Page 27 of Kissing Her Rescuer

His hand slipped around to her back, still touching her skin as he pulled her to him in a gentle hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes. She was in some serious trouble the way her heart lurched each time he touched her.

She leaned away. “Go.”

He pinched her chin between his fingers, pausing a half-second like he gave her a choice to kiss him. Not that she needed the time to decide.

His kiss was hard, a little rough, and she hated her ribs kept her from getting closer.

“You scared me,” he said, his voice fierce. “Go to the hospital.” He turned and left, jogging back toward the fire. Toward the danger. That's how Dewey had lived his life. Protecting everyone in the world.

9

Dewey opened the door to the trailer after the first knock. Eliza stood on his front porch, as it was, with a fishing pole in her hand. She held the pole up. “I found this in the garage. I don't remember if it was mine or Juliana's, but it should work.”

He stepped out of the way. “Come in for a second.” When she crossed the threshold, he closed the door. He didn't worry about her curious expression as she scanned the trailer. It was minimal furniture, all hand-me-downs, but nothing too ugly. It typically stayed clean. He was out of the house so much working, the only thing that got dirty was the pan from frying his eggs in the morning and laundry.

He took the fishing pole away from her and leaned it against the wall beside his two. “Let me see your ribs.” He motioned for her to lift her shirt. “I'm serious this time. I asked Hugh if you went to the doctor.”

“He told me.” She set her keys on the small table near the door. “Then I had to explain to him what happened.”

“And he still didn't make you go see someone?”

“He didn't feel the need to poke me in the ribs, so no, he didn't. I told him they were feeling better because they are. What was that explosion? Was anyone else hurt?”

“The fire hit an old tractor no one knew was left in the field because the field was so overgrown. Luckily, we only dealt with some bruises. Nothing major.” He tugged on the edge of her tank top. “C'mon, so we can get to fishing.”

She lifted her tank top up a little.

Dewey pulled it up until he could see the bruise and hissed through his teeth. “Baby, that is nasty.”

“Awe, it's nice to see you, too.”

He waved her comment away. “I'll get to the hellos in a moment.” He skimmed his fingers over the bruising, tracing each rib. Nothing out of place. He applied the same amount of pressure as he'd done the first time without much of a reaction from her. But pressing harder, she grimaced and jerked. “You can always wrap it.”

“And sweat even more? It's already hit one hundred today. I wrapped it to go to sleep last night.” She moved closer, forcing him to straighten. “Now, what about my hello?”

He grinned, his hand sliding along the curve of her waist. Even with the feel of her skin under his fingertips, he could control their kiss. Easy. Light. Slow. They'd rushed everything last time they were together. He wouldn't let that happen again. He could keep his heart under control the same way.

But being alone with her scrambled his brains. She needed to know she could trust him, that he wasn’t Zach. He would never push her or be rough.

Her hands tightened on his shoulders as her body swayed toward his.

Damn. He didn't have that much control.

He pulled back, setting her a solid two feet away from him. “Probably need to get going.” He grabbed his tackle box, ignoring the confusion in her eyes. In the end, once they did pick up where they'd left off in Alabama, it'd be worth it.

“I'll drive my truck. I packed a cooler with a few drinks. Some water. Beer.” He winked. “All the necessities.”

Dewey's armbrushed Eliza as he reeled in his line. He looked so at ease.

Shoulders relaxed. Feet planted apart. Reeling in his lure and casting it right back out. But that stress-free feeling only belonged to Dewey. If possible, she wanted to get closer to him and move away simultaneously.

He'd baited her line each time her worm fell off.

He'd opened her bottle of water before she'd even tried.

And now, he blocked the sun with his body, intentionally putting her in a little bit of shade.

All the little gestures, combined with the sweet, careful way he'd kissed her at his trailer, added up to one horribly frustrated Eliza.

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