Page 14 of Rules of Engagement
The phone in her hand bleeped, and she glanced at the face only to exhale in a rush.
"Okay. Well. That was my backup plan saying they're out of town."
"Eliza? Let me help."
He watched as she took a deep breath and came to terms with the fact she was out of options and going to have to accept the offer.
"Okay. Yeah, I'd… appreciate it. If the bride looks over her balcony and finds the arbor in pieces, I'm likely to have an even bigger problem on my hands."
"Okay. Where's the schematic?"
"Here, but… are you sure?"
"Yes. But I have to take Piper to the snack bar first.”
“Oh. Of course. Unless…maybe I could do it? I’d be happy to, I mean.”
She probably offered so he would get started on the project, but in the scheme of things, it didn’t matter. Both had to be done. “Yeah, sure. Thanks. Piper, Eliza is going to take you to get your ice cream while I be a good friend and help her by building this, okay?" he asked.
"Ice cream forlunch?" Eliza asked, looking appropriately shocked.
"Only on Daddy-daughter dates," Piper said. "Dessert first is arule. Then I have to eat my food."
Eliza stared at him, lowering her voice. "This is your Daddy-daughterdate?"
He could feel Eliza about to protest his involvement and recant her acceptance and hurried to stop it. "Go get the ice cream while I get started. And don't worry, she's going through a growth spurt, so she's always hungry. She'll eat despite the treat."
Eliza looked like she wanted to argue but was feeling that spot between a rock and hard place. He pulled cash from his pocket.
"Oh, please. No. I'll get it," Eliza said. "It's the least I can do since I'm taking time from your date."
He hesitated but then accepted the offer with a nod. "Piper? Only one scoop. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Have fun, ladies. I'll get to work on this. Piper, behave and mind your manners with Ms. Eliza, okay?"
"Okay, Daddy."
Piper grasped Eliza's hand and tugged her toward the hotel, and Eliza glanced over her shoulder at him one last time before turning away.
Carter watched them go, enjoying the sway of Eliza's hips in her shorts before he finally forced himself to focus and got to work, glancing over the instructions quickly.
The arbor wouldn't take long to build, but getting it securely anchored in the sand so it wouldn't topple in the breeze during the ceremony would be the more difficult task. He wondered how she did this multiple times a week, but then remembered her help hadn't shown up.
Carter put together the long sides of the wooden structure before he worked on the more complicated top. Something made him glance up, and he spotted Piper a ways away, looking up at Eliza with a huge smile as they made their way toward him.
His heart tugged at the sight. His baby girl deserved to have a loving mother in her life, but the handful of women he'd dated since Piper's mother had split had been so self-involved they'd demanded they come first, something that didn't work for him as a single dad to an infant or toddler at the time.
He'd quickly learned few women were willing to take a backseat to a child even during the dating stage, and his relationships had never been more than casual since. His soon-to-be sister-in-law and niece would have to fill the void in Piper's life, at least for the time being, and instead of hiring a slew of babysitters, he'd decided to go ahead and promote someone within his business so that he could work after-school hours at home like Lincoln had when his first wife was killed. After all, it wasn't like he'd ever get these years with Piper back.
"Wow. You're moving right along," Eliza said once she was close enough for him to hear.
"Daddy, look. They had my favorite," Piper said.
"Thanks," he said to Eliza, lifting his chin toward his daughter.
"Of course."
