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“He scares you.” He held up a hand. “Don’t even try to deny it. I saw your face.”

“Yes. But that’s in the past. I’m an adult.”

“Adults can be scared,” he allowed. At the moment, he was scared she’d shut him out when she needed him most. “This is an opportunity to be smart about how you handle that fear.”

Her deep eyes were locked on him. “I’m listening.”

He didn’t linger on the quick win. “Remember, I’ve known you for some time. If it were as easy as telling him no or telling your parents to back off, you wouldn’t be in this predicament. Either you like the drama?—”

Her brows snapped together. “Absolutely not.”

“Didn’t think so. So you need some backup to get through this.”

Her shoulders slumped and she curled in on herself. “So you want me to stay.”

So. Much.“Yes. I want you to stay. I want us to get married. To celebrate at the reception.” Because he intended for a slew of wedding pictures to blow up on social media before they returned to Brookwell.

She might not like his tactics but she would thank him later. With any luck at all, the social proof would send Gallo running back to Italy in shame.

There was a serious problem in their past. One he wasn’t thrilled to dwell on, as his imagination tended toward dark and ugly explanations. He still hoped that when she finally told him the whole story it wouldn’t be nearly as bad as he feared.

“And then I’ll stay with you, in Brookwell, as your husband.”

“Hm.”

That sound was way too sexy and she had no idea how it fired him up. If she ever learned, she’d have a giant advantage in their relationship.

“I have one additional request,” he said. At her nod, he continued, “I’d like to dig a little deeper into Gallo’s intentions. You haven’t read the messages, but the tone worries me.”

“Now you are just being a man.” She flicked away his concern. “There’s no reason for jealousy.”

“I know that,” he said, teeth clenched. “I’m asking, Trina. But I might not wait for actual permission.”

Her lips parted and her eyes filled with worry once again. “The tone is that bad?” she whispered.

“In my opinion, yes. If I could do some digging, it’s likely to put my mind at ease.” That was as close as he’d come to lying to her. Because he planned to have Max send the information to the Guardian Agency research team for analysis. They were probably already getting started. Thanks to their partnership with the Ellington properties, security concerns were addressed immediately. If they cleared Gallo’s actions as nonsense, he’d let it go. Though he wouldn’t let her face the man alone. Never again.

“All right. But I have one condition,” she added before he could celebrate.

She walked over until she stood right in front of him, chin lifted. He admired that edge of determination, the glint in her dark eyes. “Tell me what’s in it for you. The truth.”

He was pretty sure the full scope of his truth would scare her. He would need to tiptoe carefully down this path. He was invested in this course to protect her, yes. But he also craved the right to touch her, to wind his fingers through her silky curls and taste her full lips. To breathe her in and feel her soft curves and warm skin against his body.

Of course, that wasn’t at all the relationship they were talking about. Still, he was pretty sure it would be enough for him just to be the person she needed in laughter or fight. He’d been searching for so long for a worthy focus outside of himself and the business that demanded so much of his time.

Trina was that worthy focus. Even if they never managed a traditional marriage, he was confident they could create something special.

“Rhett?” she prompted. “Is the truth so difficult?”

“No. There’s so much, I don’t know where to start,” he replied. “The truth is Iamattracted to you. Have been from the start.”

She wrinkled her nose. “What nonsense. I must’ve been eight when we met.”

He rolled his eyes. “Okay, maybe not from thestart.” He tried to laugh it off. Tried to hide how deeply she affected him. “I meant in school.”

“No, no.” She folded her arms over her chest. “You hated me when we were in France.”

“Well, you weren’t too fond of me either,” he reminded her.