Page 38 of Kissing Her Rescuer

The front door opened. “Dewey?” Her dad’s deep voice held the first of many questions, no doubt. “It's a little early, but come on in, I suppose. Eliza didn't mention that you'd be by.”

She stood from the table as her dad walked into the kitchen, followed by Dewey. “Hi.”

Dewey nodded, giving her a nervous half-smile. “Hi.” His plain white T-shirt, worn jeans, and his broken in work boots shouldn’t make her heart skitter. With his tan and sun-streaked hair, she never knew how a man could make such a simple outfit sexier than a tuxedo.

“Dewey!” Carrie rushed down from her chair and flung her arms around his neck as he leaned down. He picked her up, so natural. “Are you here to take me fishing?”

He ran a hand down her hair. “Absolutely, Princess.” He locked eyes with Eliza.

She took a deep breath, ready to get past the drama. “Dad,” she started, her palms already sweating. “We have something important to talk to both of you about.”

Her dad poured himself a cup of coffee and turned around. He raised his eyebrows. “Well, I'm growing old here. Spit it out.”

Carrie giggled and ran her hands along Dewey's cheek. “You're scruffy.”

Eliza hadn't noticed right away, but now she did. He did have a five o'clock shadow. No use in trying to communicate that it only added to the sex appeal. Her dad stared at her, waiting.

“I came here right after my shift was over. I took Cameron's night shift, so he'd work my day shift today, and we could go fishing. Hadn't made it home yet.” He set Carrie down and pulled out a chair, sitting, so he was her height. With a quick glance at Eliza, he took both of Carrie's hands. “Princess, I have a really important question to ask.”

She looked at him with so much trust already. Since they'd come home to Statem, Carrie and Dewey had latched onto one another so naturally. Did some part of Carrie know already?

He cleared his throat. “How would you feel about me being, well, your dad?”

Eliza's dad slammed his coffee cup down. “You're getting married?” He shouted. “You've only dated each other a... a couple times.”

“No!” Eliza snapped. Dewey flinched. It was her decision. She'd never let herself be trapped again. “Not married.”

Carrie's hands cupped Dewey's face, bringing his attention back to her.

Dewey smiled. “What do you think if I was your dad?”

“What about Zach?”

Eliza almost corrected her to “Dad.” Zach wasn't her dad. And she didn't feel bad about it. He'd never acted like a father toward her. He never did anything with her. Hardly held her as a baby. Never looked at her with as much love as Dewey looked at Carrie right at that moment.

Dewey hesitated, then asked, “Do you want him to be your dad?”

“No.” She shook her head so hard it made Eliza’s stomach ache for her. “I want you to be my dad. But...”

Eliza squatted down, ignoring the glare still aimed her way from her dad. “What is it?”

“But you wouldn't have to be married?”

“No. It doesn't work like that for us,” Dewey added.

“Are you adopting me?”

This was the tricky part. “Not really. It's really complicated, but just know, that from now on, if you don't want Zach—”

“I don't.” Carrie snaked her arm around Dewey's neck, hanging on like he might take the offer away.

Relief poured through Eliza. She would not cry. Dewey could give Carrie something she hadn't. A good father. “Okay. Then only Dewey would be your dad. We'd work it out where you'd spend some extra time with him.”

Her dad's coffee cup slammed down on the counter a second time. “I need to speak with you in the living room.”

Eliza rose.

Her dad pointed at Dewey. “You.” He stalked out of the room.

---