A/N: Not sure how happy I am with this chapter. I don't own Hart of Dixie.
Wade was seriously considering throwing himself into the pond. If he had to hear one more "Aw honey you're so sweet." He was going to hurl all over everything. He didn't know why he'd agreed to this stupid gift giving party shit anyways.
Lavon apparently had a thing for Christmas as he'd explained it: "Lavon Hayes loves him some Christmas." So he'd decided that he wanted to have an intimate gift giving party with just a few people, 5 to be exact, two couples and Wade "Fifth Wheel" Kinsella. Not to mention that one half of each of the couples were a recently unengaged pair but no one seemed to be all that hurt about it.
Lavon and Lemon were beyond disgusting. She was feeding him little fruit tarts and nuzzling his nose. Wade would have been happy for his high school pal if it wasn't making him want to stab himself with a serving fork.
George and Zoe were debating which was the best Woody Allen movie and where to get the best coffee in New York. It was infuriating. He'd barely spoken to her since the incident in the woods and he liked it that way. He'd found some sweet things to occupy his time, but they were just that sweet things to occupy his time. There wasn't anything special about any of them. They were pretty but nothing going on upstairs. He used to like that. Zoe Hart had managed to ruin other women for him and Wade was pissed that she didn't even have the decency to at least give him a chance.
As they passed around the gifts Wade smiled and said polite thanks yous for each one. Lemon had handmade everyone Christmas decorations, George gave him a genuine leather wallet to match his car, and Lavon gave him the newest edition of Madden for Xbox. He'd saved Zoe's for last.
He opened it slowly not bothering to meet her eyes. It was a pair of Stetson cowboy boots that Wade had been coveting for months.
"Thanks Doc I'll wear these on my next date." He didn't know why he had added the date part.
"You're welcome." She smiled at him shyly. Wade looked away quickly.
"Well there's only one present left." Lavon pulled it from under the tree and Wade wanted to leave the room. It was his gift to Zoe. It had taken months to find and months to save for.
It was going to blow George's stupid Sex and the City boxed set out of the water.
Zoe eagerly grabbed for the package, she loved gifts, although this one was from Wade so she was a little worried that it might be some inappropriate lingerie. Or a box of wine with a note about a certain first night in Alabama encounter.
She pulled the wrapping paper off slowly and gasped.
It was a first edition of PrideandPrejudice, which was her favorite book of all time.
"Wade." Zoe said softly stunned. Wade grinned. Lavon's jaw dropped and for once Lemon Breeland had nothing to say. George looked completely uncomfortable.
"Thank you." She said hugging the book to her chest.
"Anything for you Doc." He said with a grin and a wink. He meant it to sound playful but it sounded like something more.
George cleared his throat. "Well we better go. We've got reservations at Fancy's." He stood up followed by Zoe, Lavon, and Lemon.
"Wade you're still welcome to join us." Lavon said.
"Nah, I'm gonna go cook up some burgers and break this baby in." He said gesturing at his new video game.
"Suit yourself." Lavon shrugged following Lemon and George to the door.
Zoe was in a daze. She couldn't believe that Wade had bought her that gift. He must have saved for months for it. It wasn't something that you got somebody you lived across the pond from, or had just met and thought was obnoxious, or for someone you had made out with a few dozen times. It was something you bought for someone who meant something to you.
"See ya later Doc." Wade said breezing by her.
Zoe watched him leave and suddenly started to wonder if Realistic Zoe that thought George was so great and sweet was a complete and utter idiot.
She'd admittedly had maybe a glass too much wine. Or her head was still spinning. She barely remembered dinner. They had all made polite conversation, Lemon and Lavon were sickly sweet as usual. George was polite and charming. It was an utterly pleasant evening.
But Zoe couldn't stop thinking about Wade and that damn gift.
It was perfect. It showed he listened when she talked. It showed that he wanted to get her something special. It was the best gift she had ever received and it was confusing the hell out of her.
That was probably why she was now standing on Wade's porch, in her pajamas, banging on his door.
"Geez woman I didn't blow any fuses. Stop your banging." Wade said opening the door. He was wearing a pair of loose pajama pants and a white t-shirt, obviously ready for bed.
"Wade I just wanted to say thank you again for the gift. It was really nice." Zoe said all in a rush. "Um…yeah that's all just thank you and stuff. So night." Zoe turned to go but Wade caught her arm.
He wasn't about to say that he wasn't pleased about finding her standing on his front porch. Even if she did interrupt a really good episode of Alias, he loved him some sexy spy action.
She was wearing her ridiculous pajamas the leggings and the oversized shirts. Her hair was pulled back and falling in soft waves all around her face. She was gorgeous, not a stitch of makeup and so beautiful.
A rush of words came out of her mouth and she turned. Before he could think he caught her arm and held her there. She looked up at him inquiringly with those big doe eyes of hers.
Wade pointed above his head with a smirk.
"Mistletoe." Zoe looked up and sure enough there it was hanging right above their heads. "Can't argue with a holiday tradition Doc it's positively a sin in Bluebell." He leaned in closer.
And she leaned towards him. Their lips inches apart before Zoe jumped back.
"Thanks again Wade bye." She shouted moving swiftly down his porch and back to the safety of her cottage.
Zoe reached her cottage and slammed the door. Breathing hard and not just from practically running back here.
She'd almost kissed him again, when she was with George, who was good and safe and sweet.
But Wade was sweet and funny and smart and something else that drew her to him. She couldn't describe it but there was something about him that seemed to pull her back to him.
She looked out the window at the empty porch, maybe it was time to give that something a chance to catch her.