Page 53 of Rules of Engagement
Carter glanced down to find Eliza staring up at him, but given her sunglasses, he wasn't able to read her expression. "Hey, you hungry?"
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Chapter 20
After checking in at the hostess stand, they were seated outside by the railings. The restaurant was busy, but not as busy as it typically was during the tourist season.
Eliza sat across from Carter, thankful for the sunglasses that allowed her to discreetly watch his impact on the females nearby. She saw the double takes, the flirtatious smiles they sent in his direction, but she also noted he seemed completely oblivious.
How was that possible?
A waiter brought their drinks and took their order, and as he walked away, Eliza found herself bearing the brunt of Carter's intense gaze. He'd shoved his sunglasses atop his head since they were beneath the restaurant's cover, and his attention fixated entirely on her. She lifted a hand and smoothed it over her hair.
"It's perfect."
She sucked in a soft breath and sank her teeth into her lower lip, hard.
Carter cleared his throat and braced his elbows on the table.
"So, show me those designs."
"Of course." She grabbed the binder she'd carried from the boat and shifted sideways in her seat to place it in the chair beside her. She unlocked the rings and handed him a plastic-encased sheet of paper. "I have a lot of ideas in here, but something I'd very much like to incorporate is water. Fountains, waterfalls, maybe even a stream? Something amazing."
He whistled softly, eyeing the images. "Wouldn't be cheap."
"I realize that. But the clientele I'm going after wouldn't blink at the cost."
He smiled at her, and she felt her breath catch in her throat at the impact. The kiss last night had… rocked her. Her thoughts on Carter, on dating and relationships, everything. Especially when added to Marsali's CliffsNotes from her book. But so long as she was careful, conscious of every slow step…
"You are the only person I know who could pull off a wedding like this," he said. "These are amazing, Eliza."
What was amazing was his support. When she'd mentioned a water element to James a year or so ago, he'd told her she was crazy. "Well, I'm not sure how many wedding planners you know but… thanks."
"You're welcome. What else do you have in there?"
They spent the next fifteen minutes going over various items and ideas before their food arrived. Eliza sat forward, too excited to eat. "Do you really think you can make some of that a reality?"
"It will take some ingenuity to work around the sites and make it adjustable to wherever you might need it placed, but yeah. I've got some ideas on how to make it happen."
"Well, weddings of that nature would require a year's planning, minimum."
"There could be permits or special licensing involved, so that's good."
Eliza stared at Carter as he bit into the burger he'd ordered, his jaw flexing with every bite. "I… heard you had a visitor last week."
Carter swallowed the bite and nodded.
"Yeah. I did. You don't need to worry about it, though. I set him straight."
"He had no right to come to your jobsite."
"Agreed. But since I didn't return his calls, he decided to make a special trip."
Eliza shook her head at Carter's words. James really was a piece of work. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I think your ex is realizing what a mistake he's made."
"Meaning?"
