Page 29 of Rules of Engagement
"I didn't," he said with a gentle slam of the truck door. "I actually apologized for anything I said that made her feel uncomfortable and… it went well," Carter said, moving to the back of the truck. "Eliza and I even came to an agreement."
"An agreement? So youdidcome on to her?" Lincoln asked, glaring at Carter.
Carter lowered the tailgate and loosed the straps securing the boxes. "No. I had to go in and dig some of this stuff out. She's got wedding stuff stored in two spare bedrooms and mentioned needing shelving—which I happen to need to get rid of off a jobsite."
"So what's the agreement?"
Lincoln's tone revealed his hesitation in asking.
"Eliza wouldn't agree to just take it, all right? I tried, especially since it's free and in my way. So, we swapped labor and shelving for her amping up Piper's birthday party."
Lincoln groaned.
"Hey, it was the only thing I could think of, and making Piper's party bigger and inviting the kids from her class will give me a chance to meet the parents of the hoodlums Piper's going to school with. I want eyeballs on these people for when she gets invited to stuff."
Carter loosened the last strap and turned to find his brother staring, his hands on his hips. "What?"
"Nothing." Lincoln leaned into the truck bed to grab the first box. "I was just thinking you might have handled that perfectly."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Then now's a good time to tell you we're having a bachelor party for you Saturday," he said, naming the hotel where Eliza's bookings were taking place.
"Why there?"
Carter shrugged. "Just thought it would be a nice place."
Lincoln's gaze narrowed shrewdly.
"This wouldn'talsohappen to have something to do with Eliza, would it?"
Busted. "It… might."
"Carter—"
"She mentioned losing her help to her ex last weekend, and when I picked up the stuff for you and Amelia, I noticed Eliza had a couple of weddings booked this weekend."
"At that hotel?"
Carter reluctantly nodded.
"So having my bachelor party there means us being around if she runs into a snag?"
Once again, he nodded and gave Lincoln a sheepish shrug.
His brother chuckled and hefted the box he carried higher against his chest. "I have to give you credit, little brother. When it comes to women, you do have a romantic side. That's why it's always gotten you into trouble."
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Chapter 11
The week flew by way too fast for Eliza. Before her breakup with James, they would do setup together, both of them in headsets, organizing the crews of caterers, chair and table deliveries, florists, and the like with precision coordination. Six months later, she was still trying to find her own rhythm and keep eyes on everything at once, especially since her last full-time employee, Kellie, had left two months earlier—another sneaky underhanded hire by James.
She had schematics, detailed times of when each group was supposed to arrive, and timers and reminders set accordingly, as well as plans for holding areas while setting up.
But like most scheduled things, someone was inevitably late due to traffic or loading or employee issues. And then there was the fact Eliza had yet to find a replacement for either her assistant or assembly/setup help. Three people she'd used in the past had answered her calls but weren't able to help, and two others had simply not responded.
