‘You’re a real prize, Jake Sorenson. You know that?’
Despising himself, because what he was prepared to offer her wasn’t really very much at all, he pushed to his feet and paced the floor, restless and on edge because the woman he was crazy about was sleeping just a few feet away from him in the next room…in his bed…alone.
She had barely said a word to him when he’d brought her back to the flat. She had simply looked at him with those soulful green eyes of hers and made a polite comment that the flat was ‘really beautiful’, then walked round the living room examining every single print that decorated the walls as if fascinated.
They were mostly artistic photographic prints of well-known music artists Jake had worked with, along with one or two high-profile fashion models who had worked on video shoots. As Caitlin had studied them it had become eminently clear to him that not one of them could hold a candle to her.
He should have told her how beautiful she’d looked tonight, how great she’d done, that she’d made them all proud. But he had been too keyed up because he’d been fighting to keep the lid on his attraction. And Rick’s warning had kept going round and round in his head like a mantra that was hard to shut out. So they’d had a cup of coffee, some brief conversation about nothing very much, and then he’d shown her into the bedroom.
It hadn’t just been him and the band who had loved her performance tonight. The audience had loved her too. But, drawing on his extensive experience, Jake knew it wasn’t all going to be plain sailing. Audiences were notoriously fickle until they really got to know a band, and they’d encounter all sorts on this tour before it was finished. There would be criticisms, too. Jake just hoped that Caitlin could handle them.
But there was no doubt in his mind that, with her talent and beauty, Blue Sky could win themselves a prestigious recording contract. As long as they were consistently able to come up with the goods he had the contacts and the know-how to help make all their dreams come true. Except maybe his own…
Once again his thoughts turned to the beautiful girl asleep in his bed. She was a dark-haired enchantress, with a face and a body that could enslave any man, and Jake had undoubtedly fallen under her spell. Cursing beneath his breath, he headed determinedly towards the bathroom and a long, cold, hopefully passion-killing shower.
* * *
The distinct sound of music playing disturbed him. For a few moments Jake just lay still, staring up at the ceiling. He was lying on the rarely used spare bed in the flat’s guest room, but he’d phoned ahead to the caretaking agency he used for someone to come in and tidy the place and make up the beds with fresh sheets before they arrived.
Blinking away his disorientation as he properly came to, he realised that the radio was playing in the kitchen. Caitlin. She must be up and about. At the thought of the woman who had given him yet another sleepless night he groaned and propped himself up on his elbow. Then he dragged the fingers of his free hand through his tousled dark hair.
Glancing down at the distinctive bulge beneath the sheet, Jake released a long, slow breath. Jumping out of bed straight away wasn’t an option when he was so heavily and obviously aroused. Better that he wait for a few minutes and concentrate his thoughts on something either mundane or unpleasant to help dispel the heat in his groin. But that was no easy task, with Caitlin beginning to join in the chorus of the song on the radio, her sexy tones making him tingle all over just as if she were lying next to him, crooning softly into his ear.
A few moments later she was knocking at his door. ‘Jake, are you up yet? I’ve made you a cup of tea.’
Caitlin sounded so damn cheerful that he wanted to get up, drag her inside, throw her down on the bed and have his wicked way with her without further ado.
He released another heartfelt groan.
‘That word doesn’t get mentioned round here in the morning. I’m strictly a coffee man,’ he grumbled, plumping up his pillow and jamming it behind his back.
‘No problem. I can just as easily make you some coffee. How do you like it?’
‘Hot, dark and sultry, with a little bit of sugar…just like my women.’