Page 17 of Rules of Engagement
"Nah, buddy. I've got her," Mac called from the pool, laughing. "You just enjoy the interrogation."
"Have you talked to Eliza since?" Marsali asked.
While Mac spouted his nonsense, Amelia ran over and grasped Carter's arm, dragging him toward the loungers and away from the water.
"Sit. I'll get you a drink," Amelia said, pushing him down.
"Ladies—"
"Uh-uh. We need answers," Marsali said.
Carter stared at the beautiful faces looking back at him and barely suppressed the groan struggling to emerge. Mac's mocking laughter from the pool didn't help. Carter glanced toward his neighbor, spotting Mac's smug grin.
Brother,Carter mouthed, throwing Eliza's description of the kiss back at his friend.
Mac drew his arm back and sent it flying, and water sprayed from the pool, dousing the three of them. The ladies shrieked but this time Carter was the one smirking. Given the chemistry between him and Eliza, he could guarantee a kiss would feel anything but brotherly.
Amelia returned and pressed a cold drink into his hand. He popped the tab and tilted his head for a drink, gaze landing on both females as they turned sideways on the loungers to give him their full attention.
He lowered the can and sighed. "Have at it, ladies."
Several hoursand coats of sunscreen on Piper's pale skin later, Carter peeked over to the umbrella-shaded chair where his baby girl sat eating watermelon. Pink marked both cheeks in a wide crescent while pink streams ran down her chin.
"I can't get over how beautiful she is," Amelia said. "If one of the casting reps were to ever see her—"
"No," he said instantly. "She is not going to be a show-business brat," he said, referring to Amelia's connections with Wilmington's Hollywood elite.
"Modeling?" she asked next.
"Forget it."
"Stop grumbling at my fiancée," Lincoln said from his position by the grill.
"I'll stop when your fiancée quits trying to corrupt my baby girl."
Amelia held up her hands in surrender. "I'm just saying she'd be perfect."
"Good news," Marsali said, leaving the house where she'd excused herself a bit ago. "She's coming."
Every adult head turned in Carter's direction. Seriously? "Who's coming?" he asked, playing dumb though his gut identified the mysterious visitor.
"Eliza," Marsali said with a shake of her damp curls. "I called to check on her and she said she's made some progress with the wedding prep for you guys," Marsali said to Amelia. "She, uh, mentioned not being able to read some of her notes from last night, so I told her we were just hanging out by the pool so… she's stopping by to get some details straightened out and get the signed contract from you."
"Wonderful," Amelia said, moving to Lincoln's side to give him a quick kiss in her excitement. "Won't be long now."
"Long enough," Lincoln said.
Carter watched the two lovebirds and tried to rid himself of the tug of envy. Maybe he was a softie, but he really did want that kind of connection with a woman someday. The lasting kind that might not be perfect but gave him the life he wanted for Piper and himself.
His problem was finding the right woman.
Especially when certain women declared themselves uninterested….
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Chapter 6
That evening, Carter set the baby monitor on the coffee table and sat down beside his brother on Mac's newly decorated patio, staring out at the beautiful landscaping fronting the canal running in back of all three of their homes. Of the three yards, Mac's was by far the most elaborate with its designer lighting, domed gazebo, and sitting areas. "Where's Mac?"
