Page 12

Chapter Eleven

Harper wasn’t sure what had gone down between Rhett and Knox, but she was grateful any posturing was over and done. Rhett had hovered for a few hours, talked business with her over dinner delivered from Parker’s Fish Camp, and found a different place to stay during his visit.

At least she didn’t have to pretend things were platonic with Knox. Not that she could’ve managed it. Oh, she could behave and keep any public displays to a minimum, but she would’ve been miserable if he’d pulled away. She enjoyed touching him too much, enjoyed the way his expression softened when she rubbed his shoulder or linked her hand with his.

She’d been spoiled with all the privacy at the B&B and it was easy to slip into the idea that this was real—the two of them living together like a real couple.

Their relationship wasn’t real or practical. She’d never been faced with the decision of letting him come to her suite at the resort.

She would’ve invited him. No doubt in her mind. It wouldn’t have bothered her at all if the staff noticed Knox coming or going from her home. She didn’t want to examine why she felt so sure. It was more than just the fantasy of being noticed by Knox or getting seriously involved with him.

He was a special man. Strong inside and out. The type of person she wanted to build a life with.

But today would be the real test. He was effectively meeting her family at brunch. Knox knew them. Had met a few key players, but he’d never run the gauntlet with everyone at once. The aunts alone were a force of curious nature.

“Hey, Harper!” he called up the stairs. “Are you coming? We’ll be late and they’ll blame me.”

She checked the clock, hating that he was right. She was dawdling. Of all the things to fear, this might be her oldest nightmare coming true.

She came out of the bedroom to find him waiting at the bottom of the stairs. “Sorry. I got distracted.”

“By work?” He grinned. “Or because we have to face your family together?”

“My mom is going to know we’re sleeping together.”

His eyebrows lifted “You told her?”

“No,” Harper clarified. “Somehow she’s always known when I’ve taken that step with someone.”

“Is this an okay time to ask if you were intimate with Walker?”

“There is never a good time to ask that,” she countered. “In the interest of transparency, for the case and us, no , I never slept with Landon. The few occasions when we kissed were proof enough that wasn’t the direction I wanted things to go.”

“How did you date him for so long without going there?”

“This can’t be what you want to talk about,” she said.

“It isn’t.” He grabbed his keys, frowning. “Do I want to know how your mother knows about, um, you know?”

“No, you do not. I only mentioned it so we don’t try to hide it. The only person I might have fooled was Rhett, and I’m pretty sure he’s aware.”

“He is,” Knox confirmed. “And before you think it was just a bunch of locker room bragging?—”

She jerked back. “Why would I think that? That’s not your style.”

“Thanks.”

“Mom figured out I had a crush on you ages ago.” This was not the time for her to be coy. He opened the truck door for her and she boosted herself up into the passenger seat. But he didn’t close the door. He lingered in the opening, a smug grin on his face.

“And that right there will give us away.”

“What’s that? Right where?”

“As if you don’t know what I’m talking about.” She leaned in and kissed him anyway. It wasn’t as if he didn’t have good reason to be smug. “Since you’re the one dawdling now, here are the rules. I don’t mind if you hold my hand, but I’m not kissing you in front of the family. I don’t want either of us answering any questions about our future,” she put that last word in air quotes, “and I will make it up to you when we get home. I mean here,” she added in a rush.

His brow flexed. “I knew what you meant. I’m adding one rule.”

“Yes?”

“I’m still on duty and will give my all to protect you against any threat,” he vowed.

She swallowed. “Thank you.”

“I do have one more question. What’s the deal with the future? Why is that a sticking point?”

She rolled her eyes. “Because now that Hannah is pregnant, all my mom wants is more grandbabies to spoil. The minute they get a whiff of us as a couple, if we open that door, she and the aunts are going to barge through and flatten us like a steamroller.”

“Message received. I promise not to open any conversational doors that you don’t want opened.”

He leaned in, kissing her with such tenderness her heart melted. If she could have anyone, her pick of the best men in the world, she would have this man as her own. Forever.

But it was too soon.

Or maybe too late.

He pulled back, his eyes as glazed as she felt. “Sweetheart, we’d better get moving or Rhett will drag us to brunch, shotgun in hand.”

That sweetheart stuck with her for the short drive over, through the greetings and all the initial speculation in everyone’s gaze as they sized up Knox arriving with her.

Trina had set up everything for them in a private dining area in the main restaurant. Typically, service didn’t begin for hours yet. But she’d arranged staff, flowers, the menu, and given them plenty of space. It was almost as good as being in the family dining area at the resort.

When Trina appeared, assisting the waiters with pitchers of mimosas, Harper cornered her. “Thank you for doing this. It’s lovely.”

“It’s my pleasure. I am so sorry for the crisis that brought your family here today, but it’s an honor to have you. My parents send their condolences as well.”

“Thank you. I’m sure my dad has reached out to talk to yours.”

“As he should,” Trina agreed. “We might not be related by blood, Harper, but our fathers are brothers to their souls.”

“No kidding,” she chuckled.

Trina glanced around. “Do me a favor?”

“Anything.”

“Don’t make a big deal of it if you see me with a man. Here or around town.”

“They really sent someone?”

Trina nodded. “He arrived yesterday.” Trina drew Harper a little further away from her boisterous family. “He is stunning,” she admitted, pulling out her phone to show Harper. “And quite nice so far. I’m just so pissed off because he looked at me in shock when we met. As if he thought my pictures were fake or wildly outdated.” She stomped her foot soundlessly on the carpet. “I can’t believe my parents are being this stupid.”

“You’re a grown woman, with your own career and goals. You don’t have to go along with their plans.”

Trina cocked her head, her black curls bouncing. “Says the woman who is here with her family for weekly brunch.”

“Fair.” Harper looked around for the man visiting Trina. “Are you asking me to step in and distract your potential husband?”

Trina smacked her arm lightly. “If only it could be that easy. Don’t even joke.”

“Well, I say don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.” She gave her friend a dramatic wink. “If you like him, enjoy him as much as you can.”

“Oh, you’re awful.” Trina’s dark eyes lit with humor. “I should bring out a glass of plain orange juice and make a big deal of it.”

Harper gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

Trina giggled. “No, I wouldn’t. Go enjoy brunch before they think you have been kidnapped.”

“Gallows humor for the win,” Harper said. “I’ll see you at trivia.”

“You will indeed.” To Harper’s surprise, Trina pulled her into a hug. “Be safe.”

And with that, Harper was tossed back into the Ellington family brunch with all its joys and pitfalls.

Of course, everyone had been informed that Knox was her bodyguard. They were all up to speed on Walker’s attempts to hurt her. She might not like being the focus, but she couldn’t argue that they needed the information to better protect themselves.

To her amazement, Knox handled the veiled interrogations with kindness and graciousness. Within minutes, he’d won over her aunts, Merle and Ginny. It didn’t hurt that Rhett was in attendance, giving her relatives a distraction.

Over fruit bowls and pancakes and eggs benedict, Rhett filled them in on the action down in Key West. Taking on that property had been a big gamble, but one her brother had turned into serious profits—years ahead of schedule.

Profits she knew would help offset the repairs needed at the Charleston resort.

Yes, the bottom line at the resort was her responsibility, but at the core, they were all part of the family business. Her parents considered each property as part of the whole. She and Rhett were independent while still being equal partners in the family enterprise.

“We really should get together and go over some numbers and projections while you’re here,” she said to Rhett.

“Are you gonna make a play for my wedding planner?”

She held up a hand as if taking an oath. “No. I have other ideas I’d like to discuss.”

Distracted, Rhett’s gaze caught on something behind her. Harper glanced back, saw Trina at the doors of the tea room, surrounded by several guests, including the man from Italy. She took advantage of her brother’s divided attention. “Great. I’ll get it scheduled.” Pulling out her phone, she inviting the heads of several departments to join them at the downtown hotel. She’d clear it with Knox after brunch.

“Sounds good.” Rhett pushed back his chair. “Excuse me.”

Harper appreciated how fortunate she was to have this family and all their confidence backing her up. She didn’t take any of it for granted. In fact, maybe she had been too circumspect in protecting that valuable dynamic.

Not that stepping out of her comfort zone would’ve changed anything between her and Landon Walker. Even if he’d been a good guy, she couldn’t have taken that relationship further simply because her heart belonged to someone else.

Knox Moore.

The man sitting beside her right now, fending off questions from her dad’s older sister.

It took her a second to realize they were talking about roses. Apparently, her aunt had been exploring Brookwell, especially the Inn.

“Do you know I haven’t been here in years,” Aunt Ginny was saying to Knox. “Back in the day this was a destination. We had Hollywood actors out here gallivanting and causing trouble.”

Knox made all the appropriate responses to such a claim. Not that Ginny was exaggerating anything. Harper had learned from Trina that the Inn had once been known for its discretion when celebrities visited.

Knox bumped her knee with his. “I’ll be back in just a minute.”

She followed his gaze to see Uncle Bruce standing near the wall of windows that overlooked the gardens behind the Inn. “I’m coming with you.”

Knox smiled and held out a hand. “Works for me.”

She was so grateful he hadn’t tried to keep her out of it. She needed the facts and she wanted to be kept in the loop when it came to catching Walker. The man had put her through enough. She couldn’t allow him to continue to trash her reputation or her family properties.

They reached Bruce just in time to hear him say thank you and tuck his phone away.

“Good news!” He beamed at both of them and paused to kiss Harper on the cheek. “We got the arsonist.”

“Seriously?” Knox pumped his fist.

“Seriously,” Bruce confirmed. “Police picked him up a couple hours ago and he’s already talking. Apparently, Walker paid him half up front and stiffed him for the balance owed when the resort caught fire.”

Knox whistled. “So, he’s giving up Walker for a plea deal.”

“Exactly.” Bruce turned to Harper. “You don’t have anything to fear from the arsonist. He’s just a hired hand. No beef with you.”

“Well, color me lucky,” she murmured. How had such a lovely day turned so sour?

“You are,” Bruce insisted. “I know we still need to find Walker but this is good news. We’re on the right track, honey. You just need to hang in there.” He patted her shoulder.

“That is great news,” she managed. But she wasn’t feeling it.

Yes, she wanted Walker caught, wanted him to pay for his crimes. She just didn’t want that success to mean the end of her time with Knox.