Page 7 of Rules of Engagement
Her name emerged in that deep, husky voice of his, and like it or not, a shiver ran the length of her spine before she mentally stomped on it like an annoying bug. "Mm?"
Carter chuckled at her response and eventhatsounded sexy.
Yup. She was officially drunk—well,tipsymight be a better word, but she was definitely something to be considering him as anything other than trouble.
Obviously champagne bubbles held more punch than she'd thought.
Maybe it's the fact you haven't eaten since breakfast?
Regardless, the next time she saw Carter Hayes, he wasn't as likely to be so handsome.
Yeah, right.
"I'm going to walk Eliza past the hot tub to her room. I'll meet you back here in a bit," Carter said.
She smiled at his joke and earned another grin from him.
"Behave yourself," Mac said, the word a low growl.
Eliza giggled and then frowned at her reaction, both to the handsome stranger and Mac's perturbed expressions.
Please. She so didn't sleep with people she'd just met. Or skinny-dip with them.
She lifted a hand to wave goodbye at her friends, ignoring Marsali's exaggerated wink and wide smile.
Eliza turned toward the bank of elevators on the left. Except… that was a half wall with dining tables on the other side.
When had they moved the elevators? She would've thought it would take longer than a day, and they'd been right there this morning.
"This way, sweetheart."
Sweetheart? She was nobody's sweetheart. Or darling. Or honey. She'd worked her tail off to get her business off the ground, and thenstupidityhad walked away with half of it—and her administrative assistant.
Her mood darkened like it did every time she thought of the betrayal, and she leaned into the hard, solid body steadying her as well as steering her toward the right. She allowed Carter to lead since he seemed to know where the elevators had been moved.
Which begged the question ofwhyhe knew. She knew the layout of every nice hotel in town due to her profession but he… Why did he know?
She peeked up at him from beneath her lashes. "Do you do this often?"
"What?"
"Walk strange women to their hotel rooms. I mean, I'm notstrangebut… You know what I mean."
His lips quirked up at the corners and brought out a dimple.
Seriously? Could the man be any more gorgeous?
She squinted. Hard. Waiting to find some flaw in him, because there had to beone.
Looks-wise he passed muster and then some, but maybe he had some unsightly rash? STD? Wore nipple rings? Because that wassonot attractive. Or maybe—
"Do you do this often? Get drunk in hotel lobbies?"
A giggle burst out of her at the ludicrous suggestion, and she winced at the sound, knowing no professional wedding planner should be caught drunk-giggling. Ever. "No. I rarely get to kick back with the girls, but the Dom was a nice surprise bonus from Bridezilla's daddy, and with another wedding tomorrow, I knew better than to drink it all. Plus, we had Amelia's wedding to plan so… Sharing was the proper thing to do."
"I see. So tell me, Eliza, why haven't I met you before?" he asked. "I've known Mac a few months now and Marsali hangs out sometimes but… I haven't seen you around."
"Summer is my busiest season. I keep meaning to stop by and see Mac's new house but there just hasn't been time. Plus, Mac and I don't hang out unless Marsali is around."
