Page 27 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)
Chapter Eighteen
They were at cruising altitude before Rhett realized he felt as if he was really going home. Not just back to his hometown, but home. How quickly Key West turned into work and Trina became home. It was the strangest and most wonderful thing to feel so deeply for her in a different way.
He was considering the best way to win over her parents. He had eloped with their precious daughter—their only daughter—who they’d hoped to marry to a good Italian boy. He might not have the right solution just yet, but he wouldn’t let her deal with it alone.
Whatever happened, they were a united front from this point forward.
He peeked at her now over the edge of his laptop. She’d been quiet since their call with his mom and dad. Introspective. Maybe she was tired too.
As a few more romantic ideas popped into his head, he fired off a couple emails to make sure she had a warm welcome. They didn’t need another party, but he wanted fresh flowers for the suite and maybe a casual get together with his sister and a few friends at the Pelican would set the right tone .
“What kind of wedding favors are you thinking of?” he asked. If she meant to give them out at brunch on Sunday, they needed something easy and fast. “And how can I help?”
She smiled and sat up a bit straighter in her seat. “Maria and I are on it,” she said, holding up her work phone.
“Is Gallo giving her more trouble today?”
“Not right now,” she reported. “He left right after breakfast. Anything interesting from the team following him?”
“Pretty much the same as yesterday. No golf so far,” he added.
He decided to change the subject. “You know Harper is going to hassle me non-stop about being in love with you forever.”
She stared at him. “That makes zero sense. What are you talking about?”
“She’ll twist this around that all the times I complained about you were my attempts to deny an attraction. Marrying you will convince her she’s right.” He closed the laptop. “She’ll be insufferable. You’ll have to protect me.”
“Hm.”
“Your mind is a thousand miles away.”
“I suppose.” She shifted in her seat. “It’s all so different.” She pointed to him and back to herself. “For the good. I am happy we did this.”
He waited, but she didn’t elaborate. “I’ll listen if you have more to say.”
“I appreciate that.” Her smile didn’t last. “I’m distracted.”
“Because of Gallo,” he guessed.
“Yes.” She rubbed her cheeks. “Does your face hurt from all the smiling yesterday?”
He chuckled and let her change the subject. “Maybe.” He paused, tapping his fingers on the arm of his seat. “You know, I’m happy to schedule a charter flight for Gallo. To get him out of your hair faster.” He didn’t consider it a blow to the budget. It would be a smart investment in his marriage.
“Maybe.” She leaned forward. “Before we get back, I want you to know the truth.” She reached for a water and drank deeply. “From me, not him.”
“Trina. Don’t you dare let him force anything. That bastard could tell me the sky was blue and I wouldn’t believe him.”
“You’re remarkable,” she murmured, her voice barely audible over the rumbling of the plane. “I care about you. About our marriage.”
He more than cared for her, but kept it to himself.
“Can you give me your word that you won’t, um…”
“Fly off the handle? Punch him in the face?” he supplied.
She smiled. “For starters.”
“No,” he stated honestly. “I won’t fly off the handle, but I can’t promise not to punch him. He had a chance to do the decent thing and leave on that first night. Instead, he stayed around, harassed my family, and is seemingly up to no good.”
“He doesn’t realize why I don’t want to be around him. Why I’ve avoided him all this time.”
“Sweetheart, if you want to tell me, tell me. But please don’t try and sell me on Luca Gallo. I’ll never be a fan of a man who hurt you.”
“That’s fair. Thank you.”
Watching her come to a decision, he braced himself.
She turned the bottle of water around in her hands. “I’d just been accepted into the program in France,” she began. “It was a dream come true. My parents were slightly less enthused.”
“Only-child issues?”
“Precisely. They wanted me to be happy. Preferably within their reach for the rest of my life.” Her mouth tugged to the side.
“We went out to dinner to celebrate and bumped into Luca at the restaurant. He was working, picking up extra shifts. His work ethic always impressed my father. Still does.” With a sigh, she continued.
“He and I had been out on a couple of group dates. I wasn’t looking to get serious with anyone because I really wanted to travel before settling into what my parents wanted for my career and my life.
“Luca slipped me a note as we left, asking me out. Just the two of us,” she continued. “Flattered, I was excited to go. For a while, we had a great time. Coffee, a couple of movies, a late picnic after the restaurant closed. He was always a gentleman.”
“Until he wasn’t?” he asked when she paused. It was all he could do to stay still. He was glad he hadn’t promised not to punch the bastard.
“It was my first time.”
He didn’t have to ask which first time. His back teeth clenched but he didn’t interrupt.
“I got overwhelmed,” she said. “And I didn’t speak up.
At least not enough.” Her eyes were dry, her expression somber.
“When I got scared, he didn’t hear me and I sort of…
sort of let him have his way. When it was over he took me home and I kissed him good night.
” She swallowed. “A week later, I went to France.” Her gaze locked with his. “I apologize.”
“For what?” he snarled.
She gave a start, but she didn’t look at him with fear in her eyes.
“For France,” she clarified. “I was raw and edgy. Unfortunately, I took it out on you. I couldn’t say anything back then.
I couldn’t face it myself. So I gave my all to the program, pushing hard to make sure I wouldn’t have to go home.
I was so afraid of failing that I abused our friendship. ”
“We weren’t exactly friends at that point. We hadn’t seen each other in years.”
She gave him a hard look. “You know what I mean. I knew I had a problem about a year later when I punched a guy who tried to kiss me at the end of a date. ”
Rhett’s laughter caught him by surprise. Fortunately, Trina was soon laughing with him.
“It’s not funny,” she sputtered.
“Agree to disagree,” he said. He wanted to hold her so badly, but he stayed put. “Is that when you started therapy?”
“Yes. It’s not been the easy road, but well worth it.” She pressed her lips together. “I wasn’t sure I’d be able to kiss you at our wedding. And then, last night… Well, that was a miracle for me.”
“Me too.” He couldn’t take it anymore, so he moved to the seat next to hers, delighted when she let him wrap an arm around her shoulders. “You are amazing, Trina. Strong and brave and incredible. Never forget it.”
She cleared her throat. “I don’t feel bad when you touch me. I don’t get lost or overwhelmed with you.”
“And we’ll keep it that way.”
“Yes, please.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “You’re not disgusted?”
“Not with you.” Only with Luca.
“I didn’t complain or file a report.”
“You survived,” he murmured. “That’s what matters to me.”
She seemed to take him at his word. “I’m a whole lot better than I was when it first happened. But I want you to be happy too.”
Where was she going with this?
“You made a point of insisting that I tell you what I like,” she said, breathless. “Will you help me become better for you?”
“Are you asking me for sex lessons?”
Her deep brown gaze turned shy. “Yes.”
Every fiber of his being went tight with desire. “So last night wasn’t a one-time deal?” Her receptiveness this morning had been encouraging, but he wouldn’t take anything for granted.
“I hope not.” She looked pained. “What do you think?”
Too much . She was everything. His voice failed him. He kissed her slowly, giving her room to back away if necessary, but she eagerly moved closer and what should have been easy and light caught fire.
It was the best answer he could offer her. Her sweet, hot response was even better.
Somehow, they managed to keep their clothes on for the duration of the flight, but he was sure they’d left the crew with plenty to talk about.