New Year’s Kisses Read Free Page A

tomatoes so delicious in a long time. The blast of heat from the sweet Spanish onion only added to the delight. Emily swallowed and took another sip of her drink.
    “Oh my God, that’s amazing. What is it?”
    “Bruschetta.”
    “That’s not like any bruschetta I’ve eaten.” Emily reached for another piece.
    “It’s the home grown ingredients that make it special.”
    Her hand stopped halfway to her mouth. “You grow your own food?”
    Wade laughed. “No. Mrs Marcella down the street does. My housekeeper buys all the fresh produce she can from her.”
    “You have a house keeper?” Who was this man? “I thought you owned an alarm company.”
    “I do. But it’s a little more complicated than fitting alarms like the one we installed at your centre.” He picked up another delicious looking morsel. “Here, try this one next.”
    “What is it?” She quickly ate the second piece of bruschetta.
    “Thai chicken salad in crispy wonton cups.”
    “Wow. Your house keeper can cook.” Emily took the nibble he offered.
    Wade smiled. “She doesn’t cook my meals. Her job is to clean the house and stock the cupboards with whatever I put on my shopping list.”
    “Then who made these?”
    “I did.”
    Emily stilled. “You cook?”
    He grinned, but didn’t answer.
    “Did you cook dinner too?” Em couldn’t help it. She was intrigued by the idea of man who knew his way around a kitchen this well.
    “No. But I could have.” He popped a wonton in his mouth and chewed.
    “So what are we having for dinner then?” Emily took a sip of her wine and was shocked to find her glass almost empty. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be drunk, and Lord knows what she might let happen with her inhibitions lowered. She moved her glass away when Wade went to top it up. “Not yet. I need more food in my stomach first.”
    “You don’t have to worry about driving home. You can afford to indulge.”
    “Driving isn’t what I’m worried about.” Emily selected another wonton. “Are you going to tell me what we’re having for dinner?”
    “I’ve ordered mains and dessert from a local restaurant. They’ll be delivered at eight-thirty. We’ll enjoy our meal and finish off with the nine o’clock fireworks display.”
    “Perfect vantage point.” Emily gestured out over the water to the Harbour Bridge in the distance.
    “It is. Which is why I couldn’t think of a better place to spend the evening with you.” He took a sip of his champagne. “So tell me the Emily Warner story.”
    “Not much to tell.” She shrugged. “I own Kiddies Inc and the business takes up most of my time.”
    “No. Tell me the whole Emily story.” He picked up the bottle and topped up her glass. “Where did you grow up? Go to school? Do you have any brothers or sisters? That story.”
    “Well, I’m an only child of an older single mum. Never knew my father and mum died when I was seventeen. I’ve been on my own ever since.” Em didn’t like to talk about that time in her life, so she quickly moved on. “I worked fulltime while putting myself through night school. I earned two degrees and saved every cent so I could open Kiddies Inc. I actually bought out the previous owner and rebranded the way I wanted, so I had an existing client base. I can’t tell you how much easier that made things.”
    She brought her glass to her lips to stop herself from babbling. Her mouth had a habit of running away whenever she was nervous and, right now, with Wade’s undivided attention focused right on her, she was more nervous than she’d ever been. And that included the day she’d signed on the dotted line of a million-dollar business loan.
    “You’re completely alone? Who did you spend Christmas with?”
    “Oh, I’m not alone. I’ve got lots of friends. Granted I don’t see them as much as I’d like, but I still have people in my life. And I always spend Christmas visiting the children’s hospital. I help hand out the presents donated by the