Rules of Engagement

by Kay Lyons

  "Hayes Construction?"

  "That's the one."

  "Beautiful reception," Clarissa said in her baby-ish voice.

  "Thank you," Eliza said, squeezing the words out between semi-gritted teeth. "Why are you here? I don't remember you being on the list."

  "Oh, you know. Checking things out. I have a client wanting something like this, so I took some photos."

  "Of my event?"

  "Just for visuals and possibilities. Look, no hard feelings about my luring the setup team over to our new venture, right?" James asked, shooting Eliza his seemingly charming wolf's grin. "I mean, they work hard and deserve to get a little more than they were earning so…."

  "That they do," Eliza said, a smile pinned to her face because she would not give James the satisfaction of seeing the pain he'd caused her. Not only personally but financially.

  Betrayal was betrayal, and the man was scum, but what was worse was that she had to accept the fact she had been taken in by his charm and flattery and put up with his narcissistic abuse for far too long.

  But now? He wasn't her problem. And had Clarissa not willingly and knowingly cheated with someone involved with someone else, Eliza would've felt sorry for her and what was to come when James treated Clarissa the same way.

  "Nah, man, you did her a favor. No worries about that," Carter said. "You have more than enough help now. Right, sweetheart?"

  Eliza glanced up at Carter and found his gaze locked on James, the two men seemingly battling it out silently. Like it or not, she compared the two, with Carter clearly the better-looking winner.

  Clarissa apparently agreed, seeing as how she couldn't take her eyes off of him. Eliza noted the young woman's perusal of Carter's broad chest and brawny arms revealed by the steel-gray short-sleeved polo he wore. The color complimented his eyes and dark tan.

  "Well, that's good to hear," James said.

  Eliza watched the other woman's expression take on a flirtatious, catch-me-later look Carter would have to be dead to misunderstand, and a hot flash of anger tore through Eliza. There was a name for women who acted like that.

  "Sweetheart?"

  Carter lightly squeezed her, pulling her from her dazed state. When his statement finally sank in, Eliza lifted her face and met his gaze, uncaring that Carter was laying it on a bit thick. "Mmm, I do," she said. "Carter and I work very well together."

  The statement was one of truth, but the throaty drop in her tone as she stared up at Carter with adoring eyes was purely show. At least that's what she told herself. Because fact was… once again, the man had come through for her.

  From building the arbor last weekend and doing a quick change with the chairs earlier to making it look as though she wasn't alone and running on fumes, Carter had shown up for her. Proved himself with actions rather than just empty promises.

  And right now? She just wanted James to suck it.

  Carter's expression revealed his awareness of her flirtatious tactic and he was amused by it. He tugged her close and kissed her head again.

  "If you'll excuse us," Carter said to the couple. "This is our song."

  Song? Now they had a song?

  Oh, and it was one of her favorites, too.

  Carter guided her toward the dance floor, and she was very aware of his hand sliding to her waist as he drew her to him while Ed Sheeran's crooning voice filled the ballroom.

  "I'm the wedding planner. I shouldn't be dancing," she murmured just loud enough for him to hear.

  "We're in a dark corner," he whispered, his lips brushing her ear. "Besides, it's the last song. The bride and groom left while we were talking to your ex, so most everyone is packing up to go themselves. Don't you want to rub a little salt since ol' James is over there glaring at us?"

  He was?

  It took massive amounts of willpower not to immediately turn back to look. Instead she smiled up at Carter as he pulled her flush against his long, lean, gorgeous body.

  "Don't look now but I believe they're having a lover's spat."

  A peek in James's direction told her Carter's words were true, and she felt a slight thrill of satisfaction given the pain and devastation they'd pummeled her with. "Thank you. For… that."

  "I meant every word."

  She stared at him, uncomprehending.

  "You'll have all the help you need. I'll see to it. Plus, since my guys and I are licensed in all sorts of things, you can think bigger, expand the realm of possibilities for your couples. You name it, we'll price it and figure out how to make it happen."

  Wait, what? She lost herself in the glinting depths of his dark gaze. "What are you suggesting?"

  "I have a couple trustworthy young guys on my crew either working their way through school or working side hustles to pay off debt. Between me pitching in and you hiring them whenever you need extra manpower, we should have you covered as far as your setup and breakdown needs. As to design specialty, we can play it by job. No partnerships," he stressed. "Just an added benefit to being my friend."

  "Friends with… benefits?"

  He gave her one of his bad-boy grins and she literally felt her knees go weak. "I… don't know what to say."

  "Just think about it. Linc says I have a brain for business, and it seems to me if you're looking for a way to get an edge over your competitors, my offer might give you one. Am I right?"

  She nodded, knowing it was true without having to do much pondering.

  "So, maybe it's time to scale up and show everyone what you're capable of. Especially old James over there."

  Carter was right. He was sooo right! Her mind spun with possibilities. With that kind of guaranteed design help, she could do… anything! Electrical, structural, fountains? And anyone with the cash to expect those types of things meant a whole other pricing tier.

  She sucked in a sharp breath of excitement, and her senses whirled with the scent of his cologne. Sandalwood teased her nose.

  The subtle scent made her think of woods and water and nature. That special moment when time and space and everything disappeared and she was able to just breathe. No worries. No fear of what the future might bring.

  Here. Now. In this defining moment… she knew, one way or another, she was going to be okay. Because she wasn't alone, and her prayers had been answered in the form of her too handsome rescuer.

  Tears stung her eyes and she blinked them away, let herself be drawn even closer to Carter, her head tucked under his chin. His strength surrounded her. His breath warmed her ear and sent shivers down her spine as they swayed back and forth in time to the music in the best slow dance she'd ever experienced.

  But was it because she was with Carter? Or because of the sheer relief she felt at having a plan?

  The song came to an end, and she blinked when the band did a loud riff and said their good-nights. She stopped and took a step back, shocked at how easy it had been to lose herself the last several minutes. How easy it was to forget her fatigue and exhaustion from burning the candle at both ends and running on fumes because her pulse now pumped with possibility. "I should… I have stuff I have to do."

  "I'll help."

  "Carter… aren't you supposed to be hosting a bachelor party?"

  He smiled at her and her entire body warmed in response.

  "Linc is fully aware of why we're here. I'm sure he and Mac will be in as soon as they see everyone leaving."

  She blinked at him. Simply astounded. He'd done that, brought his brother and Mac here on the ruse of a bachelor party, because of her. To help her. Whereas James had come to take photos of her event no doubt so he could pass them off as his own.

  A laugh caught her by surprise. She didn't know if Carter's statement was stalkerishly weird or adorably sweet. Her heart really wanted to err on the side of sweet, but her mind still screamed at her to be wary. "How did you know I'd be here today?"

  She watched as Carter grimaced and then shrugged.

  "I may have looked at your calendar the other day when you schedu
led Piper's party."

  Stalkerish it was. But still sweet. "I see."

  "You know why, Eliza."

  Because he wanted her. But want and desire were fleeting. And as a man who was obviously used to getting his way with women…

  She inhaled again and glanced around but saw no signs of James and Clarissa. "You do realize that even if I accept your offer to up my wedding planner game and we work together, I learned my lesson with James. We'd have to keep things strictly professional."

  Carter's jaw clenched at the news. "Okay," he said, frowning. "Deal's off."

  She shook her head at him, smiling because she just couldn't help herself.

  "Or maybe with time, you'll realize I'd never do anything to deliberately hurt you," he added.

  The air left her lungs because of the intensity of his gaze, and she tilted her head to one side, forcing herself to shake off her gratitude for earlier, the coziness of the dance, and see him as the whole dangerously bad-to-her-senses package. "So you say. But what'll happen when you finally accept that I'm not going to just fall into bed with you?"

  "I accepted that the first time I met you," he countered. "It's one of the things I like about you, Eliza."

  She faltered and gaped up at him, surprised by his matter-of-fact statement.

  Was it true, though?

  The dimples came out when Carter smiled at her, and she braced herself for impact.

  "Sweetheart, any man in his right mind would want more from you. But all I'm asking for is a chance," he said. "Time for you to get to know me and see me for who I am, not just what you think you see."

  Not just what she… She sucked in a sharp breath and realized she had been pretty focused on Carter's bad-boy looks. Maybe there was more to the man than his handsome face?

  Her mind flashed back to that moment before James had said her name. That moment when Carter had been about to kiss her and she had been about to let him.

  "Eliza?"

  "I have work to do."

  Chapter 14

  Eliza's wariness and distrust plagued Carter into the next day when he watched her do her thing with the skill of an orchestra maestro.

  Last night, Mac and Lincoln had arrived as Eliza had skittered away claiming wedding-planner duties, but between him and the guys, they managed to get Eliza to bed by one.

  Alone. Which, having walked her to her room on the third floor, was saying something.

  She'd been so adorably rumpled and exhausted all he'd wanted to do was climb into bed and hold her until he had all of the answers he wanted about how she'd wound up that way. His gut told him it was more than just what had happened with her ex, and Carter hated that she'd experienced that ugly side of life.

  He'd gone up to the suite he'd booked for Lincoln and took the pullout since Mac and Linc were both already snoozing in the queen beds. Just punishment for involving them in the first place, no doubt.

  This morning, he'd called a couple of his guys, Mac had contacted Marsali, and Eliza had looked appropriately shocked when the group appeared to help set up for wedding number two. Lincoln had offered to stay, but Carter had sent him home to his fiancée since they had their own wedding to prepare for and things to be done.

  Once Eliza's shock had worn off, though, Carter could've sworn he'd spotted a sheen of tears she quickly blinked away.

  Exhaustion would do that, though. And he hoped she didn't burn out before getting her business back on its feet.

  While the hotel staff handled table arrangement and covers, Marsali tracked the florist, Mac and Carter's guys set up an indoor gazebo, and he and Eliza unboxed the lanterns, battery-operated candles, hardback books painted the same color for uniformity, and greenery that would be the table arrangements since the bride was a librarian and the groom an avid reader.

  He'd thought the books strange as decor at first, but when Eliza explained, he realized it was a sweet statement for the couple's interests.

  "Okay, last one," she said, opening the Post-it-numbered box.

  He had to give Eliza credit. For all the chaos involved with the setup, everything was organized and flowed well because of the effort she'd put in beforehand, as well as the timing so that the florist and catering crews weren't tripping over each other.

  Tables completed, he stepped back and took a look at the way the room was being transformed so quickly. Beautiful yet very different from the one last night. "You're amazing, you know that?"

  Eliza blinked up him, a smile forming on her beautiful lips. "That's what all the boys say."

  He watched her turn on her heel and carry the now empty box toward the others to be stored behind the scenes, every step a saucy sway of her hips that brought salacious thoughts to mind. "I'll bet they do."

  Four hours later, breakdown began. It didn't take nearly as long as the setup, and Eliza was grateful, because every part of her body ached at this point. If not for Carter and the rest of the team he'd assembled, it would've been impossible to get everything done on time. Eliza struggled to breathe when she realized how close she'd come to royally screwing up a wedding. "Are you sure I can't hire you?" Eliza asked Marsali. "You've got a serious knack for this."

  "Can't. Sorry," Marsali said, folding a box top into place and holding it while Mac taped it up. "I'm happy to pitch in when I can, but you know I'd much rather get them here than anything."

  It was true. Marsali had a God-given talent for matching couples, and it would be a shame for that to go to waste because she was doing other things. "Can't blame me for trying. Every time I hire someone, they drift away, thanks to James."

  "Can they drift back?"

  Eliza lifted her head and turned at the voice belonging to one of her former employees. "Oh. Uh, hey, Kellie. What are you doing here?"

  The young woman looked decidedly uncomfortable, as well she should considering she'd left Eliza in such a lurch by not giving notice.

  "I saw some tweets about the wedding and… Eliza, I owe you a huge apology. I'm so sorry. I never should've left, especially the way I did, but James insisted and… he promised a sign-on bonus and better pay but…"

  When the woman's words trailed to a stop, Eliza raised her eyebrows and waited. "But?"

  "Well, I'm still waiting on the sign-on bonus, and as of this week, they're two paychecks behind and all we hear are promises. Things aren't… They're not going well there."

  Well, isn't that interesting? "How is that possible with all of the weddings he took from the business?"

  "You haven't been reading his reviews, have you?" the younger woman asked.

  And have them rubbed in her face? "No, I-I didn't want to read them after all that happened." Eliza was vaguely aware of Carter, Marsali, and the others listening to their conversation, but since Kellie wasn't worried about privacy, why should she?

  "I get it. But you should know James and Clarissa are hit-and-miss at best, and people are starting to get ticked off because of it. Some of the events were handled so badly the couples are demanding refunds, and others are beginning to cancel because of all the screwups and the rumors going around."

  The statements should've made Eliza feel better. Maybe they did somewhere deep inside, but the fact that it came at such a high cost left her far from pleased when it all could've been avoided. "Rumors?"

  "That they're using the money for personal use and not paying the vendors, or substituting cheap items for the more expensive ones they're paid for. That kind of thing. Look, Eliza, I'm sorry. I know I screwed up and I'll have to earn your trust again, but I'd really appreciate a second chance. I've learned my lesson and I really want to come back. I'll do whatever you need me to do."

  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 list
ening 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. One screwup 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 as uninterested 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. Who did that?

  "And all while he's under oath," Marsali said.

  Eliza stilled. "What does that mean?"