Undeniable Demands

by Andrea Laurence

  “Well, speak of the devil.” Rose straightened immediately and started fidgeting with her dark brown ponytail. Tori turned in her seat and found Wade there, hanging up his coat on a rack by the door. She turned back before he could see her, hoping he wouldn’t notice her. Unfortunately, Rose was strutting around so conspicuously in front of her that he was certain to look her way eventually.

  “Hey, Rosie,” Wade said, sitting down at the counter a few seats away. “How’ve you been?”

  Rose slid down the counter as if she’d been pulled in by his tractor beam. “Good. How about you?”

  “Busy. How’s your dad doing these days?”

  Tori watched the smile fade from Rose’s face. “He’s okay. I’m sure he’s bored out of his skull, but twenty-three hours a day in a cell will do that to you.”

  Wade straightened in surprise. Apparently he hadn’t kept up with the latest Cornwall gossip. Even Tori knew that Rose’s dad had gone to jail last year. She didn’t know what for, exactly, but it didn’t sound as though he would be getting out anytime soon.

  “Oh, I hadn’t heard he was, uh… I’m sorry. Um…do you guys have the pot roast special tonight?”

  Rose smiled again and let the uncomfortable subject drop. “That’s only on Mondays. But we’ve got the sliced roast beef with mushroom gravy and mashed potatoes. It’s almost as good.”

  “That’ll do. And a lemon-lime soda, please.”

  “You bet.” Rose shot Tori a wink and disappeared into the kitchen.

  Alone at the counter with him, Tori couldn’t decide if she should shrink into herself and hope she became invisible or sit up tall and dare him to say something to her. She hadn’t seen him since Christmas Eve. Since they kissed. And now she didn’t quite know how to act. Was he still the enemy? Her body didn’t think so, but her brain disagreed. He could be exploiting their natural attraction to get his way. She would have to err on the side of caution and continue under the assumption he was the enemy, kisses or no, until he stopped asking to buy her land. She couldn’t trust his motives.

  And yet she didn’t want to fight with him anymore. It was all too confusing.

  She opted for a happy medium, quietly sipping her tea and waiting for her dinner to arrive. Tori focused so intently on it that she noticed only a familiar heat, and when she looked up, Wade was on the stool beside her. She hadn’t even realized he’d moved.

  “Hello, Tori.”

  She turned in her seat to look at him. He was wearing dark tailored jeans and a black cashmere sweater that fit his broad shoulders beautifully. She itched to reach out and brush the soft fabric as an excuse to touch him again.

  “Wade,” she responded simply. She was afraid she’d give away too much if she said anything more.

  Wade smiled broadly, undeterred by her cool reception. He took the drink Rose offered him before she disappeared into the kitchen again, leaving Tori high and dry. He took a sip before he spoke. “Do you eat here a lot?”

  “Most nights. You’ve seen my kitchen.” She was certain her confusion was etched on her face, but there was nothing she could do about it. “You’re awfully friendly tonight.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be? The last time I saw you, we made out against the side of your truck.”

  Tori’s cheeks lit up as bright as her hair. “Don’t say it like that,” she said, wishing her pot pie would come and give her something to focus on instead of her memories of making out with Wade. She couldn’t think of anything else with his scent so close, tempting her to do it again.

  Wade grinned and she was glad she was sitting down and didn’t have to worry about her knees giving out from under her. She wished she didn’t amuse him so much. If he smiled less and sat farther away, she might not be fighting this pointless attraction to the man she was trying very hard not to like. A man she shouldn’t like, considering he fired her, made her lose her apartment and was hell-bent on taking away her second chance at settling down.

  It was that stupid smile that did it.

  “Okay,” he agreed, leaning in to whisper the words softly in her ear. “The last time I saw you, I drank in your lips like a sweet wine I couldn’t get enough of.”

  Rose approached at that moment, heard Wade’s low words, then immediately spun on her heel and vanished. Tori knew she’d hear more about that later, but she could hardly care with Wade’s deep voice vibrating through her. A shiver ran down Tori’s spine when he spoke, and gooseflesh drew up all over her skin. His warm breath on her neck took her back to the snow, to the truck, to the kisses she couldn’t forget. Why did he have this power over her? “I s-suppose that’s a better way to put it,” she stuttered. “And yet you haven’t darkened my doorstep since then.”

  “I wanted to, believe me. But I had to put in the family time. We only get together once a year. The last of them left today, so I’m free to begin harassing you again.”

  Honestly, she’d felt his presence even with him gone. The past few days he’d plagued her thoughts, overrun her dreams and disrupted her focus. Memories of his kisses lingered. She was on edge thinking he might show up any minute to continue his petition to buy the land. Or better yet, to pick up where they’d left off. He might as well have been sitting in her camper since Monday night.

  “Why did you stay behind when the others left?” she said, pushing the thoughts of his touch out of her mind.

  “A few things needed my attention,” he said.

  She swallowed hard. “Like what?”

  “Like you.” His lips curled in a smug grin. He knew he was pushing all the right buttons. “So how long have you been here in Cornwall?”

  The change in discussion nearly gave her whiplash, but the topic was thankfully a safe one. “Two months. I had been looking at this area for a while before that but hadn’t found any land that suited the house I want to build.”

  “Shouldn’t an architect build a house to suit the land, not the other way around?”

  “Perhaps.” She shrugged. “But this is going to be my one and only home. The place where I live for the rest of my life. I’ve been thinking about what I want for years, and I finally have the money and time to make it happen. That plot of land is perfect for what I envision. I refuse to settle.”

  “Understandable. How are the plans coming for the house?”

  Tori’s lips twisted with concern before she spoke. “Not as quickly as I’d like. But you can’t rush perfection. I hope to have the blueprints finalized this week and break ground before the end of January.”

  Wade’s eyes widened almost imperceptibly and his brow furrowed with thoughts he didn’t choose to share. “Why Cornwall? You’re not from around here, are you?”

  “No and yes. I’m not from anywhere. My parents and I traveled my whole life. But I came to visit this area on a long weekend while I was working in Philadelphia, and I fell in love with it.”

  Wade was listening intently, and it bothered her. The conversation seemed innocent enough. What was his angle? He couldn’t really care. Was he just making small talk or was he trying to get information he could use against her later? Maybe he’d try to stall her building permits and frustrate her into selling.

  “I’ve lived around here my whole life.”

  “Cornwall?”

  “Not exactly. Here and there in Litchfield County. I bounced around through a lot of different foster homes at first. I came to Cornwall when I was ten and stayed here until I went off to Yale.”

  “Is that where you met Stanton?” Alex Stanton had been Wade’s business partner when she first went to work for him.

  “Yes. We started our own company together after college, and then after you left, we decided to split up and focus on different types of projects. He wanted to branch out, go nationwide and, eventually, international. I wanted to focus on Manhattan, so I’ve been on my own a few years now.”

  “Now the two of you can make money twice as fast.”

  “Precisely the idea behind our dastardly plan.”

/>   Damned if she didn’t smile at him. He had a way of making her like him no matter how badly she didn’t want to. He was only a few days into his petition and he had already managed to charm her. He’d kissed her. How long could she hold out against this? How long until he tired and gave up?

  “So, tell me about some of your green innovations. I’ve been hoping to add more into my projects.”

  At that, Tori outright frowned. He really was taking every available angle to butter her up. “Really?”

  “Yes, really. I’ve been investing heavily in a couple of green companies over the past few years. They’re really making some great strides in products that are earth friendly and, I hope soon, affordable for consumers. I think more people will use them when the price isn’t so intimidating.”

  That surprised her. When you’re in the business of renovating and reselling buildings, every penny spent cuts into the profit. She never expected him to be the kind who would invest in green products. But she was glad he did. She wished more people would. “I agree. That’s why I try to get as much exposure for my work as possible. I want to increase interest and demand, which will hopefully make some of these innovations mainstream and drive down the price.”

  “It’s hard to do. My folks have managed to run an organic farm without the crippling prices breaking their profit margin, but it’s taken decades to perfect it.”

  Tori’s brows shot up over her teacup. “The tree farm is organic?”

  “For the past twenty years.”

  Wade was full of good surprises tonight. She wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but she was actually enjoying her conversation with him. It felt almost like a fun, casual first date.

  Did she just use the word date?

  “I’ve been looking at some of your recent projects online. You really do great work. The building in Philadelphia is stunning.”

  Tori blushed again. If he was playing her, he was good at it. She couldn’t help but believe him. Her latest project really was incredible. Her best apart from her own house, which was going to be her greatest work. “Thank you. It’s almost done. The ribbon cutting is scheduled for just after the New Year.”

  “I wish we hadn’t lost you at our company. Your talents would’ve been put to good use.”

  It sounded like a compliment, but this time it rubbed her the wrong way. Tori was about to say something rude about how he shouldn’t have fired her, but Rose returned then, placing a piping-hot dish of chicken pot pie on the counter in front of her. It was the perfect opportunity for her to focus on something else.

  The pie had a golden flaky crust that Tori yearned to bust open with her fork. Typically, she’d leaned toward club sandwiches and grilled chicken plates, but dinner with the Edens had been a gateway meal. Now she was on a personal mission to make up for twenty-eight years of home-cooking deprivation.

  “That smells great,” he said, leaning closer to her and inhaling the enticing aroma. “Don’t let me stop you from enjoying your meal.”

  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.