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There was no question that he wanted Caitlin. The situation between them wouldn’t have developed if he hadn’t. The electricity they generated between them could turn on the Christmas lights in Oxford Street without a power socket in sight. But lust was one thing and—dared he say it?—love was something else entirely.
He caught his breath, mulling the thought over.
Was love what he felt for Caitlin? If it was, then where did he go from here? In most people’s books love meant commitment…the one thing he had always shied away from.
Jake was pretty sure now that what he’d felt for Jodie definitely hadn’t been love. His decision to marry the woman had been crazy and it had cost him dearly. The truth was he had never committed himself properly to her. Wasn’t that why he’d taken every opportunity to distance himself by travelling so often? She’d probably sensed his reticence at being with her long before she’d had her affair.
But what if the desire to escape reared its head again when he was with Caitlin? He couldn’t bear the thought that he might break her heart. After the hell her ex had put her through she deserved someone who wouldn’t cut and run. Someone who would support her journey as a singer. Someone who would be there when she needed them. Someone she could count on to stay around for more than just a few short weeks or months… In fact someone the complete antithesis of himself.
And now, to make matters worse, he had Rick on his case. When all was said and done his friend had every right to be furious with him. Jake had broken his own unwritten code about fraternising with band members and he’d potentially put the band at risk because of his fascination for Caitlin.
He would endeavour to put things right as soon as Kenny Swan from Lightning Records had seen the band perform tonight. If the man gave them a recording contract then hopefully it would help Jake decide what he needed to do, and maybe then—and it was a big maybe—he would finally be able to have some peace.
* * *
‘You can come? Lia, that’s fantastic!’
Dropping down onto the bed, with its prettily embroidered quilt, Caitlin clamped her mobile firmly against her ear. To hear that her best friend was at last able to get away and come and hear her sing was the best news she’d had all day…next to the chance of Blue Sky getting a record deal, of course. But ever since that uncomfortable exchange between Jake, Rick and her at rehearsals that morning she hadn’t been able to help worrying about what might happen next.
Rick’s mood hadn’t improved since Jake had left him in charge, and Caitlin feared for their friendship. Was she to blame for their falling out? If she was, then she would do her utmost to put things right. But in less than a couple of sentences Lia’s cheery voice had managed to dispel her worry and doubt and replace it with a sudden rush of optimism and hope.
If Caitlin gave a good performance tonight—the best performance she’d ever given—the band might get that record deal, Jake and Rick’s friendship might return to its previous status, and Jake might start to see that he and Caitlin had a future together outside of the band.
‘I might be a little late if the traffic is bad,’ Lia was saying, ‘but I’ll definitely be there. I’ve booked a room at that bed and breakfast you’re staying at, like you suggested, so we’ll be able to have a good old natter when we get back from the club. I’m so excited I can’t wait! Hey—and you know what else?’
‘What?’
Holding her hand out in front of her, Caitlin frowned at her chipped purple nail polish, wondering if she’d have time to repaint her nails before the gig tonight. It had to be right. Everything had to be right or it would be her fault if things went wrong. She was suspicious like that, and she wasn’t taking any chances.
‘I took a peek at your horoscope today,’ her friend continued. ‘Do you know what it said?’
‘Go on.’ There wasn’t a muscle in Caitlin’s body that didn’t clench tight.
Lia took a deep breath in. ‘Well, Saturn is meeting Venus today, and I’m sure you know that Venus is the planet of love and money? The timing is perfect. Saturn meets Venus beneath the auspices of the Mars/Jupiter rendezvous, so if you long for something in the money or romance stakes today’s probably the time to ask for it. What do you think of that?’
