Page 16 of Rules of Engagement
"No shoes?" Amelia asked.
"The monster ate them," Piper said quickly, glancing up at Carter with sweet yet conniving innocence.
"Happens a lot in our house," Carter said, making a fierce Dad face at his daughter. "But only to little girls who don't pick up after themselves and put their shoes in the bin where they go."
"I found one of 'em."
Carter chuckled and tousled his daughter's ponytailed head before he handed over the unicorn pool ring he'd also carried from his house.
Piper asked permission to get in and he nodded. She quickly yanked the unicorn float over her head and ran for the edge, jumping in like the little mermaid she was.
"You ladies are looking lovely. Where's Linc?" Carter asked.
"He had to take a real estate call, but he'll be back out in a minute," Amelia said. "And Mac is on his way over."
"So, Carter…" Marsali said from her chair.
Carter turned his head. "So, Marsali?"
The women both wore sunglasses but he saw the quick glance they exchanged. His gut tightened in warning because he knew what they were about to ask.
Maybe he should go check on Lincoln? Give Mac a hand with whatever he was doing?
Because despite the hours between Friday night and now, he still wasn't sure what he was going to do with that card he'd pulled from Eliza's purse.
"You and Eliza looked awfully good together," Marsali said. "I think my brother was a bit jealous."
Carter grinned unabashedly. "Yeah, well, Mac will get over it."
"Mac heard that."
Carter turned to find his neighbor closing the distance between Mac's house and Lincoln's, a beach towel thrown over his shoulder and a cooler in hand.
"And you'd better not do anything you'll regret," Mac continued as he made it to where Carter still stood.
"Why would I regret it?" Carter asked his friend.
Mac lifted his sunglasses from his face for a moment to shoot Carter a glare before lowering them again.
"Because I'd make you," Mac said, matter-of-fact. "Eliza's family."
"Ah, yeah, she mentioned you'd kissed her and it was like kissing her brother."
Mac shoved the cooler into Carter's belly for that low blow, and he grunted from it even as he grinned. Yeah… apparently Mac didn't feelentirelybrotherly about Eliza.
"Youkissedher?" Marsali asked, gasping. "When?Whydidn't either of you tell me this? Oh, you wait until I talk to her again!"
Mac leaned his head back as though calling on every ounce of patience he could muster.
"It was a long time ago and because it was awkward and never happened again. Let's move on," Mac said, moving to toss his towel onto a lounger by the ladies before using two fingers to point to his eyes and then at Piper in that age-oldI'm eyeing you, kidmotion.
"Don't jump on me!" Piper screamed, kicking and splashing and laughing in an effort to get away from Mac to the opposite side of the pool.
"Yes, let's move on. So, Carter," Marsali said again. "I sensed some major chemistry between you and Eliza."
"Chemistry is important," Amelia said. "That's one of the questions on Marsali's dating list. Oh, I can't wait until your book releases in a few weeks! I'm going to buy copies for all my friends and have you sign them."
Carter set the cooler aside, kicked off his slides, and tossed the towels wrapped around his neck for carrying. "I have to swim with my kid."
