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.