New Year’s Kisses Read Free Page B

public.” Emily covered her mouth with her hand. Why had she told him that? No one knew about her trips to see the children.
    “You’re a really surprise package, Emily.” He glanced at his watch. “Dinner should be here in about ten minutes or so. If you’ve had enough, I’ll clear this all away so we’re ready for our main course.”
    Em looked at the last remaining wonton and sighed. “Yeah, if I don’t stop now I won’t be able to eat much of dinner. I don’t want to risk filling up and missing dessert.” She got to her feet. “Let me help.”
    Wade let Emily follow him into the kitchen, but he refused to agree to her carrying anything. It all stacked neatly on the tray anyway, and it didn’t require two of them to cart it inside. Not that he’d say no to her accompanying him in the most mundane pursuits. She intrigued him. He’d watched her while they’d installed her centre’s alarm system and, as it was his company that supported the callouts when the alarm was triggered, Wade had frequently been in the position to observe her transition from cool business to gentle and nurturing. He was in no doubt she loved every one of those kids with every fibre of her being.
    He couldn’t say it was her looks that drew him. Although she was a knockout, the first glimpse he’d gotten of her was less than attractive. She’d been finger painting and had every colour of the rainbow in small hand-sized splotches from her face to her arse. The fact that she hadn’t felt the need to preen before showing him and his crew through the building had further pricked his interest. And now, dressed in the sexiest peace of black cloth he’d ever laid eyes on, she blew his mind and gained the attention of certain parts of his anatomy. Parts that would become obvious in their awareness if he didn’t put a lid on his libido.
    Glancing at the microwave he noted the time and decided a little distraction was in order before he made a complete Neanderthal of himself and pushed her up against the nearest wall to take the kiss he was dying to steal. Of course he had plans for their first kiss, and their second. Their third. Fourth. Wade smiled. He planned to seduce her slowly, and what better way than New Year’s Eve when kissing the person in front of you was mandatory?
    Wade offered her his hand. “Come on, I’ll give you a quick tour of the house before dinner.”
    “I suppose we’re starting the tour in your bedroom?”
    The kicked up corner of her mouth and the twinkle of mischief in her eyes made him laugh. He welcomed the lightening of tension in his gut. “If I thought for one second I could convince you to take a trip though my bedroom this early in our relationship, I’d offer. But you’re not that easy, Emily, and I wouldn’t be as interested as I am if you were.”
    He reached for her hand and wove his fingers through hers. Without giving her time to comment on his revealing remark, he tugged her out of the kitchen and into the hall. She wasn’t interested in hearing just how interested he was. Emily Warner had barriers he doubted she knew about, but he saw them. He’d also seen how she dropped those walls completely with the children at her work and he wanted that. Wanted her to look at him with her heart and eyes open and take what he offered in return. And Wade had a bone deep belief he was willing to give her anything she asked.
    “I’ve changed little from when my parents were alive, but this room.” He pushed open the door and grinned. “Vee calls it my man cave.”
    Emily step inside and glanced around. “Well, I can see why it might deserve that tag. Who’s Vee?”
    “My sister, Valentine.” He strode passed her to the control box on the back wall. “Check this out.” Pushing a few buttons he waited for the panels that covered the cinema screen to retract.
    “Is that what I think it is?”
    He grinned. “Yeah. Over eighteen feet of cinema perfection complete with surround sound stereo.