Page 56 of Island Rescuer

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 As if he thought my pictures were fake or wildly outdated.”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.”

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