Page 34 of Rules of Engagement
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?"
OceanofPDF.com
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.
"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."
"Ofmyevent?"
"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.
