Page 16 of Kissing Her Rescuer

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Eliza knocked on Cameron’s door before slowly pushing it open. “Hello?” Lacy, his dog, came running up, nosing the door open the rest of the way. Eliza dropped to her knees and rubbed the dog, scratching her behind her ears. “Hey, sweet girl.”

“Cam, I think your dog is a chick magnet.” Dewey’s voice surprised her. “All the pretty women love her as soon as they walk in the door.”

Pretty?

Addie, Cameron’s fiancé, blocked Eliza’s view of the living room. “The boys are just jealous that we don’t greet them with that much love.”

Cameron came up behind Addie, slipping his arm around her waist and kissing her neck. “Dewey’s jealous. I do get greeted that way.”

Eliza rolled her eyes, but she loved how Cameron had found his soulmate. Addie was sweet and gorgeous, with long blond hair she’d put into a low ponytail. He deserved to be happy. “We all know it doesn’t take much more than a belly rub and some scraps from the table to please you.” Eliza brushed her hands off, trying hard not to look for Dewey. “Why have you called us all here?”

“I didn’t.” He hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “Becky did.”

“Becky’s here? I didn’t see her car.”

Becky paused between the kitchen and living room. “I parked behind his house. I knew Hugh would bring you, and I didn’t want him to get suspicious. We are planning their bachelorette and bachelor parties.”

Eliza wrinkled her nose. “Does Daddy want one of those? That seems…”

“Social?” Dewey supplied. He took a sip from the can of Coke in his hand and then smiled. “Hi, Eliza.”

She couldn’t tell if it was meant to be sarcastic. She’d mulled over her decision to ask him to act like himself around her. For starters, she didn’t know how to act like herself around him, either.

“Hi,” she said and immediately focused on Becky. Only Becky. “What were your ideas?”

“Ms. Iris would like something at her house, I think. We can come up with a fun cocktail and invite all the girls.” She looked at Dewey. “Do you think Eva would drive over for it?”

“She probably will. She loves parties.” He took a quick sip. “Gives her another excuse to wear a different pair of shoes.”

“I’m jealous of your sister’s shoe collection.” Becky sat down on the new tan sofa, recently selected by Addie. “Maybe you should take a lesson and own more than three pairs.”

Dewey moved to the other, shorter, coordinating loveseat. “Boots and sneakers. Work shoes. A pair of church shoes. I’m set.”

“You sound proud of yourself,” Becky replied with an eye roll.

Cameron came in, holding Addie’s hand, sitting on the other end of the sofa with Becky. That left…the spot beside Dewey.

Becky huffed and crossed her arms with a strange look on her face. “Do you want to sit or stand? I don’t have a long break before I need to get back to the diner.”

Walking across the living room, with what felt like a million sets of eyes on her, she tried to play it cool. It didn’t seem to faze Dewey. He finished his can of Coke and set it on the coffee table before leaning back, his arm draped along the back of the couch.

Right where she’d sit.

She turned and sat. Becky’s eyebrows pulled down tight. “Okay, then. Like I said, we’ll invite all the girls. I have a few games I think we should play.”

Becky droned on about games and food and drinks, and Eliza nodded and pretended that it didn’t hurt to sit so close to Dewey.

If she relaxed, her thigh would brush against his. Why was this seat so small?

“Eliza?”

Eliza jumped at her name.

Becky crossed her arms. “What is your problem?”

“Nothing. Really.” Eliza looked at Cameron. “So, where are you going to take your uncle for his last night of freedom?”

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