Page 4 of Island Guardian (Brookwell Island #7)

Though she applauded his accomplishments, Trina suspected she was the only person in the world who didn’t admire him.

He represented every bad decision in her past. If she’d made different choices—smarter choices—he wouldn’t even be on the short list of ideal sons-in-law.

Since her falling-out with him, she’d chosen her battles poorly.

Tacitly agreeing with the wealth of praise that always accompanied the mention of his name.

Keeping the pain he’d inflicted locked down, out of sight, where it only hurt her.

Rhett’s non-proposal aside, maybe he could help her devise a cover story and a reason to be out of town until Luca gave up and went back to Italy. Would he be open to an impromptu cross-training exercise like the ones they completed in school?

She stopped a few paces from the boardwalk so they wouldn’t be overheard. “I’ve been thinking of taking some time off. Maybe enrolling in a refresher course of some kind,” she began.

“Wouldn’t you need to clear something like that with the board?”

“I have a generous leave package and an excellent staff.”

“Hm. What do you have in mind?”

She scrambled for a viable idea. “Could I shadow your wedding consultant for a few days?” she asked, sticking with the theme of the night. “Brainstorm with her a bit?”

In the deeper shadows away from the moonlight, it was hard to read his expression, but she felt a shift and his tension was palpable. “You want to hide from Bachelor Number Three,” Rhett guessed. “It’s that or steal my wedding coordinator.”

“I’m not about to poach your staff.” But she absolutely wanted to hide. “And it’s only a little hiding.” She downplayed the truth. “It’s not his fault my parents have convinced anyone who will listen that I’m eager to marry and balance out my life.”

Rhett mumbled an oath. “He’s at fault if he shows up only to fulfill their scheme.”

“Are you defending me?” Surprising, considering how little he thought of her. If only his oddly phrased question earlier hadn’t left her yearning for a real proposal. From Rhett or any other decent man.

“I guess I am.” He grinned at her, the expression so unexpected her heart tripped and thudded in her chest. “A surprise to both of us, all things considered.”

His candid assessment made her laugh. “I was never trying to embarrass you in France,” she said.

“Spare me the kind thoughts and gushing praise. You are the most competitive creature I’ve ever met.”

“That can’t be true,” she protested. “You grew up with Harper.”

He snorted. “Compared to you, she’s downright agreeable.”

“Ha, ha.”

“Seriously Trina, you earned every win,” he said. “I didn’t like it and I was a sore loser, but you were the one who came up with creative solutions every single time.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, overcome by his candor. Hard memories and painful emotions swamped her. Losing would’ve meant going back home. Although she hadn’t been able to articulate it at the time, that kind of failure would have destroyed her.

She went above and beyond in the internship to give herself better opportunities. Winning in France granted an immediate reprieve as she moved into an elite position in London. She leap-frogged from London to post after post, returning home for the shortest possible breaks, until she landed here.

“I really love this job,” she said, wistful. “If my parents manage to send over someone I want to marry, I’ll have to leave this behind.”

The awareness dragged at her, melancholy threatening to set in with every heavy beat of her heart. It felt like a crime against herself. It definitely went against her professional goals.

“There’s no chance one of the good Italian boys will support your career goals?”

She appreciated the concern, even if it did come from Rhett. “It’s a longshot. The goal is to get me back into the nest. Anyone who might be open to my plans wouldn’t mention it. Why risk a free trip to the States?”

“You don’t believe any of them are truly interested in you?”

She shook her head. “Not a chance. Put yourself in their shoes. A wealthy couple with a single daughter is willing to pay for your trip across an ocean. They can’t help but be in it for free travel at the very least. No one’s coming because they know me or want me .”

Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. Luca would show up soon, but the man didn’t know her at all. Especially not after so many years.

“You make a fair point.” Rhett’s voice rumbled over her skin. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do.”

So did she. “You’re headed back to Key West soon, right?

“In a few days.”

She sensed he was restless, though she didn’t know the cause. “Is there a problem you’re avoiding?”

“No, of course not. The Cove is great. Family is great. The properties here are great.”

“Then why do you sound miserable?”

He rolled his broad shoulders and even in the moonlight the movement affected her, making her warm in places she shouldn’t think about in public.

Although, right here, they were entirely alone.

The ocean was still louder than the ambient sounds of island life.

It was easy to forget herself and she was liking that anonymity a bit too much.

“Maybe your mood’s rubbing off on me.”

“Aren’t you the king of charm,” she quipped. He was right, of course. But that kernel of a wild idea died flat. There was no way she could ask Rhett to play a role as her boyfriend or fiancé while Luca was here. She might have his respect, but not his affection.

It was silly to think of him helping her that way and a thousand times more embarrassing to voice such an inane idea. She had to get out of here before she humiliated herself.

“We should go. I need to get back.” Her staff deserved a head’s up about another potential groom. “Thank you for checking on me.” She walked closer to the steps spanning the dunes.

“Trina.” He reached out.

Flinching away, she stumbled backward, bracing for the hard landing and the humiliation that would surely follow.

But she didn’t land hard in the sand. Somehow, Rhett caught her and she found herself steady and snug against the heat of his chest. She inhaled the scent of salty ocean air layered over the clean, masculine scent of his skin.

Potent, enticing, and gone too quickly. As soon as she was steady—a miracle considering her knocking knees—he released her, hands loose at his sides.

The scowl on his face now sent a shiver down her spine. “What happened? Give me a name.”

She didn’t recognize the rough timber of his voice. This was not a side of Rhett she’d ever seen before. “Wh-what are you talking about?” she stammered under his hard glare. “Don’t be silly.”

“Was it Bachelor One or Bachelor Two?” His gaze narrowed. “One,” he declared. “You said Two prefers men.”

“Stop this.” The incident that left her scarred wasn’t even in this decade. “Why do you think it was anyone? I’m just in a mood. You said so yourself.” She scrambled up the steps and across the walkway, rushing for the street.

His longer stride closed the distance. “My car is this way.”

So much for hoping he’d forget her agreement to let him drive her back .

He opened the passenger door for her and paused until she lifted her gaze to his. “Let me help you.” He held his ground, keeping the door open without crowding her.

She gave him bonus points for restraint. “There’s no dreadful problem. I’m clumsy and edgy, that’s all.”

“That narrows it down to Bachelor Number Three. The man you want to avoid.”

“Please, get in the car.”

He relented, closing the door gently and rounding the hood. When he was situated in the driver’s seat, she said, “You need to stop worrying. I don’t need a hero, Rhett.” And if she did, she wouldn’t choose a man who excited her the way he did.

She preferred unattainable men. Guys so far out of her league or so far removed from her current geography that she couldn’t get scared.

That was her ideal type. Over the last few months, Harper had been trying to pin down the characteristics Trina found most attractive in a man.

As if having a definition would somehow force her parents to back off.

Unattainable was top of the list. She didn’t want to go out with anyone for more than a couple dates.

Didn’t want to get close emotionally knowing she couldn’t reciprocate physically.

She had no trouble with innocent, friendly banter or flirting.

She could be charming. Those skills were part of the job she adored.

For short stints, she could even enjoy herself and be the life of the party.

But one-on-one intimacy? Not in her wheelhouse.

She was already a disappointment to her parents.

There was no reason to involve innocent and unwitting good boys from Italy.

But after one unexpectedly pleasant conversation, Rhett already suspected the truth, demanding names and puffing up like he would take action in her defense.

“Okay, no heroics,” he allowed. “You could talk to me anyway.”

“We’re not friends,” she stated. Although telling him wouldn’t change anything. Discussing that incident outside of her therapist’s office would be the worst. She’d rather walk across a bed of nails.

“We should probably try. That’s the main reason I’ve been visiting so often.”

Her heart kicked. “For Harper,” she realized. He hadn’t been coming up to see her.

“Yes.” He gave a mighty sigh. “Tell me what’s going on. Please,” he added a beat too late.

“Haven’t I painted a clear picture? My parents are being jerks. That’s the beginning, middle, and end of the story.”

“I’d like to help,” he said, slowing to make the turn into the staff parking area near the Inn.

She was about to decline—politely—when her cell phone chimed with another text message. If it was her mother… But this message was from Jacob, one of her assistants. He regularly handled the registration desk overnight.

“Oh, God.” Her stomach twisted into a knot and she fumbled with the door handle, desperate to get out in case she got sick.

Rhett called her name, his voice a tinny sound through the pulse pounding in her ears. “Talk to me.”

She stared at him over the top of his car, afraid the tears threatening would spill over any second. Blinking rapidly, she stifled a miserable groan. “Bachelor Number Three just checked in.”