And while she worked, she imagined Jack's response to her newest aphrodisiac candies, and fantasized various erotic ways their night together would end.
The shop closed promptly at six, and Kayla barely made it home in time to take a shower and get ready for dinner with Jack. She jumped into the shower, washed her hair, and shaved her legs. Then she dried her hair until it was silky soft and decided to curl the ends but leave it down, like Jack seemed to prefer it. She applied a light layer of makeup, put on her prettiest lingerie, and dabbed perfume in all the right places.
Minutes later she was dressed in the two-piece periwinkle skirt and blouse she'd bought from the boutique, along with the silver chain belt. She slipped her feet into a pair of cream-colored heels and actually liked what she saw in the mirror-a sexy, confident woman.
By the time Jack arrived at her house at six-thirty sharp she was out of breath from rushing, but miraculously ready. The appreciative look in Jack's eyes when he saw her made her feel like a million bucks. She grabbed the cake box with his dessert tucked inside, and off they went to dinner.
It wasn't until they turned onto Harbor Drive and were heading toward the San DiegoHarbor that Kayla realized in her rush and excitement that she'd forgotten the Caramel Caresses on the kitchen counter at home.
"Damn."
Jack heard the soft expletive and glanced over at Kayla sitting in the passenger seat of his Escalade. She was staring out the windshield, her brows furrowed in distress. Concern immediately took hold of him.
Reaching across the console, he grasped her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Everything okay?"
She glanced at him, her green eyes troubled. "I forgot the new candies I meant to bring along for you to try."
He didn't understand why that was so important to her, or why she was so upset, but he attempted to bolster her spirits. "You can always send them to me like you did the last batch." He grinned and winked at her.
A seductive smile chased away some of her disappointment as she obviously remembered how that scenario had ended. "You're so bad," she murmured, that adorable blush of hers casting a pink tint to her smooth complexion.
"You seem to bring out that side of me." He brushed his thumb along the pulse point in her wrist, loving the silky texture of her skin. "Any complaints?"
She shook her head, causing the rays of the setting sun to highlight those blond strands with gold streaks. "None at all."
"Good to hear," he replied, satisfied with her answer.
She returned her stare back out the window, taking in the scenery along Harbor Drive, and he replaced his hand back on the steering wheel, though his gaze kept straying back to her profile. She looked beautiful tonight, the soft, purplish color of her outfit complementing her skin tone and adding a radiant glow he was glimpsing more and more of late.
There was a definite change in her since the evening they'd first met. Not just the hair and makeup and clothes, but a more intangible metamorphosis, one that seemed to start on the inside and was gradually working its way out. Self-assurance. Openness. Trust in him. And maybe, the faith to let him in, past those emotional barriers he could still feel between them.
All of those subtle changes made tonight's date all the more important to him. This was his chance to share an important part of himself with Kayla, an opportunity to let her into his life in a way he'd kept private from other women. Tonight was about romance and letting her know that their relationship was about more than just great sex, which seemed to have become a big focal point between them, and very quickly.
Reaching their destination, he pulled into the circular drive that led to the valet parking. He stopped at the curb, and Kayla glanced from the sign in front of the establishment to him, her eyes wide with surprise and pleasure.
"We're at your restaurant," she said, and smiled.
He ran his finger down the slope of her nose, just because he wanted to touch her. "I told you I was going to take you someplace you've never been before."
A young man dressed in a black uniform opened Kayla's door and helped her out of the SUV, while Jack slid out of the driver's side to let his employee take the vehicle to his private parking spot. He retrieved the dessert box from the back seat, met up with Kayla on the sidewalk, and entwined her fingers in his as they walked to the main entrance.
"I've always wanted to come here," she admitted as she took in the lush plants and tropical garden surrounding them, complete with a small rock waterfall. "But I never had a reason to come to such a fancy restaurant."
Jack was glad that no one else had ever brought her to Tremaine's Downtown before. He hoped it would make the experience more special, for both of them. "Now you have every reason. Me."
Once inside, they were greeted by the hostess, then Jack led Kayla to the back of the restaurant and through the kitchen, where he let his chef know to start the dinner he had planned. He gave her a quick tour of the place and introduced her to Rich before leading her upstairs to a private banquet room with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the harbor on one side, and the city skyline on the other.
Kayla stopped at one of the windows, a soft sigh of awe and contentment escaping her. "The view up here is absolutely spectacular."
He came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "And it's all ours for the night."
She turned around and placed a hand on his chest, her expression teasing as she plucked at one of the buttons on his dress shirt. "I guess it pays to have a direct connection to the owner, doesn't it?"
He laughed, and when she would have pulled her hand away he stopped her, lifted her fingers to his lips, and kissed the warm, soft tips. "The owner is an easygoing guy who can be easily swayed by a beautiful woman."
She gave a sassy toss of her hair and added her own witty innuendo to the playful conversation. "Yes, well, I'll try not to take advantage of the owner's generosity."
"For the record, you can take advantage of me anytime you'd like." He leaned in close and lightly touched his lips to hers, which was all he was going to allow for tonight. Sweet, chaste kisses, nothing more.
He strolled over to the table set up for two and withdrew the bottle of champagne chilling in the silver ice bucket. Uncapping the top, he popped the cork and poured them each a glass of the bubbly liquid.
He handed her one of the crystal flutes. "Here's to a memorable evening."
"It already is," she said, and clinked the tip of her glass to his before taking a drink.
Music drifted up from the piano in the bar downstairs, a soft, melodious strain that was perfect for a slow dance. And since they were alone, at least for another ten minutes, he hated to let such a prime opportunity to hold her in his arms go to waste.
He set his champagne on the table then held out his hand for her to take. "Dance with me."
She shifted on her heels, suddenly appearing uncertain. "I'm not very good at dancing."
He wasn't going to let her out of this so easy, not when it could bring them closer, and not just physically. Sticking with his decision to make tonight romantic and keep sex out of the equation, he wanted to show her just how compatible they were outside the bedroom. And there was a certain element of trust and intimacy inherent in slow dancing. He wanted to experience that with her.
"Says who?" he asked.
"Says me." She took another gulp of her champagne. "I haven't really had much practice at it."
"It's quite easy, actually, and relatively painless," he said with gentle humor as he set her glass on the table next to his, then stepped closer to pull her into his embrace.
"Says who?" he asked.
"Says me." She took another gulp of her champagne. "I haven't really had much practice at it."
"It's quite easy, actually, and relatively painless," he said with gentle humor as he set her glass on the table next to his, then stepped closer to pull her into his embrace.
He was gratified when she came willingly.
"I hold you in my arms like this," he said, clasping one of her slender hands in his and sliding his other around to rest at the base of her spine. "Now put your other hand around my neck, relax against my body, and let me do all the work. Think you can handle that?"
She looked up into his eyes. "Are you going to give me a choice?" she asked wryly.
He chuckled. "No. Not really."
He moved in time with the slow music and eased her closer, until they were aligned from chest to thighs and she was in sync with his every step. He was surrounded by the warmth and softness of her body and the arousing scent of her perfume, and he couldn't imagine another place he'd rather be at the moment than right here with Kayla.
He dipped his head and gently slid his cheek to hers. "Nice, huh?"
"Umm, very nice." Tentatively, she laid her head on his shoulder and sighed, and her warm breath tickled his neck.
Her actions held nuances of the trust and intimacy he'd hoped for, but he knew this was just the beginning. He lazily stroked his hand up and down her back, wondering when the last time was that someone had just held her and made her feel cherished.
With the way she was snuggled up against him, all lush and warm and soft, it was inevitable that his body get turned on. And because that wasn't his intent tonight, he knew he had to end the embrace now, before that part of his anatomy passed the point of no return.
With a great amount of reluctance he eased to a stop and let her go, just as their waiter arrived with the first and second courses to their meal. They sat down at their table and were served bowls of lobster bisque, along with a platter of hors d'oeuvres that consisted of smoked salmon, paté, lobster medallions and Caspian Sea caviar.
Once the server was gone and they were alone again Kayla took a taste of her soup and moaned blissfully.
Jack spread a dollop of caviar on a cracker and grinned. "I take it you like the bisque."
She nodded her approval. "It's so incredibly smooth and creamy. I think this could become as addictive as my desserts."
"Give the smoked salmon and pâté a try," he said, and she helped herself to both, then added a few of the lobster medallions for good measure.