Page 32 of Unspoken Promises

I want to call him a pig but I don’t. Not in front of Bran. If our parents taught us one thing growing up, it’s never let anyone see a crack in our family.

But Santi is determined to talk about her, and now it’s becoming clear he’s goading me.

“I was talking to one of the guards this morning, and they asked if she’ll be allowed guests on site. I figure it won’t be long before all of Echo Valley’s eligible bachelor population is lining up at the gates for a chance with her. Not often you get a total package. Pretty. Smart. Witty. And she’s a real sweetie, too.”

My brother better not even think about getting in said line.

Bran pipes up. “You won’t even have to open the gates. There’s plenty of talk at the stables.”

“Keep those guys away from her.” The words slip from my lips before I think about how they sound.

I don’t even have to look at Santi to know he’s wearing one of his smug grins. “And why’s that?”

“She’s…” I try to focus on my email, but the screen is blurry. “She’s here to work.”

“She lives here, too, Zo. She needs time to play. Not everyone is you. She’s young.”

He had to remind me. She’s not only my employee but far too young for me to be getting protective over. Because I am. I don’t like these two talking about how pretty she is and how the men are lining up for her. I already know it and don’t need it said out loud. I saw how she turned heads with the stable hands who were at Town Hall. I saw even how Santi and my dad were enamored within seconds.

My reasoning is strong, even if it isn’t exactly the whole truth. “If I get that level of talent through the door at GhostEye and she leaves because of heartache, heads will fucking roll.”

Ava isn’t naïve, but I wouldn’t exactly call her street smart either. She didn’t even know she had a nut allergy, for God’s sake.

I add for emphasis, “I get the impression she’s not been away from home on her own before. I’m not sure she’d know how to handle some of the men in these parts.”

Santi puts his mug down and picks up a manila folder, opens it, and flips through a few pages. “Something tells me that woman can handle herself just fine. Anyway, I told the guards she can put anyone on the list as long as they have ID.”

I tap one of my keys harder than I intend, and both the guys glance over at me.

“Now that I think about it, she isyourtype, Enzo,” Santi teases.

“I don’t have a type.”

I’ve barely dated enough in the last years to zone in on one particular kind of woman. And I don’t know what he’s talking about anyway. My last girlfriend was almost two years ago and she was nothing like Ava.

He laughs. “I guess if a super-sexy computer geek isn’t your type, I suppose youdon’thave one because those are the exact boxes I would have ticked for you. I also remember you telling me you have a thing for redheads and freckles.”

I ignore him. And I’m glad I do because in that very small pause in the conversation about Ava, she comes through the door.

“Hey,” she greets us, and there are two thermal travel mugs in her hands. She has the laptop backpack I had deliveredwith her desk and supplies slung over her shoulder and, because it’s going to be a scorcher again, her long legs are bare and enticing. But as usual, she has on her boots. And that hoodie of hers hangs off her shoulders, prepared for the air-con.

“Well, good morning to you, sunshine,” Santi says in his cool, casual tone. I loathe that he’s offered her a nickname even though he does it for just about everyone.

He gestures to Bran. “You remember Brandon from last night? He was a little busy with Julia, but you might have met?”

Her face says she doesn’t remember him. Buthissays he remembers her plenty.

She waves. “Nice to meet you. Sorry if we already met, but I got through a lot of names last night.” She glances over at me nervously.

“That’s okay,” Bran is gracious. “I was new to Echo Valley not long ago myself.”

“Oh really? Where are you from?”

“I was living in Dubai.” Brandon is an expert self-publicist and, of course, Ava takes the clickbait.

“Wow,” she says, impressed as Bran intended. “What did you do there?”

“I trained some of the princes’ horses and jockeys.”

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