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Gallo was definitely a threat to her peace of mind, even if he had no intention of deliberately harming her. The man’s absolute certainty about marrying Trina was an unpleasant frustration. Like a sandspur he couldn’t pluck free.

As if becoming Mrs. Gallo was a done deal she only needed to accept. Why would her parents assume she’d cooperate? For that matter, why were they being so pushy about this at all? They should be proud of her accomplishments. Her independence and success should be celebrated. Why were they so sure she needed to marry to be happy?

Yes, the aunts and his mom had been applying some not-so-subtle pressure about him settling down, but they’d never do anything as drastic as send him prospective brides. There had been jokes about inviting eligible women to the family brunch, but they were only jokes.

Well, it wouldn’t be an issue for her much longer.

“You probably know all about the Inn, growing up in the area,” Trina said.

“A little,” he admitted. “Our parents brought us out here for beach weekends, but we’d rent a house.”

He didn’t mention the way he’d studied every facet of the Inn’s colorful history. The highs of celebrities booking quiet getaways here in the 1940s, followed by the sad years, when thebuilding sat empty and fell into disrepair. He let her tell him everything she’d learned as he drove to the airport, discovering those old stories anew through her enthusiasm.

“This is the last place I thought you’d land,” he said. “Back in school, I assumed you were destined for bigger places.”

She sighed. “Back in school, I assumed the same thing. And I’ve invested years in bigger operations.” She smoothed her palms over her thighs, around her knees and up again, lacing her fingers together in her lap. “Landing this job felt like winning a marathon after working all over Europe.”

“America was that important to your resume?”

“That would be a convenient answer,” she allowed. “I wasn’t ready to go home and…”

When her voice trailed off, he glanced over. He was sure her mind had drifted to Gallo. “Swim in the family pool?” he supplied.

She did a double take and then burst into laughter. “Yes, exactly that. I understand the importance of our business and the legacy my parents intend to live on for generations to come. Some days I feel guilty for wanting something for myself.”

He was shocked that they had that in common. Though he was completely content making his mark within the family through innovative planning and keeping an eye for smart expansion opportunities. The way his parents structured their business, there were plenty of challenges to keep him invested and interested. Unlike Trina, he didn’t feel smothered by expectation or responsibility.

“Do you ever feel that way?”

The tentative tone, so unlike her, caught him off guard. Then again everything about tonight was a steep learning curve. He glanced over, saw her hands still tightly woven in her lap. “You know it doesn’t bother me if you talk with your hands.”

“Pardon me?”

He started to reach for her and caught himself just in time. “Your hands.” He squeezed the steering wheel. “You’ve always been exuberant. It’s a compliment,” he added in a hurry. He decided to take a chance. If they were going to be married, it was best to be as candid as possible. He wanted her to be herself. “Lately it seems you’ve been trying to rein yourself in. You certainly don’t need to change that habit for me.”

He would bet his shares of the Ellington Cove that Bachelor One or Two had mentioned it. During his recent visits, he’d noticed her making an effort to dial it down. “You should never apologize for being yourself.”

“Who are you and what have you done with the real Rhett Ellington?” she asked on a burst of bold laughter. “You were always trying to boss me around when we were in school.”

He didn’t like the abrupt pinch in the vicinity of his heart. “I wasn’t trying to change who you were. If I gave you any grief,” there was noifabout it, “it was only in the pursuit of a win.”

She tapped a finger to the corner of her lush mouth. What he wouldn’t give to be that fingertip. Holy cow, he had to get a hold of himself.

“And yet you didn’t win.”

“Not one time. Not when I was up against you. You were impervious. A woman on a mission.”

“Impervious,” she echoed. “I like the sound of that. Are you bucking for an apology?”

“Hell no.”

She did that sexy humming thing again. “To be fair, I’m sure I was terribly obnoxious.”

“We both were,” he said. “We were motivated, then and now. For what it’s worth, I think that’s a bonus for both of us on this particular endeavor.”Marriage. He needed to getcomfortable with the word because it would define his life for the foreseeable future.

“How so?”

“With ambition and drive, the sky’s the limit.”