“The media does have a way of mucking things up, don’t they?” Eliza asked while making a mental note to keep McKinney on her Alliance radar.įrom that encounter on, Carter attempted to stop Eliza from probing the personal life of the guests by asking about a man’s wife or a woman’s husband. McKinney tossed his head back and laughed. “McKinney might not have a stunning woman on his arm like you, Billings, but that doesn’t make him a bachelor.” “McKinney and I are the bachelors on the block.”

“Is your wife here, or does she stay away from these affairs?”Ĭarter nudged her side, and she nudged him back.Ĭarter kept the conversation light.

“That’s right.” He had a slight Irish lit to his voice. He lifted his drink to his lips and Eliza saw the gold band. Stenberg, a lawyer, probably in his sixties. Instead of letting Carter’s nearness distract her, Eliza attempted to remember the names and marital status of the people Carter was introducing her. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Gwen working the room. Within half an hour, her drink was gone and another one was in her hand.Ĭarter’s palm sat firmly on her back with his fingers often squeezing her side when one of the men in the group let his eyes linger on her cle**age for more than a second. He’d talk politics in depth at that time.Īs the conversation dried up, Carter moved Eliza to another set of people and repeated his introductions. Of course, if the men wanted to join him at a campaign function there was one planned at the end of the month to help raise funds. Carter told the others that they were attempting to enjoy a night off without deep debate. Very little politics were discussed and most of it only scratched the surface of the current events plaguing the state.

The men were polite and appeared enamored by anything Carter had to say. He didn’t elaborate on any details and derailed any personal questions about the two of them. Eliza Havens, this is…” Carter rolled of several names, all of which she should have remembered but promptly forgot.Ĭarter proudly stated that Eliza was part of a firm titled under acquisitions and mergers. “Gentlemen,” Carter interrupted the conversation. In fact, he moved even farther into Eliza’s personal space. When they arrived at a gathering of men drinking and laughing, Carter’s hand didn’t move. Walking away would have made a scene, so Eliza kept to his side and ignored the comfortable position of Carter’s fingers pressing against the small of her back. “I’m here for work,” she said as he directed her across the room. “C’mon, I have some people I want you to meet.” He managed to capture her around her waist and slid his hand to the small of her back.

Catherine bybee married by monday