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.