Page 20 of Rules of Engagement
"So what do I do?"
"If you want a quality woman, you have to bring quality to the table."
Carter stared at his brother, not liking the thoughts in his head. "I am who I am."
"You're not a bad guy, Carter. I'm not saying that. I've watched you mature a lot in the last ten years, especially the last five since Piper's come along. You've got a great head for business. You're a fantastic dad."
"Okay. So how do I get Eliza to see that?"
"You stop coming on to her, at least until Amelia and I are married."
"What?" Carter asked. How was he going to get closer to Eliza if he wasn't allowed to…get close?
"I mean it," his brother said, his voice a low growl of warning. "You are hands-off. Amelia is stressed enough trying to get everything done without having our wedding planner quit because Eliza is uncomfortable with you coming on to her too strong."
He didn't like it. Now that he'd set his sights on Eliza, he wanted to follow through. Pursue. Step up and go after the life he wanted for him and his baby girl. He felt like a racehorse being held in check when all he wanted to do was run. "What else?"
The question came out as a grumble.
"Once the wedding is over, don't charge at Eliza like a bull in a china shop."
Had Lincoln read his thoughts?
"You heard what Mac said about her ex. She's skittish and with good reason. So take it slow. One of the decisions Amelia made today was to accept Mac's offer of having the wedding here in his new backyard. Amelia and I are meeting with Eliza tomorrow evening. If you'll behave yourself, you're invited to come have dinner with us. Help Eliza out if you're around when she's here doing whatever she's going to do. Just do it with no expectation of getting something from her in return."
"I would've helped her with the arbor regardless," Carter said. He might have made some costly mistakes in his past, but he wasn'tthatguy.
"I know you would've. But by asking her out the way you did, you tainted the experience and you'll have to start over with her because of it. She's probably got her guard up now."
That she did.Pricklywas a good way to describe her.
Carter wiped a hand over his face yet again. Why did women make things so difficult? Take offense so easily? "Fine. I'll do it. And you're welcome to use my yard, too. There's not much in it, so it has room for a tent or something if you need it."
Lincoln sat back in the chair. "Thanks. I'll let Amelia know. All she's talked about is that wedding she went to on Friday and how they had a tent and pillows and some kind of couch… I don't know. But she liked it."
"Whatever you need. Just tell me what else should I do with Eliza," Carter said, liking what he was hearing and wanting to get Lincoln back on track. At first he'd thought Lincoln meant for him to avoid Eliza altogether, but hanging out casually and letting her get to know him was a better idea.
"Keep Piper out of it."
The words brought out a frown. "Eliza knows I have a kid. Piper was with me on the beach. Besides, of all the women I've dated, Eliza's the only one I'd actually trust around Pip." He wouldn't have handed Piper off to Eliza to get ice cream had that not been so.
"I know. But if things don't work out between you and Eliza, Piper will be the one hurt the most. Keep her out of it. Let them be friends. Piper will see Eliza here in the future as part of the wedding and Marsali's friend, but keep her out of your personal life. Piper doesn't need to be put in the middle."
Carter got up and stalked to the edge of the tiered patio, staring off toward Lincoln's pool and the lights flickering beneath the water.
He needed to think, to plan and come up with a strategy of approach that wouldn't scare Eliza away or have her building her protective walls higher, one that would allow her to see him as a good guy.
One who doesn't cheat.
"What's rumbling around in that head of yours?" Lincoln asked from behind him.
Carter turned to face his brother and shook his head. "Just thinking maybe the cavemen knew what they were doing when they'd see a woman they wanted and claim her."
Lincoln chuckled at Carter's audible frustration.
It was true, though. Something inside of him had clicked the moment he'd first set eyes on Eliza. He wanted to know her secrets, what made her laugh. Protect her from the jerk who'd abused her trust and broken her heart.
"Just remember what I said. Going after Eliza means risking your friendship with Mac should things go badly. Make sure you're prepared for the fallout."
