Gemma could feel the cold sweat start in the middle of her back. It was the same sweat one would get after a bad hot dog from the gas station.

Eddie’s home was modest by most people’s standards but to Gemma, it was a mansion. The exterior was painted – recently, by the looks of it. The trim was a bright white, the windows sporting screens with no tears or rips. There was professional landscaping with perfectly formed shrubbery.

There was a small voice in her head telling her that a doctor should have an even fancier house. Eddie didn’t seem the type, though. His car showed that – it wasn’t new, but you could tell he loved it.

“Everybody out, we got tubs of water to fill, and I need to rustle up one of those metal washboard things,” Eddie said to the occupants of the car.

Gemma turned to him in confusion.

“Just kidding,” he said with a grin.

Gemma got out and got Dash settled on her hip. He wasn’t a big boy, and she loved still being able to carry him around. She swore she’d do it as long as she could; her little boy was growing up too fast as it was.

As she shut the door, she saw Eddie with all the bags. She couldn’t help but notice how his arms, though not straining, flexed under the load.

She let her eyes slide away as he moved to the door. He fumbled for a moment and unlocked the door. He stepped back to let Gemma walk in before him.

Just a few feet from the door sat a beautiful Malamute. His head cocked to the side, looking first at Gemma, then at Dash. He was white with gray patches over his back and head. Gemma had been worried since Dash hadn’t been around dogs much, but Keno was no ordinary dog.

“Puppy!” Dash shouted and wiggled out of Gemma’s arms. Dropping to the floor, Dash wrapped his arms around the dog’s neck and hugged him. Keno, seemingly unfazed by the small child’s attack, sat perfectly still as the little boy rubbed his sticky face into his fur.

“That is Keno. He likes little boys your age,” Eddie said from behind her.

Dash pulled back and stared at Keno. “He’s nice,” he declared.

Keno apparently liked this statement and licked Dash’s face. This sent the little boy into a fit of giggles. When Dash stood up, Keno did too, his focus solely on what the small person would do next. The dog didn’t look upset when Dash started running around the room; he just started chasing him.

Gemma took the opportunity to take in the inside of the house. There was one light on in the living room, and it gave the room a soft glow.

The kitchen was situated off the front door to the left as you walked in. It was a modest kitchen but featured the latest appliances. The furniture in the living room looked comfortable and casual.

Gemma saw a short hallway that led to a set of double doors that she could only guess was the master bedroom. Gemma had never lived in a house that had double doors. The hallway off the kitchen led to more doors that she assumed were more bedrooms.

“I usually rent it out, so I kept the decoration rather rustic. I decided sturdy was appropriate,” Eddie said, as he watched her take in the home. He was watching for any sign that she was displeased. He would start house hunting the next day if she didn’t like it.

“Where do you stay when it’s rented?” Gemma asked, her eyes still moving around the room. She was noticing all the details, filing them away for later.

“Mom’s house. She’s always happy to have me there. Plus, there is a good chance she’ll do my laundry for me and send me home with leftovers from dinner.” Eddie said this with very little shame in his voice though there was a glint in his eye that told Gemma that he totally knew how it sounded.

“Why do you rent it out at all?” Gemma couldn’t imagine sharing her space if it wasn’t under dire circumstances.

“Well, when I was in school, I wasn’t here much. When I was doing my residency, I wasn’t here at all. Then, after that, it seemed easier to keep renting it than track down all the ads I’d put out there,” he explained.

“You rent it out because you don’t want to figure out where you advertised? You know, when people call, you could just say no – that you aren’t interested,” Gemma suggested.

Eddie seemed to think about this idea. “Huh, never thought of that.”

“Wow, and they made you a doctor,” she huffed.

“You know what they say, Ds get degrees. But then, I was at the top of my class, so you can be assured that I’m a fairly adequate doctor.”

Gemma realized she might have offended him.

“I didn’t mean…” she started.

“Oh, don’t get in a tizzy. I’m kidding. But I will admit to sheer laziness when the task at hand doesn’t interest me. When it is something that interests me, I commit myself, body and soul, to completing it,” Eddie said this with a voice low and deep. The intent was clear. He was looking at her very hard as he said the words. She was aware she was his newest interest.

“Hey Dash, you wanna watch cartoons? There are TVs in all the bedrooms. I’m sure there are a dozen kid’s channels,” Eddie said. He started walking down the hallway and Dash followed like an eager puppy.

Gemma stood for a moment, then followed with Dash’s backpack. She found Dash jumping up and down on the queen-sized bed. Eddie was flipping through stations on a large flat screen resting on the dresser.

“Do you like SpongeBob?” Eddie asked.

“Dunno,” Dash said in between jumps.

“We don’t get cable. Dash watches videos,” Gemma explained.

She saw the small eye-twitch in Eddie’s face when she said Dash watched videos.

“Well, then you are in for a treat! I can even sing the theme song for you. Ohhh…who lives in a pineapple….”

Gemma watched, a smile playing across her lips as Eddie sang through the whole song, imitating a pirate brogue. Dash was laughing hysterically, holding his little belly but never stopping his jumping.

“And how do you know that? Spend a lot of time watching cartoons?”

“I found it’s good to keep up on what the kids like. Singing is a good distraction during medical procedures. I can sing the Scooby Doo theme and kids don’t even notice IV placements. They don’t teach it in medical school, but they should,” he said.

Gemma didn’t doubt that. “Uh, I should get started on the laundry so we can get out of your hair.”

“You keep jumping, mister – just yell when you get hungry. I’ll order pizza.”

“Ok, Eddie!” Dash said happily.

Eddie walked out of the room and down the hallway back to the kitchen. There was a door off the end of the kitchen that Eddie opened and Gemma could see a mud room. There was a washer and dryer, both shiny and new looking. There was a door on the far side and judging by the breeze, it was the door to the garage.

“There is soap here if you didn’t bring any. Dryer sheets on the shelf. There shouldn’t be anything in here,” Eddie said, sticking his head in the dryer. “Nope, empty. Do you want me to help?”

Gemma did not want him to touch her dirty clothing. She wanted to hide out in the laundry room, but she knew it would be a chickenshit move.

“No, just let me get this started and I’ll join you in the living room,” she said, trying to sound casual.

“Sounds good. You thirsty? Soda?” he asked, shifting around her to step out and grab the laundry bags.

“Sure, that sounds good,” Gemma leaned over to open one of the bags.

“Ice or no ice?” he asked, still standing close to her.

“Ice, please – extra,” she said, trying to make sure the first thing she pulled out of the bag wasn’t a bra or panties. Gemma was waiting for him to acknowledge her and when he didn’t, she leaned back up and found herself face to face with him.

Eddie brought his hand under her chin, tilting it up towards his face. He brought his mouth down on hers in a soft, hot kiss.

Gemma forgot to resist. Honestly, she was going to give him a shove, or step on his foot. Instead, she let out a sigh and her mouth fell open to his.

This gave Eddie the perfect opportunity to deepen the kiss. He reached for her hips and pulled her against him. Gemma loved how tall he was; how his hands were big enough to cup her hips and make her feel enveloped.

Eddie was the one who broke off the kiss. “I’m not opposed to making out in the laundry room. I’d just prefer to do it with you sitting on the washer during the spin cycle. I think that would be very productive,” he growled at her.

The image had Gemma’s eyes widening. Spin cycles to her knowledge were fast and often bumpy. She could see how that would be enjoyable, especially with Eddie between her legs.

Shaking that image from her mind, Gemma cleared her throat. “I, uh, should get started on the laundry.”

“Good idea,” Eddie said.

Gemma noticed his eyes had that peculiar shine again. It seemed that whenever he was…aroused, his eyes reflected.

She didn’t stop him when he turned, rather reluctantly, and walked into the kitchen. Gemma hurriedly started a load of laundry and set the buzzer to go off so she wouldn’t waste any time in switching the loads.

Walking out, she expected to find Eddie in the kitchen. Instead, he was in the living room lighting candles. Yep, he was lighting fucking candles. Was he for real? Who did that? What guy had candles to light? Maybe if an ex-girlfriend left them, but not because they spent their time at Bath and Body Works sniffing their seasonal three-wick offerings.

“You own candles?” Gemma blurted this out because – well, it was what she was thinking.

“Yes, I own candles. Technically my mom bought the first set because she said the house couldn’t smell like my gym socks when I rented it out. She was right about that. After that, I liked them. They are warm and sometimes after a long day under fluorescent lights at the hospital, I need to give my eyes a rest.”

Shit, that was a good answer, she thought.

“So, what should we do while we wait on the laundry? TV?” she offered.

“We could. Or we could just make out until we need to order dinner,” Eddie said, sitting on the couch and patting the spot next to him.

“Seriously?” Her voice barely hid her laughter.

“I never joke about making out. It’s a very serious subject. Come on, I know we’ve only kissed a few times, but tell me those weren’t the best kisses you’ve ever had? Record setting, hall of fame, Oscar-winning kisses. I know they were for me. You telling me I’m out there alone dreaming about getting a little tongue from you?”

Gemma wasn’t about to say those weren’t the best kisses of her life. They were, hands down. Outside of their initial high-school relationship, her ex wasn’t interested in kissing. As soon as she moved in with him, any canoodling disappeared. After a while, Gemma had forgotten what it was like to kiss; to hug or touch someone just for the sake of physical contact.

She liked touching. Probably because she got so little of it growing up. Her parents were more of the smack you upside the head contact parents. There was no hugging, no cuddling in her house. After she married and got pregnant with Dash, she swore to herself she wasn’t going to live like that. Even if she were starved for affection, her baby would never feel that.

The second Dash was born, Gemma never wanted to put him down. She wore him whenever she was home, in a baby sling on her hip or her back. Her ex usually passed out on the couch so she would sleep with Dash in their bed.

Eventually, he started kicking the crap out of her at night, and she moved him to his own bed, but she still sneaked in naps with him when she could. His warm little body tucked up against her provided the loving contact she needed.

Now this man was offering her the thing she craved more than stability. He was offering her comfort.

She just had to decide if she was brave enough to accept it.

Eddie was watching her, noting every thought that went across her face. His bear watched too. His bear was a good reader of people. He could tell just what someone was thinking. He could guide Eddie when he was dealing with people.

His bear was telling him to be patient, but persistent. Gemma wanted him. Her kisses, once she got over the shock of it, were open and passionate. She clung to him with her hands curling into his clothes and squeezing his arms. She probably didn’t even know she did it, but it meant that he was there; inside her brain.

Eddie was confident that she would choose to sit beside him. She just needed to know that it was okay.

“Gemma, I’d like for you to join me on the couch,” Eddie said, taking a chance.

Her eyes shot to his. They focused in on him, and he watched as she made her decision. That decision had his cock hardening as she moved towards him.

She sat down on the couch next to him, her knees angled towards his. “Eddie, I’m a little uh, shocked by how fast this is going. I’m not used to this…straight shooting.”

“Straight shooting?” he asked.

“Yes, you know. I’m not used to someone just saying ’Hey, I like you. I want to make out with you.’ That is not in the realm of reality for me. Is this how you normally date?”

“Well, I don’t date first off. I did in college, but I decided that until I found the one woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, I’d wait. Dating is like a job interview. Both parties feeling each other out, sometimes telling lies to make themselves sound better. “

Gemma was confused. “If you don’t date, how will you find that woman?”