New Year’s Kisses (2 page)

When he’d inherited the family home, Wade had thought about selling. It seemed silly to have just him wandering around the huge ten-bedroom mansion, but his sister had convinced him to keep hold of the one thing they had left of their parents. Now, as he pulled into his harbour side home, he was grateful for Vee’s guidance. Winding down his window, Wade reached out and punched in the security code that would open the front gate. As the wrought iron monstrosity parted in two wide arcs the house came into view.

“Oh, my,” Emily whispered beside him. “Are we attending a private party?”

Wade smiled. “You could say that.”

“I think I’m under-dressed.”

He glanced at her as he steered the car through the gates. “No. You’re perfect.” Returning his eyes to the driveway, Wade drove passed the garage to the front door. There was no point putting the car away when he knew he’d be driving Emily home later.

Unless he convinced her to stay.

A man could dream, after all, and if he was going to, he may as well go for the brass ring.

Wade stopped the car, shifted into park, and killed the engine. Without looking at Emily he climbed out and strode around to her side. Opening her door, he offered his hand. When she didn’t immediately respond, a shiver of fear worked its way down his spine. Did she want to bail on him already? “Emily?”

She turned to face him, her eyes wide and mouth slightly parted. “I…I’m speechless. This place is gorgeous.”

He smiled and grabbed her hand. “Come on, this is nothing compared to the view out back.” Tightening his grip, Wade tugged her from the car and swung the door closed as she stepped aside.

“Oh, my gosh. The garden smells wonderful.” She pulled free of his hand and walked over to his mother’s prized rose garden.

Watching her lean forward and smell the blooms reminded him of his mother and the hours she’d spent tending her favourite flowers. Wade hired a gardening service to take care of them now. He’d never learned to appreciate the joys of gardening or the skills needed to keep his mother’s creations alive. He joined her. “They’re my mother’s.”

“Oh.” Her gaze darted up to meet his before zeroing in on the front door. “We’re at your parents’ house?”

“No. They died a few years ago. I inherited the house from them.”

“Oh, Wade. I’m sorry seems so insignificant in the face of such a loss.” Emily glanced around the front garden and finally stopped when her eyes reached him again. “Nothing this beautiful should ever come at so high a cost.”

Wade’s chest ached. No one, not even his sister, had understood the depth of hate he’d had for this house when his parents first died. The pain had diminished over the years, but he still had days where he couldn’t bear to be here. Emily seemed to hit the nail right on the head with a few words. How could he enjoy such luxury when he had to be without his parents to have it? “Thank you.”

Her gaze held his. “For?”

“Understanding that beauty isn’t everything.” He reached for her hand and entwined their fingers. “Come on, enough of memory lane. I want to show you the rest of the place.”

He led her around the garden to the door. Like the car, he’d left the door unlocked. Nothing could get passed the state-of-the-art security system and, if some genius managed it, there was still Brent to deal with. And his friend’s two Dobermans. They entered the foyer and Wade punched his personal code into the control panel by the door. Pulling Emily farther into the house, he bypassed the front rooms and headed for what he liked to refer to as Wade’s World. He’d changed very little since he’d moved back in, except the rooms running across the back of the house on the lower level. Here he’d put his stamp on the place.

An archway led into the spacious kitchen, and the back of the house opened up to the yard and back patio through the full wall of glass concertina doors. The sun hadn’t fully set and the view of the harbour and foreshore was, as usual, breath taking. He let Emily’s hand go and opened the fridge to pull out the platter of finger foods he’d prepared before going to pick her up. Turning, he led the way outside.

“Come on. The last rays of sunset beckon.”

Emily stood in place and, mouth agape, stared through the open doors. As if the gorgeous house she’d just walked through wasn’t enough, she was now faced with a multi-million dollar view. Who was this man she’d agreed to spend the evening with? There was so much about him she didn’t know. He walked across her line of vision, the tray of tempting treats he’d removed from the fridge in his hands, and headed to a table set for two. The red table cloth stirred in the gentle breeze and two thin, unlit taper candles set in chunky silver holds sat off centre with a glass bowl of floating red petals beside them. No doubt about it, he’d set the stage for romance, and Mother Nature had come to the party with a spectacular sunset.

She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, really, but it certainly wasn’t this. Wade had gone to a lot of trouble to make the evening special and she couldn’t deny the little flutters of delight trembling in her belly. He’d done this for her. Even after she’d refused him repeatedly and he’d virtually had to blackmail her into going out with him. Her gaze left the amazing view and settled on the man in question. He set down the tray and pulled a bottle of wine from an ice bucket she hadn’t noticed. With a skill she envied, he popped the cork and poured the sparkling wine into two glasses.

Realising she would look like an idiot if he turned to find her still standing in the house staring, Em quickly moved forward. By the time he’d returned the bottle to the bucket and picked up both their glasses, she’d reached his side. She took the flute he held out to her and tapped the glass to his when he offered a toast.

“To breathtaking views and splendid company,” he said.

She didn’t have anything to add, so took a sip and savoured the tart bubbles exploding on her tongue. The champagne was expensive. Emily didn’t drink often, but she knew quality when she tasted it.

“Here.” Wade pulled out a chair. “Sit. Let’s eat and enjoy the view.”

Emily slipped into the most comfortable outdoor chair she’d ever had the pleasure of using. The soft cushions cradled her back, bottom, and thighs in a firm but supple grip. She sighed as she settled into her seat and took another sip of her wine. It really was the most delicious champagne she’d ever tasted.

“Try this.” Wade held out a small square of bread topped with chopped tomato, onion, and a mix of herbs she couldn’t name. Before she could take it from him, he brought the bite to her lips. “Open up.”

Left with no choice, Em parted her lips and let him feed her. Rich flavours flooded her mouth as she chewed. She hadn’t had tomatoes so delicious in a long time. The blast of heat from the sweet Spanish onion only added to the delight. Emily swallowed and took another sip of her drink.

“Oh my God, that’s amazing. What is it?”

“Bruschetta.”

“That’s not like any bruschetta I’ve eaten.” Emily reached for another piece.

“It’s the home grown ingredients that make it special.”

Her hand stopped halfway to her mouth. “You grow your own food?”

Wade laughed. “No. Mrs Marcella down the street does. My housekeeper buys all the fresh produce she can from her.”

“You have a house keeper?” Who
was
this man? “I thought you owned an alarm company.”

“I do. But it’s a little more complicated than fitting alarms like the one we installed at your centre.” He picked up another delicious looking morsel. “Here, try this one next.”

“What is it?” She quickly ate the second piece of bruschetta.

“Thai chicken salad in crispy wonton cups.”

“Wow. Your house keeper can cook.” Emily took the nibble he offered.

Wade smiled. “She doesn’t cook my meals. Her job is to clean the house and stock the cupboards with whatever I put on my shopping list.”

“Then who made these?”

“I did.”

Emily stilled. “You cook?”

He grinned, but didn’t answer.

“Did you cook dinner too?” Em couldn’t help it. She was intrigued by the idea of man who knew his way around a kitchen this well.

“No. But I could have.” He popped a wonton in his mouth and chewed.

“So what are we having for dinner then?” Emily took a sip of her wine and was shocked to find her glass almost empty. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be drunk, and Lord knows what she might let happen with her inhibitions lowered. She moved her glass away when Wade went to top it up. “Not yet. I need more food in my stomach first.”

“You don’t have to worry about driving home. You can afford to indulge.”

“Driving isn’t what I’m worried about.” Emily selected another wonton. “Are you going to tell me what we’re having for dinner?”

“I’ve ordered mains and dessert from a local restaurant. They’ll be delivered at eight-thirty. We’ll enjoy our meal and finish off with the nine o’clock fireworks display.”

“Perfect vantage point.” Emily gestured out over the water to the Harbour Bridge in the distance.

“It is. Which is why I couldn’t think of a better place to spend the evening with you.” He took a sip of his champagne. “So tell me the Emily Warner story.”

“Not much to tell.” She shrugged. “I own Kiddies Inc and the business takes up most of my time.”

“No. Tell me the
whole
Emily story.” He picked up the bottle and topped up her glass. “Where did you grow up? Go to school? Do you have any brothers or sisters? That story.”

“Well, I’m an only child of an older single mum. Never knew my father and mum died when I was seventeen. I’ve been on my own ever since.” Em didn’t like to talk about that time in her life, so she quickly moved on. “I worked fulltime while putting myself through night school. I earned two degrees and saved every cent so I could open Kiddies Inc. I actually bought out the previous owner and rebranded the way I wanted, so I had an existing client base. I can’t tell you how much easier that made things.”

She brought her glass to her lips to stop herself from babbling. Her mouth had a habit of running away whenever she was nervous and, right now, with Wade’s undivided attention focused right on her, she was more nervous than she’d ever been. And that included the day she’d signed on the dotted line of a million-dollar business loan.

“You’re completely alone? Who did you spend Christmas with?”

“Oh, I’m not alone. I’ve got lots of friends. Granted I don’t see them as much as I’d like, but I still have people in my life. And I always spend Christmas visiting the children’s hospital. I help hand out the presents donated by the public.” Emily covered her mouth with her hand. Why had she told him that? No one knew about her trips to see the children.

“You’re a really surprise package, Emily.” He glanced at his watch. “Dinner should be here in about ten minutes or so. If you’ve had enough, I’ll clear this all away so we’re ready for our main course.”

Em looked at the last remaining wonton and sighed. “Yeah, if I don’t stop now I won’t be able to eat much of dinner. I don’t want to risk filling up and missing dessert.” She got to her feet. “Let me help.”

Wade let Emily follow him into the kitchen, but he refused to agree to her carrying anything. It all stacked neatly on the tray anyway, and it didn’t require two of them to cart it inside. Not that he’d say no to her accompanying him in the most mundane pursuits. She intrigued him. He’d watched her while they’d installed her centre’s alarm system and, as it was his company that supported the callouts when the alarm was triggered, Wade had frequently been in the position to observe her transition from cool business to gentle and nurturing. He was in no doubt she loved every one of those kids with every fibre of her being.

He couldn’t say it was her looks that drew him. Although she was a knockout, the first glimpse he’d gotten of her was less than attractive. She’d been finger painting and had every colour of the rainbow in small hand-sized splotches from her face to her arse. The fact that she hadn’t felt the need to preen before showing him and his crew through the building had further pricked his interest. And now, dressed in the sexiest peace of black cloth he’d ever laid eyes on, she blew his mind and gained the attention of certain parts of his anatomy. Parts that would become obvious in their awareness if he didn’t put a lid on his libido.

Glancing at the microwave he noted the time and decided a little distraction was in order before he made a complete Neanderthal of himself and pushed her up against the nearest wall to take the kiss he was dying to steal. Of course he had plans for their first kiss, and their second. Their third. Fourth. Wade smiled. He planned to seduce her slowly, and what better way than New Year’s Eve when kissing the person in front of you was mandatory?

Wade offered her his hand. “Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour of the house before dinner.”

“I suppose we’re starting the tour in your bedroom?”

The kicked up corner of her mouth and the twinkle of mischief in her eyes made him laugh. He welcomed the lightening of tension in his gut. “If I thought for one second I could convince you to take a trip though my bedroom this early in our relationship, I’d offer. But you’re not that easy, Emily, and I wouldn’t be as interested as I am if you were.”

He reached for her hand and wove his fingers through hers. Without giving her time to comment on his revealing remark, he tugged her out of the kitchen and into the hall. She wasn’t interested in hearing just how interested he was. Emily Warner had barriers he doubted she knew about, but he saw them. He’d also seen how she dropped those walls completely with the children at her work and he wanted that. Wanted her to look at him with her heart and eyes open and take what he offered in return. And Wade had a bone deep belief he was willing to give her anything she asked.

“I’ve changed little from when my parents were alive, but this room.” He pushed open the door and grinned. “Vee calls it my man cave.”

Emily step inside and glanced around. “Well, I can see why it might deserve that tag. Who’s Vee?”

“My sister, Valentine.” He strode passed her to the control box on the back wall. “Check this out.” Pushing a few buttons he waited for the panels that covered the cinema screen to retract.