The word is out and Bluebell is abuzz! Hope you enjoy.
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Disclaimer: I've said it before and I'll say it again, I do not own Hart of Dixie.
Chapter 8:
Just A Kiss
Spring had certainly sprung in Bluebell with the sun coming up earlier and the temperature on the rise. Wade woke to the sun shining in his window and Zoe Hart snuggled against his side. It was only the second morning he'd woken up with her next to him, but he could easily get used to it. He looked down and saw her sleeping peacefully. He thought back to the night before, how the two of them were tangled into each other, kissing and engaged in some serious heavy petting. He'd made it to second base and lightly chuckled at the thought. He hadn't been excited about getting to second base with a girl since he was in high school. But there was something about the way he and Zoe were taking things slow that made things like second base exciting again.
He'd be lying if he said he hadn't been thinking a lot about rounding all the bases with her and after last night he wasn't sure how much longer either of them could hold out. But there was something inside him that was nervous about rushing things in that department. He knew his reputation and that Zoe was well versed in it too. He didn't want her to doubt that she was different.
The more he thought about Zoe and the sex they weren't having, the more difficult it became for him to stay in bed with her. All his good intentions of not jumping her could quickly leave his head with her this close to him. He slowly rolled her over, trying not to wake her. He knew she needed the sleep. She'd busted her butt helping him yesterday and was planning to do it again today. He quietly got up from the bed and kissed her lightly on the forehead before heading out to his small make-shift kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
She woke about an hour later and discovered he wasn't there which was a major bummer, but she could smell the coffee coming from the other room and pulled herself from the bed. The morning air was still a little cool and she felt a little exposed in her slip nightgown so she pulled one of his button down shirts from the laundry basket she'd pilfered the day before and put it on.
She walked out to find Wade writing on a pad of paper. He had been working on his to-do list for the Rammer Jammer. He'd also made note that he had to get on Lavon's computer to submit the assignment that was due for his online class. He heard her feet padding out towards him and turned to see her with his shirt over her nightgown. He could not deny he liked that. He put the pad down and got off the couch. He walked over and gave Zoe a proper good morning kiss before getting her a cup of coffee.
"Mornin'" he said as he handed her the coffee.
"Good morning." She answered taking a long sip of her coffee. "How long have you been up?"
"Only 'bout an hour. You looked pretty peaceful and I didn't wanna wake you."
She shot him a mock annoyed look. "Yeah, well for the record I did not enjoy waking up to find you weren't there."
He put his arms around her. "Is that so?" he said.
"Yes, it is."
"Well, I'll keep that in mind." He said with a wry smile.
She pulled away and headed to the bathroom. "I'm going to get dressed so we can get going."
Zoe quickly got ready and they headed over to Lavon's for breakfast. The Navigator wasn't in the drive when they walked towards the house and Wade was secretly glad to have breakfast alone with her.
Just as she did the day before, Zoe plopped down on one of the stools to drink her coffee. She picked up the list Wade had brought with him and saw how many things he had to get done before Saturday. She was also impressed with his planning for the Rammer Jammer as the new owner.
"This is great, Wade. All the ideas you have, getting music on the weekends and an open-mic night during the week."
He was as bad as she was at taking compliments. "Well I guess we'll see, may be a big ole disaster too."
She shook her head. "I don't think so." She told him in her bossy New Yorker tone.
He laughed as he cooked up an omelet. "I guess that settles it then."
She nodded authoritatively and moved on to her next item. "But you have a lot on here to get ready for Saturday."
Wade's eyes got big and he let out a deep breath. "Yeah, it's a bit overwhelmin'. I also got an assignment I got turn in on Thursday for the class I'm takin'."
Zoe went through the list. There were things that she knew she could take off his plate. "I can take a couple of days off from the practice this week and help."
Wade shook his head. He put her breakfast in front of her and sat down with his. "Naw, Zoe I can't let you do that. You gotta make sure you have your patients for your part of the practice."
Zoe chuckled. "Oh you so need to get up to speed. I'm close to forty percent. I did a lot of bridge building in this community the past couple of months."
Wade pulled his back a bit and looked at her. "Forty percent?"
He knew Bluebell had begun to accept Zoe, but didn't realize how much so.
She nodded proudly. "With my volunteering at the Senior Center, the administrator at the nursing home asked me to spend an afternoon a week over there which has helped. And, although I doubt he'd admit it, I think Brick kind of likes me being around. He's been taking a lot of Friday afternoons and Monday mornings off to go fishing."
Wade nodded back approvingly. "That's my girl."
"So, you see, I have certainly earned taking a couple of days off to help my boyfriend, the burgeoning businessman." She said before eating the last of her toast.
Wade tilted his head to the side still unsure. Zoe reached over and took his hand. "Wade, I really want to. Let me do this for you?"
It was a strange feeling for him. He'd never really had someone in his corner like she was asking to be. Sure he had friends like George and Lavon who'd help him out, but that was different. It felt good to have her on his side, but he hadn't had much practice in really depending on someone. He nodded slowly and let out a droll smirk. "Alright, but I'm the boss – no pushy New Yorker shenanigans from you, missy."
Zoe straightened her back and mock saluted him "Aye, aye Captain."
Wade shook his head and laughed. Man, she scared the crap out of him, but he couldn't help himself. If this was the Titanic, he was going down with ship.
They quickly were creating some routine. Zoe cleaned up the kitchen while Wade drank his coffee and finished going through his list, figuring out what he could delegate to Zoe and what he'd handle himself. She agreed to help with inventory and wait for vendors as well a lot of the clean-up. She took a lot of the mindless stuff he didn't know how he'd find time for and he was kind of touched at how graciously she offered to do so.
"So what's your assignment?" Zoe asked as she finished loading the dishwasher.
"Actually, it's pretty convenient – putting together a business and marketing plan. I got most of it in notes or in my head, I just need to pull it together and type it up."
"That is convenient." She said. "If what I saw on your to-do list is any indication I bet you'll get an 'A'."
"Alright now, you need to cut that out." He said turning to get his keys and started for the door, she was just embarrasing him now. "'C'mon girl, you got some stainin' to do."
She smirked and found she really enjoyed watching how uncomfortable he was compliments. He might even be worse than her. But she shut her mouth and followed him out the door.
When they pulled up to the Rammer Jammer the town was full of people on their way to church. Zoe and Wade gave themselves a look of its-now-or-never. Then he gave her the eye and said, "Now let me open your door Miss Independent so people don't think I was raised in a barn."
She gazed at him with a saccharinely sweet expression and placed her hands on her lap. He chuckled; then got out of the car and walked over to open her door. She held out her hand dramatically and he took it to help her out of the car.
"Why thank you, Mr. Kinsella. You are such a gentleman." She said in her best belle imitation as she took his arm for him to lead her to the door. He shook his head and laughed.
What they didn't realize is that their little display had all the folks of Bluebell atwitter. Dash Dewitt found Lemon and George on their way into church and pounced. Brick walked over to Addie and Bill. "You know what happened there?" he asked Addie.
She shook her head, "No, but I think it might explain why Dr. Hart was in such a good mood on Friday."
The gossip continued until everyone had made their way to their pew. AnnaBeth and Lemon would have their work cut out for them this morning, but one person wanted to hear straight from the horse's mouth. Rose Hattenbarger was on her way to the Rammer Jammer as soon as the minister said the last Amen.
Wade and Zoe figured church was over when the steady stream of folks began dropping by to offer Wade some help. They both knew it was poorly veiled attempts to get a look at the two of them. George stopped in with a legitimate offer to help them stain and Wade was talking with him when Zoe saw Rose through the window bee lining towards her. Zoe walked out and met the girl outside the restaurant.
Rose's eyes were the size of saucers. "Well?" she said loudly as group of ladies passed them.
Zoe gently grabbed Rose's arm and said, "Let's take a walk, shall we?"
Rose noticed the women and caught on to the program. "Sure."
Once they were out of earshot Rose started, "So? What happened? Why didn't you call me?"
Zoe could feel the girl's hurt. "Rose, I am so sorry but honestly I haven't had time. It's all happened really quickly. I feel like I got swept up and haven't even stopped to catch my breath."
Rose swooned a little when Zoe said that. "Really?"
Zoe sort of shrugged. "Yeah, on Thursday I got back to the office for what I thought was Lavon's physical and found Wade in the exam room with flowers and a real apology. He asked me out to dinner that night and next thing I know I'm sitting at a table by the pond at Lavon's with lights in the trees and music playing."
Rose listened attentively and sighed. "Wow, Zoe."
"Wow is right. Then we went out on Friday and I spent all day here helping him yesterday and that takes us to now."
Zoe realized as she told Rose that there was really no way to explain to her, or anyone, how much had happened over the course of four days. She'd tried with AnnaBeth and Lemon too. It was kind of crazy when Zoe thought about it, but she couldn't deny it was all real.
Rose, ever the romantic, sighed and squeezed Zoe's arm. "I knew it would work out. I knew he liked you… And even though you denied it, I knew you felt the same way."
Zoe smiled at the girl and appreciated her unspoiled romanticism. "Well you were right, Rose, and you certainly knew more than I did."
Zoe and Rose walked back to the Rammer Jammer and Rose left to meet her parents at the Agnes'. Zoe made her way into the Rammer Jammer and found Wade waiting for her with a brush.
"Well, Zoe Hart, it has been quite the mornin', but do you think you might be ready to get down to work now?"
She smiled, took the brush and a bucket of stain and made her way to the back of the bar to start working. George came by in the afternoon and Wade insisted that Zoe take a break. She went to the Dixie Stop and picked up sandwiches for them, where she exchanged more weighted pleasantries with members of Bluebell's population all trying to find out what was going on.
When she returned with the sandwiches Wade and George had finished the first layer of stain. She gave them each a sandwich and they ate them out back.
"I should probably thank you two." George said with a chuckle. "Y'all will be the talk of the town for a while. 'Takes the spotlight off of Lemon and me for a bit."
"Glad we could be of assistance." Wade offered sarcastically.
Lemon dropped by with iced tea as they finished their sandwiches and they listened to her talk about wedding plans. Lemon was Lemon, but Zoe had learned that she was also a tough customer and loyal till the end. And, if she was being completely honest, Lemon shared the same almost zealotry level of perfectionism as she and didn't think Zoe was insane because of it. She and Wade talked about her taking time off to help during the week and how she'd manage her schedule at the practice. Lemon offered to come by and help with vendors which, while appreciated, Wade politely declined. But George offered to help Wade and Lavon move the furniture around later in the week and he accepted.
It had turned into a nice afternoon. George and Wade finished the second layer of stain on the floors and Zoe managed to give the kitchen the sort of cleaning only a surgeon would demand. George took off after they finished the floors, but Zoe and Wade stayed to put a fresh coat of stain on the outside tables.
They worked until well after dark and she leaned against Wade as they walked towards her place. He took in how tired she was.
"You want a call it a night, Doc?"
"I probably should. I have to be at the office early. Brick doesn't come in until noon on most Monday's" She said. "But you can come up for a little while if you want."
"I think I will." He said squeezing her closer.
She opened the door and turned on the lamp. The light was blinking on her phone and she rolled her eyes imagining what the message could be after a day at the center of the Bluebell gossip gristmill. She picked up the phone and listened to her message.
"Uh Zoe, this is Brick. I'm plannin' on bein' in early tomorrow if you got anything you need to do in the mornin'. And, uh, Lemon mentioned you might have some, uh, things to do things to do this week and I can pick up the slack if need be. We can figure it out when you get in tomorrow. Um, have a good night."
Zoe shook her head as she put the phone back on the receiver. Wade took in her expression and tried to figure out who called.
"That was Brick. He said he'd be in early tomorrow if I needed to take the morning off and could cover if I needed to take more time off during the week." She shook her head again and looked at Wade.
"Lemon," they said in unison.
Zoe looked over at Wade smiling. "Well, since I'm off in the morning, I could come back to your place if you're interested."
Wade leered at her. "Oh, I'm interested," he said as he pulled her closer to him.
Zoe pushed him away gently. "Then let me take a quick shower and get all that kitchen grime and stain off of me so we can go."
Wade sniffed around her neck and then scrunched his nose. "Uh yeah, that'd probably be a good idea."
She slapped him playfully and then headed for the bathroom.
After her shower she quickly pulled on a pair of leggings and threw on a tank top with a sweater over it. She packed up a bag for her slumber party and walked out to the living room. Wade was working on his list again. He looked up at her as he came out.
"Y'ready, Doc?" he asked. He looked beat.
She nodded and after the short walk back to the Rammer Jammer Wade drove them the short drive back to the gatehouse. He carried her bag and dropped it by the bedroom door again before heading into the bathroom for a shower. She changed into her nightgown while he showered and threw the shirt from earlier over it. She made her to way to his small kitchen and grabbed two beers from the fridge. She took a drink from hers and sat on the couch. She looked at the guitar and picked it up. She closed her eyes before she began to play. Her mind began to slowly relax as she plucked the piece from her memory.
When Wade emerged from the bathroom he heard what sounded inexplicably like classical music coming from his guitar. He saw it was Zoe playing. He slowly walked in and noticed that her eyes were closed. He listened and watched her until she finished. She smiled before she opened her eyes and didn't seem surprised that he was standing there.
"That was real pretty. What was it?" He asked her.
"Concerto in D major by Vivaldi," she answered as she put the guitar down.
He narrowed his eyes but the left side of his mouth was raised suspicious smirk. "I thought you said you couldn't really play."
She shrugged a little and picked up her beer. She handed him his and he sat next her.
She handed him the guitar and curled up on the couch, "Play something?"
Wade raised his eyebrows. He finished his beer and rested the guitar against his chest. "Well, now that you've gone and raised the stakes I'm gonna have to dig deep here."
He stretched his head back against the couch and started strumming, thinking of what to play. He started playing a sweet, rolling song with a distinct southern twang. He finished and started something new. She knew the song. She listened as he played and started to sing along.
Somethin' in your eyes, makes me wanna lose myself
Makes me wanna lose myself, in your arms
There's somethin' in your voice, makes my heart beat fast
Hope this feeling lasts, the rest of my life
If you knew how lonely my life has been
And how long I've been so alone
And if you knew how I wanted someone to come along
And change my life the way you've done
He watched her as she quietly sang and thought about everything that happened over the past couple of days. Zoe had really started to let her guard down and, if he was being honest, he had too.
"Girl, I didn't know you could sing." he said as the song came to an end.
She snorted a small laugh. "That's because I can't."
He shook his head in disbelief. "Oh yes you can."
"You're the only one that thinks so," She said resting further into the couch.
"I doubt that." He said as he pursed his lips but he let it go and started playing again.
"Just play something, no more talking," she said closing her eyes again.
He complied with her request. It wasn't hard since playing his guitar was his favorite way to unwind at the end of the day. Well, maybe now it was his second favorite. After a few more songs he noticed she had stopped singing and found she was fast asleep. Wade put the guitar down. He gently scooped her up in his arms and carried her to bed. He got in next to her and spooned himself around her back; swiftly drifting off himself.
A/N: In my mind the song Wade played first was Little Martha by the Allman Brothers - seemed like Wade to me. The second song that Zoe sang along to is Feels like Home which has been done by a bunch of people.
More to come...
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