Chapter Four: Kitty: Seize the Moment
Kitty tore herself away from the penetrating violet eyes and declined the offer of a drink, citing work the next day.
”That's a shame,” drawled the stranger. ”I've seen you around doing sing-a-grams, performing for tips– you're new in town, yes?”The stranger smiled and Kitty couldn't help but notice the way his chin dimpled.
”I would love it if you'd reconsider. My names Blake, and actually, well, I'm kind of in the ”biz” myself. In fact I'm going to be signing a recording contract tomorrow. If you stay and keep me company for a while, maybe I can get to know you a little better and then I could recommend you to my agent.”
”That's a shame,” drawled the stranger. ”I've seen you around doing sing-a-grams, performing for tips– you're new in town, yes?”The stranger smiled and Kitty couldn't help but notice the way his chin dimpled.
”I would love it if you'd reconsider. My names Blake, and actually, well, I'm kind of in the ”biz” myself. In fact I'm going to be signing a recording contract tomorrow. If you stay and keep me company for a while, maybe I can get to know you a little better and then I could recommend you to my agent.”
Kitty smiled. She'd heard the stories about the girls turning up in Starlight Shores and being hounded by guys pretending to be agents, scouts or similar, all for one purpose only. She was too smart to fall for that trick. Still she didn't have anything waiting for her at home, and one drink with this cute Blake guy couldn't hurt – after all he may be genuinely willing to recommend her to an agent – surely she'd be able to suss out whether he was lying or not over the course of a drink. Besides, something about those deep violet eyes and that charming smile made it very difficult to say no.
One more drink turned into another, and Blake's relaxed, attentive style led to Kitty opening up, about her parents, her new life in Starlight Shores and her dreams for the future. Talking to Blake was easy, and despite her better judgement, the sparks were definitely flying between them. After a while, Blake leant over and his put his hand on her arm. Kitty inwardly gasped. His touch was electric.
”Come on,” he whispered. ”I want to see what you can do.”
Kitty's eyes widened..."Erm, what I can do....?"
”At the Karaoke of course, ” laughed Blake. ”What did you think I meant?” he continued, his eyes twinkling.
”Erm, nothing, I erm, well” Kitty stammered and blushed, letting her words tail off.
Blake laughed some more. ”Well, one thing at a time, baby” he responded. Somehow the way he lingered on the word ”baby” made Kitty's heart pound in its somewhat nectar-infused state.
Kitty's eyes widened..."Erm, what I can do....?"
”At the Karaoke of course, ” laughed Blake. ”What did you think I meant?” he continued, his eyes twinkling.
”Erm, nothing, I erm, well” Kitty stammered and blushed, letting her words tail off.
Blake laughed some more. ”Well, one thing at a time, baby” he responded. Somehow the way he lingered on the word ”baby” made Kitty's heart pound in its somewhat nectar-infused state.
Kitty tried to drag Blake onto the stage with her. ”Can't, baby. I've got that contract to sign tomorrow – best keep my voice safe for that”. Kitty thought that was a bit odd -after all you don't normally sing when you sign a contract – or do you? Maybe you did, how would she know right? Kitty pushed the thought to one side as she belted out one of her favourite songs. OK, it was a little more wobbly than usual, thanks to the nectar, but as usual Kitty found herself swept up in the song and compared to some of the previous evening's singers, she knew she sounded good.
Karaoke was followed by a game of pool, and another drink (or was it two -by now Kitty had lost count) and soon the bar was calling last orders. Kitty put away her cue, turned back towards Blake and stumbled and lost her footing. Thankfully Blake's arms were there to catch her and hold her up. That electric touch again. Kitty looked up, her face tantalisingly close to his. Before she knew it, she was yielding to a sweet kiss, sweeter than any she'd known.
Karaoke was followed by a game of pool, and another drink (or was it two -by now Kitty had lost count) and soon the bar was calling last orders. Kitty put away her cue, turned back towards Blake and stumbled and lost her footing. Thankfully Blake's arms were there to catch her and hold her up. That electric touch again. Kitty looked up, her face tantalisingly close to his. Before she knew it, she was yielding to a sweet kiss, sweeter than any she'd known.
It was Blake who pulled away first. Suddenly Kitty sensed that his usual charm had been replaced by shyness.
”I don't normally do this,” he said softly, looking deep into Kitty's eyes, ”but life's taught me that sometimes you have to seize the moment. I feel like you and I have a connection, and I don't want this night to end.”
Kitty's head was telling her 'no', but her heart clearly had its own agenda. Kitty's one and only serious boyfriend was back in Twinbrook, and she had ended things with him before moving to Starlight Shores, as he couldn't cope with her grief over the Accident. Now that she was moving on with her life, wasn't it time to have a little fun?
”So,” murmured Blake as they stepped outside the bar,”would you like to come back to mine for a nightcap?”
Kitty snuggled into Blake's chest. ”I can't - my brother will be worried if I'm not around when he wakes up in the morning. But, well, he'll be asleep by now, and so you could always come over to mine...”
As the cab pulled up outside their home, Kitty felt a moment's panic. What was she doing, hooking up with a stranger on the first night. This was so not her. Yes he was sexy, gorgeous and charming, but surely taking things slow would be better. As if he could read her thoughts, Blake pulled her up by the door.
”Tonight has been lovely. I'm so glad you stayed for that drink,” smiled Blake as he caressed her face. ”But if you want it can end here...”
Kitty hesitated no longer, and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed Blake and then shyly led him inside, past Steven's room, through the door of which sounds of light snoring could be heard, and to her bedroom.
”Tonight has been lovely. I'm so glad you stayed for that drink,” smiled Blake as he caressed her face. ”But if you want it can end here...”
Kitty hesitated no longer, and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed Blake and then shyly led him inside, past Steven's room, through the door of which sounds of light snoring could be heard, and to her bedroom.
Afterwards they curled up and chatted for a while before sleepiness finally overcame them. As she settled into Blake's arms, Kitty felt a little embarrassed. ”What would Steven think?” she wondered, momentarily imagining how her protective brother might react to such a turn of events. ”well, I guess we'll find out later' was her last thought as she drifted off to sleep.
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The sunlight pouring in through the window became too bright for Kitty's slightly (ok, very) hungover state to ignore any longer. She stretched and rolled over, reaching out in the bed to find it empty...