Page 2 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)

Chapter Two

Trina was doing her best not to add her own tears to the ocean of saltwater lapping at her bare feet. Crying wouldn’t change anything. Her problems would still be looming over her head and she’d have puffy eyes and a headache to make matters worse.

Besides, she wasn’t sad. She was one of those people who teared up when her temper got the best of her.

It had taken years of deliberate effort to gain the self-control necessary to overcome the reaction.

But she’d done it—gladly—to become the kind of manager a hotel staff could trust to stay cool under pressure.

Professionally, she was a rock. Most days she’d say the same about her personal life.

Her parents however, were stubbornly set on an outdated view of their daughter.

They regularly praised her beauty and critiqued her uneven emotions.

Of course, they hadn’t spent much time with her since her year studying in France led to more opportunities to work around the world.

She nearly stamped her foot thinking about the last time she had a tantrum. Doing so would actually be a tantrum, ending a streak she’d carried for over a decade. Not that anyone else would know.

No one was out here to witness her meltdown. She wished that made her feel better or safe enough to indulge. This was a public beach in the town where she worked. In the town where she wanted to stay for many, many years.

Brookwell was home and she loved it. Adored the job, the people, and her lovely new friends.

Reconnecting with Harper had been a particular high point.

She twisted her foot into the wet sand—not a stomp.

She would not be giving up any of it, regardless of her parents outrageous interference in her life.

How to make them understand?

Her parents didn’t seem to remember that she had gone away to school in France and aced the program.

She’d run circles around her peers—excellent students all.

Including Rhett Ellington. Her stellar reputation continued to grow and open more doors.

She wasn’t ready to give that up in the name of marriage and motherhood.

Especially when there wasn’t a significant other on the horizon, much less in her life.

Her single status somehow fueled their persistent effort to marry her off to a man of their choosing. Someone to father babies they could dote on and spoil rotten.

Outrageous. Wasn’t she more than a broodmare? She curled her toes as the foamy ocean sucked the sand from under her feet. She loved her life. Why couldn’t they get on board and give her more time?

She wasn’t ready for marriage on demand. Definitely not ready for motherhood. A tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. She knuckled it away.

“Trina?”

Startled, she jumped and turned. Feeling caught and guilty with it, when she recognized Rhett she settled on being annoyed. A woman should be able to cry by herself on a beach. Especially on a night with a pink moon soaring overhead. “What are you doing here, Rhett?”

Why did such an irritating man have to be related to Harper, a friend she found so wonderfully supportive and inspiring? At the moment, it was merely more evidence that the universe was laughing at her attempt to live her life on her own terms.

He stopped short and tucked his hands into his pockets. “Didn’t mean to intrude.” He sounded as if he was chewing glass. “I was concerned.”

“You called.”

“Yes.” He dipped his chin in a short nod.

“And I told you not to worry.”

“You did.” He didn’t budge. “Do you want me to go?”

Of course she did. She was out here—alone—for a good reason. Her lips parted to shoo him away and then her phone buzzed in her hand. Glancing down, she saw yet another text message from her mother.

Suddenly the obvious answer was much less so. She was tired of facing this nonsense from her mother on her own. But it was Rhett and she wasn’t sure he could be supportive during her personal crisis. “Go or stay, it’s up to you. But I am okay.”

“Do you remember in school when we had to back up our theories with concrete plans or tangible results?” he asked.

Because everything with him came back to that year in France. “Being okay is not a theory,” she pointed out.

His head tilted, as if he was consulting the moon for the best answer.

She followed his gaze, admiring the unique beauty of moonlight on the water. In a perfect world that would be her sole reason for being out here. Enjoying a clear night on the beach, soaking up nature and basking in the glowing inspiration before heading home to bed.

Belatedly, she seized the obvious distraction .

“This is the first time I’ve seen the moon this color,” she said. “Does it happen often?”

“Probably happens more often than we notice,” he replied with a shrug.

She wasn’t so sure about that. “I disagree.” Because of course she did. Finding the opposing side of any issue was a reliable and comforting pattern between them. “Look at it. That’s hard to overlook.”

“You never saw a pink moon in Italy?”

She shook her head and one of her curls tumbled loose.

She tucked it behind her ear. “Pink skies, yes, but not the moon. Not in France either,” she mused.

Although, she hadn’t taken much time for anything outside of the curriculum during that year.

Her singular goal had been to excel and earn top marks to increase her professional options. “Nowhere else. This is my first.”

“Mine too.” His reply resonated, as if that were significant.

She was a hot mess, waxing on about some atmospheric anomaly when she had real problems to sort out. On cue, another alert sounded from her phone. She nearly tossed the thing in the ocean just to be done with all of it.

Except that felt a little too close to tantrum-behavior.

“Still okay?”

“No.” Now she’d done it. Tossed out her shocking honesty, as big and strange as the pastel-colored moon overhead.

“I will be,” she hedged. “You don’t need to involve yourself.

In fact, as a point of compassion, I urge you to walk away now.

” She flicked her fingers, hoping he would take the hint graciously.

Naturally, he didn’t. He closed the distance until he stood at her side. In silence. No judgment, no unwelcome opinions. She wasn’t sure she had ever seen this side of him.

Her phone hummed yet again. Why couldn’t her mother take a hint? She swore under her breath and Rhett chuckled .

Like her, he probably knew how to curse in a dozen languages or more. One of the perks of working in hotels that catered to world travelers.

She moved back from the tide line, away from the wet packed sand, and plopped down on her backside. The sand would be hard enough on her dress, she didn’t want to return to the Inn with a damp backside as well.

“Fine,” she confessed when he followed. “I’m not okay and it’s terribly embarrassing.”

She had definitely hit a new low if she was ready to spill the entire mess to this particular man. This wasn’t a simple business dilemma. Well, not entirely. And she was so frustrated. Handling it alone had been one failure after another. For a woman used to winning, it was dreadful.

Rhett was an idea man. Maybe he could help her find a solution. She certainly hadn’t found one on her own.

“My parents have been sending over qualified men.” She put those last two words in air quotes.

“They are determined to marry me off this year.” Plus, they’d made it clear that until she married a man they approved of, she wouldn’t get her full share from the family business.

Yes, it was her birthright, but she hadn’t been sure the strict conditions were worth it.

Now, with the next man due to arrive any day, she didn’t care if they cut her off entirely.

Rhett sat down in the sand near her. Not close enough to touch her, yet his presence crowded her, invading her personal space. She would’ve sworn she felt the heat from his body.

Worse, she seemed to be enjoying it.

“Harper and I were commiserating over the situation before she got engaged to Knox. And with our fathers being such good friends, suddenly they’re convinced they know just the kind of man I need.”

Rhett frowned. “But my dad didn’t set up Harper and Knox. ”

“I’m aware. The timing is the issue. My parents are convinced my biological clock is ticking and with all the focus on Harper’s upcoming wedding…”

“Oh.”

“Exactly.” She was grateful she didn’t need to spell it out in all the gory detail. “I like Knox,” she mused. “It was my understanding that he would’ve been the last person anyone would choose for Harper.”

Rhett grunted. “Guess it’s good she got to choose for herself.”

That observation struck too sharply. “Well, I think they’re good together.”

“Harper’s happier than I’ve seen her in years,” he said. “That’s what matters.” He leaned back on his hands. “It’s been years since I’ve spent any time with your parents, but this kind of pressure seems out of character. Are you sure they’re serious?”

“I am.” She swallowed against the sting of more tears. “Two candidates have already come and gone. The third will be here in a couple of days.”

He sat up. “What the hell?”

She jerked at his sudden outburst. “You were at the Inn the day the first one arrived.”

The shadows only added drama to the scowl on his face. “I need more details.”

“The first week your family had brunch at the Inn,” she said.

“Hang on. You’re talking about that guy who was following you around like a lost puppy? I thought he was an intern. His suit was too tight. Definitely over-tailored.”

She gaped at him for a beat and then cackled. “Antonio. He’d be dreadfully offended to hear you say that.” She pressed her fingers to her lips, but another giggle burst free. “Oh, but it’s simply the best. I want to tell him so badly. ”

“Because you want to offend him?”