Page 27 of Rules of Engagement
"Yeah. Want me to load it up and bring it to you? I can put it in your garage until the wedding is over and then help you get it inside and ready for your boxes and bins."
Ah, but what did he expect in return? "Uh, that would be great but I'm not sure I can hire you right now."
"Eliza…"
Did he have to say her name that way?
"The stuff is free. And you taking it will help me to get it out of the guys' way."
"But your labor costs—"
"Plan a party for me."
She blinked at him. What? "Excuse me?"
"Look, I'm not worried about it, but you apparently are so… I know you don't do birthday parties, but how about in exchange for labor and whatever storage you need me to come up with, you plan Piper's birthday party? She wants everything mermaid, which goes along with a lot of the beach stuff I saw in there."
She blinked at him, unsure of what to say. "I…"
"Look, she's turning five, and it would be a great way for her to get to know some of her classmates and for me to meet their parents."
Eliza stared down at the shelving that would be perfect for her needs before she handed the phone back. She crossed her arms over her chest, waited for his gaze to shift downward, but surprisingly, it didn't. "You do realize a birthday party for a five-year-old is way easier than what you're going to have to do to set up storage for all of my stuff."
"Easy for you," he countered. "Do I look like I know how to create a mermaid party? That stuff," he said, lifting the phone and the images she'd just perused, "is easy for me. Come on, even exchange. How about it?"
Well, itwasbetter than him asking her on another date. "Nothing else?"
A wry smile flashed over his handsome face and shot her pulse into orbit.
"Nothing else. And for the record, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I shouldn't have asked for a date last Saturday after the arbororinvited you to stay over."
"You flirt. A lot."
"Only with certain people. And never with bad intentions," he countered, holding her gaze. "But I am sorry if I've made you uncomfortable."
She really wasn't sure what to make of the apology, only that he seemed sincere.
"Okay, next box," he said when she remained quiet. "You think about it and let me know if you want to make a trade. I'd have one happy girl on my hands if you could work some magic and bring her mermaid party up a few notches from just cake and ice cream."
The last was said with wry bemusement, and she realized the older Piper got, the more into girlie things she became—and the more out of his depth Carter probably felt. The majority of single fathers would have no clue how to do the cutesy, feminine stuff girls loved. But for Piper? "I'll have to check my schedule but… I accept your offer."
Carter grinned and a look of supreme relief flashed over his face.
"You're a lifesaver."
"Yeah, well, you may regret the swap when it comes to making storage that works for me."
"It'll be worth it to see Piper's face."
She held the door for him to enter and get the next box, and his long strides carried him down the hallway. Carter might be too handsome for his own good, but no one could deny his love for his daughter. And like it or not, she admired that about him.
"Eliza?"
She blinked up at him, only then realizing she'd stood there and ogled his masculine form every step of his return. "What?"
His gaze narrowed on her, sparkling with something she couldn't quite name along with quite a bit of amusement.
"You gonna open that door?"
