Page 58 of Kissing Her Rescuer

“Yes. Parents take pictures with their kids, right?”

“I suppose. When would you want to do it?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. He hated getting his picture taken. His mom's obsession with matching outfits and family portraits growing up was to blame. “The sooner, the better.” Before he chickened out.

Eliza walkedinto the Sheriff’s station. The testosterone in the room almost knocked her back. Every man that loved her stood around looking ready to fight. She didn’t need this. Not with Zach on his way.

He’d left town after he posted bail a couple weeks ago. But after his court date for the fight, he called her, saying they needed to talk before he went to court a second time because of Carrie. She didn’t want to talk, but he’d sounded like a decent human on the phone, so she gave in.

“You don’t have to be here,” Dewey repeated for the tenth time since they’d arranged the meeting. “He can tell me anything he needs for you to know if you don’t want to see him again.”

“Can you and I talk for a moment?” Because she needed him steady and relaxed. She couldn’t handle her own emotions if she had to worry about him doing something stupid to Zach.

Dewey nodded once and motioned to her Uncle Jimmy’s office. At Uncle Jimmy’s nod, they both walked into the room. Dewey closed the door and turned to face her, crossing his arms.

“You need to calm down, Dewey. Zach didn’t seem upset on the phone, but you know he might do something stupid. You’re wearing your uniform. I don’t want you doing something stupid and getting in trouble and making it worse. We’re so close to having him out of our lives forever.” She walked to him, gliding her arms over his hard biceps and resting them on his shoulders. “I’m going to be the one to talk to him.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

She cradled the back of his head, rubbing her thumb down the tense muscles in his neck. “You can be right inside, watching everything.” She needed him to understand. This was one more thing she needed to do for her. Stand up to Zach.

She’d take the support of everyone waiting in the other room. She’d accept their protection. But she had to face Zach one last time.

His throat moved when he swallowed. “I can’t let him hurt you.”

“I know.” She lightly tugged on his neck, bringing his head down to hers. “You won’t.” She kissed him, hoping it’d relax them both.

But his smell. His taste. The memories of the last time they’d been together, far too long ago, made her crave more.

Her mouth parted under his.

He uncrossed his arms and wrapped her tight, pulling her body flush against his. Neither one of them seemed to care about the crowd waiting for them on the other side of the door.

“You do this to me now?” he murmured against her throat.

“It seemed like a good idea.” She smiled as his teeth grazed her collar bone. “Until I realized how much I want you.”

He traced the outline of her body until his fingers slipped the strap of her tank top off her shoulder. “I’m glad we’re on the same page. But I don’t think your uncle would appreciate me stripping you naked in his office.”

The mental image pulled a soft moan from her throat. “No. But later. After we handle this.”

He slipped the second strap off, letting the soft fabric fall to her waist and revealing her strapless bra. He traced a finger along the top edge. “I’m about to say I don’t give a shit what your uncle thinks.”

Eliza jerked at the knock on the door. “Guys. He should be here soon.” Cameron’s voice held a touch of humor.

“Okay,” Dewey called, his voice sounding in complete control as he pulled her straps up and straightened her shirt. “You drive me crazy.”

“Apparently, I’m good at driving myself crazy.” She patted his shoulder and stepped just out of his reach. “How do I look?”

“Fine.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re lying.”

“Completely. But I don’t care what anyone out there thinks.”

Easy for him to say. She crossed her arms and kicked her chin up a notch. “Back to our conversation before you tried to seduce me in my uncle’s office.”

“I think that was the other way around, but you have your memories, and I’ll have mine.”

---