Page 38 of Rules of Engagement
Eliza hesitated but only because of fear. Kellie was a good employee—minus the whole quitting-without-notice thing. She'd always come early, left late. Done above and beyond what was asked of her. "How do I know you won't walk out and do the same thing again?"
"I guess you don't." The twenty-something inhaled and glanced at the others listening before shifting her feet and turning to go. "I understand. I just wanted to apologize in person because I owed you that. I'm sorry to bother you."
"Kellie, wait." Eliza watched as the girl turned, a hopeful expression on her plain yet pretty face. "You're hired—but on probation.Onescrewup and—"
"Totally. I understand! I'll even sign something stating I'll never leave without giving notice. Whatever you want, I'll do it."
"Are you free now?" Eliza asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Kellie said, smiling.
Eliza tilted her head toward the boxes and bins and all of the other stuff slowly being piled near the door. "You know the drill."
Eliza watched as the girl ran toward her to give Eliza a quick hug before she got to work.
Eliza turned to find Carter watching her, a small smile pulling at his lips. "What?"
"Nothing."
"That look means something," she murmured.
A sexy, rumbling laugh emerged from him as he leaned toward her and lowered his voice. "You gave her a chance. That bodes well in my favor."
"Kellie isn't a threat to my—" She broke off and inhaled sharply, wishing she'd kept her mouth shut and just walked away. Instead she'd just revealed way more than she ever wanted to. "I mean—"
"I know exactly what you mean, sweetheart. But you thinking I'm a threat means you're not asuninterested as you let on."
"I'm not.Carter," she said, trying to finish the conversation without drawing attention.
But Carter turned and walked away whistling, and Eliza raised and lowered her hands in a gesture of frustration.
"He so has the hots for you," Marsali said.
Eliza closed her eyes and counted to three. "Not interested," she said, turning to face her friend.
"Oh, yeah, right. The man deserves a medal. You do realize the strings he's pulled for you this weekend? Favors from friends? Calling up his own employees?"
She had. Whodidthat?
"And all while he's under oath," Marsali said.
Eliza stilled. "What does that mean?"
"Carter promised Lincoln he'd leave you alone until after the wedding because Lincoln didn't want you running scared if Carter came on too strong."
"That'sleaving me alone?" she asked, waving a discreet hand in Carter's direction.
"For a man like Carter?" Marsali smiled. "Yes. That's why I can't wait to see what happens next week after the wedding is over."
The thought left Eliza struggling to breathe. She had a hard enough time focusing whenever she was around Carter, even though his behavior was apparently his "tame" approach. "You're twisted to be so sweet, you know that?"
Marsali's laughter rocked the nearly empty room.
"Andyouare a softie behind all of those walls. I wonder if Carter has figured that out yet?"
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Chapter 15
