Married by Monday (The Weekday Brides #2)(24)
Author: Catherine Bybee

She hadn’t run. Yet Carter knew she wanted to. He wasn’t positive why she stayed, but he would do his best to keep her rooted in her new life.

Zod grew bored with the world outside the car window and settled into the passenger seat of Carter’s car. The K-9 rested his head on the armrest between them and his cold, wet nose brushed against Carter’s dress shirt. “What do you know about police dogs?”

“As much as the next cop who doesn’t work with them, why?”

A car behind him honked when he didn’t notice the light at the intersection had turned green. Zod’s eyebrows pitched, but the animal didn’t lift his head.

“I have one staring at me right now. A present from Eliza’s friends at the station.”

Roger blew out a long-winded whistle. “No shit?”

“No shit!”

“That’s huge, Carter. You need to be careful.”

It wasn’t himself he was worried about. “The dog isn’t for me.”

“I gathered that. If the cops want one of their own with your girlfriend, they believe there is a viable threat. Criminals don’t care who’s caught in the crossfire.”

Carter turned off the overcrowded Pacific Coast Highway en route to his best friend’s estate. “I know the score, Roger. What I don’t know is how to speak German to a dog. I need some direction here.”

“You’re in the car, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll have to call you back. Wouldn’t want Fido to misfire.” Roger laughed over the line.

“His name is Zod.”

Roger laughed harder. “Who says cops don’t have a sense of humor?”

Carter rolled up to the gate and used the remote access he had to the estate. He waved at the cameras as the gate slowly opened to let him pass.

“Gotta go,” Carter told his friend. “I’ll call you later.”

“Be careful, governor.”

As Carter clicked off the call, he remembered his campaign and realized how quickly he’d forgotten about it during his concern for Eliza. His gaze shifted to his beautiful distraction’s car parked in the driveway. He smiled at the thought of seeing her again and felt his gut warm. He missed her.

The question was…did she miss him?

Zod strolled along beside him as he walked up the steps to the house and sat when Carter reached the door. One of the housekeepers let him in and only gave the dog a passing glance.

Carter considered leaving Zod outside but decided against it when he saw a gardener walk around the house. Even though he used the leash, Zod stuck to Carter’s side and moved when he did. Smart.

The housekeeper directed Carter toward the family room. Already he could hear Eliza’s voice mixed with Gwen and Samantha’s. The women were laughing. Something Carter had forgotten about doing for the past few weeks.

Gravity shifted and suddenly he felt very tired. He rubbed a hand over his face before he faced the women.

“Mrs. Harrison?” the maid called into the room. “Mr. Billing’s is here.”

Samantha darted her gaze to the door, which Carter caught, then his eyes found Eliza and stayed there. Their eyes locked. She appeared drawn, exhausted.

He knew the feeling. “Hey,” he managed before Gwen shoved out of the chair and walked toward him.

“Carter?” She wrapped her arms around him and kissed both his cheeks before dropping to her knee to address the dog.

A play of emotions crossed Eliza’s face. He supposed his own face mimicked hers. Part hesitation, part excitement. The last time they’d seen each other he’d all but molested her. Okay, he had…not that she’d minded. Still, it met with the question of how he should act now. Carter guessed it would be best to follow the woman’s lead with a room full of spectators.

“Who’s this?” Gwen asked, oblivious to the emotions rolling inside Carter.

“A gift,” Carter managed, his eyes never leaving Eliza’s dark, questioning gaze.

“A gift?”

Eliza blinked a couple of times and dipped her focus to Zod. She sucked in a deep breath, and the smile she’d worn as he’d stepped into the room faded.

“For Eliza.”

Eliza shook her head and pivoted on her heel.

Samantha joined Gwen and let Zod sniff her hand. “So you know,” Sam said.

Eliza glanced over her shoulder…and waited.

“I know what?” Carter asked.

Sam glanced up from her crouched position next to the animal and stared at Carter. A brief look to her best friend, and Samantha asked, “What’s his name?”

“Zod.”

Gwen started to laugh, and Eliza shook her head all the while her back was turned away from the room.

“Zod?”

The dog barked a few times at the sound of his name. “Don’t look at me,” Carter said. “I didn’t name him.”

“If you didn’t, then who did?” Gwen asked.

Samantha twisted toward Eliza who refused to look at them. Then he glanced at Gwen’s confused expression.

“Sam,” Carter started. “Would you…could you and Gwen take Zod so I can talk with Eliza alone for a minute? He could use some water…or something.”

Sam took the hint and reached for the leash. “Sure. C’mon, Gwen.”

Thankfully, Gwen and Sam left the room without question, both chatting as they walked away. Once they were gone, he waited for some outward sign that Eliza knew he was standing there waiting for her to do something…anything.

“I don’t want him,” she finally spoke.

Not, I’m not taking him. Not, I want you to take him back.

“Apparently you need him.”

She blew out a quick breath. “Don’t try and pretend you don’t know why.”

She still wasn’t looking at him. Her back was so stiff it must have hurt. She appeared ready to run. Bolt out of the room at the first sign of trouble.

“I know two things,” Carter started. “A couple of your friends I met the other day asked me to give you the dog.”

She kept shaking her head. “And the second thing?”

“That the police are trying to protect you.” He left out that he had discovered she was probably a part of the witness relocation program—hoping she would volunteer that information. “I’m not sure why, Eliza.”

Carter took a chance and walked closer. When he was a foot away, he lowered his voice. “What’s going on?” he nearly whispered in her ear.