Tori opened her mouth to argue with him about etiquette, but Rose came by with his plate, too. Now she couldn’t even refuse out of politeness.
“Perfect,” he said, eyeing his roast beef. “Now we can eat together. Not exactly what I envisioned for our first date, but it will do.”
“Date?” Tori’s head snapped up from her plate. The man must be reading her mind. It was the only answer.
“I told you I wanted to take you out to dinner,” he said before popping a bite of beef into his mouth and swallowing. “I was thinking more of wine and candlelight, but we can save that for our second date.”
“We’re dating now?” It was news to her. News that made her heart flutter momentarily in her chest as though she were a teenager.
Wade shrugged. “Why label it? We’re just enjoying each other’s company and getting to know one another. What are you doing tomorrow night?”
Tori paused with a bite of chicken and vegetables in midair. “Why?”
Dropping his fork to his plate, Wade spun on his stool to face her. His brow was furrowed with irritation, but the light in his green eyes indicated it was more exasperation than anything else. “Why must you make everything so difficult? It’s a simple question. Do you have plans Friday night or not?”
“No.” It was the truth. She worked during the day on the blueprints for the house, fielding calls and holding virtual meetings on other projects, but most of her evenings were spent reading or messing around on her computer until she got sleepy.
“Well, you do now. I’m going to take you out on a proper dinner date.”
* * *
Wade had to admit this was the first time he’d ever dressed in an Armani suit, gotten into his BMW and driven to a trailer to pick up a woman for dinner. As he climbed out of the SUV, he was pleased that the sunny day, while cold, had managed to melt most of the snow and reveal the well-packed gravel of her temporary driveway. A couple more warm days and he might be able to find the turtle-shaped rock on her property that served as a makeshift headstone.
He had tried to talk himself into canceling this date several times today. He was attracted to Tori, but he could suppress that urge if he needed to. Asking her out had very little to do with his desire for her. As much as he didn’t like the idea, getting close to Tori was the best way to soften her up. She’d gone from a hellcat to a kitten after spending time with his family. The information Brody had supplied him with about her business had made her putty in his hands. He was confident that a date or two would wear her down.
It had to. If Tori intended to break ground on the house in a few weeks’ time, he had to hurry. There wasn’t time to finesse this situation. He had to win Tori over one way or another, and this seemed to be the quickest way. She was attracted to him. If the past was any indication, that might be enough to influence her decision.
It was sleazy. Underhanded. And absolutely necessary. He couldn’t fail his family.
As he made his way to her front door, he enjoyed feeling the crunch of gravel against the soles of his dress shoes. He’d opted not to wear his snow boots and was hoping Tori had done the same. The knee-high boots she’d worn at Christmas were nice, but he was a self-proclaimed ankle guy. Just another reason for him to despise the cold and ice of New England winters. His favorite part of the female body was tucked away until spring.
He had his fingers crossed that she would step out of that Airstream in one of her sexy pairs of heels. Back when she’d worked for him, he could always count on finding her near the copier or in the break room wearing an attractive yet professional outfit and a pair of luscious heels. It had been the highlight of his day.
He gave a quick rap on the aluminum door and waited for her to answer. A moment later it swung open, and he stepped back to hold it for her. Cling to it was more like it.
The elevated camper gave him a prime view of a pair of black patent leather pumps with a strap around each delicate ankle. His heart almost skipped a beat as his gaze traveled up the length of her calves to the dark red bandage dress that clung to her round, full hips. The neckline was off the shoulder, and dipped low to give a tantalizing yet tasteful view of her breasts.
Tori smiled and slipped into a black full-length wool coat before stepping down to join him. Her thick auburn hair was swept up into a twist, exposing the long, pale line of her neck and sparkling ruby earrings. Her pale eyes looked mysterious and exotic lined in black with a smoky shadow.
She was, in a word, breathtaking.
He reached out a hand to help her down the stairs and then pushed the door shut behind her. “You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you,” Tori replied. The blush of her cheeks was made even more evident by the powerful red of her dress peeking out from under her coat. “You look very nice, too. I don’t think I’ve seen you in a suit since we worked together.”
Wade smiled and held out his arm to lead her to the passenger side of his car. “I wear them all the time in real life. On the farm, I’d just get pine sap on it. More rugged attire is required out here, as you know.”
Tori eased into the heated leather seat and pulled her legs in. “Yes, these heels aren’t very practical in the country.”
“That’s a damn shame,” Wade said as he slammed her door closed. He then got in on his side.
Tori waited until they were on the highway before she spoke again. “So where are we going?”
“A little French place I know on the west side. It’s a far cry from Daisy’s Diner, I have to tell you.”
“Wait, I think I’ve heard of that place. Incredible food, but almost impossible to get in?”
“That’s the place.”
“How did you get reservations? You just asked me out last night. It’s Friday, one of the busiest nights. I’ve heard people can wait months for a table.”
Wade turned to her with his cockiest smile. “I know people.”
“Oh, that’s very impressive,” she mocked.
“I went to high school with the executive chef. We’ve stayed good friends over the years. Whenever I’m in town, all I have to do is call and I’ve got a table held for me.”
“That must go over well with all the women you take there.”
Wade tried not to make a face, but he couldn’t help it. She made him sound like a tomcat running around west Connecticut. “I’m usually alone or with one of my brothers,” he said. “I think this is the first date I’ve ever taken there. I’m usually not in Cornwall long enough to romance anyone.”
Tori nodded and turned to glance out the window at the rapidly darkening sky. “So when do you head back to the big bad city?”
“I don’t know,” Wade admitted.
And he didn’t know. His plan had been to secure the land, spend Christmas with his family and hop the next plane to Jamaica. He should be gone by now, but that hadn’t panned out. All his brothers and Julianne had returned to their respective homes. And he was still there. Without the land. And without a ticket to a warm tropical locale.
When all this was over, he was going to demand a vacation on Brody’s private Caribbean island. He owed Wade after all the grief he’d served him the past few days.
“Don’t you have a business to get back to?”
“Not until after the New Year. My company shuts down for two weeks so my employees can enjoy the holidays.”
“Was it your intention to spend those two weeks here, badgering me?”
“No. By now I’d intended to be on a beach, soaking in the sun and badgering a waitress for another drink.”
Tori turned to him. “So you’ll stay in Cornwall until you wear me down, right?”
Wade met her gaze momentarily before turning back to the road. “Yes.”
“And what if I deliberately stalled just to keep you around?”
Wade slowed the SUV to turn into the parking lot of the restaurant. For a packed night, there weren’t many cars, but the dining room was small and didn’t have many tables. Or a menu, for that matter. They served a series of tasting courses, chef’s choice. Wade pulled into a spot and turned off the car.
Unbuckling his seat belt, he pivoted to face her. “If you’re really interested in keeping me around, there are better ways to go about it.”
“Like what?” she asked. The challenge lighted her eyes like sparkling hunks of aquamarine.
“Like making wild, passionate love to me until I can’t bear to leave your side.”
Tori’s mouth dropped open. Her lips moved in vain for a moment, but there were no words. He seemed to have that effect on her, and he had to admit he liked it. Wade grinned wickedly and climbed from the car. He came around and opened the door for her, taking her hand as she slid from the seat.
They walked to the restaurant with his arm around her waist. He liked the feel of her body against his side. She fit perfectly there, and he needed only to turn his head toward her to breathe in the floral scent of her shampoo. It made him want to spread the strands across a silky pillowcase and bury his face in them. Soon. Hopefully.
Just as they opened the door, he leaned in and whispered, “And I hope you’ll put that new plan into place tonight after dessert.”
The sounds of the restaurant eclipsed any response she might have cobbled together. He focused instead on greeting the hostess, the executive chef’s wife, and following her to an intimate table for two by the fireplace. Wade helped Tori out of her coat, then handed both their jackets over to the hostess to be checked.
Moments later their server, Richard, arrived with two glasses of white wine. After welcoming them and introducing himself, he placed the glasses on the table, adding, “We’re starting tonight with an ’83 sauvignon blanc and a tasting of caviar and white asparagus.”
A second server swooped in behind Richard with their first plates, and then both of them disappeared into the kitchen.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Wade said, admiring the artistry of their first dish. “There’s nine more courses.”
They’d need every bit of spare room to eat all the food and wine presented to them. There was a
fois gras
terrine, butter-poached lobster, potatoes with black truffles, lamb, sorbet and the most delicate white chocolate mousse with cherries he’d ever put into his mouth. The food and wine flowed as easily as their conversation.
Wade had been concerned at first that their usual antagonistic banter might ruin the evening. As much as fighting with Tori aroused him, he wanted tonight to be about something else. The more she got to know him, the more she seemed to open up to him. The information Brody had been able to uncover about Tori had proved fairly useful so far. Talking about her work and her passion for environmental causes had opened a door to him.
Tonight the romantic atmosphere and the multiple courses of wine seemed to help her relax and enjoy herself. After about the third course, he could see the tension ease from her shoulders and a lazy pleasure settle into her eyes. She laughed and flirted, smiled and watched him over her glass with warmth in her gaze. He liked this side of Tori just as much as, if not more than, her fiery red side.
They talked about their work and their college experiences. Tori shared details about her travels as a child and all the things she’d seen. Wade had to admit he was a touch jealous that she had seen so many things at such a young age. When he was young, he was poor. And now that he was no longer poor, he was too busy to travel.
In turn she asked him a lot about his high school years and growing up with brothers and sisters. They had lived quite different lives.
Before he knew it, he looked up and found they were the only customers left in the restaurant. There was only the sultry music playing in the background and the crackling of the fireplace beside them. Even the servers seemed to blend into the background, well-trained not to interfere with their customers’ romantic evenings.
“Did you say you never went to prom?”
Tori looked up from her last half-eaten plate. “No prom. No high school graduation. None of the normal stuff.”
“Do you like to dance?”
She hesitated a moment before she answered. “I don’t know. I’ve never actually danced with a man before. I mean, I went to a few nightclubs in college, but not real dancing. There’s never really been the opportunity. No school dances, no family weddings…”
Wade frowned and eyed the area just beside their table. “That is a travesty.” He stood, placing his napkin in his seat, and reached out for Tori’s hand. “Come here.”
Despite a flash of wariness in her eyes, Tori didn’t argue with his demand, and he was glad. Instead, she rose gracefully from her chair and took the few steps over to the open area that was the perfect dance floor for two.
Wade pulled her into his arms, giving her time to adjust to the proper stance before pressing her body against his own and rocking in gentle time with the music. At first she was stiff in his arms. He worried that it was him, but her glance kept nervously shifting down to her feet. She was uncomfortable not knowing how to dance.
“I don’t think I’m very good at this,” she said, worrying her lip with her teeth.
“Just relax,” he cooed into her ear. “No one is watching. It’s only you and me.” Wade splayed his hand across her lower back, pressing her into him and guiding her movements. “Close your eyes and feel the music. Feel the movement.”
Tori closed her eyes, her body relaxing after a few moments. Then she leaned in and placed her head on his shoulder. Wade reveled in the feel of her in his arms, closing his own eyes to block out everything but the experience of holding her.
Her skin was like satin against his. The soft curves of her body fit into each hard ridge of his own. He could feel the crush of her breasts against the wall of his chest and the rapidly beating heart behind it. The rhythm of it matched the pounding in his own rib cage. The blood had started rushing in his veins the moment he touched her. Every nerve in his body was tingling with arousal and anxiety.
Despite all the complications and reasons he shouldn’t want Tori, he did. He wanted her very badly. And he was fairly certain she felt the same way.
Tori shifted in his arms, and he opened his eyes to see her pull away just enough to look him in the eye.