Page 21 of Kissing Her Rescuer

She swallowed a big gulp of her margarita. Was he going to make a move? What if he was nothing more than sweet at Cameron’s, touching her, offering for Carrie to call him in the middle of the night? And today, maybe those looks weren’t meant to be sexy.

What if she went to make a move and he acted like she was crazy?

“Five minutes. All the guys know my property line. Don't go past it. I'm going to shut the lights to the house off to make it easier to hide.” Becky sighed and looked at Dewey. “And don't go climbing any trees. You know what happened last time.”

Dewey held his hands up. “Lesson learned.”

Eliza couldn't resist. “What lesson?”

Dewey grinned in such an old-school Dewey way it hit her hard. “I fractured my wrist when the limb snapped. Turns out, I'm a little too big for Becky's skinny-ass, pine trees.”

“When was this?”

“About five years ago.”

“Oh,” Eliza began, nodded her head like she understood. “So, back when you were a child.”

Cameron shoved Dewey as he walked by. “He's only grown up now fifty percent of the time. Let's go.” He snatched Addie's hand, taking her empty glass from her and setting it on the table as he walked outside.

Nash crooked his finger at Lexi as he did a lame dance backward that seemed to amuse her. “You and me, Baby. I know the good spots.”

Becky crossed her arms. “I'm sure you do, but remember to keep it PG.”

Lexi followed him outside. “Maybe PG-13.”

“Go on, you two.” Becky made a big sweep of her arms. “If I'm going to have any time to make-out with my fiancé, then you need to get going.”

Dewey held the door open, waiting on Eliza. It felt like some Junior High game, forced to be in a closet with the guy you like while everyone waited outside. But this was Dewey. Not some pimple-faced boy that didn't know what to do with his hands. He knewexactlywhat to do. She'd had a front-row seat.

“What about down near the river?” He asked, pausing as Eliza stepped off the front porch and into complete darkness when Becky shut off all the lights. She hesitated. The moonlight was intermittent with the clouds, giving them a little bit to work with, but not much.

After she took two slow steps, Dewey turned around and caught her hand in his. “Come on,” he said gently. “There's a thick patch of bushes a few yards away near the river.”

“I'd rather not get eaten by an alligator or snake.” She followed along, enjoying the simplicity of her hand in his, of being with him when he wasn't scowling at her.

Someone laughed in the distance. A shred of jealousy emerged that being together was so easy for the rest of the group. They hadn’t gone through any of the relationship drama she faced with Dewey.

“Then what about the old shed?” He asked.

“Is that still standing?”

“I think so.”

Eliza let him change their direction. “Do you think they'll know to look there?”

“I don't even know if Becky realizes it's on her property. Hudson probably does, though.” He paused at the edge of the woods, bringing her closer to him. “Step where I step. I have boots.”

“At least I wore sneakers instead of flip flops.”

“That definitely makes it easier to get through the woods without me carrying you.”

She bit her lip to keep her request for a demonstration inside. Friends. They were nothing more than friends, despite how perfectly her hand fit in his.

They walked along in silence, the sound of the soft leaves and grass under their feet drowned out by the cicadas and crickets. An occasional owl in the distance. This moment could be so different had she come back to Georgia with him.

But Carrie. Her whole world was in her life because she had stayed with Zach.

She couldn't think of regrets. She enjoyed Dewey right now, and that's all that mattered. Tomorrow they might be back to square one, but tonight seemed different. Whatever barrier he typically erected between them was gone.

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