She brought in the coltand started lunging him, trying to teach him some manners while working outwhether or not to keep him on the farm or sell him off when the sales camearound. Cade’s father was well known for his horses and this colt was from agood bloodline. If his temperament was good enough, he would stay and Katewould train him.
By lunchtime, shesported another bruise on her butt from when he’d kicked out. Not quite quickenough to miss his hooves entirely, he’d managed to connect with her enough toleave a sore spot. She walked into the kitchen, rubbing her butt.
"What'swrong?" Essie looked up and watched her.
"Damned colt gome. I might have to let him go. Has more attitude than I want in the farmhorses. Little bugger clipped me with his hooves. Where is Cade?"
"Still in theoffice, I think. Can you tell him lunch is almost ready?"
"Sure, but can Iask you something first? I want to make him dinner tonight and need a fewthings. Do you have any chicken breast?"
Essie grinned andnodded her head. "Sure do. I'll get them out the freezer for you. Anythingelse?"
"I was kind ofhoping you could throw together one of your brilliant green salads. I want tokeep it simple." Kate thought for a moment. "Is there any nice winedownstairs in the cellar?"
"Why don't you goand have a look. Bound to be something you would like. Here," she reachedunder the sink and brought out a torch, "you’ll need this. The light isn'tvery good down there. Mind the step, don't want to have you hurt yourself downthere. Dangerous place to make a wine cellar, if you ask me."
"Thanks, Essie.I'll go and look before I disturb Cade." She walked out to the hallway andopened the door beside the rarely used lift. Searching the wall for the lightswitch, she flicked it on. The pale glow was enough to see the old ladderattached to the wall and she shuddered. Nothing else for it. Kate turned aroundand went down the ladder with the torch tucked under her arm. When she reachedthe bottom, she turned it on to look around.
The rows of wine werecloser to the back where the damp kept everything cool. Watching for spidersand anything else that could have made its home down in the cellar, she walkedover and studied the rows of wine. They were in three distinct sections. Reds,whites and sparkling.
Kate reached for abottle of champagne, deciding it was going to be that kind of night. She wipedthe dust off the label and read it. Moet and Chandon. Nice. Happy with herchoice, she turned to go back upstairs and screamed.
Cade stood behind herin the dark, a grin on his face.
"You scared thehell out of me. What are you doing down here?" Kate gripped the neck of herbottle and flashed the torch in his face.
"Essie told me youwere down here. Thought you might like some help."
"Thanks, but I'mfine." She made to walk past him but he grabbed her arm turning her sotheir bodies were facing. With her heart pounding, Kate watched him leanforward and place his lips on hers. A groaned rose in her throat before shecould hold it back and she arched her body toward him. Kate wanted to wrap herarms around his neck and plunder his mouth but she was holding the torch and abottle of champagne.
She closed her eyes andlet him kiss her senseless, her emotions running wild at the sensual touch ofhis lips of hers. Just when she her mind was imagining him naked in her bed, hepushed her away and she was left gasping for more.
"Why are yougetting champagne, Katie?"
She sighed. Her nerveswere now frazzled and her body was too warm in all the right places. The cellarwasn't the most romantic place to proposition a man, but he had ruined herplans. "I thought we could have dinner at my place tonight."
He grinned, a gestureguaranteed to make her stomach lurch with lust he had already set to simmering.
"If you don't wantto, that's fine." She wrenched her arm away from him and headed for thestairs.
"I would love tocome for dinner."
She stopped and turnedto face him. "Great. That's great." She hurried up the ladder andinto the kitchen, her heart beating wildly. Walking to the sink, she rinsed thedust from the bottle before placing it in the fridge. "I'll get it later."
"I can bring itover when I come." Cade walked into the kitchen. "Anything else I canbring?"
"That's fine,thanks. I think I have everything under control." She turned to Essie."I'm starving. What's for lunch?"
Chapter Thirty-six
Stevie lined up withthe other parents at the school waiting for Tam to come out of class. His palmswere sweating and he toyed with the small box in his pocket. What if shesaid no? It didn't bear thinking about but the possibility didn't deterhim. He wanted this more than anything in his life and if it took a fewattempts to make Rooney see things his way, then so be it. He was nothing ifnot persistent.
"Daddy." Tamcame running out of the school grounds and threw herself into his arms. Hecould get used to do the school pick up if this was what he could expect.
"How was yourday?" He held her hand and walked her to the car.
"Good. I have morehomework. Can you do it with me?" She gazed up into his face with eyesthat mirrored his own.
"Of course Ican." He buckled her into the back seat and walked around the front,sliding in. When they were on the road, he looked at his daughter in themirror. "Tam, I need your help with something."
She listened whileStevie explained what they were going to do when they got home.
Rooney was sitting onthe cane lounger on the front veranda when they found her. "Hi, chicken.Did you have a good day?" She held out her arms and Tam ran to her.
"How are youfeeling?" Stevie walked over and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Good. I think Icould go back to work tomorrow. Not one single panic attack. That's if you'lllet me in the surgery." She looked at him expectantly.
"We’ll see. I'mnot sure
