Page 49 of Unspoken Promises

The ring of voyeurs disperses, but there’s a soberingmurmur I’m not sure even a few more pitchers of margaritas would liven up.

I go to sit next to Ava on the lounger and bend down to talk to her quietly. “You sure you’re okay?”

She’s still shaking.

“I kind of want to go home now.” She stares at the pool.

“I’ll walk you over. Or I can grab my car?”

“I’ll walk. I need to make sure my legs still work.” She laughs lightly. “I can’t stop shaking.”

Callum bends down in front of her. As a police officer, he’s qualified as an emergency medical responder. “Do you mind if I check you? I think you’re in shock, Ava.”

She offers a thin-lipped smile. “I swear I’m fine. I’d rather not have the attention anymore. I really am okay. More embarrassed than anything.”

Penelope wraps her arm around Ava. “He’s the one who should be embarrassed. What a fuckwit.”

“I should have seen it coming, Ava,” Callum apologizes. “I’m off duty, so I’ve had one too many to be sharp enough.” He sounds genuinely annoyed with himself.

I know how he feels. I stood there for two hours staring with the sole goal of protecting her and failed. Next time, there won’t be any space for Karls.

Because it will be me by her side.

16

It’sa quiet walk to the residential side of the ranch. Crickets chirp, and the buzz of cicadas sounds out. Apparently, the whole world still thinks it’s summer here in Echo Valley.

Ava hugs herself tightly into a cocoon of towels. Her legs are bare, and the air has cooled since night fell. The urge to wrap my arm around her to keep her warm is strong, but I doubt she wants that after having that asshole on her like a cape tonight.

Only the moon and small, dim solar lights illuminate the gravel paths leading to our houses. She kicks pebbles with her Doc Martens. I love that even whenshe slipped into something different tonight, she hung on to those boots. Maybe they’re a comfort item.

“I swear I’m smarter than that looked.” She sounds disappointed in herself.

Just the thought of her thinking she did anything wrong has my heart racing all over again.

“That had nothing to do with your intelligence, Scottie, and everything to do with that man’s lack of decency.”

“Mmm…”

We pass through the path between my dad’s house and mine. Her porch light comes into view. I glance to the right at my own home and think about how much better she’d be inside with me. I have Mom’s blanket that seems to be a cure-all. I have candles and fires and soft furnishings. Ava’s home is still stark and empty. A total contrast to her personality. She can’t feel comfortable in there.

“You didn’t have to fire him,” she says.

“Hold up.” I grab her arms and twist her so she’s square to me. “That stops now.”

“What?” Her eyebrows dance nervously.

“This self-blame thing you’re about to do. The false guilt. The false responsibility.”

She feels so seen she does that thing where people smile and laugh in a serious situation. But I’m dead fucking serious. She won’t go in that house blaming herself for that man’s shortcoming.

“What he did is not your fault. You didn’t invite him to play. He was an asshole with no respect for boundaries, and people like that don’t belong here.” I let go of her arms and turn to walk again, because I’m starting to sound dramatic.

It is dramatic, though. “The ranch is more than just a home to us. It’s about safety. Physical and emotional.”

“Safety?”

Her arm brushes mine as we walk, but I can’t tell if she’s done it on purpose.

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