Page 11 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)

He laughed. “You won’t offend me if you call me bossy. In fact, you definitely need to call me out when I overstep.”

“Not if?”

He shook his head. “Arrogance is a fatal flaw. Anyone in the family will happily confirm it. I assess issues quickly and often make decisions without explaining my thought process. My mom will tell you that’s why no woman has stuck around yet.

” A shadow of something flickered across his face, there and gone quickly.

“I have a rough track record with simply doing when I should ask first.”

“Duly warned.”

“In this case though, I didn’t want you caught up in a lie.” He leaned back in his seat, resting one ankle on the opposite knee. His fingers drummed on that knee. “I figure eloping will disrupt things enough without making the whole thing a charade.”

Weirdly enough, seeing his nervous energy soothed her.

Made her feel as if they really were a team, diving together into the deep end without looking.

Getting the marriage license didn’t mean they had to actually marry.

Maybe Luca would give up before they had to see this through.

As thoughtful as Rhett was being for her, she didn’t want to wreck his life either.

But now they had to discuss the rest of it. She finished off the sparkling water, wishing now she had asked for something stronger. She bit her lip and then released it. In her head, her mother’s voice gave her the all-too-familiar lecture about projecting confident body language.

“In the interest of not lying, are you comfortable with the living arrangements we talked about?” she asked.

“As long as you trust your housekeeping staff not to gossip,” he replied.

She knew they’d have to be careful. Gossip was part of life in any hotel she’d worked at so far. “Do you trust your staff?” she countered. “We’re kicking this off at your place.”

He aimed one of those charming grins her way. “Not exactly. But that doesn’t mean I’m pressuring you into anything. When we get to my apartment, just tell me what you need. If we have to, we can set the stage for marital bliss on cleaning days.”

“You and I? Living in bliss?” Frankly she’d been startled they hadn’t erupted into a real argument yet. She figured he was on his best behavior because she’d been so stressed out and shocked by Luca turning up.

“Why not?” His smile softened. “We can practice something new. At least until the timing’s right for us to part ways. Or we can be the couple who argues all the time.” His fingers drummed a faster rhythm on his knee. “Please believe me, Trina. I’m not going to leave you hanging.”

She wasn’t sure what to make of his teasing or his confidence about this whole mess. What to make of him. He kept surprising her at every turn. The kindness astounded her. He was helping with more than ideas. He was sacrificing a chunk of his life. For her.

Swallowing around the lump in her throat, she said, “Thank you. Again. A thousand times thank you.”

Her phone rang and she didn’t even bother to stifle her groan. “My mother. I can’t keep ignoring her.”

“Not even if you’re on a romantic whirlwind trip with your soon-to-be husband?” he asked. “I can’t imagine she’d want to interfere with that.”

“Tip one for marital bliss,” she said, “Accept that my mother will always expect me to answer.”

His rolling laughter warmed her straight through.

She’d expected him to grumble, at least a little.

“We’re Italian.” The ringing started again.

“I’m an only child. Talia Bollani is not wired to let go of the apron strings.

I’ll make it quick.” Maybe she’d get lucky and the plane’s wi-fi signal would drop.

“Hey Mom!” She leaned hard into her bright and happy voice. “We won trivia tonight.”

“Is that why you have been dodging my calls?”

She couldn’t look at Rhett for fear of giving something away. “Not dodging. Just out with friends. You’re up really late.”

Her mother huffed. “Hard to sleep when I worry over you. You haven’t returned my messages.”

“Sorry, Mama. I was getting ready to respond.”

“I know when you’re lying,” her mother reminded her.

“Yes, you’ve always had a gift.”

Talia switched to Italian and proceeded to tell her all about Luca’s excitement about his upcoming visit. “He went on and on about how good it would be to see you again. I think he’s half in love already,” she gushed. “He has always cared for you just as you are.”

Trina swallowed the pain at the veiled insult. Sticking with her native language, Trina made another plea for her mother to call off the arranged marriage nonsense. Maybe this time she’d be heard. “Mama, this is too much. I’m happy and content with my work and friends right now.”

“You need to marry. You’ve had your fling in America. Now it’s time to come home so we can talk at a civilized hour. I worry, my darling.”

“I know. And I love you.” She didn’t bother with any of the points that fell on deaf ears in previous conversations. “You should go back to bed.”

Her mother swore, complaining about her hot flashes. “If you were married and living here, I could be useful at this hour, getting up with your babies.”

Trina forced a laugh. “Enough, Mama. You’re plenty useful to me every day.”

“Have you met someone?” Her mother demanded abruptly. “You have. I can tell. You’re carrying on with an American. A farmer, I suppose. They’re all farmers.”

“Mama, you and Dad are technically farmers.”

“I beg your pardon,” Talia screeched. “We are business people.”

“Yes. With hotels and orchards ,” Trina reminded her. She happily blamed this newfound confidence on Rhett. Being close to him unlocked a new boldness inside her.

Her mother sniffed, continuing to deny the accusation. “We are business people with diverse investments and interests…” While her mother droned on, Trina studied Rhett from under her lashes.

The man really was as handsome as sin. Whether he was playing darts with friends at the pub, walking on the beach, or sitting comfortably in a chartered plane. Living with him was going to be a huge challenge.

How strange that her immense gratitude was increasingly blurred by her physical fascination with him. When she’d put her hand in his and agreed to this outrageous deal, the sizzle had been undeniable. And a direct challenge to the way she lived her life.

For years, she avoided any and all feelings for men in her immediate vicinity.

Men who might actually ask her out. She fixed her sights on impossible men for a reason.

She didn’t want the risks or expectations that went along with a relationship.

Despite several good examples of honorable men in her life, direct personal interactions left her uncertain and wanting to shrink into herself.

She hated herself for the weakness. She held her own in business meetings and professional interactions with guests, but anything more intimate was a mistake waiting to happen.

Being almost at ease with Rhett was a wild and wonderful revelation. Although he didn’t know the details, he didn’t push her. And so far, didn’t shun her either. She appreciated his patience more than she could say.

“Trina! You’re not listening,” her mother accused sharply. “What is happening there?”

“Nothing, Mama. I apologize. What were you saying?”

“Please make Luca feel welcome. You must give him a chance, my darling. Your father and I know what’s best for you.”

If only that were true. “Thank you for caring so much.” Trina switched back to English because it made it easier to sound more upbeat than defeated. “I promise Luca will have a lovely time.” Just not with her.

She caught the comically skeptical look on Rhett’s face and had to turn away before she laughed in her mother’s ear.

“If you saw my texts, you know he arrives tomorrow,” Talia continued.

Trina didn’t bother to correct her about the early arrival. Neither did she complain about giving out Trina’s private suite information. There was no point arguing over what was done. “Yes, Mama. The entire staff is ready.”

“Good that you’ve trained them. Even though it won’t be your problem much longer.”

Trina let her mother rattle on about her imminent return to Italy.

The family home. The traditions. Time and again she’d explained the contract she had signed, how much she loved the position, and how much she adored South Carolina.

None of it changed her parents’ view. Of course they had good intentions, but she wished they would listen.

“Forgive me, Mama,” she cut in when Talia paused for breath. “I need to go. I’m being rude to my friends.”

“Of course, of course. Your friends. Introduce them to Luca when he gets there.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mama. I promise.” With the exchange of “I love yous”, she ended the call. And this time she turned her phone off.

“What about calls from the Inn?”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a different phone. “This is a number my mother doesn’t have.” Trina smiled as Rhett laughed. She’d never been so grateful to have the second device.

“What if I want to send you sexy text messages?”

Panic was a quick cold flash across the nape of her neck before she caught the twinkle in his eye. He was teasing her. She didn’t need to overreact. “Somehow I have a hard time seeing you as the sexy text message type.”

Rhett scooted lower in his seat, stretching out his legs and folding his hands over his trim abs. The pose drew her attention to his strong legs and the golden body hair that disappeared under the hem of his khaki shorts.

“Definitely not on a dedicated professional line.”

She’d been so distracted with his body, it took her a beat to register the words. When she did, she laughed. “I didn’t have any idea you were so funny.” Did that sound as breathless as it felt coming out of her mouth? She really hoped not .

Clearing her throat, she asked, “Tomorrow? Is there more I need to know?”