“We assume Eliza told you why she needs the dog.”

“She told me.”

“Did she tell her friend, Mrs. Harrison?”

“Samantha is Eliza’s best friend. What do you think?”

Again, the two cops looked at each other.

“Do you know if Mrs. Harrison has any connection to her father?” Jim asked.

“The one in prison?” Carter hadn’t seen the question coming.

“Yes.”

“They’ve been estranged since his conviction according to Blake. Why?”

When Jim glanced over to his partner again, Carter waved a hand between the two of them. “Why?” he demanded.

“Mrs. Harrison’s father is jailed in the same place as the man responsible for Eliza’s parents’ death.”

“Sam has nothing to do with her dad. I don’t see how this is a problem.”

“Just because Samantha doesn’t want anything to do with her father, doesn’t mean her father isn’t interested in what is happening with his daughter. We know for a fact that wedding photos have made their way into Mr. Elliot’s cell. Can you see where this is going, counselor?”

Carter’s pulse leapt and he felt an uncharacteristic urge to scratch his palms. “Eliza was a child when her parents were murdered.” Even as Carter voiced the words, he knew these men would shatter any hope he had of their fears being for nothing.

Dean opened a folder he’d brought into the room and handed Carter a photograph. In it was a woman who looked exactly like Eliza snuggled next to a robust man in his forties. Beside them was a young girl with her dark hair in a ponytail and a missing tooth within her silly smile.

“Not only does Eliza look like her late mother, she sounds like her too.”

Carter ran his finger over the photograph. Eliza was a beautiful girl, even then.

“If Eliza insists on staying in her current life, she has to be better protected.”

Carter’s mind was twirling. He hardly registered the noise beyond the door of their conference room until it opened and a familiar furry face walked in.

“This had better be good,” Eliza walked beside Zod and stopped talking when she noticed Carter sitting in the room. “What are you doing here?”

“We asked him to come,” Dean said, closing the door behind her. He gave the dog a pet and pulled out a chair.

Carter stood and gravitated closer to Eliza. Her dark hair slid over one shoulder and looked like silk. He reached for her hand and linked his fingers with hers. The itchy palms faded with her touch.

“What’s going on?” Eliza’s cocky smile faded as she looked at the expressions in the room. “What happened?”

“Nothing…not yet,” Jim said.

Dean tucked his hands in his pockets. “You need tighter security.”

“Why? Cujo here is doing a great job.”

“Only if he’s with you. I’m told you leave home without him.”

Eliza glared at Carter, and he knew what a snitch felt like after getting caught by his friends.

“Big scary dogs with huge teeth and biting tendencies aren’t welcome in many places.”

“Which is why you need a bodyguard.”

“I have a killer security system and a roommate with good aim. I think I’m good.” In all her tough talk, Carter felt her damp palm squeeze his.

“It’s not enough.”

Eliza was shaking her head, and Carter felt her denial before she could say the words. “I’m not going to have someone tagging around behind me, Dean.”

“What about me?” Carter asked.

“Don’t you have an office to get into? You can’t be my personal bodyguard.”

The hell I can’t.

“It’s a bodyguard or you have to disappear,” Dean’s tone shifted from informative to direct. “This isn’t a joke.”

Eliza shook her head.

“Dammit, Eliza!” Dean yelled. Everyone jumped, even the dog.

Carter let her hand go and stood in front of the other two men. “I need a minute alone with her.”

Jim stood and made to exit the room.

Dean glared. “Fine, but think about this before you say no again.” He pointed a finger at her. “Your picture was found in Ricardo’s cell.”

Dean slammed out of the room with Jim in tow.

When Carter turned around, Eliza’s face had grown white. Her eyes glossed over, and she didn’t look at him when he knelt beside her. He grasped both her hands in his and held tight.

“Is he lying?” she asked.

Carter couldn’t be sure, but Dean’s words were floating around in her head and making her think. “Why would he?”

“To get his way.”

“Dean seems to care about what happens to you. I don’t think he’d lie to make you bend to his will.”

She blew out a long-suffering sigh and squeezed her eyes shut. “Damn,” she whispered under her breath.

To Carter, the key to fixing the problem was simple. All he had to do was convince Eliza.

“I have the perfect solution.”

“An underground bunker in New Mexico?”

He was already on his knee so he took a chance. “Marry me.”

Her eyes sprung open. “Haven’t we been over this before?”

It wasn’t a no.

“Sure, but that was to help me get into office. Now it’s to protect you from a crazy man who is responsible for your parent’s deaths. We can take care of both our problems with one signature.”

Eliza’s eyes took on a softer edge. “Getting married will screw up your love life with other women.”

She still hadn’t said no. Carter’s palms went damp.

“The lady I’m currently dating won’t think I’m cheating on her.”

Eliza gave a painful smile. “You’re out of town all the time. How can you be my bodyguard?”

“As my wife, I can arrange security fit for the president.”

“I don’t know…”

“Is it me? I thought we were doing rather well. Didn’t you like the flowers?”

“I loved the flowers.”

“My skills with the crab fork turned you off?”

She was laughing now…and not saying no.

“We’re talking marriage.”

“Your best friend and mine married for more trite reasons, and it turned out okay. I don’t want to have you disappear in that New Mexico bunker. I’m still owed the lobster dinner…remember?”