Page 22 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)

Chapter Fourteen

Rhett was livid with Luca’s intrusion on what had been a delightful morning.

That ridiculous call had thrown Trina into such a tizzy, she’d come out of the bedroom half dressed.

He hadn’t had a moment to congratulate her on handling the jerk so well before she noticed her disarray and rushed off, embarrassed and uneasy again.

If he ever had a chance, he’d punch Gallo into next week. No, that wasn’t exactly the lesson he should be taking from his boxing training, but it’s what he felt and he wouldn’t shy away from it. Definitely not in the privacy of his own thoughts.

And thanks to the awful vibe, he felt guilty that he couldn’t do the polite thing and banish the memory of her breasts filling the lace cups of her bra.

That sensual glimpse would fuel his fantasies for quite some time.

He found her generous curves irresistible and the sexy scent of her skin even more so.

What he wouldn’t give to tell her all the ways he’d love to touch her.

If she could accept him.

She seemed to think he was doing all the sacrificing here, but having her close was exciting and fun. Talking with her, watching her mind work, was fascinating. She understood the demands of the industry better than anyone he’d dated.

And here he was, stuck in a tentative limbo on his wedding day, because Luca had crossed the line way back when.

The more time Rhett spent with Trina, the more he understood she was working day by day to overcome an assault. It was the most likely explanation for her general uneasiness with physical contact and her jerky, fearful reactions when someone crowded her.

Not that he’d let that happen while they were together.

When he thought back to their time in France, he cursed himself for not recognizing the signs.

Granted, he’d been a kid. Too self-absorbed with his own goals to attempt to understand why she was behaving differently.

Instead, he allowed his battered pride and ego to fuel the divide when he should’ve shown compassion and concern for a family friend.

Only hindsight offered perfect vision.

He would find a way to make it up to her. Not that he could actually fix anything after all these years, but there had to be a way to make her future brighter. Well, marrying her was a good start.

She kept asking what was in it for him. Redemption was one hell of a reason.

But it wasn’t the only reason. In little more than twenty-four hours, she’d changed his perspective.

Trina made life brighter, made him seek out the happier moments.

He’d almost stopped believing there was someone out there he could share a life with.

Under the guise of making notes during the staff meeting, he sent a text to Max providing Gallo’s full name, the town where Trina was raised, and the dates just ahead of her arrival in France.

It was the best place for the Guardian Agency researchers to start hunting for the root cause of Trina’s trouble with the jerk .

Rhett requested that he not be told about anything they found unless it was an immediate security concern. When he heard Trina’s story, it would be from her and no one else. As for security, he figured as long as they were in Key West she was out of Gallo’s reach.

He wished he could keep her here until Gallo gave up, but that didn’t seem likely.

After that email was sent, he reached out to his own Guardian Agency team downstairs and asked them to get things rolling on additional security in and around the Brookwell Inn. Her security team was solid, but he wanted additional undercover folks in place before they returned.

With his personal concerns handled, he returned his full attention to the staff meeting.

Nothing unexpected popped up and soon they were done.

As promised, Trina hadn’t said a word. When it ended, and his staff swarmed them with congratulations and well-wishes, she was all grace and warm chatter.

He couldn’t have scripted a better bride.

Not that he’d ever thought to do so.

Eventually everyone filed out, expressing their excitement about tonight’s reception. “You’re holding up well,” he murmured.

Trina smiled up at him and she positively glowed. “You make it easy.” She snuck a glance at her smart watch.

He braced for more bad news. “What now?”

“Nothing at all.” She shocked him, wrapping her hand around his arm. “You promised me some touristy fun and brainstorming time.”

“Yes, I did.” He dropped off his things at his office and locked the door. “Are you allergic to cats?”

Her eyes lit up. “The Hemingway House?” She bounced on her toes. “Yes, please.”

“That was easy,” he said with a laugh. He was happy to see her so enthused. “Let’s go. ”

He had a car take them over to what had been the residence of one of the most famous authors in history. They joined the next available guided tour and at every turn she seemed more excited.

At the writing room, she surprised him, tearing up a little. “Can you believe all of the creativity here? The stories and his process.” She pressed a hand to her heart.

“I didn’t know you wanted to write.” He filed it away. Anticipating her reaction if he gifted her a writer’s experience at the Hemingway house. What a thrill he’d have to give her something so meaningful.

“Oh, no. I don’t have those talents.”

His bubble burst.

She sighed heavily, her gaze dreamy. “But Gentry Carver does. He did an author experience here and said it changed everything about his storytelling.”

Who the hell was she talking about? He let her ramble on quietly for a few more minutes about inspiration and muse until he couldn’t take it anymore.

He had never seen her so animated or so enthused about a man.

It didn’t sound as if she’d had a relationship with him, but he’d bet his shares in Ellington that she wanted one.

“I’m hoping he’ll do a reading at the tea room?—”

That did it. “Who the hell are you talking about?”

“The author. Gentry Carver. Oh my goodness.” She touched Rhett’s biceps. “You haven’t read him? You really should.” She cocked her head and stared at him. “I can’t believe you don’t know the name. Your uncle Bruce is just as crazy about him as I am.”

That eased his aggravation a bit. “I guess I don’t talk to Uncle Bruce about books.”

“Oh you should,” she said. “His books will sweep you off your feet. When we get back I know just the book you should start with.”

With a skeptical grunt he guided her out into the gardens, hoping the colorful views, the cats, and of course the famous pool would distract her from her fangirling. He wasn’t too proud to admit he wanted all of her attention.

Selfish, but it was their wedding day.

None of his efforts were effective. She continued to sing the praises of this man.

While she went on and on, Rhett pulled out his phone and looked him up.

He’d been hoping for some gray-haired old man, but what he found was a guy probably not yet forty.

Dark hair, serious brown eyes, and a strong jaw outlined by a well-trimmed beard.

The man clearly worked out, based on the website gallery showing off photos from an array of adventures and research travels.

It struck him that the author would have made an ideal groom for Trina. Both world travelers, big readers, and likely more shared interests. Thinking about it made him queasy.

Rhett skimmed through the tour dates for the author’s latest release, shocked to see Brookwell on the list of stops. “He’s coming to Brookwell?”

“Yes!” She bounced on her toes. “Next month. I have tickets. Bruce and I are so excited. Harper gave him her ticket. We won them during trivia. The book signing is open to the public, but we get special time with him beforehand.”

“How nice for you,” he deadpanned.

His sarcasm sailed right over her head as Trina continued, “He’s just back from Greece. He was doing research for a new book.”

“How do you know that?” More importantly, why was he so jealous of a stranger?

“I’m on his newsletter list,” she said as if it was the most logical thing in the world. “I get emails every couple of weeks.”

“You have a crush on him.” He regretted the outburst immediately when she went still, the sparkle fading from her eyes. “Trina, I didn’t mean anything. ”

“No, you’re right.” She flapped her hand, apparently waving away any offense.

He wasn’t sure if he believed her or if this was just some kind of protective habit she developed that everyone bought into.

“Rhett, are you jealous?”

“You don’t have to sound quite so pleased about it.”

“Maybe I do.” She slipped her arm through his as if touching him was an everyday occurrence.

It was a struggle to keep his shock in check. “As long as that ‘I do’ is more than a maybe in a few hours.”

“I promise it will be.” Her mouth tilted up at one corner. “If you think I go on and on about Gentry Carver, you really need to talk to Uncle Bruce.”

He liked hearing her refer to Bruce as if he was her uncle as well. Within a few hours he would be by marriage. Rhett imagined Bruce would laugh it up and be completely delighted with the prospect.

It was the first time Rhett really considered what the family would think when they heard the news. If he was smart, he would give them a warning. Then again, a warning might undermine any claims of eloping for the sake of instantly, unexpectedly falling in love.

“Did you see they have wedding packages here too?” she asked as they strolled around the Hemingway grounds.

“Ilsa will be heartbroken if you change our plans now.”

“I wasn’t thinking about us,” she said. “We have wedding packages at the Inn,” Trina said. “Nothing as elaborate as you can do here. You have so many more options.”

“Harper runs up against the same thing when she tries to compete with me.”

Trina sent him a scolding look. “I don’t need to compete with you. The Inn and the Cove are two very different properties. It’s easier for me to incorporate the community businesses in our package plans and our day-to-day efforts. I want to get better at that integration.”

“There are times when I’ve wondered how you manage a community-held property. I think having so many cooks in the kitchen would drive me nuts.”

She wrinkled her nose. “It’s not like that. The board meetings are easier than anything I deal with on the family side.”

“I thought your dad was pretty chill in the boardroom,” Rhett said. “Granted I was only there a time or two.”

She stared at him, her brow furrowed. “That’s right. During a summer visit. My mother must have dragged you and your sister through every tourist trap in Italy.”

“Except for boardroom day,” he said. “I got to go with Dad because I was almost a grown up,” he said. “You and Harper were too young.”

She laughed. “And glad of it. We were happy enough to enjoy the pool while you wore a suit in the boardroom.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t get sunburned. Marco ran a tight meeting that day.”

“I’m sure he did. He doesn’t tolerate distractions or tangents.”

She paused and he followed her gaze across the street. A young family was negotiating an ice cream cone with a toddler. The soft smile on her face was nothing short of maternal envy.

Why didn’t that bug him? He was single—for a few more hours. He’d thought for sure it was better to leave the next generation of Ellingtons to Harper. Now that she had Knox, his plan was stronger than ever.

But something about that expression on Trina’s face made him want to get closer. Could he convince her to give their marriage a real shot? After all, they’d have at least a year together. Why not do it right?

That kiss had been a tiny spark ready to flare into an inferno .

But he sensed he was the only one ready for that affection acceleration. He didn’t mind being patient. Trina was worth the wait. He nearly laughed, thinking about how weird it was that they’d have a more affectionate public relationship and he’d be locked in the friend zone in private.

Though the marriage would be real on paper from the start, unless she was willing to change the agreement, their union would come to an end sooner rather than later. Could he convince her? Was it even fair to try?

All he could do was show her the potential. He’d make himself available to whatever intimacy she wanted to explore. And as a friend, she’d soon realize he was her biggest supporter and champion.

On that note… “Thinking of your dad in a boardroom, it’s hard for me to imagine him pushing you into a marriage you don’t want.”

She turned to him, that warm smile lingering on her lips. Oh, man. He was in big trouble. When she aimed that look at him, he would gladly give her the world. Or be tempted to sacrifice himself in the effort.

“Please.” She huffed. “You haven’t been there in years, right?”

“Right,” he confirmed.

She swatted away his opinion with a flick of her hand. “Lately he talks of nothing but legacy and generational growth.” She rolled her eyes. “He doesn’t want to leave the bulk of his life’s work to my cousins.”

“Shouldn’t you inherit everything?”

Her lips flatlined and he suspected she was holding back a torrent of Italian expletives. “Only when I go back and take over the management of company operations.”

“But you don’t want that.”

“No, I do not.” She nodded firmly. “I like it too much here. In Brookwell, I mean.” Her lips tilted up on one side. “And thanks to you, soon I’ll have even more reason to stay precisely where I enjoy my life. Once we’re married, tradition dictates I honor my husband’s wishes.”

Emotion rested heavy over his heart. “Well.” He cleared his throat. “More than anything, I wish for you to be happy.”

She squeezed close to him. “Thank you.”

He had the feeling she didn’t comprehend the full depth of his sincerity. Her happiness had become his number one goal. And that started with providing her with the utmost security and bolstering her confidence in him and herself.