The strappy green dress showed off her bare shoulders, hugged her waist and fell in folds around her knees. It was an impulse buy, and one she had regretted every time she opened the wardrobe and saw it hanging there. Even her position as farm manager didn't give her any opportunity to wear it.
The colour was hard to resist because it showed off her coppery red hair to perfection according to the shop assistant. All Kate knew was, as soon as she slipped it over her head, she felt pretty and that was enough.
She hurried to the door, took a deep breath and grasped the handle. Looking over her shoulder to make sure Wally was out of the way, she took another calming breath and turned the handle.
Cade stood on her doorstep with a bunch of flowers in front of him. The anxious look on his face made her stomach contract. He's as nervous as I am. I don't get it. He was fine before and I'm sure he's used to being chased by girls.
"Hey Cade, come in. They're very pretty flowers." She stepped aside to let him enter.
"Thanks, I picked them for you." He thrust them into her hands, chewing his bottom lip.
Kate squeezed her thighs together as a shot of pure sexual energy ran to her core. She leaned against the hallway wall and waited for him to pass. With a couple of deep breaths, she followed him into the lounge. Wally lay on the couch, watching with half closed eyes.
"I left Molly at the house. We didn't need a repeat of last time." He looked around and Kate had a chance to look her fill of him. Tonight she was going to take him to her bed, and she would be the one to make the first move.
"Can I get you a drink, Cade?"
"I can wait for dinner. Anything you need a hand with in the kitchen?" He walked toward her, a strange look on his face. He looks really nervous. Well, I'll be. That makes two of us.
"I think I'm okay. Did you want to sit out the back on the veranda and I'll bring dinner out soon?"
"I'd rather give you a hand."
Kate backed into the kitchen and stopped when she found herself against the bench.
Cade followed. His stance went from nervous to predator by the time he reached her. Placing a hand either side of her on the edge of the bench, Cade leaned in to place his mouth close to hers. "I think there is something I need to do before I think about food though." He placed his lips on hers, tasting at first, then firmer.
Kate gave over to the feelings racing through her body. She gripped his hips, pulling him against her. The heat raced through her core, screaming for release. A groan escaped her throat and Cade pushed her back against the bench. She could feel the hardness of him against her stomach and ground into him.
His teeth grazed her bottom lip and along the line of her jaw. She quivered under him when he kissed the soft skin below her ear, a quiver that went all the way to her throbbing centre. Kate ran her hands up his back under the cotton shirt. His skin was silky smooth. She brought her hands between them and traced his stomach muscles.
With a gasp, he stepped back. "Wow. Just wow."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." Kate's face flamed with heat and she tucked her hair over her shoulder as she looked at him.
"I'm glad you did." He rested his hands on her shoulders, leaned down and dropped a sweet kiss on her nose. "Thing is, my darling Kate, if you continue to do that, we won't get dinner tonight."
"Would that be a problem?" She tried to look innocent and broke down in giggles when he frowned at her. "Okay, I get it. You are hungry." Kate reached up and kissed him. "Let's do dinner then we can take up where we finished, okay?"
Cade coughed. "Yeah…um…that would be great. Are you sure, Kate? I don't want to rush you or anything."
"Yes, I'm sure. Now help me with dinner. You can take out the salad and the wine. I'll bring the chicken."
* * *
Cade leaned back in the chair and sighed. "You’re a pretty mean cook, you know that?" He rubbed his belly to prove his point.
"Thanks. Essie made the salad so I have to give her credit too." Kate watched him from under her lashes. Together on the back veranda in the cool evening breeze, gazing over the river and rolling hills went a short way to sooth the tension that had made her insides churn anticipating the evening. Sitting here with Cade so close still sent jolts of electricity through her veins. The only thing that would make a difference, would be getting naked and having her way with the body she’d dreamed of since she was a teenager.
"Did you want anything else, Cade?" She asked the question innocently enough but as soon as he locked gazes with her, it became seductive and took her breath away.
"Only one more thing, Kate." He took his glass and drained the last of the champagne. With precise movements, he wiped his lips with the serviette before placing it on the plate. Cade stood and held his hand out, capturing her fingers in his.
Kate rose, her skin on fire, and let him lead her inside. He stopped at her bedroom door and she nodded. Cade pushed the door open and gasped. Candles lit the room in a romantic haze. Her beautiful big bed was for once clear of extra cushions and the bedspread was pulled back exposing the crisp sheets underneath. Kate had the pillows propped up
