So here it is - the second date. I wanted it to be one of those dates where they end up telling each other more of their stories and letting each other in. Y'know the ones where their heads would spin a bit from all they said about themselves and heard about the other. It's pretty long and, hopefully, juicy to make up for the short interlude chapter before.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hart of Dixie

Chapter 5:

Zoe stood in front of her closet staring at all the clothes it contained. She had no idea where Wade was taking her which made figuring out what to wear difficult. She finally decided to go casual since he was picking her up before sundown. It couldn't be too fancy if he was taking her somewhere in the afternoon.

Promptly at four o'clock Wade knocked on the door to her place. She had been pacing for the past fifteen minutes watching the clock as the minutes dragged. She took a deep breath and answered the door. He stood there in jeans and a t-shirt with his hands shoved into his pockets like he didn't know what to do with them. When he saw her his eyes seemed to dance – All she could do was plaster a nervous smile on her face.

Pull it together dummy, he thought to himself. Remember what you said to Lavon – good ole fashion wooing.

"Hey, you look great." He said.

Zoe looked down and grabbed a small purse. She'd never been very good with getting compliments.

"Well, it was hard to dress not knowing where we are going, but I thought since it was still daylight..." She shrugged slightly. "Do I need to bring anything with me?"

"Nope, just your amazin' lookin' self." He said and his eyes sort of sparkled at her. He held out as his hand to take hers.

She took his hand. He closed the door behind her and walked her to the car. The practice had closed early since Brick was off for the day and Zoe finished early so the lot was empty except for Lavon's Navigator. She smiled when she saw it. "The Navigator again, huh?"

He opened her door for her and shrugged. "I figured we could try to keep folks out of our business a little longer."

She got in and nodded. He got in on the other side and put his arm across the seat as he looked behind to back out, but left it there even after they were on the road. He lightly played with her ponytail as he drove and she didn't seem to mind.

"So are you offering any hints?" She finally asked. They had driven out of Bluebell, but didn't recognize where they were headed.

"It's one of my favorite places," was all he offered. Then he changed the subject. "So what did you do today?"

She decided not to push further on where they were headed and instead told him about Lavon coming to see her.

"Yeah, he was tryin' to get me to give 'em all the details earlier." Wade laughed.

"Oh and what do you tell him?" Zoe asked coyly.

Wade turned towards her and let loose a wicked grin. "I told him a gentleman doesn't kiss and tell." And then he leaned into to kiss her before focusing back on the road. He kept his grin. "What did you tell him?"

Zoe looked ahead and thought about the kiss he'd just given her. "I told him it was the best first date I ever had."

Wade didn't seem to expect that since he didn't have witty comeback handy. He simply nodded and dropped his arm from her shoulder to hold her hand. She smiled then. She didn't think she had ever seen Wade Kinsella speechless, but he just looked out at the road in front of them with a more content smile spread across his face.

She watched out the window and tried to figure out where they were going but it was no use since she really didn't know much outside of Bluebell, except the road the bus took to Mobile which they weren't on. Instead they traveled down a series of back roads; they hadn't been on the road long when Wade pulled down a dirt lane. Her eyes took in the oak trees that lined the narrow road. Then the tree-lined, dirt lane opened up to reveal a large lawn and an empty plantation home. Wade parked the car in front of the house, jumped out and opened her door, offering his hand to her.

Zoe's took in her surroundings. She lived at Lavon's, which was a former plantation, and had seen others, but this place was set back – secluded and peaceful. They may not have been far from Bluebell, but it felt a million miles away.

"What is this?" she asked looking around.

"Well this old place is where my Momma grew up. No one's lived here for ages though." He said simply and then pulled her hand slightly. "But this isn't what I wanted to show ya'. Come on."

She followed him taking in the house and the surrounding grounds. The grass was grown up but it was still open, without any trees or brush, and there were stone borders around grown up gardens of what seemed to be pink, yellow and blue wildflowers. They were walking down a path away from the house. They passed an old barn with warn red paint. She was walking slowly taking everything in and every so often Wade would give her hand another gentle tug to keep her moving with him.

He told her the place had been in his family for generations but had been empty since his grandmother died and his granddaddy moved to the nursing home in Bluebell. He pointed out places where he played as a kid and where things had been once upon a time. Zoe could easily tell by his retellings why it was one of his favorite places. They walked about a quarter of a mile and then he stopped and pointed. The plantation was on the top of a small hill and sloping downward in front of her was a wide river. The sun sparkled off the river and a small row boat sat along the shore.

"So Doc, what do ya' think?" he said.

"Wade, this place is beautiful." She answered. She pointed down to the shoreline where the small boat sat. "Is that your boat?"

He nodded. "I like to come out here and fish. It's real quiet. The other side of the river is state property and this old place is about 50 acres. Not a lot of people come around."

She was starting to understand there was a lot about Wade Kinsella she didn't know. He let go of her hand and started pulling things out of the bag he'd brought with him. He spread out a blanket and pulled out a bottle of wine and some food.

"Have a seat, Doc."

She sat on the blanket and he joined her handing her a sandwich. "It's nothing special – just chicken salad. I didn't have much time after I got off work."

"How often do you come out here?" She asked.

"Well, when I was kid I was out here quite a bit. After Momma died Crazy Earl pretty much fell apart and my grandparents more or less took us in. My grandma died after I started high school and granddaddy moved into the nursin' home so I wasn't out here as much. But I try to come out as much as I can."

After Wade sang Earl off the roof, Zoe had heard that Wade's mom had died years ago and figured that explained Earl's sad state. She understood having a place that was a refuge from your family's complex pain. But rather than spilling out all of that she simply said, "I can see why."

Wade looked surprised. "Really? I wasn't sure if you'd like it. I mean it's even more country than Bluebell."

"My grandparents had a house out in the country too. Well, not as country as this, but in Connecticut. My parents shipped me out there for most of the summer when I was a kid. It was on a river too."

Wade watched her, looking closer at her now. As she stared off across the river enjoying the memory she didn't look hard and take charge. Her eyes seemed softer and shoulders were more relaxed. It always struck him when she let down her guard. It was like being let in on a secret. He wanted to break through so he saw more of that, but he understood better than most how hard it is to break down years of carefully constructed walls. He never let anyone through his own and now he had met his match. He saw her return back from her remembering's and her guard came back up a little.

He opened the wine and poured each of them a glass. He handed one to Zoe and she looked towards him when she took it. Her eyes had a smirk-y suspicion to them.

"So how many girls have you taken out here?" Zoe asked with a smirk and then she took a deep drink from her glass.

"Actually, you're the first." Wade said. He downed a bit of his wine. He couldn't quite believe he'd admitted that.

Zoe's eyes narrowed. "I find that a little hard to believe."

Wade put his hand up as if to take an oath, "Scout's honor. The only person to come out here with me since Granddaddy moved out is George. We'd come out here some when we were in high school – camp, fish and drink beer. But I never brought a girl out here, not even Tansy."

"Huh" was her only reply.

"That surprise you, Doc?" he asked. He enjoyed catching her off guard.

She was still looking at him. Her head slightly tilted to the side, trying to figure him out. "Yeah, a little. Then why bring me out here?"

Wade looked out and then to her. "Because you're the first person I ever wanted to."

Zoe could feel her heart starting to race. One part of her was ready to swoon, but another part was terrified. Terrified because she really wanted to know these things about him. She wanted to know what made him tick. And she wanted him to know those things about her. The months she hadn't spoken to him she realized that more and more. But part of her still felt like she was slightly defective when it came to relationships no matter how much she'd improved her bedside manner.

Wade saw her eyes go wide and while he might not have known the exact words of her internal dialogue, he knew her well enough to know she was in a tailspin. He put his glass down, leaned in and kissed her.

When he kissed her, all the thoughts blew right out of her head. Zoe kissed him back, but then started to giggle. Wade pulled back and looked at her with narrowed eyes. "Well, that wasn't quite what I was expectin'."

Zoe let out another small laugh and slightly blushed at the same time. "I'm sorry. I just remembered when I was ranting to you about the Founders Day float and you kissed me. You just did that again, didn't you?"

"Well, you had that look on your face that you get when your brain starts moving a million miles an hour and I thought I could help break you outta that." He chuckled himself.

She smiled and shook her head. "How is it that you get me when I'm not entirely sure that I get me… and I'm pretty sure no else does?"

"I don't know, Zoe." He shrugged slightly. "Just like I don't know what it is about you that makes me want to do better… or more."

She was stunned when he said that. "Really?" She said softly.

He nodded as he sucked in a deep breath. "Yeah, you never look at me like I'm Crazy Earl's kid that'll never be nothin'… it's like you see more than that. And you lookin' at me like that makes me wanna to do somethin' with myself. "

Wade bit his top lip. He stretched his head back a bit rubbing the back of neck. He let out another breath before he finished. "That's part of why I'm buyin' the Rammer Jammer. I actually wanna be the person you see. I wanna be someone that deserves you."

Zoe took it all in. No one had ever said something like that to her before. The terror was totally taken over by the swoon. She leaned forward onto her knees and pulled him in to kiss her. She put everything she was feeling but didn't know how to say in her kiss. Wade felt it and responded in kind. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him. Her fingers tangled his hair and he leaned her back on the blanket without breaking the kiss. It was different from last night; there was no reluctance or shyness. It was a kiss building towards something more. Her arms moved down his back and she knotted his T-shirt in her hands. His hands moved down her sides, but when they reached the hem of her top he stopped. Slowly he pulled away. They looked at each other with mirroring expressions of want and holy-crap.

Wade lightly traced down her cheek with fingers. "While that was amazin', uh…" he started to say, but Zoe finished.

"We should probably slow this down." Her arms were still around him as she spoke.

Wade nodded. "Although it's takin' every ounce of self-control I have to not rip your clothes off."

She smiled broadly when he said that and sucked in a deep breath. "I know what you mean, cowboy."

He sat up and shifted her so she was resting against his chest looking out at the river. He traced down her arms with his fingers. As their breathing started to return to normal, Wade decided to try and resume the conversation they were having before things got so intense. "So you like this place, Doc?"

He felt her head nod against his chest.

"Will you tell me about your grandparents?" She asked.

"They were Momma's side and never much liked Earl, but they were good to us kids. Granddaddy taught me to fish. He's really funny too. People say I look like him, but I don't know 'bout that. Grandma was a tough Southern gal, didn't take no bull. But she was real kind. The first person there if you was in need. I think the whole town came to her funeral." Wade's voice was relaxed and easy. It was good talking about them. "So you spent a lot of time with your grandparents too? What were they like?"

Zoe realized she hadn't talked about them in a long time. Her Mom wasn't close to either of them and Zoe had the impression they were better grandparents than parents.

"They were my Mom's parents too. My grandmother was very strict and made me take piano, elocution, French…you name it. She had clear ideas of what she expected, but Grandpa was funny and he could get her to loosen up, make her laugh. I'd go into town with him in the morning when he got the paper and a coffee. We'd sit at the counter at this little coffee shop and he'd talk to all the Local guys. He was a retired diplomat and spoke, like seven languages, but he was the nicest, most down to earth guy."

"Sound like good people." Wade said. "Did they both pass?"

Zoe nodded slowly. "'When I was in college. They were killed by a drunk driver that hit their car."

Wade squeezed her tight. "Yeah, that's how Momma died too."

Zoe was surprised by what he said. She wasn't sure if she should ask, but he brought it up. "What happened?"

She felt Wade stiffen a little. She took both of his hands. "You don't have to tell me."

"Nah, it's alright." He answered and rested his head on top of hers. "Earl and Momma were comin' back from a show in Mobile and Earl probably shouldn't been drivin'. I don't know exactly what happened, but he lost control of the car…"

Zoe was dumbfounded. She couldn't really wrap her head around how horrible it was. She couldn't imagine what it would have been like for Wade. She pulled his arms around her tighter and squeezed his hands. "That's awful, Wade."

"Yeah. Well, that's life." He answered. "Like I said, Granddaddy and Grandma took care of us and no one would let us in a car with Earl after that. And he never got over it. Wasn't much use in blamin' him when he never forgave himself. The drinkin' got even worse after that."

She didn't say anything else which Wade appreciated. Most people would give him a long talk about how bad they felt for him and what a low life his father was. She seemed to understand that wasn't what he was looking for and it only left him in a position of having to defend Earl. Zoe just pulled him closer to her and he was grateful for that.

They sat quietly for a moment and then Wade pushed her forward gently. "How 'bout I show you the house before it gets dark?"

They walked back up towards the house. Wade unlocked the front door and opened it for Zoe to step inside. She saw the house was still furnished with drop cloths over most of the furniture. The front hall opened to a large staircase. He showed her around the downstairs and then took her hand to lead her upstairs. The back of the house had a large porch on the second floor and he opened the doors leading out. From there was a view of the river and the sun that was beginning to set.

"Wow." Zoe let out. "That's really beautiful."

Wade came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. They stood and watched the sun slowly descend until it dipped beneath the tree line across the river and the stars began to appear. With the sun down, the air began to chill and Zoe shivered a little.

Wade rubbed her arms and chuckled. "Well, you seem to be goin' a little soft there Doc. What's a New Yorker doin' shiverin' on an Alabama spring night."

Zoe turned and gave him the eye and lightly elbowed him in the ribs. Then she turned to walk back into the house.

Wade laughed again and followed her inside. "Wait here." He said and went downstairs.

Zoe couldn't see anything in the dark and started tapping her foot nervously. "You better get back here!"

She heard him laughing downstairs but thankfully the laughter got louder until he was standing in front of her with the bag from earlier and a lit candle. He looped his arm around her waist and started guiding her towards one of the rooms. They got to the door and he let go of her. Wade busied himself pulling the cloths off some of the furniture, lighting candles, putting blankets down across the bed and getting the food and wine out of the bag. She smiled and walked over to it. He poured her a glass of wine and handed her another sandwich. She sat cross-legged across from him on the bed.

"I thought you weren't going to try to get me into bed tonight?" She said sarcastically while drinking her wine.

"Now girl, get your mind out of the gutter. I wanted to show you my old room. But if you're interested in somethin' more…." He reached over and gave her a quick kiss.

Zoe laughed and opened up her sandwich. "So this is your old room?"

"Yes ma'am."

She looked around and could see muscle car and professional wrestler posters on the walls. "I like what you've done with the place."

"Why thank you, Doc. Glad you approve." He laughed. "Never had a girl up here before. Grandma' woulda had my hide."

Zoe laughed and ate her sandwich. "Mmmm… where'd you get this chicken salad? It's delicious."

Wade laughed again. "I made it. What? You think I only know how to microwave pizza?"

Zoe raised her eyebrows, "Well with no evidence to the contrary…"

"You've seen me cook before!" he said, slightly indignant.

Zoe shook her head. "Nope, don't think so - unless you consider adding milk to your cereal cooking. And grilling doesn't really count either. I know this because I can actually grill."

"Well, what about my gumbo? Sure was better than yours." He said annoyed.

"What gumbo?"

Wade realized what he had said and tried to back pedal. "Nothin', never mind. Just understand I'm a better cook than you, Zoe Hart."

"Wade, what gumbo?" She asked again but he didn't say a thing. Then it hit her.

Zoe scrunched her eyes. She began to piece it together. Lavon said he'd never used his gumbo pot, Wade said he had a great recipe. She smacked her palm on her forehead. "That was you! Not Lavon. Why didn't you say something?

She watched Wade rub the back of his neck in the irresistible way he did when he was unsure of what to do. "You made it clear you weren't lookin' for any more of my help as I recall…"

Zoe closed her eyes and remembered that day. The snake bite, her general snotty attitude. She shook her head. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk… but it was kinda of your fault I got that snake bite."

Wade nodded still feeling bad as he remembered. "Yeah, I know. That's part of the reason I made that gumbo."

Zoe smiled and put her glass down on the bed stand. Then she leaned over and wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you. You're a very good cook."

He leaned in and kissed her. "You're welcome."

She kissed him again and soon they were wrapped around each other on the bed. They were practically panting when Wade pulled away again. "Zoe, I really want to take this further, but…"

She nodded at him and touched his face.

"I don't want to screw this up. This ain't about a free pass." Wade kept his eyes on hers, but paused.

She looked at him and nodded again. She didn't want this to be like her last relationship where they hooked up during a study session and never even really went on a date. "I don't want to screw this up either."

He pulled her beside him and leaned against the headboard. They drank their wine in quiet. He held one of her hands and lazily looped his fingers through hers and then traced circles in her palm.

Finally she spoke. "Thanks for bringing me here."

"Thanks for comin' along." He said still playing with her hand.

"Wade, you ever think of living here again?"

His head rested on hers and she felt him nod. "Someday."

They finished their wine and the candles had burned down. Wade looked down at Zoe who was had her head resting on his shoulder and her eyes closed. He rubbed her shoulder and she opened her eyes. "I should get you home." He said.

"Can't we stay here?" She asked quietly.

"I gotta get Lavon's Navigator back to him. He's headin' to Tuscaloosa in the morning for some alumni thing."

Zoe's face fell slightly. She didn't want to the night to end just yet. Wade seemed to get that. He brushed some stray hair from her face. "I think I have a nice boxed wine at home. We can drop off the car and have a drink at my place."

She perked up and nodded. "That sounds good. I do love a fine box of wine."

Wade chuckled lightly. "But no funny business, we know boxed wine is your Achilles' heel." He paused and smirked before he started to reiterate his witty comment about her Achilles hell. She put a finger over his mouth before he could finish.

"I'm going to stop you before you ruin this nice moment."

He chuckled again and started to get up. She helped him pack up the bag and put the cloth over the furniture. They made their way down stairs and he blew out the last candle when he locked up the house. He opened her door and found she had opened his when he got to the other side. She stayed close to him after he got in the car and for the drive back to Lavon's.

He dropped off the Navigator and they walked back to his place. He was suddenly wishing he'd picked up a little before he left, but didn't want to be planning on her coming back with him. He was trying to take things slow, but the night had swerved in an interesting direction. He would remain a gentleman though.

He opened the door for her and then took to gathering the shirts scattered on the couch and beer bottles on the coffee table. "Have a seat. I'll get you that wine," he said as he took the items gathered in his arms and hands with him.

She sat down on the couch and picked up his acoustic guitar. He heard her from the kitchen. She was picking out Wildwood Flower. He shook his head. She was never what was expected. He walked into the room and she was leaned over the guitar looking at the strings as she played and hummed along.

"You know that was Harley's favorite." Wade told her pulling her from her playing.

She looked at him with a funny expression. "It was?"

He nodded and sat next to her, putting the glasses on the table. "Uh huh, he'd always play it on the jukebox when he came into the Rammer Jammer. It's still there – none of could replace it after ole Harley was gone."

She put the guitar down. "My Mom always played that song when I was a kid, which was funny because she certainly isn't a big country music fan. Guess now I know why… It's nice to know maybe there was more between them than she let on to me."

She leaned towards the coffee table, took the glass from the table and had some of the wine. Wade could see her processing the new information.

"I didn't know you could play guitar." He said to pull her back.

She looked over her shoulder at him.

"I can't really. I told you how my grandmother insisted on piano lessons, right?" He nodded at her and she continued. "Well pianos are not very portable so when I was at college I got a guitar and taught myself. It was also good at keeping fingers quick and nimble which I thought would help with being a surgeon."

She drank the rest of her wine and leaned back into him.

"You are full of surprises, Zoe Hart." Wade said as he put his arms around her.

"Same can be said about you, Wade Kinsella."

He didn't say anything and neither did she. It was getting late and he wanted her to stay. He thought she wanted that too so he gathered up his courage to ask.

"You want to stay here tonight? No funny business though." He added the last part so she wouldn't think he was trying something.

She nodded and turned to him smiling. "Yeah, but I don't have any pajamas."

He got up and went into his room. He cleaned up as best as he could and then came back with some clothes in his hand that he gave her. He pointed towards a door. "Bathroom's in there if you want to change."

She went in the bathroom and changed into the t-shirt and boxers he'd given her. She found toothpaste on the sink and put some on her finger, doing her best to freshen her breath and brush. She folded her clothes and put them on top of the hamper in the bathroom. She walked out and found him changing his bed. He was only wearing a pair of gym shorts. She really wished he'd put a shirt on, without one it was difficult for her to remember her promise of no funny business.

He turned to see her in his t-shirt and boxers and her hair loose around her face. She looked beautiful. He pulled the covers down and she got into the bed. He turned off the light and then joined her. She turned to face him. He was lying on his back. He pulled her to him and she rested her head on his shoulder and ran her hand across his chest. He hummed a small noise. "Be careful, Doc. A man only has so much self-control."

She turned her head up towards him and he was looking at her. He leaned into kiss her and then slowly pulled away.

"Goodnight, Zoe"

She leaned in for one more light kiss. "Goodnight, Wade."

She returned her head to his shoulder and he slowly ran his fingers through her hair. She drifted off pretty quickly considering how wound up he had her. He on the other hand found sleep harder to find. He listened to her breathing and continued to play with her hair.

It was a lot to take in for one evening and here it was ending with her sleeping next to him after only sharing some heated kisses. He turned to breath in her hair. Whatever was going on here he knew he couldn't back away after tonight. He thought about the possibility of her going back to New York and his stomach turned. He pursed his lips and slightly shook his head. Not letting that happen, he said to himself.

So? What do you think? Next chapter is the following morning...

Share your thoughts, please!