Page 28 of Rules of Engagement
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 10
Carter transported the boxes of wedding stuff to his truck, including the boxes she'd claimed required two people to carry, and entered Eliza's one last time to schedule delivery of the shelving to her. He watched as she checked her phone and then her paper calendar, and realized that, despite losing half her business to her ex, Eliza still had networking and bridal events to attend along with meetings for future weddings, cake tastings, and whatever else a bride and groom might want or have on their agenda.
The calendar pages were filled with neatly scribbled notes, and as he stared over her shoulder, he might have noted the location and times of two back-to-back bookings this coming weekend at a local hotel.
The guys needed to take Lincoln out for a low-key bachelor party anyway, so why not at the same location where Eliza would be?
A plan formed and he nodded to himself. Eliza was off-limits at least until Lincoln and Amelia were married, but nothing said he couldn’t make use of the time by getting her to see he wasn't a bad guy. And handy to have around in case she hadn't been able to replace the hired help she'd lost to her ex?
"Okay, so, you said her birthday is September first. You're in luck. I actually do have that Friday open," she said, tapping a finger on a page where something had been erased.
"You sure?" he asked, hoping to get more info.
"Yeah." She rolled her eyes and pasted on a smile that didn't brighten her eyes. "Another event lost to the ex. My loss is your gain, though."
She bent and wrote Piper's name on her calendar. In ink. And he couldn't help but be impressed. A wedding would be a lot more lucrative than a kid's birthday party done as a favor. "What happens if you get another last-minute wedding like Amelia and Linc's?"
Eliza straightened and met his gaze, tilting her head to one side.
"I won't cancel on you. When I take a job, I'm there."
He dipped his head in respect and tried not to want more from her. At least not at the moment.
As though he wasn't the only one noticing just how close they stood to one another, Eliza wet her lips and took a step to the side.
"Um, okay, so is this a surprise? Or do I need to consult with Piper on her wishes?"
He thought about it a moment before shaking his head. Eliza had enough demanding brides in her life without adding a precocious five-year-old who wanted to be a real-life mermaid. "Let's keep your involvement a surprise. I've got a pretty good idea based on things she's said. I'll write it down and bring it when I drop off the shelving."
"Okay. Does she have favorite colors?"
"She's got this sequined mermaid tail she wears to play dress up." He pulled out his phone again and scrolled through his pictures until he found the right one. "There. She loves that thing."
"Ah, jewel tones are my favorite," she said with a smile. "And I do have plenty of tulle and supplies already. This will be a nice break from the norm. I'm glad you asked."
"I'm glad you accepted the trade-off."
Silence followed his words and continued long enough to become awkward. "Okay, so, I'm going to get this stuff to Linc's. If you need me to take anything else, just let me know. I'll be by again, checking on the job as it progresses, and Mac and I will both pitch in wherever we're needed. It's not a problem."
"Thank you."
He stepped back and noted the mix of industrial-style metals and beachy-looking woods mixed in her house. He'd always liked building things, and her style of decorating was a favorite of his. Nothing too feminine but functional and pretty all the same.
"I'll, uh, see you out."
He took one last glance at her calendar for a quick refresher and then followed her toward the door. "See you soon, Eliza."
"Yes. Drive safe."
Carter finished loading and started the engine to head home.
"Took you long enough," Lincoln said when Carter arrived and opened the door minutes later.
"Seriously? Have you been out here waiting for me this whole time?"
"Just tell me you didn't do or say anything you shouldn't have."
