Normally, his palmswouldn't sweat but the closer he got to going over to Kate's cottage, the more nervoushe got. He splashed on his favourite cologne and ran downstairs.
Essie had tied hisroses with twine and brown paper, and held them out as he came into thekitchen. "Thanks, Essie, they look great."
"Welcome. Don'tforget the wine in the fridge. Have a good night, Cade." She winked at himand he stared at her.
"Yeah, sure.Thanks." That felt weird.
Cade got the bottle ofchampagne, walked out the door and bent down to talk to Molly. "I need youto stay here, girl. Stupid cat is scared of you." He patted her on theback and walked over the lawn to Kate's, the nerves in his gut churning.
***
The knock on the doormade Kate jump and she dropped the spoon, letting it fall into the gravy."Shit." She had never been this affected by nerves before. She didn'tknow if it was because she was worried about doing the right thing or how shewas going to stop herself jumping his bones as soon as he walked in the door.Grabbing a fork, she lifted it out and balancing carefully, carried it over tothe sink, letting it fall into the soapy water. She turned off the stove andpushed the pan to the back, away from the heat before smoothing down herclothes.
The strappy green dressshowed off her bare shoulders, hugged her waist and fell in folds around herknees. It was an impulse buy, and one she had regretted every time she openedthe wardrobe and saw it hanging there. Even her position as farm manager didn'tgive her any opportunity to wear it.
The colour was hard toresist because it showed off her coppery red hair to perfection according tothe 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 thedoor, took a deep breath and grasped the handle. Looking over her shoulder tomake sure Wally was out of the way, she took another calming breath and turnedthe handle.
Cade stood on herdoorstep with a bunch of flowers in front of him. The anxious look on his facemade her stomach contract. He's as nervous as I am. I don't get it. He wasfine before and I'm sure he's used to being chased by girls.
"Hey Cade, comein. They're very pretty flowers." She stepped aside to let him enter.
"Thanks, I pickedthem for you." He thrust them into her hands, chewing his bottom lip.
Kate squeezed herthighs together as a shot of pure sexual energy ran to her core. She leanedagainst the hallway wall and waited for him to pass. With a couple of deepbreaths, she followed him into the lounge. Wally lay on the couch, watchingwith half closed eyes.
"I left Molly atthe house. We didn't need a repeat of last time." He looked around andKate had a chance to look her fill of him. Tonight she was going to take him toher bed, and she would be the one to make the first move.
"Can I get you adrink, Cade?"
"I can wait fordinner. Anything you need a hand with in the kitchen?" He walked towardher, 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 outsoon?"
"I'd rather giveyou a hand."
Kate backed into thekitchen and stopped when she found herself against the bench.
Cade followed. Hisstance went from nervous to predator by the time he reached her. Placing a handeither side of her on the edge of the bench, Cade leaned in to place his mouthclose to hers. "I think there is something I need to do before I thinkabout food though." He placed his lips on hers, tasting at first, thenfirmer.
Kate gave over to thefeelings racing through her body. She gripped his hips, pulling him againsther. The heat raced through her core, screaming for release. A groan escapedher throat and Cade pushed her back against the bench. She could feel thehardness of him against her stomach and ground into him.
His teeth grazed herbottom lip and along the line of her jaw. She quivered under him when he kissedthe soft skin below her ear, a quiver that went all the way to her throbbingcentre. Kate ran her hands up his back under the cotton shirt. His skin wassilky smooth. She brought her hands between them and traced his stomachmuscles.
With a gasp, he steppedback. "Wow. Just wow."
"Sorry, I didn'tmean to do that." Kate's face flamed with heat and she tucked her hairover her shoulder as she looked at him.
"I'm glad youdid." He rested his hands on her shoulders, leaned down and dropped asweet kiss on her nose. "Thing is, my darling Kate, if you continue to dothat, we won't get dinner tonight."
"Would that be aproblem?" She tried to look innocent and broke down in giggles when hefrowned at her. "Okay, I get it. You are hungry." Kate reached up andkissed 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 youor anything."
"Yes, I'm sure.Now help me with dinner. You can take out the salad and the wine. I'll bringthe chicken."
***
Cade leaned back in thechair and sighed. "You’re a pretty mean cook, you know that?" He rubbedhis belly to prove his point.
"Thanks. Essiemade the salad so I have to give her credit too." Kate watched him fromunder 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 tensionthat had made her insides churn anticipating the evening. Sitting here withCade so close still sent jolts of electricity through her veins. The only thingthat would make a difference, would be getting naked and having her way withthe body she’d dreamed of since she was a teenager.
"Did you wantanything else, Cade?" She asked the question innocently enough but as soonas he locked gazes with her, it became seductive and took her
