Page 19 of Kissing Her Rescuer

Becky held her hand out the window. They shook pinkies. “Promise.”

Carrie smiled, sleepy and sweet.

“Let me get her settled and grab a bag,” Eliza said.

“Don't be high maintenance and take all night. I'm thirsty,” Becky shouted after her.

Last time she checked, a toothbrush and her contact case weren’t high maintenance. That was survival.

7

Margarita number three tasted a little heavier than the last one. Probably because Nash was in the kitchen mixing them. The guy couldn't even microwave a dinner without burning it, even with the new kitchen his girlfriend had designed. Who put him in charge of the drinks?

Eliza made a sour face at the same time as Lexi and Becky. “Dang,” Lexi said, looking back in the direction of the kitchen. “What did he do? Dump the rest of the tequila bottle into the blender?” She pushed a silky, dark brown curl away from her face. “You do realize that's why I don't let him cook.”

“Yes,” Eliza and Becky said at the same time. They both laughed.

“If Cameron and Dewey are here, who's keeping Statem safe?” Becky asked Addie.

She'd pulled her long blonde hair into a high ponytail, making her look like a drunk cheerleader with her flushed face and a permanent smile. After getting down the first sip of the third potent margarita, she coughed and then answered them. “Mr. Dempsey and that new guy,” she croaked out.

“You're marrying into the family,” Eliza said, her words felt weighty on her tongue. “Shouldn't you call him Jimmy or something?”

“He keeps telling me to do that, but it seems strange. But the Sheriff is hiring another new deputy. He said with Cameron getting married and planning to run for Sheriff, he didn't expect him to pick up so many shifts.” She sipped her drink again. “I think he and Mrs. Dempsey, I mean Tanya, are ready for grandchildren.”

Lexi put up her fingers, making an “x” in her direction. “You keep that fertility talk away from me.”

Becky nodded. “Me, too. At least for another year or so. I'm having too much fun enjoying Hudson all to myself to share him with a miniature dictator.”

Eliza faked a pout, thinking about Carrie. “They aren't dictators.” She considered it for a second, remembering the sleepless nights when she was alone and had no idea why Carrie screamed for three hours straight. And the way, even now, her sweet child’s voice dropped into the most annoying whine when she wanted something. “I guess they can be a little bit at the beginning.”

“What are you ladies talking about?” Cameron leaned down and kissed Addie solid on the mouth.

“Kids,” she declared with a grin.

Instead of freaking out like most men, Cameron smiled, kissed her again, and walked to the chair on the other side of the room. Eliza’s cousin had always loved kids. No way the idea of starting a family with Addie would scare him.

Based on Lexi's declaration, Nash wouldn't have quite the same reaction. He and Lexi had both agreed on no kids. And for the time being, at least, no marriage.

Hudson stood in the entryway from the kitchen to the living room, talking to Dewey. Dewey threw his head back and laughed. No, Mr. Serious tonight. Her text message asking him to be himself had done the trick. First, at Cameron’s house and now, here. He'd brought her the first margarita, told her she looked pretty and then said that he was glad they were friends.

She'd nodded, muttered something about being glad they were friends again, too, and then checked out his butt as he'd walked away.

She was the worst friend in the world.

“Don't stare too long. It will give you away,” Becky mumbled. “The little couch exhibition at Cameron’s house pretty much confirmed my suspicions of the two of you.”

Addie chimed in, sending Eliza a wink. “I saw how Dewey reacted when he saw Tommy tonight at the bar. I got the lowdown from Rhonda that you'd had a run-in with him, and Deweyhandledthe situation. Now—” Addie tapped her finger on her chin “—why in the world were you at Rhonda's with Dewey?”

Eliza shrugged and sipped her drink. It didn't matter if her friends knew she had a small crush on Dewey. They would never know the truth of their past together. Or his offer of marriage.

“And why didn’t you tell me about Tommy?” Becky ran her finger down her glass. “Dewey wouldn't tell us the details, but I cornered Rhonda myself.”

Uh oh.

Becky's eyes locked on Eliza's. “She said you hustled the man.”

Eliza filled the silence with a large drink of her too strong margarita.

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