Page 55 of Island Rescuer

“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?”

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