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“She didn’t seem so keen on talking to you. And we’re headed out. So… Bye.” He pasted a patently false smile on his face and waved.

“Who are you to her?”

“I don’t believe that’s any of your business.” He didn’t bother with any posturing, simply held his position there in front of Trina’s door. “You need to leave this hallway. Now.”

Gallo took a slow step back, then another, headed for the stairwell.

“Mr. Gallo?”

He glanced back over his shoulder. “Yes?”

“Donotreturn without a direct invitation.”

Gallo’s dark eyes flashed with temper and then he stormed off.

Rhett knew the reprieve wouldn’t last. The man was slick and way too sure of his success. They needed to move quickly if they were going to outmaneuver him.

He rapped softly on the door. “Just me. I’m alone.”

Chapter Four

Trina’s heart was pounding.She’d listened to the entire exchange. Now that Rhett was alone, she yanked open the door and hauled him inside. Once the locks were secure, she leaned back and stared at him. Part of her wanted to throw her arms around him and hug him, the other part wanted to stay curled up in a ball.

“I can’t believe you did that.” A flash of temper shook her. “Can’t believe my mom told him where to find me.”

“You’re welcome?” Rhett stood there, hands in his pockets, watching her too closely.

“Yes, thank you.” She pushed away from the door, sliding around him. “I’m being ridiculous.”

“Were you afraid for me?”

Was he smirking? She couldn’t be upset, he’d earned it. If only it were that simple. “Not really.” She waved a hand at him. “Look at you. You can clearly hold your own. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize. He upsets you and he’s a jerk for not backing off.”

“Yes and no.” She grabbed her water glass and went to the kitchen for a refill. “He doesn’t really knowhow much he upsets me. I haven’t seen him in years.” Because she did her best to avoid any chance of an interaction.

But what now? Luca had actually done it. He’d come all this way to… Marry her. “He really said it.” The glass fell from her fingers to the tile floor and shattered. She swore as shards of glass and cold water went everywhere.

“Hold still,” Rhett directed.

As if she had the capacity to move. Nothing about this was right. The broken glass was the least of it. This washerlife.

Angry tears threatened again. She had to pull herself together. Had to get out of here, though she didn’t want to change jobs. The Inn was perfect, she’d made real friends.

She’d listened at the door. Luca didn’t sound as if he’d be easily dissuaded.

It dawned on her that Rhett had found a broom and paper towels and was handling the mess as if he really lived here. “Sorry. I should do that. I can.”

“Stop apologizing.” Crouched at her feet, he glanced up. “Of course you can, but I’m almost done.”

Her emotions had dragged her up and down over the last few hours. Rhett was being a friend when she needed one. “Thanks. Wh-why would they give their blessing?”

Standing, he carried the mess to the trash can and dumped it in, the broken glass tinkling. After another pass with the vacuum cleaner, he said, “Stay put. You’ve got a couple of scratches.”

She glanced down, too lost in her tumultuous thoughts to have noticed. The bleeding wasn’t severe, but enough to track over the floor if she tried to get to the first aid kit on her own. Stubbornness was no reason to make more work for either of them. “Mounted to the inside of the pantry door,” she said, pointing.

He found it easily enough and slipped the kit out of the bracket. “This is a smart idea.”