Page 57 of Rules of Engagement
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Chapter 22
Carter took control of the boat once Eliza got them close to the dock. Within minutes, they were tied up and he held out a hand to help her onto the planking—until she pulled away.
"Um… Maybe we should keep…thisto ourselves? I mean, for now?"
He didn't like it, but he understood her hesitation given the added pressure going public would probably bring. "Whatever you say."
He walked Eliza to her white van, which was parked in Lincoln and Amelia's driveway. "I'll bring the shelving by in a couple of hours and get started—if that's okay with you?"
"Of course. Are you bringing Piper? I don't want to have her birthday party stuff out for her to see and ruin the surprise."
"Considering the time crunch you have to get that done, no. I'll get Breanne or one of her friends to babysit," he said.
"Okay. I guess I'll see you there," she said, glancing at Mac's house.
"You feel it, too, huh?"
"That someone's watching us? Oh, yeah," she said with a laugh.
He opened the door to the van and stepped back. "Get going before Mac comes out here and gives us a hard time."
"It could be Marsali. Her meetings were nearby, I think, so she was planning to walk there. But either way, yeah."
Eliza climbed into the vehicle and fastened her seat belt, and he watched as she backed out of the driveway.
He lifted his hand in a wave and turned to go back to his house when Mac's door opened andbothsiblings appeared. Mac stood leaning with his shoulder braced against the doorframe while Marsali practically danced down the stairs toward him. When she reached his side, she slid her arm through his.
"Hello."
He shook his head at her antics. "Something I can do for you?"
"Nope. Quite the opposite in fact.Iam going to helpyou."
His gaze shifted to Mac's glowering expression, and Carter had a pretty good idea of the reason behind Mac's ill mood. "I need help?"
Marsali's laughter echoed off of the houses on the narrow street.
"With Eliza? Oh, yes. Yes, you do." She patted his arm. "How do you feel about a little date coaching?"
Turned out,Marsali had some great insights on her best friend. She led him into Mac's long enough to hand over a copy of her new book—pointing out the rules of engagement in chapter four. While Mac glared at Carter and listened to every word, Marsali warned Carter against moving too fast given Eliza's personal history. Time was his friend and he needed to remember that.
Once he'd left Mac's and found a babysitter for Piper, he drove into Wilmington to pick up the shelving. By the time he made it back to Carolina Cove and Eliza's, it was approaching dinnertime.
Which was why he'd made one additional stop and picked up food for them from his favorite restaurant.
Eliza opened the door, and he bit back a grin when it made him realize she'd been watching for him. "Hey. You like Chinese? I brought dinner since it was getting late."
"Love it. But you didn't have to do that."
"I have a feeling you miss way too many meals while you're working," he said, carrying the bags with him as he walked toward her. "Sorry I'm late. It took me a little longer than I thought it would to get a sitter and pick up the shelving."
"No problem. I've been working all afternoon. I'm ready for a break."
"Good. Food first, then."
They settled at her kitchen bar to eat, and he asked about her afternoon.
