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Standing up to Luca, arranging for an impromptu wedding, insisting on an official marriage. The man was handling each detail with such decisiveness and compassion. She should probably have more to say about all of it, but she was too relieved.

Now that she’d had some time to consider, he was right about her parents. When they heard about the marriage, they would insist on seeing that everything was legal and in order or they would never be convinced.

Divorce might be an eventual scandal but that was future Trina’s problem. Anything was better than being married to Luca.

Closing her eyes, she coached herself to sleep. Tomorrow was certain to be another whirlwind of epic emotional proportions.

Chapter Eight

Rhett dida double take when Trina emerged from his bedroom the next morning. He’d had a rough night on the couch, knowing she was in his bed. So close and absolutely too far away.

He wanted to find an excuse to duck into his room and bury his face in her pillow.

The right move was to ignore that notion and any similar ideas. This wasn’t the right time to reveal his attraction and infatuation.

She didn’t make it easy. A little bleary-eyed, she still looked amazing in another curve hugging dress, this one in a red and pink print with a full skirt that stopped at her knees. Narrow sheer panels added tantalizing detail around the neckline. Her makeup was flawless and she’d gathered her hair up in a casual twist, a few curls loosely framing her face. Her feet were bare, strappy sandals dangling from one finger.

Thoughts and feelings had him jumbled up. He wanted to swoop in and kiss her rosy lips. Somehow, he managed to say good morning.

“Good morning.” She abruptly turned away, covering a yawn with her free hand.

“You didn’t sleep well?” He blamed himself for pushing too hard. “Should we take the day to rest?” They had some wiggle room in the schedule.

She waved off his concern. “I slept fine, thank you. Is there coffee?”

“Of course.” Bleary-eyed was better than scared, and a problem solved easily with caffeine. And though he was sure she still had doubts, she kept choosing this path with him over the marriage her parents were pushing. Silently, he vowed to make this as easy and romantic for her as possible.

“Would you prefer espresso?”

Everything about her seemed to lift with hope. Making her more beautiful still.

“You have espresso?”

He pointed to the machine just over his shoulder. “At your service.”

“Oh, yes please.”

“Coming right up.” He patted one of the counter stools. “Have a seat.”

While the machine did its thing he pulled two breakfast trays out of the warming oven and set them on the island in front of her.

Anticipation filled her big brown eyes. “That smells divine.”

“It should. It’s room service.” He winked.

She sighed. “Isn’t that one of the best things about hotel life?” she asked. “I do love to cook, but I enjoy it so much more when I have the time to do it right.”

“More lessons from your nonna?”

Her sudden smile struck him like a sunbeam. “I’m that obvious?”

“A lucky guess.” He served her the espresso and pouredplain black coffee for himself. They both caffeinated in a companionable silence for a few minutes.

“You want to share the agenda running through your head?” she asked. “I think I can follow along now.”

He didn’t bother denying it. Though he wondered how she read him so well. Cradling his coffee cup in both hands, he said, “If we take care of the marriage license first thing today, we have plenty of options to fit in sightseeing and wedding planning.”

“Makes sense,” she agreed.