Part 6 (1/2)

”This is the most amazing kitchen I've ever seen.” She reverently ran her fingers along the cool granite, tracing every vein of color.

”Thanks. I did most of the work myself when I remodeled after my parents moved to Florida.”

There were already two gla.s.ses on the counter next to an open bottle of wine. Wade poured a generous amount, the deep, rich color of the red wine swirling into the gla.s.ses. He handed Sydney one of them, raising his own and clinking it against hers before taking a drink.

”Is there anything you can't do?” She took a long sip, savoring the woody, plum flavor. Sydney moved around to the stove to peek into one of the pots. Lifting the lid, she saw a delicious red sauce bubbling inside.

”I can't crochet. My hands are like baseball mitts, according to my mother.” He waggled his fingers playfully at her. ”Or dance, I don't dance.” Sydney laughed, remembering back to the night of the festival and what he had said to Agnes when she suggested he dance. It was nice to know he'd been truthful and hadn't made an excuse to escape.

While he drained the pasta, Sydney drank more of her wine, loving the warm feeling that was spreading through her body. It could have been from the drink or Wade, it didn't matter. She felt the tension and worry slowly leaving her body. This time she initiated the contact between them when she reached around him and snagged a piece of spaghetti from the strainer.

”Don't worry, I'm a great dancer.” She popped the noodle into her mouth as she leaned back against the counter. ”I'll teach you.”

”I can't wait,” he said with a wolfish smile that made Sydney both excited and nervous.

Working side by side in the kitchen, they put the finis.h.i.+ng touches on dinner. It was amazing how comfortable they were together. Sydney set the table while Wade laid out the food. The square shaped table was cozy and intimate, especially when Sydney put the place settings side by side rather than across the table from one another. If she was going to have this date, then for one night, she was going to enjoy herself, and the closer she was to Wade, the better.

When they finally sat down, Wade filled her plate. Each bite was more delicious than the next. Flavors exploded in her mouth, and it was intoxicating knowing that he had gone through so much trouble for her.

”This is amazing, Wade. Thank you.”

”I'm glad you came. I know Melissa didn't give you all the details on the auction before you entered and you could have said no.” For just a second he lowered his defenses and she could see his vulnerability.

With a sincere smile she said, ”I don't think Melissa would have left for Europe until she forced us into this date.”

”Forced?” he asked with a smile.

”Coerced is probably a better word.” Feeling happier than she had in a long time, she raised her wine gla.s.s. ”To Melissa and her brilliant ideas.” She knew she'd remember this night for the rest of her life and she had Melissa to thank for it.

They spent hours talking and laughing about everything from movies, to music, to the people in town. Their time together flew by. It was great to see him so animated. It was a side of him she hadn't seen before. He shared a lot about his family and she shared pieces of her past, without giving too much away. A part of her wanted to lay it out a the whole ugly truth. There was something about him that made her want to open up and trust him, but she knew it couldn't happen. For a second she allowed herself to think that a relations.h.i.+p with Wade was possible, but then reality rushed back in. They were pathetic fantasies and she knew it, but it felt good to think about frivolous things for a change. All the darkness seemed so far way when she was with Wade.

In the middle of their evening, Sydney's phone beeped. She did her best to ignore it, angry that she hadn't turned it off completely, but if there was a problem with Faith, she wanted to make sure she could be reached at any time. There was no way she could stand to be completely cut off from her daughter. She apologized, but Wade understood her need to stay connected to Faith and didn't seem bothered in the least. When she checked the message, they both were relieved to see it was from Melissa. She sent a picture of the St. Louis Arch, a.s.sured them she was fine and sent her love.

”She has always loved an adventure.” Wade laughed as he took the last of the dinner dishes and rinsed them in the sink.

”I can imagine running around with you and her brother kept her on her toes and prepared her well for this trip.”

”You have no idea.”

AFTER DINNER, THEY WENT outside, where Wade led her to a porch swing that was tucked off in the shadows. He lit a few candles on the small table and placed a blanket across her legs as they finished the bottle of wine in the crisp fall air.

”You're so lucky,” she murmured turning to snuggle closer to him for warmth. It was impossible to keep from smiling when he slipped his arm around her shoulder and held her tight against his side. Sydney just hoped the darkness would hide her reaction from him a little.

”Why?” he whispered against her temple.

”Because you have all of this.” She waved her gla.s.s at the house and the property. ”You have a town that adores you, a supportive family, you enjoy your job, and we've already established you're good at just about everything.” His chest shook with laughter.

”I like this,” he said softly looking out into the dark.

”What?” Sydney murmured softly.

”This. Here. With you.”

It was as if the world around them had gone silent at his words. After all the months of wanting him, she finally had him all to herself. As Sydney looked up at him, she found herself holding her breath, waiting for what might come next. His eyes were intense and sparkled in the moonlight that played across his face. Eyes that were staring at her lips.

”Wade.” She managed to exhale his name before he kissed her, the rich flavor of the wine mixing with his own intoxicating taste. Though his lips moved gently, she could feel the power in his body that he was holding back. This kiss was nothing like the last one. It was so hot Sydney could feel herself burning up under his touch. His hand knotted in her hair, pulling her even closer to deepen the kiss. Sydney felt like the world was spinning and grabbed onto his s.h.i.+rt to ground herself on Earth.

Then, as quickly as it began, it ended. Immediately she felt the loss of their connection. While she tried to regain her composure, Wade stood up and stared off into the dark as if looking for something. His body language had changed from relaxed to edgy in a matter of seconds, and it startled her. Sydney stepped behind him, wrapping the blanket around her arms.

”What's wrong?” She heard the distant rustle of twigs snapping and that tingle of awareness she had went down her spine. Had someone been out there, watching them?

Wade tried to shrug it off, wrapping an arm around her and kissing the top of her head. ”Nothing, just a deer. Probably a buck.” Another woman might have fallen for his act, but Sydney had been on the run long enough to know when danger was close and she felt it in her gut like Wade did. She scanned the trees, looking for the source of their unease but whoever it was had left.

”Come inside,” Wade said as he slipped his hand into hers and led her toward the door.

The danger had pa.s.sed but Sydney's heart was racing as Wade pinned her against the doorframe with his much larger body. There was something raw and powerful about Wade that Sydney found irresistible, even if it wasn't a good idea. Instead of being cautious, she made the dangerous choice to play with fire. ”I am a little chilly.”

”I think I know a few ways to warm you up,” he said in a low, s.e.xy drawl that gave her gooseb.u.mps. He ushered her inside, locking the door behind them.

They didn't make it any farther than the entryway before he captured her mouth again. Strong hands settled on her hips then wandered over the curves of her body. In their wake was a burning trail, mapping his progress across her skin. Sydney's arms locked around Wade's neck, pulling them closer together, desperate for more contact. She longed to feel every inch of his rock hard body against hers. She'd dreamt about this countless nights, but the reality blew all those dreams away. There was something erotic about the way his muscles responded to her touch as she, too, explored his body.

Without warning, she felt like the floor had dropped out from under her. Wade scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed less than a feather, and carried her to the couch, never losing contact with her lips. The fire and pa.s.sion built between them until Sydney was certain they'd both go up in flames. The b.u.t.tons on her s.h.i.+rt fell open and she couldn't tell if she had done it, or Wade. A flurry of hands and skin found each other, greedy for more. All the months of s.e.xual tension between them came to a head leaving them breathless and desperate for one another. Nothing could have stopped her from sleeping with Wade in that moment, nothing.

”s.h.i.+t,” Wade cursed as his phone started ringing on the table.

”Ignore it,” Sydney gasped as his hand found her bare breast.

”Done.” With a growl, Wade lowered his head and drew her nipple into his mouth. When his house phone joined and started clamoring, he let out a string of curses. ”Don't move.” He ran his hand through his hair in frustration, looking at her as she laid spread out on his couch like an offering, panting like she had just run a marathon. There was no controlling his anger when he picked up the phone.

”What?” he barked. Whatever he heard on the other end of the phone made his eyes lock on her like laser beams. Sydney started to panic. ”Calm down. She's right here, why?”

What if he found out?

While he turned his back and asked a series of vague, short questions, Sydney frantically searched for her s.h.i.+rt and shoes. She tugged her disheveled hair into a ponytail and was ready to take off if he tried to take her in. He was s.e.xy, mouthwateringly gorgeous and made her hotter than any man ever had in her life, but she wasn't going to jail and she wasn't leaving Faith. She was horrified when she looked down into her hand and saw she had grabbed the paperweight off of the side table. How far was she willing to go to protect her secret? Horrified at her subconscious behavior, she dropped the gla.s.s weight to the floor with a thud. Wade gave her a confused look as he set down the phone.

”Sydney.” He cautiously approached and settled himself into a crouch at her feet.

He knew. Everything about his body showed he was trying to be calm but she could tell that he was ready to explode with anger.

”You have to come with me.”

”No.” She was prepared to run when Wade's words changed everything.

”That was Cara.”

”Cara?” Confusion was quickly replaced by panic. ”Oh my G.o.d, is it Faith?” Sydney was on her feet before Wade stopped her and pulled her into his arms.

”Faith is fine, but Cara had quite a scare.”

”Is she all right? Pete?” Something awful had happened. She could feel it in her gut. Wade calmly took her hands and Sydney braced herself for the news.