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“Hm. What do you have in mind?”

She scrambled for a viable idea. “Could I shadow your wedding consultant for a few days?” she asked, sticking with the theme of the night. “Brainstorm with her a bit?”

In the deeper shadows away from the moonlight, it was hard to read his expression, but she felt a shift and his tension was palpable. “You want to hide from Bachelor Number Three,” Rhett guessed. “It’s that or steal my wedding coordinator.”

“I’m not about to poach your staff.” But she absolutely wanted to hide. “And it’s only a little hiding.” She downplayed the truth. “It’s not his fault my parents have convinced anyone who will listen that I’m eager to marry and balance out my life.”

Rhett mumbled an oath. “He’s at fault if he shows up only to fulfill their scheme.”

“Are you defending me?” Surprising, considering how little he thought of her. If only his oddly phrased question earlier hadn’t left her yearning for a real proposal. From Rhett or any other decent man.

“I guess I am.” He grinned at her, the expression sounexpected her heart tripped and thudded in her chest. “A surprise to both of us, all things considered.”

His candid assessment made her laugh. “I was never trying to embarrass you in France,” she said.

“Spare me the kind thoughts and gushing praise. You are the most competitive creature I’ve ever met.”

“That can’t be true,” she protested. “You grew up with Harper.”

He snorted. “Compared to you, she’s downright agreeable.”

“Ha, ha.”

“Seriously Trina, you earned every win,” he said. “I didn’t like it and I was a sore loser, but you were the one who came up with creative solutions every single time.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, overcome by his candor. Hard memories and painful emotions swamped her. Losing would’ve meant going back home. Although she hadn’t been able to articulate it at the time, that kind of failure would have destroyed her.

She went above and beyond in the internship to give herself better opportunities. Winning in France granted an immediate reprieve as she moved into an elite position in London. She leap-frogged from London to post after post, returning home for the shortest possible breaks, until she landed here.

“I really love this job,” she said, wistful. “If my parents manage to send over someone I want to marry, I’ll have to leave this behind.”

The awareness dragged at her, melancholy threatening to set in with every heavy beat of her heart. It felt like a crime against herself. It definitely went against her professional goals.

“There’s no chance one of the good Italian boys will support your career goals?”

She appreciated the concern, even if it did come fromRhett. “It’s a longshot. The goal is to get me back into the nest. Anyone who might be open to my plans wouldn’t mention it. Why risk a free trip to the States?”

“You don’t believe any of them are truly interested in you?”

She shook her head. “Not a chance. Put yourself in their shoes. A wealthy couple with a single daughter is willing to pay for your trip across an ocean. They can’t help but be in it for free travel at the very least. No one’s coming because they know me or wantme.”

Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. Luca would show up soon, but the man didn’t know her at all. Especially not after so many years.

“You make a fair point.” Rhett’s voice rumbled over her skin. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do.”

So did she. “You’re headed back to Key West soon, right?

“In a few days.”

She sensed he was restless, though she didn’t know the cause. “Is there a problem you’re avoiding?”

“No, of course not. The Cove is great. Family is great. The properties here are great.”

“Then why do you sound miserable?”

He rolled his broad shoulders and even in the moonlight the movement affected her, making her warm in places she shouldn’t think about in public. Although, right here, they were entirely alone. The ocean was still louder than the ambient sounds of island life. It was easy to forget herself and she was liking that anonymity a bit too much.

“Maybe your mood’s rubbing off on me.”