by Rhian Cahill
“Oh.” Em hadn’t thought about him, her mind too consumed with her own hormone overload. But the evidence of their one-sided satisfaction was firmly pressed against her sex. “I could–”
“No. I wasn’t suggesting you needed to do anything.”
“But–”
“Nah-ah, no buts, this isn’t a game. We’re not keeping score.” He pressed a hard kiss to her mouth before rising to his elbows. “We missed midnight in the Marshall Islands.”
Em smiled. “Oh, I think at least one of us got to see some fireworks.”
Wade laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest and vibrating into hers. “Yes, she did.”
He dropped another kiss on her lips then pushed back to kneel between her legs. His gaze travelled down her chest, pausing briefly on her breasts, then moving over her stomach, past her hips until he reached the hem of her dress where it had hiked up on her thighs. The urge to pull it down and cover herself gripped her, but before she could move Wade tugged the skirt lower. An electrifying buzz shivered through her as his fingers brushed her heated skin and goose bumps fanned out from his slight touch.
“You’re so responsive.” He trailed his fingers over her knees and along her shins to her ankles where he toyed with the straps of her shoes. “Have I mentioned how sexy these shoes are? The dress?”
She shook her head.
“I’ve wanted to get you under me for months, Emily. To actually have you there…” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Tingles started in her toes, moved up her legs, multiplied in her core, and spread out to completely saturate her in prickly heat. A tremor vibrated down her spine and her nipples hardened, poking against the lace of her bra, the delicate fabric rough on the over sensitised nubs. She couldn’t hold back the gasped moan that slipped off her tongue. He was right. Her body was so primed for him – so responsive – the slightest touch threatened to send her over the edge. Emily wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, embarrassing to have such a short fuse. Wade didn’t appear upset by it.
“Come on.” Wade held out his hand as he got to his feet. “Let’s move back into the cabana. We’ll be sheltered from the breeze that’s picking up and there’s a quilt we can wrap up in.”
Emily took his hand and let him pull her up. She couldn’t help noticing the bulge in his pants hadn’t receded and guilt clenched her belly. She’d been selfish, something she’d never done before. Usually she was the one left hanging. The thought made her face flame and she ducked her head so Wade wouldn’t see her reddened cheeks. Grabbing her cushion, she hauled it across the grass and onto the timber flooring. Once inside the cabana the material slid easily over the floor and she had the huge pillow back in place in seconds.
Wade went to the fridge and pulled the bottle of champagne out. “Time to open the champagne?” he asked.
“Definitely. How long ‘til midnight?” Emily moved the remaining fruit onto the cheese platter and slid it on top of the empty one.
“Fifty minutes ‘til show time.”
“Open it now.” She picked up the two unused flutes and walked over to him. “We don’t need to wait until midnight to celebrate.”
“Oh.” Wade worked the cork from the bottle, the loud pop made her jump and laughter bubbled in her throat. “What are we celebrating if not New Year?” he asked with a smile.
She waited for Wade to fill their glasses. Handing him his, Emily tapped hers against it and said, “New friends and new beginnings.”
Chapter Six
Wade sipped his champagne and wondered if he’d understood Emily correctly. Was she willing to take the next step? Willing to give them a chance to see where all this amazing chemistry took them? He could just ask her to clarify, and normally he would, but a healthy dose of fear stopped him. He’d never wanted anything so much in his life. His whole future rode on the small shoulders he wanted to get his lips on.
There he went again. He could tell himself a thousand times to cool his jets, only to come up against the overwhelming demands of a libido that wouldn’t be happy until he claimed Emily as his. He’d do it in a heartbeat, except his gut instincts were screaming to go slow. She’d barely opened herself up. Bombarding her with overzealous amorous desires and needs would only cause her to back away. At least he thought it would. He was on new ground where she was concerned.
“What’s wrong?” Emily asked.
He jolted from his circling thoughts to find her watching him.
“You’ve got little furrows between your eyebrows.” She used the pad of her thumb to smooth them out. “They usually mean you’re contemplating a difficult problem.”
That brought a smile to his lips. She may have been rejecting him all these months, but she certainly hadn’t been oblivious to his existence. “Not difficult. More unknown elements I’m not sure how to deal with yet.”
“Me.”
It wasn’t a question. And it proved how in sync they were. He could only image how close they would become with both of them trying. Suddenly Wade wanted a guaranteed yes from her. “We’re doing this. You’re not going to push me away again.”
“No. I won’t.” Her mouth curved up on one end. “But I don’t really know how to do this either. I’ve been focused on my education and then my business for the last eight years. There’s been no serious relationship in that time.”
“You haven’t dated in eight years?” Wade was flabbergasted by the thought.
Emily laughed. “I said no relationship, not dates. I’ve dated plenty over the years.”
“Right, okay, well we’re even then.” He took her hand in his. “My life has been dateless since I lost my parents, and before that there was never anyone worth getting serious with.”
“Is this serious?”
“Emily, I’ve been serious from the moment I set eyes on you.” Wade bought her hand to his lips and placed a kiss on each of her knuckles. “It just took you a little while to catch up.”
“I’m not usually slow on the uptake, but I am guilty of tunnel vision. Although once I set my mind to something, I don’t give up until I succeed.”
“Then put your mind on making us work.” He tapped his glass to Emily’s. “To new beginnings.”
“New beginnings.”
He led her over to a floor cushion. Positioning himself with his legs apart, Wade pulled Emily down to sit in front of him, her back to his chest. From where they were, the view of the Harbour Bridge was uninterrupted and he could easily reach the bottle of champagne to refill their glasses.
“Tell me about the tunnel vision. What’s had your undivided attention until now?” Wade asked.
“Kiddies Inc.”
“I can imagine how much time and energy the centre would take up. I doubt I’d survive working there longer than a week.”
“The kids are definitely time and energy sucks, but I wouldn’t swap my job for anything in the world.”
Wade could hear the smile in her voice. “I know you love it. What made you pick childcare?”
“I haven’t a clue.” She shrugged. “For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to have my own centre.”
“It suits you.”
“What does?”
“Being surrounded by children. You glow when you’re with them.” An image of Emily, cross-legged on the floor, book in hand, children around her leaning forward hanging on every word she spoke, flashed through his mind. She was a modern-day Pied Piper.
Emily turned her head to look at him. “I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Stick around. I’m sure I can find nicer things to say.” Wade pressed his lips to her forehead. “So how long have you owned Kiddie’s Inc?”
She faced forward again and sighed. “Only two years, but I worked there while I earned my degrees. When Meagan, the previous owner, wanted to sell, I took my savings and the largest business loan the bank would give me and bought her out.”
“Big risk for someone so youn
g.”
“I’m thirty, hardly a spring chicken.” Emily laughed.
“Thirty? I wouldn’t have pegged you for more than twenty-five.”
Her laughter grew louder. “Is that one of those nicer things you mentioned?”
“No.” Wade shook his head even though she wasn’t looking at him. “I honestly wouldn’t have said you were older than that. Remember I asked twice the day I quoted your job to speak to the boss. I couldn’t wrap my head around someone so young owning the place.”
“Well, thank you.” She sipped her wine. “You know, I have no idea how old you are.”
“Thirty-five next birthday.”
“And when’s that?”
“Would you believe in–” Wade raised his arm so they could both see his watch. “–twenty minutes.”
She sat up and turned in his arms. “No way?”
He laughed. “Yes way.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Why should I have? That’s tomorrow and this is tonight.”
“But you should be celebrating your birthday.”
“I will.” Wade tapped the end of her nose with his finger. “Tomorrow. First we have to see in the New Year.”
“You should do something special tomorrow.”
“I am. We’re taking the boat out on the harbour and you’re supplying lunch.”
“Sandwiches aren’t anything special.”
“Grass would be special if I got to share it with you.”
“Damn. There you go saying nice things again.” Emily turned and snuggled back against him once more. “I need to think of something better than sandwiches,” she mumbled.
Wade smiled. She was getting more comfortable being with him. The way she sank into him was a welcome relief after her previous avoidance. And it didn’t hurt that she was trying to think of something special to feed him tomorrow either. “I’ll be happy no matter what you feed me.”
“Mmm, we’ll see how happy you are when you work out I can’t cook.”
He could hear the smile in her voice. No wonder she’d been so shocked to discover he’d prepared part of their dinner. “I can cook well enough for both of us.”
She laughed. “Keep thinking that. I’m lucky to boil water without burning it, and that’s only because I use an electric kettle to do it. Those things are idiot proof.”
“You can’t be that bad.” Wade grinned at their easy banter.
“Oh, yes I can. I pay good money to the chef at Kiddies Inc for a reason.”
“So there’ll be no coming home to cooked meals in my future?” He tried to infuse his words with disappointment.
“Not unless you cook or we hire someone else to do it.”
Wade stilled, his breath frozen in his lungs. Did Emily realise what she’d just revealed? He wasn’t about to draw her attention to it, so he quickly changed the subject.
“I’m having dinner with Vee and Brent tomorrow night. I’d love it if you joined us.”
“Will they be okay with that?” Her words were edged with worry.
“Doesn’t matter what they think. It’s my birthday so it’s what I want that counts.” And if they didn’t like it, they could eat elsewhere. Wade wasn’t about to give up one minute of time with Emily now that she’d agreed to see him.
Em worried her bottom lip, her teeth digging deep enough to cause a sting of pain. “Sure, I’ve got nowhere else to be.” Would his sister and best friend be happy about her joining them?
“Wow. You’re enthusiasm warms my heart.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to join you, but I don’t want to intrude.” She hadn’t meant to imply she didn’t want to go.
“Like I said, my birthday, my choice.” Wade’s arm tightened around her waist.
“Speaking of birthdays, how close now?”
Wade brought his arm up for her to see his watch.
“A little over ten minutes.” Emily leaned over and placed her glass on the floor beside them. “I’ve never seen the fireworks live before. Watching on TV doesn’t count even if it’s live to air.”
“You saw the nine o’clock ones.”
She smiled. “Only half.”
He nuzzled her ear. “Well I hate to be the one to dash your hopes, but you’ll only be watching half of these too.”
“Oh?” Em leaned her head to the side, enjoying Wade’s teasing touch.
His teeth nipped at her ear. “Yeah, I’ve got something better to show you.” He leaned forward and waggled his eyebrows at her.
Emily laughed. She loved these glimpses of Wade’s humour. He’d seemed so serious most times they’d talked. Then again, before tonight they’d only spoken about work related issues. Or she’d been shooting down his attempts to ask her out. He hadn’t let her reluctance stop him though, and for that she would be forever grateful. They never would have reached this point if it were up to her. She wasn’t the type to sleep with a man on the first date, but that last kiss had proven how volatile their attraction was. If things went further, Emily would let them – would encourage it. For the second time in her life, Em was going to take what she wanted from someone else. And what she wanted was Wade and the sublime pleasure being with him offered. This new brave Emily was something else to thank him for. He made her want to have it all and before tonight she never would have thought it possible.
“What’s with the serious thoughts?”
Emily jerked. Could he read her mind? “What makes you ask that?”
“I’m not the only one that gets creases in their forehead when they’re thinking hard.” He stroked his fingers over those very wrinkles.
“I was actually thinking about how grateful I am that you didn’t give up on me.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “Most men would have taken no for an answer the first time.”
“Good thing I’m not like most men.” Wade tilted his face closer to hers.
She smiled. “Damn good thing.”
Wade’s face lit up with a flash of colour right before a loud boom shook the world around them. He grinned down at her. “Happy New Year, Emily.”
There was no chance to answer. His lips slanted over hers, his tongue seeking entrance to her mouth. And she opened for him. Welcomed him with all the passion she felt inside.
Epilogue
New Year’s Day, Twelve Months Later
Em raised her face to the sun and savoured the salty breeze brushing across her skin. It was another glorious day on Sydney Harbour except this one had added sparkle. Lifting her hand, she watched the sun catch on the square-cut diamond ring on her left hand. The gold band shined where it curved around her finger. She couldn’t believe Wade had not only found the perfect ring, but also the right size.
“You know if you keep flashing that around you’re going to blind people.” Wade’s laughing words floated over the deck from where he stood behind the wheel.
“I’m not the one who bought such a large diamond.” She grinned at him.
“I can take it back and swap it for a smaller one,” he offered.
“Don’t you dare!” She whipped her hand behind her back.
He laughed out right now, the deep rumbling kind that came from the bottom of his belly. Or perhaps even his soul. He’d laughed so much more over the last twelve months. Emily didn’t need Vee to tell her how much happier he was now that she’d come into his life. She’d seen it herself, the slow but steady crawl from the shell he’d surround himself with after his parents death. It was as though he’d been going through the motions, not really living until she’d given him a reason to.
She had another surprise for him later. One neither of them had expected this soon, but one Em knew he’d be thrilled with. Her house had sold two days ago and she’d promised him once that happened she’d move in with him. Only now she had one more reason to completely join their lives. Without thought, her hand drifted over her flat stomach. It wouldn’t stay that way for long. And if her calculations were right, that bout of
flu last October meant they were well on their way to being connected for the rest of their lives.
“When are you going to tell me?” Wade’s question had her jerking around to face him.
“Tell you what?” Surely he hadn’t guessed? She hadn’t known until last week when she’d gone in for her annual check up.
“How far, Emily?” He walked towards her, his stride sure, purposeful. “I’m guessing three months.”
“How–”
“You forget I know your body better than my own. After you were so sick last spring, you lost all that weight, but your breast got bigger. And there’s a slight swelling here in the last few weeks.” Wade crouched down beside her and put his palm on her stomach where hers had so recently been. “And there’s been a few other indicators I could point out.”
Emily pouted. Yet again he’d read her like a book. Wait, if he’d suspected for so long… “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I just did.”
“No, before now.”
“What was I supposed to say? Em, I think you’re pregnant?”
“Yes!” She scrambled round to sit on her knees. “I had no idea until the doctor came in with the little stick she used to check my wee last week. No clue!”
“But you’re happy, right?” Worry wrinkles formed between his eyebrows.
Emily launched herself at him, her arms squeezing tight around his neck. “Yes. God, yes. It’s earlier than we planned, but I’m so excited I don’t know how I’ve managed to keep from blurting it out.”
Wade stood with her in his arms and spun them around. Dizzy with delight, Em threw her head back and laughed. When he stopped spinning, he cradled the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his. For long moments they lost themselves. It was always the same. Whenever Wade kissed her, Emily’s mind became a blank slate with only need for him etched on it. The boat rocked beneath their feet and they broke apart just as someone on a passing yacht yelled out “get a room”.
Grinning Wade said, “Happy New Year, Emily.”
