and the saxophone took over. On the grand piano, Carmen threw a slow look behind her shoulder and smiled at the black musician who was playing.

Then, she locked her gaze with Shane’s, who seemed perfectly capable of playing and flirting with her, all at once.

She watched Carmen with dreaming eyes, with almost teary and overcome eyes, as Carmen sang, alone, the next lines.

“No, never before…”, Carmen sang and looked back at Shane, “…Has someone been more…”.

And then, together, again.

“Unforgettable… in every way… And for evermore, that’s how you’ll stay…”, they smiled at each other like nobody else was in the room, like they were completely alone in the whole world, “…That’s why, darling, it’s incredible… That someone so unforgettable… Thinks that I am… unforgettable, too…”*.

Shane played the last few notes on the piano as the orchestra accompanied her skillfully.

Then, the stage went silent and the whole club went silent and, behind the counter, Helena stared at her mouth agape, her big blue eyes open wide in amazement and feeling goose-bumps everywhere.

And finally, the crowd erupted in a ponderous round of applause and there were whistles and shouts and energy and a contagious amusement.

Shane grinned, and Carmen grinned back at her. Shane stood up and stretched out her arm, helping Carmen jumping off the piano, and they both took a bow in front of the crowd, fighting the urge to have sex right there, right then, and screw the party.

Then, the stage went dark again and their tango started.

TBC

**

* “Unforgettable” (Nat King Cole & Natalie Cole version)