Page 41 of Kissing Her Rescuer

She grinned, looking shy for the first time in her life. “That you're my daddy?”

His mom made a choking sound he knew from experience meant she was trying, unsuccessfully, not to cry.

“Yes. Well, that makes my mom your grandma.”

Carrie's eyes cut to his mom and back to him before looking to Eliza for confirmation. “Grandma?”

“Oh.” His mom sniffled. “We can come up with a better name than that. I know, Grammy.”

“Grammy? You've thought about this.” Dewey tilted his head to the side, considering his mom's sly smile. “Cameron told you, didn't he?”

“No.” She looked away. “But he acted so darn strange at the grocery store that I couldn't help but assume something was up. I mean, it was never too soon to be thinking of names. I’m sure your sister and Marshall will change their minds about having kids.”

Eliza smiled. “I like Grammy. Carrie, are you okay with calling her Grammy?”

“Yes! And once Grandpa gets married, I'll have two grandmothers.”

“You have two grandfathers now, too, darling.” Eliza rose. “Do you think Mr. Ken would mind if I brought her out there to meet him?”

“He'd love it, I'm sure.”

Eliza dropped her voice. “Does he still keep that peppermint gum in his pocket?”

“Lord, your memory. Your momma about killed me when she saw you chomping on that wad of gum you sweet-talked from Ken. You must have been barely ten.”

“I might have to pass along my secrets.” Eliza led Carrie from the room, Isabella still in tow.

“I can't believe it.” His mom took a tissue and blew her nose before sitting down on the sofa beside him. “I know I don't have to say this, but I hate it we missed the past seven years.”

He'd thought of that most of the night while on duty. The quietness of a small town gave him far too much time to consider every memory he wasn't a part of. But she was his now.

“Do you think there will be much legal trouble getting your name on the birth certificate?”

“I've read up on it a little. Enough to know that I need to get a lawyer. I don't want there to be hiccups when it comes to getting this straightened out. I know Eliza thinks Zach won't put up a fight, but with as much as he bothers her, the only leverage he has is Carrie.”

“What could he possibly fight? She's your daughter. Clear cut.”

“There's no telling.” Dewey took a deep breath, his hands fisting against his thighs. If the dumbass did try anything, he'd better aim it at Dewey and not Carrie. Or Eliza, despite her determination to handle everything in the world alone.

His mom reached over and patted his hands. “Just make sure Cameron's around if it ever comes to blows.” She dabbed her nose again with the tissue. “I see those bruises covering your face. He has a killer right hook.”

13

Eliza backed up, her foot sliding partially into the mud at the edge of the creek on the back of her dad’s property. Although it was a humid morning, nearly July, she'd rather not get her feet wet. But the view of the sunrise was too beautiful to pass up.

She held up her camera, taking different pictures, framing the landscape just a little bit different with each shot. Some with the green trees that looked like halos surrounded them the way the early light filtered through the fog. A small rise, barely a hill, made the shot look like the land and sky met.

Incredibly peaceful after all the upheaval in her life over the past few days. Her brain switched between worry over Carrie's adjustment to the situation to wondering how to poke Dewey along in their own relationship. She didn't intend to jump into bed with the man, but, damn, it took a lot of creative positioning and imagination to push him beyond kissing her like she was made of C-4.

“You're up early.”

Ms. Iris's voice cut through her concentration. She took three more pictures before answering her. “Couldn't sleep.” She scanned the images on the back of her camera, the sun's ascent in the sky brightened the atmosphere every second she stood there.

Ms. Iris didn't seem bothered by her half-way attempt at conversation. She aimed and took four more pictures until the sun fully extended above the horizon.

“Sorry about that.” Eliza smiled brightly when Ms. Iris extended a cup of coffee to her. “Thank you.”

“I saw you leave this morning. I tried to time it right to come out here. When did you develop such an interest in photography?”

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