Kennadee parked in the empty lot of Heart Bait and Tackle. Gideon had called earlier asking if she could meet him here for their date. Turns out he didn’t have a car as his had been towed to a junkyard. She’d laughed at that and mentioned he probably shouldn’t be driving so soon after being out of the hospital anyway.

She climbed out of her truck and walked up the wide, wooden planks to the front door. The door swung open before she could reach for the caribou antler handle.

“Hello, Kennadee,” Gideon greeted, drinking her in. When he looked at her with those smoldering brown eyes, heat spread from her belly out to her limbs, making them feel noodle-like. It was a new sensation, one that made her want to giggle like a teenager.

“Hello, yourself. You look very nice.” He wore another suit, this one navy blue. Even sporting bandages over the bridge of his nose, stitches on his forehead, and matching black eyes, he was a sight to behold. “How are you feeling?”

He ushered her into the sporting goods store and shut the door. “I have a feeling that I’m going to start hating that question. But to answer you, I rested pretty much all of yesterday as Dad refused to let me do anything for myself. He’s worse than a mother hen. I’ve also taken it easy today because I had tonight to look forward to.” He reached out and ran his fingers through the long strands of her hair. “I love your hair down like this.”

“I need to cut it.” She suddenly had to swallow. His simple action had emotions she couldn’t name thickening her throat.

“Please don’t.”

“Fire season is coming up. It gets in the way.”

“I’ve heard some women restrain their hair in braids to keep it out of their way.” He smiled.

“Could work, but then I’d have to learn how to braid hair.”

“Forever the tomboy, aren’t you? Here, let me take your coat.”

“Are we staying here?” She figured that she’d pick him up, and they would head to the Pump House or the Malamute Saloon. His dressed-up attire caused her to feel dowdy in her simple jeans and sweater, and she smoothed both in reaction to her nervousness.

“I hope you don’t mind.” He helped her slip out of her coat and laid it over the checkout counter, frowning when he noticed she didn’t have her arm in the required sling. “How’s your shoulder? Shouldn’t you be wearing your sling?”

She should, but since she hated the thing, she’d left it at home. “I’m being careful. Don’t worry.”

He narrowed his eyes as if he wanted to examine her, and the thought of him playing doctor sent a thrill through her that she did her best to stomp down. This was so unlike her. She’d never been one to war with her emotions but being around Gideon had them in disarray.

“I’m sure your doctor would have a few choice things to say about you not following his advice,” he said, taking her good arm in his and leading her through the store.

“As I’m sure yours would have something to say about you on a date when you should be home in bed resting.”

“Touché.” He guided her through the fishing department toward camping, and realization dawned.

“You didn’t?”

“Didn’t what?” he asked, smiling down at her. The warmth flooding through her stomach developed butterfly wings.

“Prom,” she said. “We had dinner here in a tent, if I remember correctly.”

“As that night ended with me getting you naked, I figured why mess with a sure thing.”

“Sure thing, huh? Think again, buddy. The way I remember it, you were broke and couldn’t afford to take me to a proper restaurant.”

“Some truth to that, but you did give me points for my creativity.”

He ushered her into the camping area, and she gasped when she saw the scene arrayed before her. “This is enchanting. You did all this after just having surgery a few days ago?” She slapped his arm. “What were you thinking?”

He laughed. “I had a lot of help, and I mainly gave directions.”

What he’d accomplished was a step up from pizza in a tent while sitting on a floor of cushions. This fit the term “glamping” which she’d heard described as glamour camping.

He held a camp chair out for her. “My lady.”

Tickled more than she liked to admit, she sat. Gideon stood behind her a second or two longer than necessary. He leaned down and sniffed her neck, causing goose bumps to erupt over her skin.

“Hmm, you smell nice,” he murmured. “What perfume are you wearing?”

“Uh, I’m not,” she whispered, words suddenly hard to formulate.

He sniffed again, lingering, then kissed the side of her neck. “Don’t ever cover up with heavy perfumes. Your natural scent is enough to bring a man to his knees.”

Wow, he’d learned some moves since they’d gone out last. It made her wonder how he’d learned them and who he’d practiced them on. A tinge of jealously entered her discombobulated emotions, confusing her. She never felt jealous. What was wrong with her tonight?

He straightened and picked up a bottle of champagne, slowly working the cork free. It gave a satisfying pop when it released.

“Did you steal this bottle too?” she asked. He’d produced a bottle of champagne on prom night, too, but that one had been fleeced as they were both too young to drink. His smooth moves had the bottle of champagne uncorked without any liquid bubbling up. Much different than the last bottle they’d shared when champagne had sprayed them both.

He flashed her a smile. “We were a wild pair, weren’t we?” He poured champagne into tin cups.

“No champagne glasses?” she teased.

“And ruin the aesthetic?” He winked. It should have felt corny—on most men, it would have—but on Gideon it was sexy as hell when he gave her that crooked smile—the one that said he knew all her secrets—and a wink from those perceptive brown eyes.

Her insides turned to jelly.

He set the bottle of champagne back in the ice bucket and held up his cup for a toast. “To old lovers reconnecting.”

She paused, holding her cup in the air. Did sleeping together one time make them old lovers? Or was she splitting hairs, seeing too much into the situation, looking for something to keep him at arm’s length? She clicked his tin cup and watched as he drank, his eyes never leaving hers.

Woo boy. She didn’t need the champagne to make her head spin. Whatever spell Gideon wove did that just fine. She drank anyway to quench her thirst, even knowing champagne wasn’t what she thirsted for.

It was him.

She couldn’t remember another time she’d felt such a powerful yearning for a man. Not since she’d been sixteen and had slept with him. She hadn’t planned on losing her virginity that night, even though a lot of teenagers gave it up on prom night. It hadn’t even entered her mind, until Gideon had gazed at her across a scene too similar to this one. None of the other men she’d been with created this need, this desire to chuck everything into the wind and just see where the thrill of the ride took her. It gave her that same sensation of standing at the door of an open plane, ready to smoke jump into a raging wildfire.

“Are you hungry?” Gideon asked, taking his seat across from her, the angles of his face more prominent in the candlelight. He reminded her of a brigand, charming and dangerous, the kind of man mothers warned their daughters to stay away from lest they ruin their reputations.

“Kennadee?” he asked, looking at her with concern. “Are you okay?”

“Uh, yes. Sorry. What were you saying?” Get it together, woman.

“Are you hungry?”

Damn right she was, but suddenly not for food. She squirmed in her chair and that crooked smile of his appeared again. She had the crazy feeling he could read her like one of his medical books.

“What’s on the menu?” she asked. “Pizza like last time?”

“Actually, you’re in for a surprise. I asked Dad to prepare the menu for tonight. He, in his infinite wisdom, asked your father for help with your favorite foods. So, any blame for the dinner will fall on you.” He flipped open the lid of a cooler that sat on the floor next to his chair and pulled out two large bowls covered in tinfoil. He set one in front of her and, with the flare of a French waiter, revealed the contents hidden underneath.

Macaroni and cheese.

She couldn’t help herself and dissolved into a fit of giggles.

Gideon watched her, smiling. He obviously knew what the bowls contained. “I have to admit, I was astounded that this is your favorite food. Most women your age have a more—how should I say this without insulting you—a more developed palate, or would it be better to praise the fact that you are definitely not a high maintenance girl?”

“Macaroni and cheese was my favorite food when I was a little girl, and the only thing my father knew how to cook. Pray tell, what did he choose for dessert?”

“He did better there.” Out of the cooler, Gideon produced chocolate pudding cups, a package of Nutter Butters and a carton of milk. “Apparently, you like to use Nutter Butters as a spoon while eating your chocolate pudding.”

She laughed again. “I have to admit, I still eat my pudding with cookie spoons.” And it was still one of her favorite treats. Her mother had taught her that trick, and Kennadee had many sweet memories of sneaking out of bed and sharing the treat with her mom in the muted light of the kitchen while her siblings slept.

“What else is in the cooler?” she asked, dying to see what Pete and her dad had put together.

He grimaced and pulled out a plate of charred hotdogs. “Dad thought the mac and cheese was too simple so he barbequed some hotdogs in case we wanted to cut them up and add them to our entrée.”

“That’s very thoughtful of him.” She grinned.

“He also thought we needed appetizers and packed his favorite. Jalapeño poppers wrapped in bacon from the Pump House.”

“Good grief, what are our fathers feeding themselves?”

“That was my thought exactly. I do believe I’ll make an appointment for Dad with a nutritionist.”

“You should make it a double appointment, and my dad can go too—though I doubt it would do any good.”

“They are a bit set in their ways.” He offered her the plate of jalapeño poppers. “In the meantime, would you care for an appetizer?”

“Don’t mind if I do.” She popped a pepper in her mouth, loving the bite of heat with the cooling cream cheese and crunch of bacon. Her eyes closed on a moan. “Damn, these are good.”

Gideon ate one and then reached for his champagne cup, gasping from the heat. He gulped, fanning his mouth as if that would put out the fire.

“That won’t work,” she said. “Open the milk.”

He did and drank from the carton. “Damn, those are hot.”

“Not that hot. You’re a wuss.” She smiled and popped another into her mouth. She loved spicy food and was known to use sriracha sauce like most people used ketchup.

He pushed the plate toward her. “I think I’ll stick with the mac and cheese.”

“Actually, the poppers would taste amazing in the mac and cheese.” He looked at her with such horror that she couldn’t help herself and laughed. She couldn’t remember a time when she’d enjoyed a man’s company so much. If ever.

They ate their dinner, followed by scooping pudding out of cups with the peanut butter cookies. Gideon kept her tin cup topped off with champagne, but it wasn’t the champagne making her giddy and lighthearted. She decided to enjoy herself, see where the evening took her, and not examine things so closely.

Tomorrow would be soon enough for that.

Gideon cleared the plates by dumping them in the cooler. He stood and offered her his hand. “This night would not be complete without us sharing a dance or two.”

She took his hand and rose. “Is that a good idea? Dancing would definitely be off Dr. Cooke’s recovery list for you.” Not to mention, dangerous for her with these feelings coursing through her concerning him. What she really needed was some distance so she could think.

“Then we’ll have to take it real slow.” He gently pulled her into his arms, being careful of her shoulder. Wrapping his arms around her, Kennadee found herself settling into his embrace like they’d danced in high school. His hands weren’t placed properly—if anything, they were a bit low, tucking into the back pockets of her jeans. If they’d been at a school dance, a chaperone would definitely tap him on the shoulder and give him a stern talking to.

Something slow and dreamy started to play over the speakers. She didn’t recognize it, but it had a familiarity to it as if she’d heard this kind of music growing up. “Did our fathers choose the playlist too?”

“Hmm, yes, they did. Any complaints?”

“Not a one. This is nice.” Too nice.

Gideon raised his head to look into her eyes, and she was snared by the heat in his gaze. “The last time I enjoyed the company of a woman this much was ten years ago.”

“I’m sure that isn’t true. There must have been a lot of women you’ve been with over the last decade.” There had to be because he’d sure learned how to turn on the charm without being cheesy.

“Not as many as you might think. I did have to get through medical school and then my residency. That pretty much took up all my time.”

“There was no one serious?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“Not a one. What about you? Has anyone turned your head?” His eyes bored into hers as if he waited on bated breath for her answer.

“Remember how I told you I don’t date a man more than three times? Keeping to that model limits the chance for a serious relationship.”

“I mean to change that,” he said, his expression determined.

“It’s been a hard-and-fast rule of mine. One that works. I’m not looking for anything serious.” It had kept her heart safe, and she had a feeling that particular organ was very much in jeopardy with Gideon.

“I’ve always enjoyed a challenge.” He cupped her face, and his mouth swooped down and captured hers, catching her off guard. Which had to be his plan. She had a feeling he meant to keep her off guard as much as he could.

Then all coherent thoughts left her. His tongue breeched past her lips and tangled with hers. A moan escaped her, and the kiss went wild.

The brakes were off.

This wasn’t like the exploratory meeting of mouths when he’d kissed her overlooking the accident site. This one demanded she engage in a tango of tongues, a dance that mimicked what his body wanted to do with hers.

Heat pooled in her center, and her limbs went weak. She found herself draping her good arm around his neck, either to pull him closer or to keep herself from melting into a puddle at his feet, she didn’t know which, probably both.

He broke the kiss, breathing hard, and leaned his forehead against hers, his voice rough, “God, Kennadee, what I wouldn’t give to lay you down and have my way with you.”

She wanted to demand he do just that, but physically there was no way he was up for sex, even though the part of him pressed hard and thick against her nether region seemed to say otherwise.

“That would definitely be frowned upon by your doctor,” she said. “Plus, I’ve only slept with one man on the first date, and I never repeat myself.”

“Aren’t I lucky then that I’m counting this as our second date.”

“If you’re counting this one as our second, that only gives you one more.”

He cocked a brow. “Do you hold to the urban myth that the third date results in sex?”

She moved out of his arms and put the table between them. “I think we need to lay down some ground rules.”

“Such as?” He narrowed his eyes and watched her closely. Too closely. She felt like one of his patients and he was trying to diagnose her.

“Listen, I only sleep with men I don’t care about,” she blurted out.

“Excuse me?” He shook his head as though that would help him understand what she’d just said.

“You know what I mean.”

“I don’t have a clue what you mean.”

“When I have sex with a man, it’s just sex. No hearts involved.”

He frowned, looking concerned. “What has turned you against falling love?”

She sucked in her breath. “This is getting too deep. I prefer to keep things light and easy. I should go.”

He grabbed her good arm before she could beat a retreat. “Not until you answer me. Why are you afraid to open your heart?”

“I’m not afraid.” The statement didn’t come out as strong as she wished. “My life is complicated. It’s not conducive to relationships.”

“That’s bullshit. This is me, Kennadee, not some schmuck. I know you. I know what you’ve been through, losing your mother, watching your father fall apart. Seeing Sorene push Ash away so that he didn’t feel obligated to give up on his dreams and stay with her as she stepped in to help raise your siblings. I’ve been away for ten years, but I’ve kept track of what’s happened in Heartbreak. And I know of your reputation.”

“What reputation?” That threw her almost as much as his little speech.

“You are known to burn through men.”

“So what if I do? No one gets hurt.”

“That might be what you tell yourself, but you’re hurting yourself with this three date rule of yours.”

“What I do or who I date is my business, not yours.”

“Think again. I’m making you my business, Kennadee Wilde. You’re going to fall in love with me.”

“The hell I will.”

He gave her that crooked smile. “You’re already halfway there and it won’t be long before you fall all the way in love with me.”

“You’re full of shit.”

“The more you object just tells me how close to the truth I am.”

“I suggest you let go of my arm before you need to seek medical attention again.” She held her breath, watching him struggle with the act of releasing her.

He didn’t want to. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, kiss her again, but she couldn’t allow that to happen.

Something changed within her when he had his hands and mouth on her. She caved, gave in, demanded more of his touch. She couldn’t help herself when she was around him, never could, which told her she needed to get the hell away from him and stay away.

Slowly he released her. “We aren’t finished with this conversation.”

“Yes, we are. Finished.” She stressed the last word.

“I do love your fighting spirit, even though it’s annoying the hell out of me right now. I’ll give you a few days to digest what I’ve said, then I’ll call you for that third date.”

“Don’t count on it. It might take another ten years for me to agree to go out with you again.”

His laughter followed her out of the camping department. She stomped to the door, so angry that tears suddenly threatened. Grabbing the handle, she swung open the door, and embraced the chilly night air.

It wasn’t until she was in her truck halfway home that she realized she’d left her coat. Crap, her phone was in the pocket. She’d have to see Gideon again in order to get it back.

The hell with that.

She’d buy a new phone before that would happen.