“So, they still think the two of you are seeing each other?” Eliza nibbled on her cookie and wished she could see a video of Sedgwick’s greedy grandchildren.

“Yes. Stanly is having a grand time duping his heirs. And my Aunt is coaching him on what to say to get under their skin.” Humor filled Karen’s eyes as she spoke. She obviously got as much out of this crazy arrangement as the older couple did.

“How long do you think you can keep this up?”

Karen shrugged. “A little while. I make a point of leaving the two of them alone. My guess is Stanly will eventually relieve his kids and grandchildren of their worry. Although him having a young woman in his life might seem the bigger evil, they haven’t met Aunt Edie.”

“I want an invitation to the wedding,” Eliza said.

“It’s a little soon for that, but don’t worry.”

After a few minutes of wedding talk and how to throw a bachelorette party for Edie, Karen changed the subject.

“Other than the update on the happy couple, why did you ask me to what I assume is a business lunch?”

Eliza glanced at Samantha and Gwen. “Sam and I have been talking. I’m at a crossroads right now, and we think I need to back away from the daily running of Alliance.”

Gwen sighed. “Are you sure?”

“It wasn’t like when Blake and I married. A wealthy businessman here in the States is expected to go through whatever it takes to find the right bride. But Carter’s life and Eliza’s is being scrutinized and anything will be used against them. If, by chance, Carter isn’t elected then maybe that will fade.”

Eliza interrupted Samantha. “But if that doesn’t happen and a tabloid finds I’m still running a bride for hire service it wouldn’t reflect well. Especially with the institute of marriage up for debate at nearly every election.”

“I’m sure that’s true,” Karen said. “But it doesn’t answer the question of why I’m here.”

“We need help.” Eliza smiled at Karen as she spoke. “Gwen has done a great job keeping it all together. Samantha helps where she can. But, between Eddie and her responsibilities here and in Europe, time isn’t plentiful. We wanted to know if you’d be interested in a job.”

Karen fiddled with her necklace. “I have a job.”

“But this one would be more flexible. You’d have more time to help the kids.” Karen spent her off time volunteering at local youth groups mentoring needy kids. “You already understand what we do and, most importantly for us, we trust you. We can easily match your salary with a raise.”

Samantha paused and Eliza waited for a reaction from Karen.

“I’m listening.”

Eliza relaxed in her chair and let Samantha explain what they needed and would expect. By the time she finished, Karen was nodding and trying to hide a smile.

“Well, what do you think?”

Karen sighed and didn’t hesitate. “I need to give notice at the nursing home.”

Gwen clapped her hands together two times. “Oh, super. You’ll adore working at Alliance.”

Part of Eliza regretted having to step away from her job. She’d still be around to help, but all paper ties would sever.

They spent the next hour bringing Karen up to date on a few of the active clients, those for whom they still needed to find the perfect companion. Of course, Karen happened to be one of them and she made a point of insisting she wanted first dibs on the perfect groom.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Carter arrived home before Eliza with take out from The Villa. The tucked away Tuscan restaurant had been a hit with Eliza when he introduced it to her shortly after they married. If it wasn’t for takeout, Carter would have died of hunger years ago.

He slid around Zod who sniffed the aromatic bag and barked in welcome. “What are you barking at? You won’t eat it anyway.” Stupid dog. As much as he tried to get the dog to cheat, the four-legged K-9 wanted nothing to do with table scraps.

Carter clicked on the kitchen light and set the bags on the counter. He wanted to make the night special for Eliza. She resigned from Alliance today, and he knew she wouldn’t be happy about it.

He walked into the den and turned on the radio. En route back to the kitchen, he found a half-eaten stiletto at the side of the couch. “Zod!” he yelled for the dog.

Zod ran to his side and barked, oblivious to the trouble he was in.

Carter waved the shoe in the air and scolded the animal. “I’m tempted to beat you with this. Bad dog!”

Zod barked twice more.

“How am I going to advocate that you stay with us if you keep dining on her shoes?”

The animal sat and rolled his tongue out of his mouth. Carter swore the dog smiled behind his elongated chin and sharp teeth.

“Bad dog,” he said one more time before walking way.

Carter took the shoe to the side yard and buried it in the trashcan. He didn’t want Eliza to see it. Maybe she’d forget about the shoes, and think Zod had kicked the habit. As it was, Eliza had been pretty good about using the high rack in the closet for her footwear. This one must have slipped her mind. Or maybe she was in a rush when she left. Either way, Carter wasn’t going to announce the dog’s obstinate behavior.

He managed to set the table and light a candle before he heard the chime indicating that a car was coming up the drive. A security monitor in the kitchen kicked on and Carter recognized the car as theirs.

Shortly after Eliza’s car, the second security guard drove behind them. He heard the front door open and voices.

Russell, the security guard who escorted Eliza more often than not, bid her goodnight in the hall. By the time she walked into the kitchen, the guard had slipped away. Carter never forgot they were there, but they did a great job of staying in the background.

“What smells so good?” Eliza asked as she walked into the room.

“That would be the spicy chicken pasta, light on the sauce.”

Carter finished pouring the sparkling wine into a glass while she sat her purse on the counter. “What’s the occasion?” she asked as he handed her the tall flute and clicked it together with his.

“Do we need an occasion?” He gave her a brief kiss before she could answer. He liked this… The domestic bliss between them. He kissed her when he came home and before he left. They would text each other a few times during the day, and those small things felt perfectly right. There was nothing clingy about Eliza, nothing that pulled on his nerves. She adjusted to her new life better than he thought she would.