Okay, so he wouldn’t really cop a feel. In fact, he may have made a mistake in doing this. Controlling himself would be hard. Cori’s presence caused a lot of feelings to resurface, ones he thought he’d buried when he left Savannah. To be able to touch her like this . . . Could he prevent it from going further?
Going down on one knee, he reached for the hem of her dress but hesitated when he noticed her lips part. Damn. This was more than he’d bargained for. All eyes were on him, which meant there was no turning back. He’d catch seven kinds of hell if he did.
“Mademoiselle,” he teased as he patted his leg.
She obliged him and placed her shoe on the spot where he’d tapped. He drew in a deep breath. Then he pushed her dress up her leg. The moment her thigh was exposed, his palms began to sweat.
Jesse stretched the garter wider, passing it over Cori’s heel and ankle. As he ascended her leg, he did so in the most delicate manner possible. He caressed her silky skin with his fingertips.
A smile kinked the corner of his mouth when he heard her gasp. It was so soft that he doubted anyone else noticed. He reveled in the thought. Was Cori turned on? She couldn’t possibly want him as much as he wanted her . . . Could she?
Clapping and whistling echoed through the reception hall, but Jesse ignored the sound. He swallowed the lump in his throat and gazed at Cori again. His eyes roamed lower, to full breasts that formed amazing cleavage, to the tiny waist that led to curvaceous hips, to the fabric that covered her toned thighs.
It was the spot where his eyes lingered way past what they should have. He couldn’t help it. The only thought ravaging his mind was the one of him burying his face between her legs.
Did she taste as sweet as her scent?
He wouldn’t be finding out. Once he had the garter in place, it wasn’t long before Cori pushed her dress back down. “Guess the show is over, huh?”
When he followed her gaze around the room, he realized that most of the guests had gone back to their tables to collect their belongings. Cassie and Theo were doing the same, which meant it wouldn’t be long before they headed out for their honeymoon.
Had he been so caught up in Cori’s body that he neglected to see what was happening around him?
At this point, he didn’t care. When Cori stood and walked away, Jesse fought the urge to grab her arm. He wanted to know if the naughty thoughts in his mind had crossed hers too. Instead of following his instincts, he remained frozen in place.
It was just as well. Regardless of staying in Savannah longer, his schedule was nuts. Hopefully, their manager would have them back on tour, a much longer one. Then he could go back to the hoards of women waiting to grant his every fantasy. Too bad none of them would compare to the real thing.
None of them would ever be Cori Clarke.
Chapter 7
Cori fell against her bed and released the breath she’d been holding. She hadn’t meant to stay long at her parents’ house. All she was supposed to do was grab the clothes her mother had washed and head back over to her dorm.
Had she not found the shoebox full of love letters she’d written to Theo when she was younger, she would have come back sooner. At least they were ashes now, never to be seen by his eyes, or worse, Cassie’s.
If only she could burn the bill in her hand too.
This damn professional dance course was going to break her, but if she kept at it, she’d have more than a degree backing her when she went to open her own studio. She’d have the support of some of the best dancers and instructors in the industry.
Rifling through the papers, she came across the new letter, the one that had her heart pounding. She wasn’t sure if the audition video she sent to the Dancing Divas Contest would be accepted, but the letter proved it was.
She rescanned the words for the fourth time, shaking her head in disbelief. The entry fee was feasible. It was the travel expenses and amount of time she’d be away that had her debating on what to do. Competing was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Passing it up meant never knowing what may have come of it.
But the cost . . .
She desperately needed a job. Of course, her friend, Laura, offered to speak to her boss for Cori, but her friend hadn’t called recently to say if she had. Maybe it was just as well. Laura still hadn’t told her what her job entailed. The whole situation seemed a little sketchy, which probably meant it was. Or, it was something illegal.
The latter worried her most. She wasn’t one to break the rules, as far as ones that would land her in jail. Depending on what type of illegal activity was involved, she may or may not consider it. She wasn’t a whore, so prostitution was out, and she wouldn’t do anything to harm children, the elderly, or animals. Other than that, she was open to discussion.
Hopefully, she was just developing an overactive imagination.
Folding the letters, she placed them back in their respective envelopes and shoved them into her to-do box. The clock was ticking and she needed to review some notes for her English Lit exam. As if she hadn’t studied enough in the last week.
She always hated finals, but at least there was a bright side. Christmas break followed them. There would be no getting up early for class, no exams or pop quizzes, no research papers or the countless hours spent in the library and online.
Freedom was within her grasp. She’d wake up every day in her old room at her parents’ house unless she crashed with Mariah and her folks. Even as adults, they still had sleepovers.
They always shared the holidays together too, and this year would be no different. Almost. It wouldn’t be for her and Mariah’s friendship, but something would definitely be different at the Clarke residence.
Cassie.
Her sister wouldn’t be staying overnight with their parents. Cori wouldn’t be able to wake her on Christmas morning. Neither had believed in Santa since they were ten, but it never stopped them from rushing to the tree to see what their parents had bought them.
At least Cassie would be at the house at some point. Theo too.
Cori groaned inwardly. Constantly seeing Theo didn’t help her get over her crush. She didn’t want to feel this dread at the thought of being in the same room with him. He and Cassie would be together for the rest of their lives. She had to get used to it.
In a few hours, she’d put on her best performance. She’d like to skip out on the dinner her mother insisted on making to recognize Theo officially being part of the family. Fat chance of getting out of that one, considering it was the first thing her mother mentioned when she picked up her laundry earlier.
It was hard to believe that Cassie and Theo had already returned from their honeymoon. There was little time to think about their absence with school activities and her evening classes at the studio. Keeping busy seemed the best way to deal with the ache in her chest because, up to this point, it had worked.
Now she had to play the part of the dutiful sister-in-law.
Mariah’s voice echoed in her mind. She’d lost count of how many times her best friend had told her to meet someone else and move on. It seemed a simple enough request, but she wasn’t ready to settle down, not even with Theo. Still, knowing she missed her chance—
“Stop this.”
She rubbed her head and stood from the bed. There was no way in hell she was spending her Christmas break pining for a guy who never would have loved her. If she had to, she’d get involved in some of the volunteer work the studio was doing. Whatever it took to keep her from wallowing in self-pity.
As she lowered herself into the chair, she slid a few books to the side of her desk and opened one of her notebooks. Each time she scanned over her handwriting, her eyes felt heavy. She wasn’t tired. Boredom often made her sleepy.
Her phone vibrated from the nightstand beside her bed. She used her fingers to drag the device close enough that she could grab it. The message was still displayed on her screen. Laura. She’d finally answered after the million texts Cori had sent.
Hey gir
l. Everything is cool. Talked to my boss about you. She’s willing to give you a shot. Are you around? I just got back to the dorm.”
Great. Laura had finally come through on the job. It couldn’t have come at a better time either, unless it required her to do something horrible. With the way her luck was going, that was probably the case. She wouldn’t know until she chatted with her friend.
Opening the message on her phone, she tapped the screen and entered her own reply. Might as well settle her curiosity before she left for the evening. Some good news couldn’t hurt. What better news could she have than the fact she had a way of making money?
Hey girl. Yes, I’m in my room. Get your booty up here. I have a few minutes before I head out for the evening. Having dinner with my parents.
Laura’s reply was short and sweet. Cool. See you in a sec.
When Cori tossed her phone in her purse, she glanced at the jewelry box her sister gave her. It sat on her dresser, waiting to be filled with some of the precious stones and metals she wore on her fingers, ears, and neck.
As her hips brushed the dresser drawers, she traced her finger over the edge of the box to the center where it opened. When she cracked it, Für Elise echoed from the chamber. It was always her favorite song to dance to when she was a little girl in ballet class. It lost its magic as she grew older and took tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. Now that she was older, the song held sentimental value.
Despite the odds stacking up against her, she was going to open a studio. She would pursue her dreams and do the one thing she was good at. Dancing. In her pursuit, she would give back to her community.
No child should miss an opportunity to dance just because their parents couldn’t afford the classes. She’d seen it happen too many times. Not at her studio. She planned to do scholarships for underprivileged kids, and at least once a month, she would take a weekend to have an open studio so all kids could come and learn techniques.
A sudden round of knocking had her rushing toward the door. Laura hadn’t wasted any time coming to her room. As soon as she opened the door, the dark-haired beauty she’d known for the last few years stood before her, dressed to the nines.
“Hey, Cori.” Laura gave her a hug. “It’s good to see you.”
“Tell me about it. Where have you been hiding, girl? I barely see you anymore.”
“Sorry about that. It’s this new job.” Laura closed the door behind her then motioned for Cori to join her in the middle of the room. “I missed a few classes, so I’ve been spending my days catching up. I’m usually working on the weekends and at least three nights a week.”
“Wow, sounds like you have been busy.”
Nodding, Laura showed off her dress. “I get little perks like this.”
“It’s a pretty dress.” Cori’s curiosity was getting the best of her. The more she studied her friend’s appearance, the more she worried what type of job she’d accepted.
“So, tell me about this job.”
Laura’s smile grew wider. “Hear me out before you say yes or no. In fact, take a few days to think it over.”
“You’re scaring me.” Cori forced herself to laugh, but deep down, she was worried.
“My boss, Beverly, is really cool, and she takes care of her girls. Trust me. You have nothing to worry about.”
Holy shit. Did Laura say “her girls”? That made it sound like she was a pros—
“The job pays well, but there’s nothing illegal involved.”
Okay. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as what Cori feared. For a minute, she thought Laura had begun selling her body.
“It’s a high-class escort service.”
Scratch that. Maybe it was as bad as Cori feared.
“Have you lost your mind? Do you know how dangerous that is?”
“It really isn’t. I’ve never been propositioned for sex, and the gentlemen are rich bachelors or divorcees who need dates to ritzy functions. Not only do I get paid a thousand dollars for each date, but I also get to keep anything my clients buy me.” She motioned to her dress again. “Like this. It was a present from my best client. He’s a sweet man, just fifteen years my senior, and he’s so busy with his job during the week, he doesn’t get out to date.”
“And you never get propositioned?”
“Nope. We all wear tracking devices too so Beverly can see if we’re going anyplace other than what’s on the contract. If that happens, she makes a phone call to our cell, and if we don’t answer, she sends one of her guys to track us. It’s only happened once, and it was a mistake because the girl left her cell at the restaurant where she and her client had dinner.”
“So I’d get paid a thousand dollars to be some guy’s date?”
“Yes. Most of these clients have worked with Beverly for years. She knows them, and she puts new ones through extensive screening. If a client requires a trip out of town, she makes sure one of her security staff members follows. It’s safe, Cor.”
Saying it wasn’t enticing would be a lie. Cori admitted that much to herself. But could she go through with something like this? She loved the attention of a man and being spoiled by one even more. Still, being an escort seemed too much like being a prostitute. It didn’t seem right.
“I don’t know about this, Laura. I—”
Laura raised her hand and signaled Cori to stop speaking. “Take a few days and think it over. If you’d like to talk to Beverly to ease your mind, I can arrange a meeting. She’s super sweet and not much older than us. You’ll love her.”
Maybe a conversation with this Beverly would be a good idea. If nothing else, she could make sure her friend wasn’t getting into anything dangerous. Sex trafficking was a real thing. She didn’t want Laura to be its next victim.
“All right, Laura. Set something up. I think meeting Beverly is a good idea.”
Her friend didn’t hide her excitement. She clapped her hands and squealed with delight before hugging Cori. A second later, she was taking her phone out of her purse and texting someone.
Cori glanced at her jewelry box once more. She wasn’t a hundred percent sure she would accept a job from Beverly, but if she did, she wouldn’t have to do it for long. Once she raised the money for her dance course and her trip to the Dancing Divas contest, she could go back to college life and search for a real job.
Jesse gripped the steering wheel and turned onto the street he’d been on more times than he could count. He knew Theo’s old homestead so well he could drive there blindfolded. Unlike those many trips he made to Theo’s, he wasn’t going to his friend’s parents’ house today.
Nope. He had his sights set on the Clarke residence. When Theo asked him to meet there, he hadn’t objected. It had been years since he was inside their house. It wasn’t a big deal, except for one tiny factor. There was a small chance he would get to see Cori.
It was hard to believe she was still on his mind a week after the wedding. Hell, she hadn’t left his thoughts since the day of the rehearsal. No woman stayed on his mind that long, but then Cori wasn’t just any woman.
Approaching the driveway, he noticed a little black car pull in ahead of him. By the time he did the same, an icy sensation spread over his body. Seeing Cori made his day. He wasn’t sure what he liked better, the tight pants she was wearing or the knee-high boots. Both showed off her long legs.
He remembered how much her big sister loved to dance too, considering Cassie was the dance team captain. Cori took that role once Cassie graduated. At least, that’s what Cassie told him a few weeks ago.
He hadn’t paid attention to all the things Cassie told him about her little sister. Now he wished he would have listened better. For whatever reason, he felt the need to impress Cori.
Once she shut her car door, she turned toward his vehicle. Her brows drew together as she stared, but they softened the moment recognition showed in her eyes. She must have realized it was him. Good. At least she was smiling.
“Damn girl.” He shut his door. “You get more beautiful e
very time I see you.”
“Is that so?” She crossed her arms as he nodded. “And what brings you to my parents’ place, Woods?”
Jesse dangled a set of keys in front of her. “Theo asked me to check the mail while he and Cass were gone. I’m returning their keys before I head out of town.”
“Out of town?” Something about her voice hinted to disappointment. Was she sad to hear he was leaving?
He wished.
“I have to take my mother down to the Florida Keys. My aunt is having surgery and Mom is going down to help out.”
“Oh. So you’re coming back?”
He struggled to hide how much her question pleased him. Maybe it wouldn’t have affected him if he hadn’t noticed the relief in her voice.
“Yeah, doll, I’m coming back. I don’t have obligations with the band until later this month.”
“Cool.” She gave him a once-over then turned toward the front door. “Don’t be a stranger. Come on in. I’m sure my brother-in-law is in the house. I’m running late, as usual.”
Good thing she was. They may not have had this conversation otherwise. The few minutes they talked was enough evidence to show her interest in him, or at least his well-being. That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Even though he drove her and his sister crazy, she had one of those nurturing personalities. She cared about the people she knew.
It was hard to focus on anything but her ass when she walked a few feet in front of him. It wasn’t little by any means—or too big. It was perfect, the kind he’d like to grip as she rode his cock.
Damn. There he went again. He had to quit thinking about Cori and how her body would feel next to his. It was never going to happen. Never.
The moment he stepped inside the house, cinnamon apples hit his nose. It smelled like a freshly baked apple pie. Mrs. Clarke was known for her baking skills. It wasn’t just the fact that she owned one of the best bakeries in the county. She always supplied baked goods for fundraisers when Cassie and Cori were in high school.