Page 64 of Kissing Her Rescuer

Eliza smiled. They did resemble each other.

He set his hand on the back of her neck and squeezed. “Are you nervous about her being with him?”

“No. Dewey is a great dad.” She should feel lucky.

“But...”

“I don't know what to do about us. Everything fell into place so easily. He bought me things. Buys Carrie things. Dewey's too nice and easy-going about everything.”

“Remember, Eliza. Deweyisa laid-back man. He is easy-going. You're just reading too much into it.” He squeezed her neck again. “Relax.”

Relax! Everyone thought she should relax and go with the flow, ignoring every urge to run far, far away, and clear her head. She loved Dewey. Dewey loved Carrie. She assumed Dewey loved her, at least a little bit. Them being together as a family should be a no brainer. Plainly, it seemed that way to everyone else.

“I’ll head home. Dad’s at Iris’s for the night.”

Cameron’s lips tilted to the side. “Do you want me to take Grayson out, so you can have a night with just Juliana? They leave soon, right?”

Eliza perked up at the thought. “I do love Grayson, but that would be nice. Just me and Juliana.” She nodded. “If he’ll go for it.”

He held up his phone, the picture of clear blue oceans behind the logo of a travel agency made her wince at his dilemma. “I’m afraid it will be beers at my house if I’m going to be paying for this.”

Dewey watched the clock,waiting for seven to hit so he could leave. He wanted two things. A shower and a long nap. The shower he could grab, but the nap wouldn't happen. A long kiss from Eliza was first on his agenda.

Carrie had prevented the kiss two days before when Eliza had picked her up from their sleepover, and since then, he'd either been working for Nash in the field or running the night shift at the station.

On-time as usual, Cameron walked in the door, the goofy smile he'd worn since Addie moved in with him in place. “Good morning.”

“Goodbye,” Dewey called as he brushed past him.

“Whoa. Where are you going?”

“Eliza's.” He knew from his last patrol an hour ago that Hugh had slept at Ms. Iris's house last night. That would leave Eliza alone, and Carrie still asleep.

If he were lucky.

Cameron's smile froze, his eyes tightening. “I wanted to talk to you about her. She seemed a little freaked out last week.”

Dewey paused mid-step out the door. “When I had Carrie?” He’d worried about how she’d feel, giving up that little bit of control.

“Yeah, but I don't think it was you keeping your daughter.”

The title would never get old.Hisdaughter. “Then what?”

“She never really said, but it seemed like she was scared of where the two of you were headed. Scared of the commitment.”

His commitment? After everything he’d said and done? His own reservations about having a future with Eliza seemed insignificant. He understood now why she’d refused him the first time. He should’ve pushed harder and gone back to Alabama. Confronted Zach. Fought for her.

But he couldn’t alter the past. Now, they had Carrie together, and that changed their future. They were both committed to raising her, co-parenting, but he wanted more. He needed Eliza like he needed oxygen.

“Thanks,” Dewey said and left. He didn’t have a flipping clue when to tell her about buying the house. Hugh hadn’t signed the papers yet, but it was as good as his. A homeowner to a 1960’s home that needed new floors and a solid coat of paint. All for Eliza.

The drive took less than ten minutes. Through the curtains, he spotted the living room television already on. Maybe he'd missed his timing with Carrie already awake.

He knocked lightly on the door.

Eliza opened it. Her hair fell in waves past her shoulders. Plaid pajama pants and a white tank top made him realize he wasn't nearly as sleepy as he'd felt an hour earlier.

“Good morning,” she said, still acting reserved after their time together. He couldn't stand that.

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