Page 43 of Rules of Engagement
"Sure. We'll even split the check if you like."
"You'd actually be okay with that? No funny business?"
Funny business? Oh, he could be all about the funny business with her. "Hey, I'm not the one who hasn't dated in a while," he said, winking at her. "How do I know you'll be able to keep your hands to yourself?"
"You're incorrigible."
"So what's your answer?"
"I'll go… to discussbusiness."
Carter grinned. "Okay. Sounds like we have a date."
OceanofPDF.com
Chapter 16
"You're going out withCarter?"
Marsali practically screamed the question the following evening. Eliza glared at the cell phone on the tiny stool beside the soaking tub and rolled her eyes.Well, that news certainly didn't take long to travel.
"Eliza? Hello?"
She moaned and slid deeper into the water. "We're going out for abusinessdinner because I have designs I want to discuss with him. How'd you find out?" she asked, her tone revealing her upset with herself for allowing a pair of slate-gray eyes and a wicked smile to sway her.
But combined with the fact Carter Hayes had opened up to her with his story about Piper's mother—well, dinner shouldn't be such a big deal. Misery loved company, right?
She sipped her glass of wine and tried not to think about how Carter would look dressed in his best-man clothes in a few days' time. Or the fact she couldn't wait to see him wearing the hand-crafted leather suspenders Amelia had special ordered.
"I stopped by Mac's on my way home. Carter was there."
"And my name came up how?" Eliza pressed her damp hand to her face and rubbed hard. She'd rather Carter had kept his mouth shut but obviously he hadn't.
"Carter was telling Mac about how he'd run into James today."
Eliza sat up in the tub so fast water surged to the edge like a tidal wave. "What? Where? When? What did Carter say?"
Marsali laughed at the barrage of questions.
"On a jobsite, this afternoon, and he said he set James straight."
"About what? What does that mean?"
"You'll have to ask Carter."
"Marsali, tell me."
"I didn't getallthe details. The story was mostly over by the time I got there. I'm sure Carter handled it fine. He's a good guy. You've got to see that by now."
"I know you know more than you're saying. Since when do you keep secrets from me?"
"Fiiine. Apparently James tried to work up a deal with Carter similar to one the two of you have—which, by the way, when didthathappen?"
"It… Recently. Very recently. Things have been so crazy I just forgot to mention it."
"You think?"
"We haven't actually worked together or anything," Eliza said, explaining Carter's offer. "I've got some great ideas."
