Wild Fire

by Tiffinie Helmer

  “Not like this,” he said. “I won’t have sex up against a wall with you. When we come together again, it will mean something. We will make love. I want you more than my next breath, but I won’t let you bait me into taking you like this.”

  “I wasn’t baiting you,” she whispered, though she knew it was a lie. She’d pushed him against the wall, using her body to tempt him into taking her.

  He gave her that crooked smile again, his finger tenderly trailing down her cheek. “When we make love again, you will be invested as much as I already am.”

  “How?” she asked.

  “How are we going to make love?” He cocked an eyebrow.

  “No.” Dratted man. “How can you, as you put it, be invested? You don’t know me. We’ve barely spent more than a few dates together.”

  “You’re fooling yourself if you think that. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you, Kennadee Wilde. When I finally got you to agree to go out with me, I’d thought I’d won the lottery. Then we made love, and I was a goner. I was devastated when you refused to go out with me again. So, I decided to wait for you.”

  “You’ve waited for me? Like what? All this time?”

  “You asked me if there were others? I tried for a time to put you out of my mind, to forget about you, but you’re the reason I’m here. Why I decided to set up my practice in Heartbreak. I’d planned to get settled in my business, buy a house, and then court you, seduce you, into loving me back. All that changed when a smoky, sexy voice saved me from the jaws of death. I’m through waiting for what I want. Life is too short.”

  “You’re crazy if you think you are in love with me.” Panic caused her voice to sound shrill.

  “Call me crazy then, but I’d rather be crazy than delusional.”

  “I’m not delusional. I’m realistic.”

  “Your body is honest with me, why can’t you be? Shall I kiss you again and prove it?” he threatened, his jaw hardening.

  “No,” she replied too quickly.

  “I know you, Kennadee. You wouldn’t be this mad, stoking the fires of that anger for the last few weeks, if you didn’t care. You just don’t want to admit it. No man but me has made you feel like this, out of control—freefalling, willing to have sex up against a wall even though you claim you want nothing to do with me.” He released her, and if it wasn’t for the wall at her back, she would have fallen at his feet.

  He turned for the door, opened it, and then nailed her with a challenging look. “I’ll see you in an hour. Be prepared to work.” He walked out and softly shut the door behind him.

  She slid down the wall until her butt hit the floor, dropped her head between her knees and tried—without success—to calm her racing heart. A heart that she’d taken for granted to do its job, but now it felt like it was betraying her.

  Gideon started up his new Land Rover, but instead of engaging the gears, he sat and stared at the Wilde family log home, wanting to go back in there and imprint his body upon Kennadee’s. Turning down the opportunity to have sex with her again had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

  Deep inside, he knew having sex with her like that would be a huge mistake. Which was probably why Kennadee pushed his buttons. She wanted to put him in the same category as the other men she’d dated, slept with.

  He couldn’t allow that to happen.

  He’d given her time, and when that hadn’t worked, he’d agreed to his father’s and Jack’s scheme. He had to admit that their ploy had gotten him further with her than he’d been able to do on his own.

  He’d received a call not an hour ago from Jack, saying he’d sent Kennadee home, and she was there alone. Without hesitating, he’d had his receptionist rearrange his schedule, and headed over here.

  Now he had a new employee that he’d have trouble keeping his hands off of.

  Even with what had happened between them inside her house, he knew she’d show up at the clinic. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to backdown. Maybe he could use that to his advantage because God knew having her work with him, alongside him all day, and not being able to touch her, kiss her, was going to be a special kind of hell.

  Christ, he hoped he was up for it.

  Chapter 16

  Kennadee peeled herself up off the floor and headed for the shower. It wasn’t like her to wallow, and never over a man. Even if that man could turn her on faster than any other, he also sparked her temper faster than anyone she’d ever met.

  Wonder if those two things are related? she pondered while washing her hair.

  This was senseless, agreeing to help Gideon out at the clinic. Hadn’t she planned to stay as far away from him as she could?

  Well, she’d managed that for almost four weeks, and then within a few minutes of being in the same room with him, she’d been playing tonsil hockey. Time away obviously hadn’t worked, maybe time together would?

  Now that had possibilities.

  One of the reasons she’d come up with the three-date rule wasn’t only to protect herself from developing relationships, but because she was too easily bored. There hadn’t been a man she wanted to spend more than three dates with.

  Perfect.

  She’d spend time around Gideon, working with him, and there would be something that would kill this powerful yearning she had for him. He might treat his employees like serfs, and like most doctors, he probably had a God complex. That would definitely kill any attraction she had for him.

  Taking her queue from Gideon’s suits, she dressed in black slacks, sensible shoes that were still stylish, and an A-line knit top in blues, that highlighted the auburn in her hair. She went to pull her hair back into a ponytail and then decided not to—which had nothing to do with Gideon commenting that he liked her hair down, she told herself—and then added small silver hoops to her ears. She went to leave, swiveled to look at herself in the mirror, and decided to add a bit of mascara and lipstick.

  What the hell.

  Grabbing her purse, and a lightweight jacket, she headed off for Mercy Heartbreak Medical Clinic.

  The clinic had originally been the schoolhouse in Heartbreak back in the 1940s, housing grades K through twelve. It had operated that way until the 1970s when the new school had been built. Since then it had been converted into a police station, and then a community office building, and now the clinic. It maintained its historic clapboard siding the town was known for, showcasing its mining history. It was quaint, inviting, and downright cute.

  A screaming toddler greeted her when she entered. The waiting room was packed with women, most run ragged with small children. There were a few women in their forties and fifties, and the rest silver-haired seniors. One being Mrs. Aveda, Kennadee’s former English teacher.

  “Why, Kennadee, what brings you here?” she asked. “You didn’t reinjure that shoulder of yours, did you?”

  Damn, Heart to Heart Network.

  “No, I’m fine, Mrs. Aveda. I’m actually here to help pitch in.”

  “Thank the heavens for that. Might I suggest you take the little tyke there first?” She indicated the toddler with tears streaming down his red face. His mother was beside herself trying to console him. “Not only would it help him, but it would also give the rest of us a break from the caterwauling.”

  “You got it.” Kennadee approached the woman. “Would you come with me please and we’ll get your little boy seen by the doctor?”

  “Hey,” another woman with a stern face and sore attitude interrupted. “I was here before her.”

  “Ma’am, it’s obvious this little boy is in more distress than you are. I’m sorry, but emergency patients will be seen first.”

  The woman muttered but stood down, and Kennadee ushered the young mom and her little boy through the door that she hoped led to exam rooms. She passed a frazzled receptionist, who she recognized as Joanna Forbes from school, though she’d been a few years behind her.

  “Thank you so much for helping out,” Joanna gushed. “We’re swamped.”


  “Is there an exam room free that I can take them to?” she asked over the screaming two-year-old.

  “They’re all taken. We’re trying to get to everyone as fast as we can.” She leaned in so that only Kennadee could hear. “Someone needs to talk to Dr. Rasmussen about taking so long with each patient. He needs to move things along.”

  Obviously, Joanna hoped that someone would be her.

  She looked around. There was a hallway with multiple doors, all closed, and then one at the back of the hallway that was cracked open. “Where does that lead?”

  “That’s Dr. Rasmussen’s office.”

  Kennadee headed for it.

  “You can’t use that,” Joanna called after her. “He’ll be very upset. That’s his private sanctuary.”

  “When you see him, tell him to free up an exam room or treat this little boy in his office, for that’s where we’ll be. Do you have a chart on—” She turned to the mother, realizing she hadn’t asked for her name or that of the little boy.

  “Eric, Eric Michaels, and I’m Ann,” she filled in.

  Kennadee held her hand out to Eric. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Michaels.” Eric peeked at her from where he’d hidden his face in his mother’s neck and hiccupped. “Ann, follow me. Joanna, if you could find me Mr. Michaels’ chart and bring it to me please, that would be great. Thank you.”

  She opened the door to Gideon’s office, taking in the soft leather couch along one wall, and two high-back plaid chairs in a faded blues and greens that faced a large Cherrywood desk. “Why don’t you have a seat on the couch?” she said, knowing Ann would be more comfortable holding her son there than in the high-back chairs.

  Joanna entered with the chart and handed it to Kennadee.

  “Joanna, would you also find me a stethoscope and thermometer?”

  She nodded and headed back out to locate the items requested.

  “Now, what seems to be the problem?” she asked the young Mr. Michaels.

  Chapter 17

  Gideon found Kennadee entertaining a patient in his office. He couldn’t believe her. The one place that was off limits to everyone, and she’d turned it into another exam room.

  His irritation evaporated like smoke the moment he saw her. She’d handed over a stethoscope to the toddler, Eric Michaels, and had him distracted, listening to her heart.

  What he wouldn’t do to be able to listen to her heart. He’d give anything to know what it had to say regarding her feelings for him.

  Salty tracks of tears stained Eric’s cherub face, and he hiccupped every now and then, but he was no longer screaming, and Gideon knew that was due to Kennadee. Nothing ratcheted up the tension in a doctor’s office more than a screaming child. Not only for the nurses and doctors but also for the waiting patients, as well. Asking Kennadee to help out had been a smart decision.

  Jack and his dad obviously knew a thing or two.

  “How’s this little man?” Gideon asked, entering fully into the room. Kennadee jerked at his voice. He gave her a nod as he knelt down next to Eric. “Are your ears giving you trouble?”

  Ann answered for Eric, “Yes, and his fever is up.”

  “Well, let’s see what we can do about getting rid of both of those.”

  Kennadee stood to leave, but Eric grabbed her finger, wrapping his hand around it and let out a sound of distress.

  “Ms. Wilde,” Gideon said. “I’d like you to stay. It seems Eric here has a crush.”

  Kennadee watched, speechless as Gideon expertly and compassionately examined Eric and diagnosed him with an inner ear and sinus infection. He wrote out a few prescriptions and told Ann to call the clinic if Eric didn’t show improvement by morning and asking her to schedule a follow-up appointment in three days’ time.

  The afternoon continued in a rush of patients.

  Kennadee jumped in, taking control of the office, schedule, and patients with military precision laced with an abundance of empathy that impressed Gideon and had Joanna sighing in relief.

  At the end of the work day, he entered the exam room of his last patient to find Mrs. Aveda and Kennadee reminiscing.

  “You are a very smart man to con Kennadee into helping out,” Mrs. Aveda informed Gideon with a smart nod of her head that had him feeling like a teenager sitting in her classroom under her hawkish stare. “She’s saving your butt. Again. You are very lucky to have her.”

  Didn’t he know it? If only he could make this situation permanent.

  “I’m the luckiest man in the world to have her in my life,” he said, sharing a long look with Kennadee. She was the first to glance away, a blush highlighting her cheeks.

  “Ah, so that’s the way of it,” Mrs. Aveda said, with a smile. She patted his hand. “Good choice, Gideon.” She never called him Dr. Rasmussen, but then she’d sent him to the principal’s office more than once. And as he hadn’t made her job teaching his English class easy, she’d earned the right to call him whatever she wanted to.

  “So, why are we blessed to have you visit with us today?” he asked, getting back to why she was here instead of discussing his love life.

  “I’m not here for me. I’m here for my husband who is too embarrassed to come in. We need some of those little blue pills,” she said bluntly.

  Kennadee choked on a laugh, and then cleared her throat to try and cover up the sound.

  “Laugh all you want,” Mrs. Aveda said sharply. “Just you wait until you’re my age, missy. All my functions are go, but poor Mr. Aveda has trouble keeping up.”

  Gideon bit his tongue and tried to compose himself in a professional manner. “I would have to examine Mr. Aveda in order to write him a prescription. I’m sorry.”

  Mrs. Aveda huffed out a breath. “I figured. Blasted man is too proud to come down here, but I figured it couldn’t hurt to ask.”

  Gideon felt bad that Mrs. Aveda had spent most of the afternoon cooling her heels in his waiting room in the hopes that she’d be able to get ahold of Viagra. “I tell you what, Mrs. Aveda. How about I come to your house? Would your husband allow me to examine him there?”

  “Oh, would you?” She clasped her hands together, looking as pleased as a little girl been given an ice cream cone. “That would be mightily fine of you. I can’t believe I failed you in English, making you take summer school your freshman year.”

  “Well, it wasn’t undeserved,” he muttered. He could hear Kennadee muffling her laughter.

  “So right, young man. You could sure stir up my class with your antics. I have to tell you, when you were accepted to college I figured you’d get yourself kicked out in a hurry. I’m happy to say I was wrong about you.” She patted his hand again. “Come for dinner tomorrow night.”

  “That isn’t necessary,” he said quickly.

  “Nonsense. If you’re willing to perform a house call, the least I can do is feed you. I’ll hear no more objections about it. Kennadee, you’re welcome to come too.”

  “I’m sorry, I couldn’t possibly, Mrs. Aveda. I already have a prior engagement.”

  “That’s too bad. We could have made a double date out of it.” She gathered up her purse and coat. “Gideon, we eat at six-thirty sharp. Don’t be late.” With that said, she flounced out.

  Kennadee didn’t move, and once Mrs. Aveda was out of earshot, she dissolved into a fit of giggles. Gideon grinned.

  She sank into a chair. “I thought I was going to burst a gut when she asked you for ‘those little blue pills.’”

  “That’s what surprised you? What about ‘all my functions are go, but poor Mr. Aveda has trouble keeping up’?’ I about lost it there. Screw professionalism.”

  Kennadee giggled again. “You had to go and say ‘screw’ didn’t you?”

  Joanna appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on in here?”

  They laughed even harder.

  “I know it’s been a long day for everyone, but pull yourselves together, or share with me why you’re hooting like a pair of loons.”

&nbs
p; Gideon sobered first. Standing, he handed Joanna Mrs. Aveda’s chart to be filed. “Just a long day making us punchy. Go ahead and close down the office and head home. I’m sure with the flu going around, tomorrow will be just as busy.”

  “If you’re sure?” Joanna asked. “I can stay and help if you need me to.”

  “No, you go and be with your family. Kennadee can help me with everything else.”

  “All right, thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Joanna turned and left them alone.

  “What else needs to be done?” Kennadee asked, standing.

  “The day’s debriefing. Come on.” He took her arm and led her into his office, indicating she take a seat on the couch. He shrugged off his lab jacket and hung it up, and then opened the bottom drawer of his desk, producing a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, pouring a few fingers in each.

  “Ah, now that’s my kind of debriefing.” Kennadee smiled, taking the glass Gideon offered.

  He set the bottle on the edge of the desk within easy reach of the couch and sank into the opposite corner from Kennadee. “We deserve it after today.” He clicked her glass. “You were a huge help. Thank you.”

  A flush of pleasure stained her cheeks. “You’re welcome. I actually enjoyed myself.”

  “You’re a natural.” He sipped his whiskey, enjoying the burn as it traveled down his throat. “You made quite the impression with young Eric Michaels. If he were a little older, I’d have some competition.”

  “My heart hurt for the poor little guy. I walked into the clinic, and he was screaming the rafters down. That chubby face stole my heart.”

  “You were very good with him. Have you thought of having children of your own?”

  The glass she’d raised to her lips froze in midair, and he knew she hadn’t thought about children of her own until now. By the dreamy look in her eyes, she was thinking about it now. “I always figured I’d be an amazing aunt.”

  “From what I witnessed today, you’d also make an amazing mother.”

  She cast her eyes downward, and he realized that Kennadee didn’t take compliments well. He needed to go about changing that.