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“Mm-hm. Yes?”

Had her voice cracked? Where was she? “Um, yeah.” He cleared his throat. “I just wanted to check on you. No one seemed to know where you went.”

“You… What?” Her voice trailed off.

He couldn’t blame her for being confused. His concern didn’t make sense to him either. They weren’t friends, but lately he’d been trying to get along better for his sister’s sake. As their interactions grew, he found himself increasingly eager for the next time he’d see her. It was the strangest thing and not entirely comfortable to discover Trina was a fascinating woman and an expert in her field.

In the brief silence while he floundered for a reasonable reply, the rhythmic pulse of the waves meeting the shore registered. What was she doing out on the beach in the dark?

“Forgive me for disappearing,” she said, her tone way too formal now. “I got a call. Family. I’ll send the girls a text and let them know I’m okay. Thanks for checking in, Rhett.”

He looked around. Like so many places on the island, the Pelican Pub wasn’t far from beach access.

“You’re not okay.” He got out of his car and locked the door. “Where are you?”

“I beg your pardon.”

The prim, indignant tone in her voice should have warned him off. She was an adult. Her displeasure didn’t put him off, he’d adjusted to it during their year of study in France. All they’d done was irritate and annoy each other.

“What’s going on, Trina?”

“That’s really not your business.” She sniffed. “It’s a personal issue. Thank you for checking on me. Good night.”

He stared at his phone. Swore. She’d ended the call.

Challenge accepted.

He glanced around, having no idea what kind of car she drove. For all he knew, she’d walked over from the Inn. He scowled. The streets were too dark at this hour for that kind of nonsense. Combined with the strappy little sandals she’d worn tonight, he dismissed the idea. Those weren’t walking shoes.

And he should not have any ideas about Trina’s footwear. She was not a friend. And though she helped his family, she wasnotfamily. Unless Harper had designs on adopting her, the way she had seamlessly folded her college roommates, Hannah and Sonya, into the Ellington family. He closed his eyes for a beat.

Those two women were definitely his sisters after more than a decade of sharing Christmases, countless brunches, and dozens of other events through the years. Something deepinside him rebelled at the idea of Trina joining their ranks. Now wasn’t the time for a deep analysis ofthatfeeling.

Pushed by a persistent concern, he was jogging by the time he reached the nearest beach access and the boardwalk that spanned the dunes.

His feet sunk into the soft sand and he looked right and left. And then he spotted her, several yards away. She stood at the water’s edge, facing the dark waves under the glow of a pink moon.

Chapter Two

Trina was doingher best not to add her own tears to the ocean of saltwater lapping at her bare feet. Crying wouldn’t change anything. Her problems would still be looming over her head and she’d have puffy eyes and a headache to make matters worse.

Besides, she wasn’t sad. She was one of those people who teared up when her temper got the best of her. It had taken years of deliberate effort to gain the self-control necessary to overcome the reaction. But she’d done it—gladly—to become the kind of manager a hotel staff could trust to stay cool under pressure.

Professionally, she was a rock. Most days she’d say the same about her personal life. Her parents however, were stubbornly set on an outdated view of their daughter. They regularly praised her beauty and critiqued her uneven emotions. Of course, they hadn’t spent much time with her since her year studying in France led to more opportunities to work around the world.

She nearly stamped her foot thinking about the last time she had a tantrum. Doing so would actually be a tantrum,ending a streak she’d carried for over a decade. Not that anyone else would know.

No one was out here to witness her meltdown. She wished that made her feel better or safe enough to indulge. This was a public beach in the town where she worked. In the town where she wanted to stay for many, many years.

Brookwell was home and she loved it. Adored the job, the people, and her lovely new friends. Reconnecting with Harper had been a particular high point. She twisted her foot into the wet sand—not a stomp. She would not be giving up any of it, regardless of her parents outrageous interference in her life.

How to make them understand?

Her parents didn’t seem to remember that she had gone away to school in France and aced the program. She’d run circles around her peers—excellent students all. Including Rhett Ellington. Her stellar reputation continued to grow and open more doors. She wasn’t ready to give that up in the name of marriage and motherhood.

Especially when there wasn’t a significant other on the horizon, much less in her life.

Her single status somehow fueled their persistent effort to marry her off to a man of their choosing. Someone to father babies they could dote on and spoil rotten.