You mean it involves things like striptease?’
‘It’s much more than women simply taking their clothes off. Sometimes all a girl might remove are her gloves. But it’s the way they do it that makes it an art form. Plus the costumes the girls wear and the way they move is part of the spectacle. I just want you to sit back and enjoy it…to feel proud of being a woman.’
‘Is that why you brought me here? To show me how women can be confident about displaying their bodies when they perform? So I won’t be self-conscious when I perform with the band?’
‘Yes. You’re already going to command the stage with that incredible voice of yours, but I don’t want any doubts about your body to hold you back. I want you to enjoy every second you’re on that stage when you perform.’
To his surprise, Caitlin downed what was left of her cocktail with a flourish, licked her lips and declared, ‘In that case I think I’d like another drink…a little Dutch courage wouldn’t go amiss. Do you mind?’
‘Are you serious?’ Leaning over to her, Jake tenderly stroked the pad of his thumb down over her cheek and said huskily, ‘Baby, do you have any idea how dangerously alluring you are in that dress? If you asked me to get you the moon I’d do my damnedest to get it for you.’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t expect you to go that far,’ she said, and grinned.
His lips twitching in amusement and delight, because Caitlin was clearly starting to enjoy herself, Jake signalled for a waitress to take his order just as the sultry sax in the background came to a sudden halt, the lights dimmed and all eyes turned expectantly towards the stage…
The show was spectacular. Caitlin was swept away by the sumptuous display of dance and movement from the predominantly ‘Rubenesque’ women who took to the stage in their stunning costumes and exaggerated make-up. At no point did she feel remotely embarrassed or self-conscious at all the comely flesh on display. For perhaps the very first time she felt proud to be a woman and unashamed of her own voluptuous curves.
Jake had been right. It had been a good idea to bring her to a Burlesque night. But her companion hadn’t reserved all his attention for the show. More than once throughout the evening she’d caught him looking at her as though mesmerised, despite having a bevy of stunning women on the stage in front of them.
That brooding glance of his had made Caitlin feel more than a little aroused. In fact it had made her long for him to take her somewhere private so that she could demonstrate exactly just how excited he made her feel… And Jake wasn’t the only one who was enjoying the view. Dressed in the flawless single-breasted Armani suit that unbeknownst to her he’d brought with him to change into for their visit to the club, with his incredible blue eyes glinting like diamonds and his chiselled jaw dusted with late-night shadow, he looked expensive and assured, and he exuded the kind of charisma usually attributed to A-list movie stars.
Caitlin wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming that he was solely hers for the evening. Who would have guessed that a man who famously adopted a ‘don’t give a damn’ attitude about what he was wearing could wear a tux with such effortless panache?
Later that night, as Jake turned the Jeep onto the motorway to head home, he wondered wryly if Caitlin had any idea what a test it was for him to concentrate on his driving when she was snuggled in the seat next to him wearing that alluring black dress. The ‘LBD’, as Ronnie had called it, had put him in a state of highly charged sexual tension for the whole evening, and he knew it wasn’t going to dissipate easily.
By the time they’d reached the village and Jake had pulled up outside Caitlin’s flat he was honestly glad of the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air to help him think straight. But first he had to wake her and help her to the door, because she’d fallen asleep as soon as they’d got into the car. It was inevitable she would be a little drowsy.
‘Hey, sleepyhead, we’re home.’
Curling his hand round her slim upper arm, Jake shook her gently. The second she opened her big green eyes the tension that already gripped him mercilessly doubled.
‘Have I been asleep? I must have been, because that journey went in a blink.’
Shaking her head, Caitlin undid her seatbelt and sat up. Her lustrous dark hair spilled down over her shoulders and the air was suddenly provocatively imbued with the sultry scent Jake had bought her. What had he been trying to do? Make her even more irresistible than she was already?
‘Well, we’re home now, and you need to get straight to bed,’ he stated, almost groaning out loud at his ill thought out choice of words—because that was exactly where he’d like to go with her. ‘Give me your key. I’ll open the door for you,’ he added.
The cold night air hit him as soon as he stepped out of the car and proved to be just the tonic he needed to cool his blood. Quickly inserting Caitlin’s key into the lock, he opened the door onto the hallway and waited for her to step over the threshold in front of him. As soon as she did Jake’s blood was stirred all over again when she turned back towards him. She’d draped her jacket over her shoulders and now tugged the sides more closely over her chest, but not before he had a glimpse of her delectable cleavage. For both their sakes he should say goodnight and leave her. His usually dependable sense of control was rapidly deserting him.
But his decision was immediately compromised when Caitlin narrowed the gap between them and said softly, ‘Thanks for a really wonderful evening, Jake, and also for the lovely clothes and everything. You made me feel like a princess, and no one’s ever done that for me before.’
‘It wasn’t difficult, Caitlin. In my eyes you are a princess.’
It was then that Jake thought, To hell with self-control and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her with a hunger he could no longer deny, and the desire that was always just a breath away whenever they were together flared beyond control. But when Caitlin carefully freed her lips and he saw the longing in her eyes—the kind of longing that went way beyond a desire simply to make love—the immensity of what he was contemplating and the possible consequences hit him like a brick dropped from a great height.
With his heart thundering, Jake moved out of their embrace. ‘I think it’s time we said goodnight, don’t you? It’s been a long day for both of us and we’re just a couple of days away from the band’s first live performance. We need to get some rest to make sure we’re fit for what’s to come.’
‘I know you’re right, but—’
Even before Caitlin had finished what she was saying Jake was out through the door and walking towards the car.
* * *
Two days of intense rehearsal followed Caitlin’s magical night out with Jake. And, although she’d had a wonderful time, she couldn’t forget how quickly he’d distanced himself from her after he’d dropped her home—even though just before he’d left, his lips had passionately claimed hers as if he really meant it. Now he was acting as if the kiss had never even happened. It was easy to sense that his focus was back on the band and what lay ahead of them, but Caitlin couldn’t help feeling he was somehow abandoning her.
A couple of evenings later Jake surprised them all by giving them a day off. They’d had two more gruelling days of rehearsal and they more than welcomed the unexpected opportunity for a bit of ‘R&R’. But, although Caitlin appreciated
