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‘Excuse me, guys, but I can see a maiden’s honour is at stake if I don’t go and rescue her…’ Rick headed purposefully towards the bar.
Breathing out a relieved sigh, Caitlin was glad to have a little more room to manoeuvre, but she was still dizzy at the thought of having to deal with Jake on her own. As discreetly as she was able, she moved her leg away from the hot press of his jean-clad thigh.
‘She’ll have him for breakfast,’ he said, and grinned.
The shock of suddenly meeting his steamy blue glance at such close quarters trapped Caitlin’s breath somewhere between her throat and her mouth. She found herself a little too intimately aware of the faint shadow of beard across his top lip and jaw, his long straight nose and the sexy indentation in his sculpted chin. Most of all she was aware of the provocative message his hypnotic blue gaze seemed to be conveying to her. It was indisputably sexual. And it made every muscle in her body tighten and clench.
The whole room diminished down to just that look.
‘He looks like he can take care of himself,’ she murmured, hardly aware of moving her lips.
‘So…’ Taking a leisurely sip of his beer and studying her at the same time, Jake asked casually, ‘Why no boyfriend?’
Hypnotised by the long fingers that curled round his glass, Caitlin found herself envying it his touch, wondering what it would be like to feel those same long fingers intimately touching her. The very notion made her burn, and she took a hurried sip of her dry white wine, deliberately focusing her gaze on the drink instead of him.
‘I didn’t know it was compulsory.’
‘Did I imply it was?’
She didn’t answer. Thinking about Sean and how she had let him come that close to wrecking her life was not something she wanted to revisit…certainly not in casual conversation.
The flash of pain he witnessed in Caitlin’s eyes just then took Jake by surprise. As defensive as she undoubtedly was, she hadn’t been quick enough to hide it. There were also faint lines of hurt round her mouth that betrayed her. Clearly she had let someone get too close and got herself burned in the process.
Even though he’d experienced a similar painful scenario in a relationship, something inside him said he should be careful not to let empathy lower his defences. Relationships by their nature were always going to be challenging, no matter what the situation. But Jake wasn’t such a bastard that he couldn’t find it in him to be concerned.
‘So, what happened?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You got hurt by a man,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘Who was he?’
‘Do you mind if we don’t talk about this?’
Jake’s question was definitely too close for comfort. Taking another sip of wine, she felt her cheeks burn as she sensed the alcohol take effect.
‘We’re going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few weeks—the next few months, even. Things are bound to come out. Why not tell me now and get it over with?’
Inadvertently glancing down at her purple T-shirt, at the scooped neckline that revealed a tantalising glimpse of her cleavage, Jake felt the muscles in the pit of his belly clench. He shifted in his seat.
‘That might be the case, but my personal life is not up for discussion. Please don’t press me on this.’
There was a tremulous hitch in her voice that made Jake feel like the most insensitive oaf on earth. On impulse, he reached across and covered her hand with his own—even if he did risk going up in flames at the contact.
‘I’m sorry…’ he murmured.
Caitlin didn’t know whether he meant he was sorry for putting pressure on her or whether he was sorry for what he guessed might have happened in her relationship. Either way, she didn’t welcome his sympathy. It was easier to deal with his irritation. At least it stopped her feeling sorry for herself. In any case, she’d done enough wallowing in despair to last a lifetime.
But it was impossible not to stare down at the strong, capable hand covering hers. As she did so, she examined the unique silver and jet ring that he wore. It comprised two black stones in a figure of eight setting and didn’t detract from his masculinity one iota… In fact it enhanced it. She found herself strangely reluctant to extricate herself.
Speaking her thoughts out loud, she commented, ‘That’s a beautiful ring.’
‘Yes, it is. It was a gift.’
He probably should have got rid of the thing, come to think of it, because it certainly wasn’t for sentimental reasons that he still wore it. But Jake wasn’t about to tell Caitlin that the jewellery had been given to him by his ex-wife Jodie a year and a day after they were married and six months before they divorced.
It suddenly occurred to him to wonder if she’d read the sordid little story of their break-up in the newspapers at the time. But, as she hadn’t even indicated that she knew who he was when they’d first met, Jake took refuge in the thought that perhaps the scandal had somehow passed her by.
Withdrawing his hand abruptly from hers, he glanced across the now slowly emptying pub at Rick, who was still engaged in conversation with the buxom Tina Stevens. There was no sign of the blonde’s previous admirer, Jake saw.
Turning back to Caitlin, he asked, ‘Have you had enough?’ His glance fell on her barely drunk glass of wine.
‘Is that a hint you want to leave?’
‘I think I should take you home. You look done in.’
‘You don’t need to take me. I’m quite capable—’
‘Why don’t you just put your coat on?’
Outside the wind was fierce as Caitlin walked along the deserted pavement with Jake. He walked with eyes front, one hand jammed into the back pocket of his jeans, his handsome profile ominously unsmiling as his dark hair blew across his face.
‘How far do you live from here?’ he asked, ‘We can take my car if you’re tired. I’ve barely drunk anything at all.’
‘I’m only ten minutes up the road and I prefer to walk. But I don’t expect you to walk with me.’
Caitlin couldn’t help feeling tense. It was near impossible to guess what he was thinking or feeling. The man was a law unto himself. And the tension between them hadn’t eased one iota. If anything it was worse.
‘So, how do you feel about the way things are going?’
Taking her by surprise, Jake turned his head to examine her as they walked. It took a few seconds for her to get her thoughts together.
‘You mean the rehearsals? I think they’re going well. I mean, I know I’ve still got a lot to learn, but as well as learning the songs when I’m with the band I’m working on them at home whenever I get the time.’
She tucked her flying hair behind her ear and tried to relax, but it was hard when her companion’s enigmatic expression hardly revealed what he might be feeling.
He sighed. ‘You’re doing just fine, Caitlin. I have no doubt that you’re the perfect singer for Blue Sky. You’re got a great voice, you’re beautiful and sexy…you’re the whole package. But even great talent can’t make it work on its own. Blue Sky isn’t some five-minute wonder, like some of these manufactured bands that litter the charts. A lot of those bands are the product of slick marketing, purely designed to make money. They’re not about real, dedicated musicians who get together because they’re passionate about music. I told you it wasn’t going to be easy. If anything, it’s going to get harder. There’s still a lot of work ahead before we start touring, and then the pressure really will be on. I suppose I just want to know whether your commitment is total, or whether you wouldn’t prefer staying here in the village, working in your little book store? Don’t get me wrong—I can see how that must have its appeal for a girl like you.’
‘What do you mean, a girl like me?’ Already bristling at what she perceived as Jake’s patronising tone, Caitlin glared at him in the lamplight. ‘You don’t even know me.’
Raising a dark eyebrow, he smiled. ‘I know you like to pretend you’re tougher than you look, that you can handle anything I throw at you, but—’
‘Stop right there!’ Her hackles were really up now. ‘Pretend I’m tough? Do you think I’m such a wilting flower I’ll break at the first sign of pressure? For your information, I survived two years of hell with a man who was a drug addict and alcoholic who took me for every penny I had. I even had to sell my piano, and it was my dearest possession. As well as that I lost my home, my car and my dignity. I lost it all just to pay for his drug habit. Yes, I was a fool—but one day I woke up and found the strength to tell him enough was enough. Then I picked up the broken pieces of what was left of my life and started over. I’ve survived hardship and pain and I’m all the stronger for it—so don’t you dare tell me I pretend I’m tough!’
She paused to take a breath.
‘As for wanting to be in the band—singing is and always was my greatest passion and I’ll do whatever I can to make it my career. I sing because I’m compelled to—not because I want to be famous or have my picture in the papers. All I want to do…all I’ve ever wanted to do…is sing. So when you ask me if my commitment is total, my answer is categorically yes!’
By the time she’d finished her impassioned speech Caitlin found herself on the brink of tears. She’d blurted out all the things she’d never meant to reveal—things about her past that she really would have preferred to have kept hidden…especially from a man like Jake Sorenson, who probably thought she was an idiot for falling for a loser like Sean Gates.
But Sean hadn’t always been a loser. Once upon a time he had been the sweetest man in the world, and Caitlin had believed that she loved him…
‘Hey…’ Reaching out his hand, Jake gently stroked the tips of his fingers down her cheek. ‘I wasn’t casting aspersions on your character. I’m sorry if it came out that way.’
The surprisingly feather-light touch made something clench deep inside her. Recognising it as a hungry need to be held, she immediately stiffened.
‘I’m sorry, too.’
Shaking her head, she automatically moved away in a bid to resurrect her defences. But as she started walking again Jake caught up to her, grabbing her arm to make her stop. This time his hold was deliberately firm…possessive, almost.
‘Don’t run away from me. I only want to help you.’
As his intense gaze shot arrows of living blue flame into hers she caught her breath.
‘Help me…how?’
Bending his head, Jake delivered his answer with a hard, hot kiss that was nothing less than volcanic.
As his lips moved rapaciously over hers, even though she was shocked to her core, Caitlin found herself kissing him back as if her very life depended on it. She even drove her hands through his hair to anchor him to her.
Instinct was like a wild river that had burst its banks and it was near impossible to think about anything above the untamed ferocious beat of her heart…except perhaps to realise that the man kisses were as good as he looked and even better than the most erotic fantasy she could imagine…
The delicious sensation of his velvet-textured lips against hers and the warm glide of his tongue in her mouth stirred feelings inside her that she’d never before experienced so wantonly or intensely. It was during those explosive few moments that Caitlin knew the barriers of safety she’d erected so painstakingly round her heart had come under serious threat…
Even as she had the realisation Jake brought the kiss to a reluctant end, examining her with a gaze that was more than a little stunned but still very much aroused.
In a low voice he murmured, ‘Don’t be ashamed because you told me your story. The music business is littered with casualties like your ex-boyfriend. I don’t believe that they’re bad people. Serious addiction is an illness, not a weakness. Don’t shut me out because you’ve revealed something you wished you hadn’t, Caitlin.’
She inhaled sharply and withdrew her hands from his hair. It had started to rain again, and droplets of moisture were settling in quick succession on the silken dark strands that she’d so hungrily slid her fingers into, sparkling there like morning dew.
He sounded so kind and concerned—as if he intimately understood every lash of hurt she had ever suffered and sincerely empathised. Everything about him was almost unbearably seductive, and it made Caitlin ache to lean into him, to perhaps invite another kiss and even ask him to come in for a cup of coffee… But she quickly came to her senses when it hit her just what she was contemplating—and the likely consequences of such a reckless act. Hadn’t she endured enough pain without inviting more?
She shook her arm free.
‘To shut you out I’d first have to let you in, Jake, and I’m not going to do that. Not even if you promised me the earth.’
* * *
‘Now that it’s come to it I don’t want to let you go’ Lia asserted.
Finishing stirring the mug of coffee she’d made, she brought it over to the small wrought-iron table where the girls sat for lunch. There wasn’t a lot of room in the basement, where all the stock was kept, but Lia had had a worktop and sink put in, as well as installing a fridge and a microwave oven, so that the girls could have some hot food from time to time.
Lost in thought, Caitlin was jolted back to the present as the petite blonde pulled out the chair opposite and sat down.
‘Sorry, what did you say?’
‘I said I don’t want to let you go.’ Lia breathed out a heavy sigh as she curled her hands round the steaming mug of coffee, her pretty brown eyes not bothering to try and hide her emotion.
Caitlin was genuinely touched. The girls had been friends for a long time now, seeing each other through good times and bad, and it was going to be as much a wrench for Caitlin to relinquish her job as it was for Lia to lose her. She’d always considered the esoteric bookshop to be the best place in the world to work in. Not only was she surrounded by books that had the potential to heal and uplift, but many like-minded people came into the store—and the fact that she worked with her best friend was a blessing.
But for the past week and a half Blue Sky had become more than just a wonderful opportunity to realise a long-held dream. It had become personal. Not only had Caitlin grown to respect and admire her fellow musicians, she was also starting to really care about them too. They worked so hard, were passionate about their music, talented and dedicated to their craft, and when Marcie Wallace had walked out they’d been understandably devastated. Caitlin wanted to help put things right…she wanted to help them realise their dreams too.
‘It’s not going to be easy for either of us,’ she agreed now, sliding her hand across Lia’s. ‘But I’m not leaving for good. I might not be working in the shop any more, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be around. I’ll still live here in the village, and when I come home after touring we’ll see each other every day because I’ll come in and chat and have coffee with you.’
‘I know all that.’ Lia freed her hand and drove her fingers anxiously through her short blonde hair. ‘But if you want to know the truth I’ve been worrying myself sick about you.’
‘Why?’ Caitlin was astonished.
‘Well…going off with a bunch of strangers to God only knows where. How do you know you can trust these people?’
‘Lia, I’ve got to know them. They’re not strangers any more. They’re professional musicians. Jake Sorenson, their manager, is—’
‘Jake is who I wanted to talk to you about.’ The blonde drew a deep breath in. ‘Didn’t you recognise who he was when you first saw him? Don’t you remember there was a “kiss and tell” scandal about him in the papers a few years ago? His wife left him for one of the biggest rock musicians in the world then spilled the beans about their marriage in an article in the papers.’
Lia’s words started to ring a bell. As memory presented a helpful picture of the artist her friend had referred to Caitlin stared at the other girl in shock.
‘I remember. She left him for Mel Justice…the lead singer with the band Heart and Soul. I didn’t realise the record producer she was married to, was Jake.’
‘Well, it was. And the picture she painted of her life with him wasn’t exactly flattering. Did you know she was a model? Not high-profile, but a familiar face in the magazines just the same. The main reason for the exposé was that Jake had promised to make her a star and he didn’t. Apparently she wanted to give up modelling to become a singer. But when they got married and he didn’t come up with the goods she had an affair with Mel Justice and eventually divorced Jake to be with him.’
‘Then she sold her story to the newspaper,’ Caitlin said quietly.
It jolted her to realise that he’d been married. She hadn’t read the story, but just before Lia had nudged her memory about what had happened she’d been about to comment that Jake Sorenson was a true professional—a man who elicited respect and admiration from his peers—and that she felt very fortunate to have him as a mentor. But even as the thought occurred accompanying it was the stirring memory of last night when Jake had kissed her…
‘Anyway, what has any of what you’ve just said got to do with what I’m doing, Lia? Why are you digging up old news about Jake Sorenson?’
‘Why? Because I want you to know what you’re getting yourself into that’s why’
Lifting her mug of coffee to her lips, her friend agitatedly put it down again without taking so much as a sip.
‘As your best friend, I can’t help feeling responsible. The people in the business you’re getting into are open to all kinds of temptations and bad behaviour. They certainly don’t seem to exhibit much loyalty towards each other. I’d hate for you to be associated with the band and have it all backfire on you if the press decide to dig up that kiss and tell story and speculate over if you’ll do the same, should anything go wrong.’
‘But I’m not having a personal relationship with Jake, am I? I’m only singing with the band he’s managing. Plus, I wouldn’t dream of selling my story to the press even if I had one! I’m twenty-six, remember? Not some gullible teenager. I can absolutely take care of myself.’
But Caitlin’s heart still raced. Nothing Lia had said before had remotely indicated what her friend really felt about her decision to join the band. Up until now she’d been so positive…so encouraging. ‘Follow your passion,’ she’d said. ‘Don’t let anything get in your way.’ Now Caitlin didn’t know what to think.
It wasn’t any of her business what had or hadn’t happened in Jake’s marriage. In fact it explained why he sometimes seemed a little aloof. As well as destroying any trust you’d once had for a person, to have your spouse sell their story about your marriage to the papers must have been truly demoralising. But at the end of the day Jake’s personal life was nothing remotely to do with her.
‘Okay, so if it’s true that you can take care of yourself then what about Sean?’ Lia’s brown eyes sparkled.
Caitlin could hardly believe what she was hearing.
‘That was below the belt, Lia,’ she murmured. ‘Okay, so I’ve made some wrong turns in my life. Haven’t you? Hasn’t everyone? It doesn’t mean that everything I do is doomed to failure or disaster, does it?’
‘I shouldn’t have said that. About Sean, I mean.’ Lia sniffed. ‘I’m sorry, Caitlin. I should know better, considering the business I’m in, shouldn’t I? It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to put wisdom into practice when it comes to someone you care about. You know what men can be like. They’ve got a one-track mind when it comes to women like you, and I mean that as a compliment. You’re beautiful and talented, with a sweet and trusting nature. They’re bound to try and take advantage and here you are—going off into the wide blue yonder with five of them!’
‘Well, you’ve got to try and stop worrying, Lia. I’m going to be just fine. I’m doing what I want to do, right? Nobody is forcing me. If I can trust that everything will be okay, then why can’t you?’
Abruptly rising to her feet, Caitlin carried her empty mug over to the sink. Then she rinsed it out and turned it upside down on the drainer.
