Chapter 31

Kali

It's been a long night. We've danced, laughed, and bid on auction items we have no need for, but bought anyway, to support the homeless shelter it's in aid of.

Before dinner, I introduced Wade to several people I'm certain will help us on our publicity campaign. James Rogers from Sports Today magazine being one of them. Someone I had spoken to previously and begged for him to ignore any past headlines involving Wade. He was less than impressed and said no on the spot when I called him weeks ago, but having met Wade this evening, where he charmed the pants off him, James suggested doing an access all areas interview. He doesn't want an average interview. He wants to spend a week with him alongside a videographer, something they are trialing for their online magazine.

Following the introduction, full of endless chatter, Wade was excited, begging me to make a note in my phone to follow it up on Monday.

Slowly, Wade's confidence is growing by the day. Reluctant at first, he's accepting what needs to be done to raise his profile.

At dinner, Wade answered every question that was fired his way from the other guests around the table. Mainly how the season was going, and if he thought they could win. I admired him for laughing off how hard he's working to stay out of the press when someone asked him about that too.

It was refreshing to hear him admitting he's been struggling since the death of someone close to him. Something he's never even told the press. In a truly vulnerable moment, he looked mouthwatering delicious in his made for him tuxedo.

Ever the gentleman, attentively, he listened, asked questions, and cracked jokes, which had everyone laughing.

"Who are you taking to the snowboarding world cup?" Wade won two VIP tickets during the auction. It's the week before Christmas and difficult to get tickets for.

"You." Confidence dripping off his tongue, he drapes his arm along the back of my chair. "Are you a skier or a snowboarder?"

"Snowboarder, I'm not very good though. Haven't ridden in years."

"Hypothetically, if I was to book a trip to Whistler, would you come with me?" Oh hell, where would we squeeze that in? Wade brushes his thumb back and forth across my naked shoulder. We aren't doing a very good job at keeping us a secret.

"Yes." I swear he's testing me.

"I have five days off in February. Would you come to Hawaii with me? It's in my contract that I can't do any sports that might cause me an injury. It would be a hot vacation, not a cold one."

Wow. He's planning ahead, and it's months away. I know he said he wanted to give us a shot, but going on vacation together is a big commitment which tells me he's serious about us. I move closer to him. "Yes, and that suits me better. I'm an old lady. If we went snowboarding, I might break a hip."

"I had you moaning my name this morning while your ankles were around your own neck. I think you'll be fine." He gives me a cocky grin and a wink.

Memories of this morning make heat pool between my legs. It was deep. So deep. And the eye contact as our bodies became one is burned into my brain forever.

What a way to start the day.

I drop my voice, ensuring no one is listening. "We should try naked yoga."

"Great, I'll invite the neighbors."

"I can't wait."

"Evening, Wade." A sickly sweet voice interrupts our flirty banter.

"Amelia." With his voice indifferent, Wade greets his ex politely.

His arm is still around my shoulders and his thumb never stops moving over my skin. It's oddly hypnotic, easing any doubts I had about his feelings for her. He's not tense, or awkward, unlike Amelia appears to be as she fiddles with her fingers and nibbles on her bottom lip.

The silence between them feels difficult for a heartbeat too long before she finally says, "Can we talk?"

"About?"

Drawing everyone's attention around the table, conversations drop to a low murmur, as if they are waiting for her reply.

"In private?" Her gaze bounces around the table of guests.

"I'm more than happy to stay here and have everyone witness your apology for not coming to Gretchen's funeral, and for cheating on me. Thanks for the invitation, but I decline. Have a good night." Wade pushes his chair back. "Would you like to dance?" Holding his hand out for me to take, I accept his offer and take it. "You look beautiful this evening, Ms. Roth," he says, smiling, and it's a genuine smile that has my insides melting.

"Thank you." I feel shy for some stupid reason. The soft tenderness this big lump of a man has for me might very well be my undoing.

I acknowledge Amelia with a quick nod and pull the skirt of my trailing fishtail dress up slightly to weave my way between the tables in the ballroom.

His hand on my back, I whisper, "I need to use the ladies' room."

"Be quick. You owe me a dance. I'll wait for you at the bar."

"If I'm not back in five minutes, come look for me. Your ex may have pushed my head down the toilet."

"I'll come looking for you regardless. Your ass looks killer in that dress tonight. I might need a better look." He smiles like a Cheshire cat. "Five minutes. I'm counting." The way he swaggers toward our meeting point in his hotter than hell tux has my heart fluttering.

That man makes me feel electric. He has my whole body singing.