Page 10 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)

Chapter Seven

Trina felt terrible for yawning as they prepared for take-off. Since rushing her out of the Inn, before that really, Rhett had taken charge in a way that surprised her.

Which was dreadfully unfair to him.

She’d been viewing him through an old lens—from their days as college kids striving to top the competition.

Logically, she’d known that the brash, impulsive Rhett Ellington wouldn’t have been entrusted with a property like the Cove in Key West. And yet, seeing him more frequently around Brookwell, she’d done her best to keep him in that box.

Building a wall around herself to block out any fond feelings or potential friendship was her safest choice. She didn’t want to like him. Had been perfectly content to keep him at arm’s length.

That plan had gone up in smoke.

He was the last person she might’ve dared to ask for help. And yet now she couldn’t see a way out that didn’t involve him.

“If you’re tired you can sleep,” Rhett said. He pointed to another pair of luxurious seats just past the wing. “Those chairs recline to zero gravity. They keep blankets and pillows on board.”

A nap sounded delightful. She was wired and worn out from the emotional churning of the past few hours. “How long is the flight?”

“Just under two hours.” He ducked his head as he fastened his seatbelt.

She couldn’t quite take her eyes off him. His blond hair gleamed under the cabin lights and his hands, strong and sure, captivated her. “I’d rather sit with you.” Taking the facing seat, she secured her own seatbelt.

He smiled. “How long has it been since you’ve taken a charter?”

She had to think. “A couple of years.” She’d gone home for a Christmas holiday and cut the trip short when Luca had been invited as well. “It’s easy to get used to such a comfortable way to travel.”

“No kidding,” Rhett agreed. “Your dad flies himself quite a bit, doesn’t he?”

She grinned, thinking of her father’s joy when he was in the air. “Small planes in Europe, yes. It’s a hobby that keeps him young. He can be obnoxious about it sometimes,” she added.

Rhett’s soft laugh smoothed out her nerves. He was so good at that. Smoothing her out, keeping her calm.

“I bet being a pilot impresses your mom.”

Trina grinned. “You’re right about that.

He had his pilot’s license when they met.

I’ve heard them joke that she only married him for the convenient travel options.

” She felt like a heel for implying her mother had been so mercenary.

“Of course it’s not just that. They have a strong relationship and really do love each other. ”

“And they love you too,” Rhett reminded her .

“Mm-hm. As your sister often says, I do know how lucky I am.”

Which made it all the more inexplicable that she’d never been completely honest with them about her career or her personal choices.

Forging her own path, to hell with the wounds she left behind, had seemed like the most proactive option.

The most positive as well. Leaving made it easier to keep the peace in her hometown where her parents had to live and work.

None of it felt easy now.

She’d invested in therapy and was proud of the progress that allowed her to push forward with confidence in her career. Most days she didn’t even think about the past or the unpleasant incident that sent her fleeing her home and the career her parents had mapped out for her.

She supposed she owed Luca an awkward thank-you. Without his assumption that they were so good together and meant to be, she might not have broken free to find the place where she felt one-hundred percent herself.

The flight attendant came by to check on them. “We’ll be in the air shortly.” She was trim and beautiful, with thick salt-and-pepper hair styled into a sleek bun at the nape of her neck. “Would you like a drink or refreshments?”

“Ask for anything,” Rhett encouraged. “Odds are they’ve got it on board.”

Too nervous to eat, Trina requested sparkling water. Rhett matched her order.

Once they were in the air and the water served, Trina attempted a regular, friendly conversation. “You commute this way a lot?”

He dipped his chin. “Often. With respect to the admin budget,” he said. “Now that Harper’s planning the wedding, I’m spending more time up here. Driving would take the better part of two days. ”

“I didn’t think about that.” She rarely thought about travel times, keeping her focus on the Inn and surrounding area. One day, she hoped to travel more and explore the States, but she told herself there was plenty of time for that.

“You’ll see how removed Key West is once we’re there.” He smiled at her. “No one will bat an eye about my commuting periodically. Unless Harper wants to trade properties.” He paused, considering. “She and Knox might enjoy that, actually.”

“Is that something that happens?” As an only child, she couldn’t comprehend that kind of option. She deferred to her parents, following their advice and expectations, for most of her life. They were so used to her cooperation with their plans, they struggled as she tried to carve out her own path.

“Well, it’s an option. Though we’ve never done it, I like to tease her. She loves this part of the country and I’ve always enjoyed going further afield. So it works out.”

“What about when the Ellington holdings expand?”

He shrugged. “We’ll figure it out. I hope we expand, at a smart pace.”

“Your drive and ambition are showing,” she said. Both characteristics looked good on him. There was a glint in his eyes and she was learning it was an indicator of a brainstorm. It was easy to see why his family called him the idea guy.

“Good.” Another smile, this one setting her heart fluttering.

The flight attendant checked in on them, shared the expected arrival time, and left them to their conversation.

“Thank you again.” She loved to fly and normally she’d be completely at ease. Tonight’s flight carried too much emotional baggage. She owed him a better explanation, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to talk about it. “I still can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“Believe it.” He pulled out his phone and whatever message he was reading put a smile on his face. “Things are already in motion. Ilsa has us scheduled for a consult first thing tomorrow morning.” He set the phone aside. “Well, second thing.”

She felt that flutter fall from her heart to her belly. “Second thing?” she echoed. What did he have in mind?

“First, we’ll get our marriage license, and then Ilsa will walk us through our options for the wedding itself.”

“A marriage license?” The butterflies were drowned out by her heart hammering against her ribs. “I thought we were, um…” She glanced around. “Pretending,” she whispered. “Faking it.”

She’d thought they were creating an arrangement they could end easily when the time was right. Yes, he’d mentioned divorce, but she’d figured it was merely the simplest term for what would happen. If they married, legally, that changed things.

Or did it? Her parents would be upset no matter what route she took that didn’t include Luca or another man of their choosing.

“Hey, relax.” He sat forward. “I’ve been making calls, putting things in motion. I think it’s best if we make it as real as possible.”

“Right.” She knew that. Freaking out about it was the wrong response, but she couldn’t seem to pull a deep breath into her lungs. He’d also said she would have a choice. “Why is that?” she squeaked.

His gaze was intent as he stared at her. “Close your mouth. Breathe in through your nose.”

She still struggled, feeling more lightheaded and desperate by the moment.

“Trina.” He pressed a finger to one side of his nose. “Look at me. Do what I do.” He firmly closed his lips and then inhaled through the one open nostril.

Mirroring him, her breathing slowed down, the tension eased. Her head cleared as her lungs filled and she felt better.

“There you go,” he encouraged. “Keep going.”

She kept it up for another few breaths. “That’s remarkable,” she said at last.

“Learned it from one of Max’s students from the Guardian Agency.”

“Tell him thanks from me.”

He eased back in his seat. “If I see her again, I will.” His eyes were kind when he asked, “Now was that because of me or is it our rushed plan in general?”

Our . Why did she have to get stuck on such a simple word? Every time she turned around, he was making them a team. That was good, and still unsettling.

“Surely, it can be both.”

“True,” he allowed. “Before you ask again, yes I’m all in. No, I don’t know exactly why. But you need help and I don’t do things halfway.”

She understood commitment to a plan, but this was a bit much. “Rhett. A real wedding?”

“Think of it more like a real elopement,” he said. “While you were packing, I decided you should have fond memories when you look back on this experience years from now. Something to make you smile or laugh. And nothing to cause regrets.”

What a time to realize that she’d invited another powerhouse into her life. As if her parents weren’t big enough factors to contend with. And she already had regrets, though none of them were Rhett’s fault.

Top of the list? There was no way the two of them would be married for a lifetime. She wasn’t capable of a real marriage with him or any other man. He deserved better than the purgatory she could offer .

“Trina?”

She scrambled for something to say. On the plane wasn’t the best time to have a private conversation. “You, um, mentioned that public displays of affection would be up to me.”

“Absolutely. But we need more than that. Your parents will keep hounding you if they sense that we’re faking it.” Apparently, Rhett didn’t share her concerns about the crew’s discretion. “They’ll just go right back to pressuring you to marry the man of their choosing.”

He was right. Why try and argue against the obvious? Her palms were damp. “Well, I appreciate your commitment. I assumed we’d just go through the motions.”

“I considered it,” he admitted.

“Not for long,” she said.