Rules of Engagement

by Kay Lyons

  Lincoln's tone revealed his hesitation in asking.

  "Eliza wouldn't agree to just take it, all right? I tried, especially since it's free and in my way. So, we swapped labor and shelving for her amping up Piper's birthday party."

  Lincoln groaned.

  "Hey, it was the only thing I could think of, and making Piper's party bigger and inviting the kids from her class will give me a chance to meet the parents of the hoodlums Piper's going to school with. I want eyeballs on these people for when she gets invited to stuff."

  Carter loosened the last strap and turned to find his brother staring, his hands on his hips. "What?"

  "Nothing." Lincoln leaned into the truck bed to grab the first box. "I was just thinking you might have handled that perfectly."

  "Yeah?"

  "Yeah."

  "Then now's a good time to tell you we're having a bachelor party for you Saturday," he said, naming the hotel where Eliza's bookings were taking place.

  "Why there?"

  Carter shrugged. "Just thought it would be a nice place."

  Lincoln's gaze narrowed shrewdly.

  "This wouldn't also happen to have something to do with Eliza, would it?"

  Busted. "It… might."

  "Carter—"

  "She mentioned losing her help to her ex last weekend, and when I picked up the stuff for you and Amelia, I noticed Eliza had a couple of weddings booked this weekend."

  "At that hotel?"

  Carter reluctantly nodded.

  "So having my bachelor party there means us being around if she runs into a snag?"

  Once again, he nodded and gave Lincoln a sheepish shrug.

  His brother chuckled and hefted the box he carried higher against his chest. "I have to give you credit, little brother. When it comes to women, you do have a romantic side. That's why it's always gotten you into trouble."

  Chapter 11

  The week flew by way too fast for Eliza. Before her breakup with James, they would do setup together, both of them in headsets, organizing the crews of caterers, chair and table deliveries, florists, and the like with precision coordination. Six months later, she was still trying to find her own rhythm and keep eyes on everything at once, especially since her last full-time employee, Kellie, had left two months earlier—another sneaky underhanded hire by James.

  She had schematics, detailed times of when each group was supposed to arrive, and timers and reminders set accordingly, as well as plans for holding areas while setting up.

  But like most scheduled things, someone was inevitably late due to traffic or loading or employee issues. And then there was the fact Eliza had yet to find a replacement for either her assistant or assembly/setup help. Three people she'd used in the past had answered her calls but weren't able to help, and two others had simply not responded.

  Ah, the joys of owning her own business.

  "Eliza? These guys need to know where to go," one of the florist's assistants said as she walked by.

  Eliza turned and spotted the very large instruments. Crap. Just when she'd thought she had a handle on things. How could she have forgotten about the cello players?

  Her gaze shifted to the chairs being set up, all of which would have to be shifted because the bride had specifically asked for them to be placed just to the right of where the ceremony would take place. "Stay cool and hydrated inside for now," she said with a smile. "Then up front exactly forty minutes before the ceremony so you're seated and playing at thirty."

  Both men nodded and hefted their instrument cases to return to the interior of the hotel while Eliza bolted for the sand. She needed to catch the chair delivery guys before they— "No, no, no," she said, searching for them and not seeing any of the black-shirted employees.

  Really? Really? They hadn't even hung around to check out the girls by the pool?

  She stashed her binder on the first seat of the first row and got to work. Thankfully there were only fifty chairs. She could do this.

  Two rows in, she heard someone calling her name and looked up to find Carter, Lincoln, and Mac heading her way. What on earth? "What are you doing here? Are you guests?"

  The trio grinned. Well, two of the three. Mac looked a little disgruntled.

  "Nah. We came for Linc's bachelor party but saw you rearranging things. Need a hand?" Carter asked.

  Eliza blinked at them, and before she could agree or disagree, the three men went to work shifting the white chairs several feet away from their present position, matching her placement pattern.

  "Haven't been able to hire new help, huh?" Carter asked softly as he worked beside her.

  "I interviewed someone but they didn't work out. Par for the course these days."

  "Well, we'll be here all day and tonight if you need us to pitch in on something else," Carter said.

  She paused so she could meet his gaze. "What about Piper?"

  "She's with Amelia tonight. They're having a sleepover."

  Eliza didn't have time for the relief that flooded her system. She prided herself on doing a good job and providing the beautiful weddings she promised her clients, but when everything seemed to be working against her, she knew better than to turn down help, even if she'd rather not need it.

  "Eliza, what about these?" Mac asked.

  She turned and found Mac and Lincoln standing on the other side of the aisle. "Same distance that way," she said, pointing. "Have to showcase the cellists because they're friends of the bride."

  With four people shifting chairs, the process didn't take long. "I can't thank you enough," she said to the men now standing there looking at her, each of them wearing a sheen of sweat due to the end-of-August heat.

  "It's no problem," Carter said softly. "We each own our businesses, and we know what it's like when you're short manpower."

  "Well, it's appreciated, gentlemen. I'll be sure to send a round of drinks on me tonight. For now, I have to get back to work."

  "Text me if you need anything else and we'll come back out," Carter said.

  Eliza happened to be looking Mac's way and noted how her best friend's older brother glanced at Carter before sliding his gaze back onto her.

  Eliza took the look to be one of protectiveness, but considering her state of disinterest in men presently, the effort was wasted.

  "Yeah, we'll be around," Mac added dryly.

  Lincoln and Mac murmured their goodbyes and began heading toward the hotel. Eliza walked to the front to retrieve her binder. She held it to her chest and turned only to run into Carter. "Oh!"

  His hands fastened on to her elbows.

  "Easy there."

  "I thought you'd gone. With them," she said with a tilt of her head.

  "Have you eaten today?"

  What was it with him and food? "I had breakfast."

  "It's five o'clock, Eliza."

  Already? Guests would start arriving any minute.

  She shook her head and took a step back. "And I have too many things to do. I'll eat later." Her gaze landed on the florist, who'd arrived forty-five minutes late. "I have to go, Carter. Thanks for the help. Again."

  She slipped by him and hurried to meet the woman carrying half of a pre-made floral arch.

  This wedding was much smaller than the ones last weekend, but the bride had gone a little crazy with her flower requests.

  Once the arch was in place, white columns were carried across the sand and still more flowers placed atop them as well as along the two ends of the arches. Creamy nautical rope was strung along both sides of the aisle and attached to the sides of the chairs, then decorated with eucalyptus sprays, ribbons, and seashells.

  The clock ticked as things fell together with frantic intensity. Guests began arriving but lingered back toward the shade provided by the hotel. Once the sun sank lower, more of the seating was shaded and guests began to move forward.

  Eliza checked her charts and lists and finally felt comfortable enough to leave the beach to venture inside to the bridal suite. She liked t
o check on her Bs and Gs beforehand, just to get a feel for the mood of the day.

  As she passed through the lobby, Eliza glanced toward the bar area and saw Mac, Carter, and Lincoln sitting at a high-top. As though sensing her presence, Carter's gaze locked with hers and her stomach did an odd flip.

  Lah, the man really needed to come with a hazard warning.

  She managed a smile and kept moving, her mind on the thoughtfulness of the trio of bachelors who'd come to her rescue. One in particular.

  Maybe it was the way he'd helped out his brother or offered to trade shelving for a birthday party for his baby girl, but she was beginning to observe a different side of the gorgeous contractor.

  But, that being said, Carter had seemingly taken her warning and backed off, and she was grateful for that.

  Wasn't she?

  Chapter 12

  Carter kicked back in a chair in the hotel lobby around ten that evening and watched the sliding doors leading out to the sand open and close for the millionth time with no signs of Eliza's return.

  She'd gone a hundred miles an hour the entire night, first with the wedding outside and then with the reception inside. Dance music pulsed from the other side of the closed ballroom doors, and Carter spotted the two musicians from the wedding hitting on bridesmaids across the room. By all measures, Eliza had pulled off a beautiful and successful event. Again.

  "This has got to be the worst bachelor party ever," Mac said, sending Carter a glare.

  "It's fine," Lincoln said, staring at his cards so hard Carter wondered if he was trying to memorize them. "I didn't need a party anyway."

  "Will you stop looking for Eliza?" Mac demanded. "It's annoying."

  Carter locked gazes with the other man and realized Mac knew exactly why they were there. "Did you take a look at her? A real look? She hasn't eaten all day, she's exhausted, and she has another wedding here tomorrow."

  "And just how do you know that?" Mac asked, gaze narrowing.

  "Gentlemen, can we stop bickering and play cards?" Lincoln asked.

  "No," Mac stated. "I thought I warned you off of Eliza?"

  "You can't warn me off of her," Carter said. "She isn't your toy."

  "She isn't yours, either."

  "Trying to win here," Lincoln muttered.

  "Yeah, well, you'd better watch it. The last thing she needs is you messing with her when she's still getting over the last guy."

  "Best way to get over someone is to—"

  "Seriously? You're going to go there?" Mac said, glaring at Carter. "She's practically—"

  "Your sister?" Carter asked, hammering home Eliza's brotherly kiss comment.

  Mac glared at him. Carter glared back. "Look, I have no intention of hurting Eliza. Besides, I can't make a move until after Linc's wedding, so chill."

  "It's true," Lincoln murmured. "I axed his plans until Amelia and I are on our honeymoon."

  "Which means once Linc and Amelia are gone, you're going to do what?" Mac asked.

  "Dude, you had your chance. Actually, as Marsali's big brother, you've had lots of chances with Eliza over the years, and it didn't work." Mac all but growled at him and Carter shrugged. "Just stating facts."

  "Yeah, well, fact is if you hurt her, I will hurt you. Got it?"

  "Or you could let Eliza take care of herself and stay out of her business," Eliza said, her tone cold as ice.

  Carter stilled and turned to face Eliza, her expression filled with feminine ire.

  "Really? Are you three seriously sitting here discussing me like… that?"

  Carter glanced around and noted all of them had sat back in their seats and now stared at Eliza as though eyeing a tiger suddenly loosed in the lobby.

  Carter cleared his throat, brain scrambling to soothe. "We meant no offense, sweetheart."

  "I'm only looking out for you," Mac said.

  "I was told there was a bachelor party," Lincoln grumbled under his breath.

  Eliza's arms were loaded with an elaborately wrapped wedding present and Carter stood. "Let me carry that for you."

  "I've got it," she bit out, fingers white.

  "Eliza—"

  "I have work to do. Please leave me out of future conversations—and plans."

  He followed her as she walked away from them. "Hey. Hey, wait a second. Eliza, I just want to be your friend."

  A huff left her, and the look she shot him blew his statement to bits.

  "Friend?"

  "Fine. I admit I'd like more—to get to know you."

  "Why?"

  He blinked at her question. Drew back from the intensity behind it. Why? "Because you're you and I like what I see."

  "Yeah, well, you're you and… I don't. Bad boys are just… bad."

  Eliza turned on her heel and stalked away as quietly as she'd approached.

  "Ohhh, yeah," Mac said, chuckling hard. "Okay, I think I've seen what I needed to see, brother."

  Lincoln tossed his cards onto the table. "I'm going to go call my fiancée."

  "I'm going to the bar to drink to Carter's epic shutdown," Mac said, standing.

  Carter swiped his drink from the table, glared at Mac's back, and decided he had a wedding reception to crash. His conversation with Eliza wasn't finished.

  The inside of the hotel ballroom was lit by massive amounts of carefully placed lanterns, string lights, and table candles. As he took it all in, he wondered how Eliza had managed to pull it off without working herself into the ground the last several days straight.

  He scanned the carefully lit interior and found Eliza by the gift table. She looked perfectly put together in a strapless knee-length dress, her long hair pulled up with tendrils framing her face, and sparkling earrings that swung as she turned her head and spotted him approaching her.

  He moved toward her, holding her gaze the entire time.

  "What are you doing?" she asked the moment he stood close enough to hear her. "This is a private event."

  "I thought you could use some help as things wind down."

  "Carter—"

  "Have you slept at all the last couple of days?"

  Her mouth firmed before she took a breath, and no amount of money or willpower could keep his gaze off the act in that dress.

  "Not much," she admitted. "But you need to leave."

  "How did you get all of this put up?"

  "I hired a couple of the hotel's maintenance guys to set up after hours. Thankfully the room wasn't booked beforehand so they allowed me to get in last night."

  "Well, I'll help you take it down and you don't have to pay me."

  She blinked at him and shook her head. "Carter, why are you doing this?"

  "Maybe I'm trying to prove to you I'm not as bad," he said, quoting her, "as you think I am."

  She winced. "I'm sorry I said that. It was rude."

  "It was honest. But you're wrong about me, Eliza."

  "Am I?"

  He inhaled. "I have a history. Everyone does. But who I was isn't who I am now. Why won't you let me help you?"

  "I don't… want to owe you."

  "You won't. You shouldn't feel that way. Ever. Like I told you outside on the beach, I have a business I started from scratch, and I know what it's like when help doesn't show or gets lured away by the competition. Or," he added, lowering his voice, "costs more than you might be able to afford while trying to regroup."

  She crossed her arms over her front. "So you're only here asking to help because you feel sorry for me?"

  "I suppose that's… part of it."

  "And the rest?"

  He chuckled softly. "Maybe I'm a little interested in getting to know you better."

  "Oh, yeah? I heard your discussion with Mac outside."

  "Mac and I talk smack all the time."

  "Yeah, well, smack talk or not, men don't typically help women without ulterior motives."

  "My only motive is to get to know you. Look, you've obviously been burned. So have I," he said, taking a step closer and getting a wh
iff of her perfume. "But right now, I'm just trying to prove to you I'm a nice guy so that when you're ready, you'll give me a chance."

  One of the couples carried their dance off the plank floor and bumped into Eliza, shoving her into him.

  Eliza's hands unlocked from her front and braced against his chest as she caught herself. Carter tucked her closer still and stared down at her, a fire sweeping through him at the feel of her pressed against him.

  Her gaze lowered to his mouth and her lips parted. He watched it all, wondering if she felt the same chemistry firing his blood. "Eliza?"

  "Eliza?"

  Her name echoed as the male of the couple who'd bumped her turned toward them.

  Carter glanced at the guy but felt Eliza's nails dig sharply into his shirt and skin as she stiffened up like a board. She held on to him, hesitating a moment, before she simply turned her head. Carter watched as Eliza struggled to maintain her composure when she faced the man—couple—now standing a few feet away.

  "James…"

  James? Ex-boyfriend/business partner/cheater James? Carter wrapped his arm around Eliza's shoulders and cuddled her close while he held the man's gaze and kissed the top of her head. "Sweetheart, aren't you going to introduce me?"

  Chapter 13

  Of all times. Of all people…

  Eliza inhaled and struggled to come to terms with the fact James and Clarissa stood within inches of her, side by side and looking far too smarmy, in her humble opinion.

  She'd considered herself lucky to have avoided them for so long, but tonight her luck had obviously run out. "Of course. Carter," she said, finally finding her voice, "this is…" my lying, cheating, can't-be-trusted ex and his ho… "James and Clarissa. They're former business associates." Taking the high road sometimes sucked, and this was definitely one of those times.

  "Carter Hayes," he said without removing his arms from around her to extend a hand in greeting. Carter held her pressed to his side, and while she wasn't sure how he'd known who the couple was other than by reading her reaction to seeing them, she welcomed the support, both physical and emotional.

  Seeing one's ex was never easy, especially with their fling at their side. But having Carter at hers was definitely better than facing them alone.