Chapter 29
Wade’s Malibu house was beyond anything Claire imagined.
Her breath fogged the limousine window as she leaned closer, the brush of his pants against her dress making her hyperaware of his proximity.
Perched high over the Pacific, it was sleek and modern as if carved from the coastline.
Waves hammered the cliffs, their distant growl carried up the steep road as the driver slash bodyguard whose name she’d already forgotten slowed to navigate the incline.
The ocean stretched endlessly before her, reflecting the moonlight in shimmering silver ripples.
After Wade arrived in Pleasant View, Friday had been a whirlwind of snowball fights with Bella—mostly Claire against Wade in the front yard after Bella wore out from playing in the snow.
They’d also moved Dad into The Summit, baked cookies, and sipped hot chocolate.
Claire had even canceled her hair appointment, unwilling to miss a single moment of it all.
Leaving that snowy cocoon had been bittersweet. But now, anticipation hummed through her.
Here, it would be just them.
The car slowed beneath a gleaming glass awning, recessed lights illuminating the sleek driveway.
“Welcome to your other home, Mrs. Stone.”
“The view’s to die for.”
“You haven’t seen anything yet.” He waved off the driver before he could open her door. “I’ve got it.”
He stepped out and rounded to her side. The door swung open, and he took her hand in his, sending a familiar heat through her veins. She barely managed a thank you as he tugged her to him. He then thanked the driver and wished him a good night.
Before she could take another step, Wade scooped her into his arms.
“Wade!” she gasped, her arms wrapping around his neck, his fragrance enveloping her. “How do you still have the energy to do this after the day you’ve had?”
“I saved enough to carry my wife.” His breath fanned her ear. “And you’re light as a feather.”
His closeness set her pulse skittering. She couldn’t keep from grinning. “Show-off.”
He chuckled as they approached the house. Speaking into a discreet microphone, he issued a voice command, and the double doors slid open. Soaring ceilings, ambient lighting, and an open, seamless design exuded understated luxury.
He carried her further as if she weighed nothing and set her on a sprawling cream-colored sectional in the main living space. The rosy fragrance of flowers hit her, her gaze catching peonies in different colors on nearly every surface. Such a thoughtful gesture! “I love the flowers.”
He feigned confusion, glancing around with an exaggeratedly thoughtful expression. “Hmm, not sure why the housekeeper chose peonies.”
Her hand darted out in a mock swing, but his grin was heart-stopping.
“Can I get you anything?” He settled beside her. His arm slipped around her shoulders, and his lips pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She inhaled his familiar spicy scent, her heart thudding in response.
“I should be the one getting you something.” She doubted he’d eaten much during the earlier whirlwind.
“I have everything I need right here.” His intense gaze locked onto hers, and a shiver tracked down her spine.
She settled in. Plush furnishings in neutral tones complemented the sleek design, and framed photographs on the wall and nearby shelf as well as a stack of dog-eared books on the coffee table defined his sanctuary.
A throw blanket draped over an armchair added a cozy, lived-in feel.
Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, an endless expanse of dark water reflected the stars, the horizon blurring into the sky. She could look at it all night.
“You have a… very nice view.”
“I wanted the ocean. But I also wanted the trees. They remind me of home.”
“It’s beautiful. Peaceful.”
“If you don’t want anything, how about a tour?” He stood and extended his hand.
“I’d love that.” She slipped her hand into his, then kicked off her heels.
He followed suit, grabbed both pairs, and stowed them in a shoe chest by the door. He eased off his coat and hung it in the entrance closet.
As they wandered through the expansive living room, they paused at the art pieces on the walls, each one fascinating in its way. Photos of his family lined a gallery wall. Then her breath caught. There was their wedding photo at the center of it all. Her hand slipped into his and squeezed.
The living room flowed into a spacious kitchen. She picked up a plush sofa pillow, its handmade case standing out with uneven yet endearing stitching. Its charm contrasted with the posh luxury. “This is beautiful.”
“My grandma made it for me when I moved to LA.” A fond smile softened his features. “She told me that, no matter where I ended up, I needed a piece of home to remind me where I came from.”
His grandparents didn’t live in Pleasant View. The winters were too cold for them. But the image of a younger, less-polished Wade carrying a simple, heartfelt gift into LA’s glamour melted her heart.
She hugged the pillow, inhaling aged fabric mixed with his sandalwood and warmth, before she set it back.
In the open kitchen, marble countertops surrounded stainless steel appliances. She trailed her fingers along the smooth surface. “I feel like I’ve stepped onto a movie set.”
He braced himself against the counter. Faint lines at the corners of his mouth revealed his fatigue. “We’re in our own movie.”
“You can give me the grand tour tomorrow. Why don’t you show me the bedroom so you can get some sleep?”
He took her hand in his. “I’ll take you to my favorite room first. It’s nonnegotiable.”
On their way upstairs, her curiosity drew them to the dining room. The space opened onto a sprawling patio, where an infinity pool merged with the ocean beyond.
They ascended the winding staircase and passed a few open bedroom doors, a bare mattress in one, stripped of bedding, probably a guest bedroom.
“When I had the place built, I intended to have my bodyguard stay here, but he prefers staying in a cottage on the property. It gives him more privacy to keep his wife close.”
Then he ushered her into a room that smelled of books.
“Here we are.” He pressed on the light.
The plush carpet was soft beneath her feet as opposed to the cool tile, and the scent of paper mingled with the faint saltiness of the ocean.
Classic film posters adorned the walls: The Karate Kid, To Kill a Mockingbird, Rocky, and others Wade said shaped his creativity.
A vintage film projector waited in one corner, while a shelf filled with worn books and scripts dominated another.
She slid out a book. To Kill a Mockingbird. She opened it, smiling when she found a bookmark she’d made for him years ago tucked between the pages. She held the book up. “I’m going to assume you never finished this.”
He approached, the loosened bow tie around his neck giving him an endearing, disheveled look.
He took the book. “For your information, I’ve read it multiple times.
And I kept the bookmark because you made it.
” He set the book on the shelf and squeezed it back in proper order.
“I used to have a first edition with Lee Harper’s signature, but not sure how it vanished. ”
“I’m sure you could find something like that easily, no?”
“Not as easy as you think.”
The librarian back home collected all sorts of classics. Maybe he could help.
The photo of her and Wade on the table beside the computer brought a grin to her face. She nodded to the furniture near the window. “Why is there a sofa here?”
“I sleep in here sometimes. I find being surrounded by the things that inspire me comforting.”
“Interesting.” She gestured to the desks in the corner, each cluttered with papers, laptops, and monitors. “This is where you were during that Zoom call.”
“Good memory.” He guided her toward the large window.
The moonlit ocean stretched out before them, shimmering like liquid silver.
His hand settled at her waist, and her body temperature spiked.
The faint sound of waves crashing against the cliffs might’ve lulled her, but her pounding heartbeat drowned out the steady rhythm.
“Thank you for coming with me.”
His breath on her neck had her body sinking back against his chest. “I’m so proud of you, Wade.
” She wrapped her arms around his. Her fingertips grazed his forearms, his long-sleeve shirt giving way to the solid, masculine feel of him.
“I loved so many things about Vaulting Hearts—its emotional depth, honest storytelling and the courage it took to create something so raw. Your transparency will make this film a hit.”
“It already is better.” He nuzzled her neck, and she sucked in a breath. His voice was throaty, sexy. “This was my favorite premiere because I had my beautiful wife at my side.”
He pressed a delicious kiss against her neck, and her jelly legs wobbled. “What else did you like about the movie, wife?”
“I…” Her whisper was all air when he trailed a line of kisses back toward her ear. She tilted her head, granting him full access, her heart thudding against her ribs. She turned in his arms.
He was already close, his gaze locking onto hers and his intensity leaving her mind hazy with desire. He brushed a featherlight kiss to her lips.
She leaned into him and slid her hands up to his shoulders. She loved the feel of him—warm, firm flesh over taut muscle. Loved the scrape of his bristly jaw against her palm.
His hands roamed over her back as he deepened the kiss, leaving her breathless before he eased away enough to speak.
“I have something for you.” He slid a small velvet box from his pocket, the space between them crackling with electricity.
Claire’s breath hitched as he revealed a glittery diamond ring.
“I’ve been waiting for the right moment to give this to you.” His voice thickened. His eyes searched hers. “Claire, I didn’t know what I was missing until you came into my life. Now, every time I’m away from you, I leave part of myself behind.”