Page 60 of Kissing Her Rescuer

He shifted, pointing at her, his voice raised. “It’s your fault. You brainwashed the kid into hating me.”

“No—” Eliza tried to get her voice under control, but her brain wouldn’t connect to the rest of her body. “She hates you because you’re a piece of shit and even a seven-year-old can see that.”

Zach took three quick, aggressive steps in her direction, his nose coming within a couple inches of hers and giving her a front-row seat to his bad breath. “Listen here—”

And then he was gone.

Replaced by the broad expanse of Dewey's back. She blinked. When had he come outside? The cologne and soap he used a welcome smell that she inhaled with a big, deep breath.

Cameron stood by the entrance, Uncle Jimmy beside him. Her daddy moved in her direction but paused when Cameron said something she couldn't hear.

The muffled “oof” caused her to turn back. Doubled over, Zach moaned once and fell to his knees. She shifted to the side, beside Dewey, expecting to see the satisfaction on Dewey's face, but the blood lust in his expression almost frightened her.

“Dewey,” she said, attempting to shift in front of him. But with each step that put her a little closer to Zach, Dewey moved with her, blocking her.

“I told you the first wrong step he made I’d be here.”

“I know,” she said, her voice calm and even, hoping it’d help Dewey calm down.

“Go inside, Eliza,” he demanded.

She glanced around. So many witnesses now. Besides the three other guard dogs at the door, the lawyer watched along with four more people on the street.

Zach rose from the ground with determination and a layer of sweat covering his face. Any fight with Dewey would end horribly.

“Mr. Richmond?” Eliza called for the lawyer and managed not to laugh at his shocked and reluctant expression as he shuffled a little her direction. “Please go over Zach's loss of paternity rights so he can sign the paperwork and leave. For good.”

Zach growled and rushed her direction again, only to be stopped by Dewey. He didn't stick a hand out to stop him or even trip him. No. Dewey stepped fully in front of Eliza, causing Zach to pull up short and stumble backward. Dewey’s broad back shielded her like an impenetrable wall.

Being independent meant handling Zach on her own, not cowering behind Dewey while playing the part of the damsel in distress. But her stomach flipped at the inappropriate thoughts that chose that moment to skip through her mind. She’d have to revisit the topic of Dewey as her personal bodyguard later. Focus.

“Zach, just sign the paperwork.” She shifted, peeking around Dewey's bicep as Mr. Richmond approached. The poor lawyer probably saw his fair share of marital dispute, but judging by the way his round eyes took in Dewey, a seriously pissed off policeman the size of a tank, this wasn't how custody battles typically resolved themselves in the high society of Atlanta.

Dewey spoke as if no one could hear, or witness, his threat. Truth be told, everyone standing there, along with the random people on the street, could hear him say, “If you ever come back to Statem, I will personally make sure that you'll leave in the back of an ambulance. Eliza doesn't want anything to do with you, and neither does Carrie. You have zero legal claims to my child or my woman.”

Eliza's mouth dropped open. She should correct his caveman declaration, but she half expected him to throw her over his shoulder and cart her away.

A deep breath rushed from her lungs. God, what was wrong with her that part of her hoped he would?

Instead, he turned, presenting his back to Zach and dismissing him like he wasn't a threat. He looked over the top of her head. “Mr. Richmond, you can begin your explanation.”

Dewey stayed in place, his body shielding her from Zach as the lawyer explained the legality of the situation. She wanted to be independent. Handle everything on her own.

She looked away from Zach as the lawyer spoke, catching Dewey watching her.

He winked. A small, mischievous grin tilted his lips up for a split second. Oh man, she loved that side of him. But how much? Was it enough to let go of the all-consuming need to stay unattached? To rely on him? To trust a man to not screw her over?

Zach's voice that she'd mostly tuned out became louder, curse words flying, a few creative ones she’d never heard before.

Hands landed on her shoulders. She jumped then relaxed as Cameron muttered, “come inside. You don’t need to be here for this.” He pulled her back gently. Cameron had always treated her like a younger sister, protecting her from anything he could. He hadn't protected her from the harm Zach had caused, though.

Now, she didn't even know how to love someone as wonderful as Dewey without an intense need to pull away. She let Cameron lead her inside. Honestly, she didn't want to listen to Zach anymore. Hear his voice or see his face. She had nothing else to say. The lawyer, and Dewey, along with her dad, could handle the rest.

As she walked past her dad, his hand reached out, stopping her. “I love you.” His words were quiet but intense.

“I love you, too.” She hugged him as exhaustion began to seep into her limbs when the adrenaline left.

Uncle Jimmy closed the door. “Do you need something to drink? We have a few bottles of water in the fridge. Dewey put a couple juice boxes in there for Carrie.”

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