Page 45 of Rules of Engagement
Drawn? Yes, but not in any way healthy to her well-being. Or future.
Or heart?
Eliza's mind filled with an image of Carter Hayes with his dark good looks, sexy smile, and inked biceps, and she groaned.
Did she admit to being attracted to Carter?
Yes.
Did it scare her?
Unbelievably so.
Because it wasn't just attraction she felt. It was the way he'd helped her, but more importantly, the way he treasured his baby girl and his brother, and how he'd stepped up for the mother of his child only to be rejected…
He'dbeenthere. In her shoes.
And up until that point, she'd had the willpower to walk away from him from fear alone, but knowing he'd experienced the same kind of betrayal and walked through the fire and understood her fear because he'd lived it?
It was like something inside of her had just latched on and bonded instantly to the shared pain.
"You're becoming a boring workaholic who is so jaded you don't honor the love you work so hard to showcase with all of those beautiful weddings you pull together. You're filling your loneliness with busy-ness, and I'm seeing major signs of burnout. You see them, too, right?"
"Maybe." The word was a breath, soft and shallow.
"So," Marsali said, her tone changing over to one of persuasiveness, "go have some fun and flirt—even if it's only as friends or business associates. Recover some of the magic behindwhyyou do what you do. Remember how much fun it was in the beginning? The love andromance?"
"You think I'm just going through the motions."
"Aren't you?"
Eliza pinched the bridge of her nose and willed the nagging chronic headache to go away. Dang it, she hated when Marsali was right.
"Look, what James did was awful but he wasn't your equal to begin with."
"I know that. I see that now."
"Good. Because this thing with Carter? This is an opportunity to find something better. Even if it's just afriendshipthat shows you there are still trustworthy people in this world."
Eliza remained quiet, listening, pondering. Mulling over the wisdom Eliza had just imparted.
"Lizzie, do you trust me?" Marsali asked softly.
No, Marsali wasn't going to gothere, was she? "You know I do, but—"
"No buts. Yes or no? And rememberyearsof friendship weigh in the balance."
Tears stung her eyes, and Eliza blinked them away and blamed her upcoming period and stress and a diet lacking in chocolate—which she would rectify immediately. If she ever remembered to buy groceries. "You know I do."
"Then do this. For me. Because I want this for you."
She pressed both hands to her face, over her eyes, coming to terms with some hard truths. "I know you're right. Okay? I said it. Rationally, I know all men aren't sleazeballs, but—"
"It'sdinner. With someone I know and trust and feel good about for you. Even Mac likes Carter."
"I'm not so sure about that."
"He does. He's protective of you, that's all. Because we know how hurt you were. The thing is, you will never heal locked down the way you are. You have to get back out there andacceptinvitations from gorgeous single men, even though the meticulous control freak in you can't plan or predict the future because it's notinyour control. That's all part of the fun. Remember fun?"
