Page 62 of Rules of Engagement
"Yeah, well, welcome to the screwed-over club. How's it feel?" Eliza said as Carter parked and got out of the truck with a thunderous expression.
"What's happening here?" Carter said, approaching them and positioning himself so that he stood between her and James.
"James was just leaving."
James shook his head, muttering under his breath about how he'd been done wrong. By Clarissa. And now by Eliza because she wouldn't listen.
"I'll call you a cab," Carter offered.
James cursed Carter and turned away but then staggered as he spun toward Eliza once more. "Really, Lizzie? Him? You make me sick."
"Watch it," Carter warned.
"Weren't you the one who always said you'd never date someone who racked up divorces like your parents?"
Divorces? What? Her gaze shifted to Carter and she waited for him to speak. To defend himself. Correct James. But he didn't. "James, you know nothing about Carter's life," she said. "If you're angry with me, be angry with me, but leave Carter and his family out of it."
James muttered more curses and stumbled his way toward the road. "Just like your family," he said, laughing and wagging a finger at her. "You'll be sorry you turned me down. You'll see."
Carter staredat Eliza's pale face and frozen expression and kicked himself for not taking Marsali's advice and coming clean about his past sooner. He'd told Marsali he wanted to, planned to, but needed to find the right time. And that night on the beach during their walk… he'd tried so hard to work up the courage, but every time he'd opened his mouth, he just couldn't do it. Now time had run out and Eliza had found out in the worst way possible.
"Come in, please," she said softly, avoiding his gaze. "I'd rather not risk my neighbors hearing any more of my personal life than they already have."
She left the door open, not waiting to see if he followed her or not.
Carter moved into the interior and shut the door behind him, locking it for safe measure in case James made a reappearance. Considering the man headed toward the main road toward some restaurants, Carter was pretty sure someone would spot his staggering walk and report him. Maybe a night in the drunk tank would do some good. Then again…
Carter turned and followed Eliza into her living room. He stared at her back, willing her to turn. Finally she did.
"What did James mean? Carter, is there something you haven't told me? Have you been married more than once?"
"Yeah." He grimaced and held up two fingers, wishing the sign meant peace instead of failure. He watched as Eliza struggled to contain her upset.
"So after hearing about my family and listening to me and Marsali in the pool talking about honesty in a relationship, you thought the best thing to do is lie to me?"
"I was going to tell you."
"When?" she countered.
"I don't know. Soon. I tried to at the beach but… Eliza, I wanted you to have time to really get to know me first."
She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, and Carter decided to own up to his reasons. "You're right. I heard you in the pool. I heard all of the rules and advice. I even read Marsali's book."
"And you still didn't tell me."
He nodded, staring into her eyes and hoping they could see into his soul. "Because I didn't want to lose you. Eliza, I listened to you describe your family and… I panicked. Okay? I've got two strikes against me, and I knew if you found out too soon, you'd never agree to see me again, even though the first time I saw you, I knew…"
"You knew… what?"
"That you were different. That you were the woman I've been searching for all of this time. I just… knew."
A huff left her, a mixture of surprise and disbelief and pain. She turned away from him, giving him her back once more.
"I talked to Lincoln," he said, knowing now that everything had to come out. "He said if I wanted a woman of quality—which you are—I had to bring quality to the table so you'd seeme,not my past."
She didn't comment.
He stared at her back, every muscle and bone rigid. "I planned to tell you, Eliza. I just wasn't sure of when."
