Page 52 of Island Rescuer

Her brother snorted. “I would never try.” He winked. “Besides, it’s too easy and you make it too much fun.”

“Maybe I’ll skip brunch this week,” she said to Knox.

He shrugged. “I’m adaptable.” He brewed a cup of coffee and leaned back against the counter. “Bruce said it’s being hosted at the Inn this week.”

“What?” Everything about Rhett tensed up. “Since when?”

She rolled her eyes. He had issues with Trina that seemed to go way back. “You did hear about the fire?” she asked sarcastically.

“Well, yeah.” He spread his arms. “That’s why I’m here. Why can’t we do brunch at the hotel downtown? Why not Mom and Dad’s place?”

Because of her.

Brookwell allowed Knox more control of the situation. They wouldn’t be on the road for more than a few minutes coming or going.

“You got a problem with having it here on Brookwell?” Knox asked, far too casually.

Harper knew Rhett wasn’t a fan of the Inn, mainly because their family didn’t own it. Silly reasoning, rooted in his highly competitive nature. “I assumed if you’re visiting, you’d be staying there,” she said just to tweak him.

“I thought I’d stay here,” he shot back. The glint in his eye told her he suspected there was more going on between her and Knox than simple protection.

“Fine by me,” she said, refusing to let him get under her skin.

“Me too!” Knox chimed in. “Bedrooms are made up and ready to go.” He took a slug of coffee, his gaze never leaving Rhett. “You gotta clean up after yourself, though. We’re renting the whole house and we sent the staff away.”

“For their own protection,” she said.

“To simplify the situation,” Knox corrected. “With just the two of us, I don’t need any backup inside.”

Rhett stared down Harper. “Well then you’d be doubly protected with me here too.”

She turned up her nose. “I feel safer already. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got email to deal with.”

“One second.” Knox filled up a reusable water bottle for her. “Stay hydrated.”

Always. She went back to her laptop, ignoring the low murmur of male voices behind her.

Eventually Rhett would discover that only one of the four bedrooms was in use. She was almost looking forward to his reaction. She wasn’t ashamed that things had turned personal—intimate—between her and Knox. If her brother couldn’t take it, he could find somewhere else to stay.

* * *

“Why are you really here?” Knox demanded as soon as Harper walked out.

“Told you.” Rhett rolled his shoulders. “Mom’s been nagging me.”

“For brunch? Come on, you can do better.”

“Fine. She wanted me to check on her,” Rhett admitted. “She worries.”

“Your mom doesn’t think I have this under control.” Hell, she probably thought he was in on it somehow. That’s the kind of low manipulation his dad preferred.

“You’re wrong,” Rhett said. “She trusts you with Harper.”

Then why was he here? Clearly Rhett wasn’t in the mood to put all his cards on the table. “Whatever you’re dancing around, Harper’s happy to see you. That’s what counts.”

Rhett wouldn’t meet his gaze. He flexed his fingers. “Landon Walker is behind this, huh?”

“Good news travels fast,” Knox muttered. It wasn’t even the infamous Brookwell Island gossip grapevine this time. “You must’ve harassed Bruce to get that info.”

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