Page 45 of Unspoken Promises

He helps me upright. “You okay?” He glares behind me at the guy who bumped me.

“Yeah, no biggie.” I tuck some hair behind my ear.

I’m so out of my comfort zone I change the subject but only make matters worse. “Hey. We match.” I flick my finger between our bathing suits and quickly regret drawing any attention to my nipples.

Enzo keeps his gaze almost forcefully above my shoulders. “It’s my favorite color.”

“Now I know two things about you.”

Just then, Luis taps my shoulder. “Our first party in Echo Valley!” He seems like he’s already had a beer or three. It’s wonderful to see him so relaxed.

“Penny!” Luis says louder than he needs to. “Would you like a beer? Ava? A soda?”

Enzo still lurks behind, aligning buns with military precision on a serving platter, but I notice him flick up his gaze for a moment when Luis asks what we’d like.

Luis is tipsy and doesn’t wait for our answer. “Also, Enzo brought a bunch of nut-free snacks. I think he got you some non-alcoholic beverages, too…” He turns to Enzo. “Hijo, get these girls a drink and show Ava where her stuff is?” He turns back to us. “Gotta get back to the burgers.” He puts his hands in the air and dances his way back to the grill in perfect synchrony to the beat of the pop song playing in the background.

Enzo got me special food? And I didn’t even think he was paying attention that day before Town Hall when Luis mentioned I don’t drink.

My chest is pink with nerves. I don’t know what’s been going on since the infamous hives massage, but Enzo just keeps getting more and more attractive to me, inside andout. He’s attractive when he has on that powerful look of concentration in front of his laptop. He’s attractive when he stares out of the window trying to think up new ideas. He’s attractive when he’s eating soup. Tying his shoes. Making sure I’m not eating nuts… And seeing him half naked isn’t helping matters. He’s switched on something inside me that’s never turned on before.

But Penelope has no intention of letting me slip away from him. “So, Enzo, it seems like your pops is settling in all right?”

“Let’s hope so.”

“James is excited to have the new book club at the shop.”

Enzo lifts a disbelieving eyebrow.

“Seriously. He said it could even bring interest from out of town. There’s nothing like it in the area, and it could bring footfall. He even ordered more romance books, and we’re going to put a special table out on meeting nights. Who knows? Your dad might just have come up with a great marketing tactic for a tiny town’s only bookstore.”

I bump into Pen’s arm. “Hey, James should putyourbook out.”

Terror slides down her face. “No way. He already offered. I don’t want people I actuallyknowreading my book.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know! It’s imposter syndrome or something. I haven’t even told Callum my pen name. No pun intended.” She points her finger into her cheek. “Wait. Is that even a pun? Anyway, I’m happy being who I am to all of you. Alien-tracking, bookshop-managing, adult-toy-peddling girl next door.”

That’s a new detail. “Where do you sell adult toys?”

She wiggles her eyebrows. “I didn’t have time to showyou the back room at the bookstore…” Her next words have a sly edge. “Why do you think it’s calledPages and Perks?”

“Wow.” I’m baffled. “James seemed so strait-laced.”

She shrugs. “It was my idea. He’ll do anything for a buck.”

I shouldn’t ask in front of my boss but I can’t help my curiosity. “What’s in the Perks section?”

At that, Enzo interrupts. “Drinks?”

“I’m fine.” Pen says. “Callum is over there mixing margaritas. I’ll get one of those in a minute.”

I’ve been thirsty since bumping into Enzo. “Do you have any Red Bull?”

“Some vodka with that?” Pen shimmies her shoulders.

“She doesn’t drink.”

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