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“That’s a load of crap.” It came out a whole lot meaner than intended.

But she didn’t flinch. She laughed. A big loud belly laugh that he didn’t know what to do with. Had to be a coping mechanism. “Did I say something funny?”

“I guess so,” she managed when she caught her breath.

She dropped down into the deep cushions of his couchand toed off her shoes. He tried not to dwell on those sweetly painted toenails. She was a study in contrasts. “Just because I haven’t, doesn’t mean I can’t.”

“True,” he allowed cautiously. He glanced at her work phone. “If that’s your choice, I’ll go back with you.”

“Rhett, please.” She rubbed her temples. “This is my mess. You tried to help, but it’s my job to go back and clean it up. I have to set the, ah, boundaries,” she finished with a snap of her fingers.

“You’re rattled,” he observed. “You never miss a word in English.”

“I’m frustrated that they won’t listen, yes,” she admitted.

He propped a hip on the big arm of the couch and watched her where she was tucked in on the opposite end. Hopefully, he looked more relaxed than he felt. He was strung tighter than a bow, looking for the best way to tackle what felt like a serious enemy.

“Do you trust me?”

She flung an arm wide. “I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Good. “Tell me how you would clean it up.” Did she realize she was twisting the opal engagement ring back and forth on her finger?

“I will go back and do what I should have done at the start. I will tell Luca to go home.” She nibbled on her lip. “I will make it clear that I’m not interested in marriage.” She sniffed. “After that, I will call my parents and tell them to stop. I don’t need them to arrange a marriage for me. I’m probably not mature enough for one anyway.”

“That last is another load of crap,” he muttered.

Her smile lit up the room. “I do like the way you call me out.”

“First time for everything.” Still, it made him happy to hear her say it.

She shrugged. “You’ve heard my plan. I’ll go book my ticket.”She started to rise, no doubt going for the cell phone on the counter.

“In a minute.” It was all he could do to sit still when he wanted to pull her into his arms. To use his body to convey the feelings he wasn’t sure he could safely put into words. Not the time for that test. “If going back is the right answer, we’ll go together.”

“You’ve done enough.”

He hadn’t even gotten started. “You shared your plan. Let me offer the counterpoint. First, if we skip the wedding, Ilsa would be crushed. The people here at the Cove looking forward to a party tomorrow night will be disappointed.”

“So have the party,” she suggested. “Celebrate the near miss.”

Did she have to be so contrary? “A wedding reception without a wedding or a bride. Huh.” He tipped his head to the side. “I’m sure it’s happened.”

“Definitely happened.” Trina smiled. “At a property I managed for a time.” Her eyes twinkled over the memory. “The party was quite lovely. Everybody had a delightful time and the hotel received a wave of positive reviews.”

“You have a way of finding a silver lining,” he murmured.

“My hidden talent.”

Not so hidden. She’d spun gold from straw for his family after a fire destroyed a chunk of their coastal resort in South Carolina, hosting the weekly Ellington family brunch at the Inn until their own space was rebuilt.

“To continue, I skimmed those messages from Gallo.” He lifted his chin toward the cell phone on the countertop. “I’m asking you to please, see this through. The wedding, the reception. Returning home with a husband in tow strengthens your position and will make it easier to set those boundaries.”

“Are you just being a man?”

“I sure as hell hope so.” Restless, he shoved to his feet.Started pacing. “You know Gallo better than I do, but I don’t think you should face him alone. Definitely not alone and single.”

She shivered.