Page 33 of Kissing Her Rescuer

Addie rolled off the bed and walked to a big bag she'd brought.

Becky rubbed her hands together and closed the book. “I told her to bring you some goodies.”

“Goodies?” Eliza crept around the bed to stand shoulder and shoulder with Addie. “What kind of goodies?”

“Clothes. Modern. Expensive. Sexy. Everything you need right now,” Becky said. She picked up a skirt. “If only I was your height, Addie.”

“I think you should wear something like this.” Addie tossed her a skirt and a pink shirt.

Eliza tossed back the skirt. “No. I'm not dressing like that. My ex wanted me dressed in short, tight things, and I refuse to wear them now.”

“Fair enough.” Addie pulled out a pair of black leggings and a violet shirt. “Here. Although it's tight, you're fully covered, and the shirt will cover your butt. But at least in the front...”

Eliza slipped it on. “You fill it out more, I'm sure.”

Addie scrunched her nose up. “It's not that, but the color washes you out. Here, try this one.” She handed her another shirt in the color of a ruby. “Oh, that's the one.”

The low scoop neck didn't show much cleavage, but she did feel sexier than her church dress. And, adding Addie's high heels improved the look.

“Dewey won't be able to formulate a sentence.” Becky shrugged and rummaged through more of Addie's clothes she'd brought. “Not that he has anything smart to say. Hanging out with Cameron drains people of their intelligence. He's like a black hole.”

Addie rolled her eyes but seemed to take the insult to her fiancé in stride.

The doorbell rang. Eliza fanned her face. “I shouldn't be this nervous.” But she remembered that kiss in the woods that confirmed how easily things could ignite between them.

“Yes, you should. It's a date. That's always nerve-racking.” Addie held out a tube of lip gloss. “Reapply after dinner.”

Eliza nodded. “Okay. Got it. What about you, Becky? Any good suggestions?”

“Don't talk about Carrie the entire time. Or high school. Or your ex. Or the divorce—”

Eliza held her hand up. “Don't talk. I get it.” She made it down the stairs without falling in the three-inch heels and opened the door. Her mouth fell open.

Dewey looked terrific in his light blue button-down shirt and a pair of navy slacks with his tan skin. And a few bruises along his jaw and cheekbone.

“What happened?” She skimmed her fingers over the discoloration. “Did an arrest go wrong or something? Do you need some ice?”

“This is after ice, and it happened yesterday. I'll explain it later. Listen, I have something important to talk to you about. I don't want to mess up our first, nice date, so I'm going to wait. But just know that it's hard to wait because everything will change after I tell you something.”

She narrowed her eyes. “That's not cryptic at all. Thanks.”

“I just don't want anything to ruin tonight.”

“And what you have to tell me might ruin it?”

He stepped closer, his finger tilting her head up, his lips touching hers in a feather-light kiss. Great. Back to square one with the kissing.

“Well, shit, Addie. They've blocked our exit.”

Dewey jerked his head back. “Why the hell are you everywhere?”

“We were here helping her get ready. That's what girlfriends do. You can thank us for her sexy outfit.”

Dewey brushed a strand of her hair away from her face. “You're wrong. I would have had my hands on her if she'd worn a pair of her jeans and a T-shirt.”

Addie patted him on the shoulder as she scooted behind him and out the door. “Good answer. C'mon Becky. We don't want to be in the way.”

“Even when she leaves, she's still in the way,” Dewey called as they climbed into Addie's car. Becky shot him a bird and stuck her tongue out. “I'd have figured she'd spend more time with Hudson and less time harassing the rest of us.”

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