Page 33 of Unspoken Promises

“That must have been incredible. Sounds fancy.”

“It was, but I’m kind of over my nomadic, ex-pat days and just want to settle down. Call me boring.”

She comes next to me on my side of the meeting table and places the mugs down. “I doubt there’s ever a boring day when you work with horses.”

He chuckles in agreement, stands, and grabs one of the manila envelopes. Santi stands, too.

Bran taps the edge of the folder in his hand. “You knowwhat, why don’t you come round the stables on Friday after work? I can show you some of the horses?”

I guess this means Bran is first in line. Everything in my body goes taut.

I’m going to have to figure out a way to uncoil my muscles every time some guy takes an interest in Ava. It’s not my place to be jealous. I don’t want Ava leaving the company because Santi gets mixed up with her, so that goes for me, too.

“Really?” She glances at me as though she needs permission but answers because she doesn’t. “I’d love that.”

“Also…” Santi darts his gaze over to me, too; his invitation is for Ava, but he really wants to see how I’ll respond. “We’re having an Indian Summer pool party that night with stable workers and jockeys. We’ll have a barbecue over at the pool house. Dad will be there. If you want to invite Penelope and Callum, feel free. It might be the last barbecue of the year.” They make their way to the door. “Zo, you know you’re invited, too, but I’m guessing you’re too busy.”

I don’t answer, but he doesn’t wait for one either and heads out followed by Bran.

But then Bran turns around, reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a business card. He hands it to Ava along with a debonair dimple. “Here’s my cell. Text me when you’re off Friday, and I’ll meet you before the party.”

She takes the card but not as enthusiastically as she does most things. Maybe she’s more worldly than I thought because this man is making a move and she seems to know it.

She lifts the card. “See you Friday.”

I thought they’d never leave.

I click over to a document I drew up. “I had somethoughts on another project you could help with this morning.”

“Me, too, actually…”

She offers a shy smile, and I know she’s still thinking about last night. So am I, especially now that so much of the skin on her thighs is on show and they look creamy and absolutely fucking delicious. I’m thinking all of that and more but I’m sure it will soon fade.

She sits on the table right next to me, her toned legs only a foot or two away from me and very much at my eyeline, making the shape of them and the enticing way they disappear into her shorts impossible to ignore.

“Your dad stopped by to check on me this morning and brought me these peppermint teas. He said it’s a natural antihistamine.” She thrusts one of the mugs in my direction. “He brought one for you, too.”

I take it from her and have a sip, letting the warm liquid soothe my throat. It’s been gearing up to blow fire since she walked in with those lean pins and I had to share the view with Bran and Santi. I put the mug down.

Dad didn’t know Ava would be coming to work with me here today. I only left her a note to meet me here this morning. That means Dad brought two teas to make sure she’d come and find me. I should have known he’d eventually try to set one of us up with Ava. It didn’t take long.

She runs her finger around the rim of the mug, slowly, pensively, then offers me one of those laughs that compensates for nerves. “He told me the cream was his idea. He said he didn’t want me to think you’re some perverted, opportunistic boss or something.” She takes a sip.

My dad is about as discreet as Ava is.

She puts down the mug and gives a morning stretch tothe air. Her t-shirt rises just enough to expose her soft belly and have my fingertips tingling for another touch.

“I don’t think that by the way,” she says, almost as if yawning. “If anything, I was worried you’d thinkIwas weird going to you.”

Weird is not the word that came to mind. Not last night. Not this morning when I was still thinking about how her breasts were delicate mounds and the seam of her shorts hugged her hips. I wish Ididthink it was weird. On the contrary, it felt really good and natural to touch her, and I’m happier than I should be to see her again.

I clear my throat. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. Mostly. Still a tiny bit itchy on my back but the burn is gone. My throat is back to normal.”

“So…” I move my finger around on my touchpad as if focusing on my laptop even though when she leans forward and grips the edge of the table her legs spread open and her loose tank top makes a shadow I’d like to dive into. I clear my throat again. Ain’t enough tea in the world to soothe the fire building there.

“How is it that you didn’t know you had a nut allergy?”

---