Page 60 of Unspoken Promises

“Clean space, clear mind.”

She bumps herself into me, sparking off every inch of my skin. It takes a lot of restraint not to grab her by the waist and throw her up on my countertop.

“Hey, my uncle used to say that.”

Her uncle.I searched for him, too, after she told me about him at the grocery store. There weren’t many Scotts in Oregon that fit the age of a man who would have cared for her. I also found no Scotts who could have been her mother.

“Burrito, please,” she answers, finally standing up and out of my personal space.

To cool off, I imagine the disappointed glares of employees next time I go to headquarters. The humiliation of beingthatboss. Now that we’ve touched. Now that I know what her body feels like under my palms, I could hardly get work done sitting next to her. I was already in awe of her talent, now, I’m in awe of her beauty… the way her curves create a silhouette and her hip is a perfect cradle for my hand. She has my blood pumping.

She also has me making all sorts of excuses. It’s not like she’s working in the offices. It’s not like anybody really knows her. It’s not like it’s Debbie from payroll. Still, it’s not the man I am.

I preheat the oven, take out two glasses, and fill them with water. “Unfortunately, I only have tequila and kombucha in the house.”

She takes her glass up from the counter. “Water it is.”

Her pretty lips press against the glass, and my imagination surges toward what it would be like to have that luscious pout on my mouth. I almost had her.

I need to get on some other subject. “How are you settling in next door?”

“With such a short contract, I didn’t think settling in was a good idea.”

Three months doesn’t offer her much security. “About that. In light of the work we have today…” I search for the least harsh words to describe what’s going on. “Now that we have this…”

“Scandal?” she teases.

“I was going to say project…”

She leans onto her forearms on my counter. Her tank top drops, and two voluptuous breasts hang down.Focus, Enzo.

How the hell is she acting so normal when I’m half hard in my pants over here?

She gazes at me over her glass of water with those honey eyes. “Since you like contracts so much, it might be time to draw something up. If I reach the performance indicators on this”—she makes air quotations— “project… I want to discuss apermanentposition. I mean, not that you have to house me here on the ranch, of course, but I’d love it if Imake enough to pay rent and you want the house filled. No matter what, I want to stay at GhostEye.”

“I’ll extend the contract if you perform.”

Why did that sound like I’m making an exchange for something more than her cybersecurity services?

She deserves as much anyway. Though that means she’ll be my employee even longer, and if she lives here, I’ll submit myself to agony with her lean legs and freckles running around the ranch every day.

I wouldn’t want her living anywhere else though. Not knowing she has problems. Not knowing how much everyone loves her here either.

It’s impossible not to love that request, confusing as it is. “You’d want to settle on the ranch?”

“Who wouldn’t want to live here?”

“Because it’s safe?”

“That…” She twists her lips. “And you boys are just… great.”

Nice to be lumped in with everyone.

Better to change the subject because jealousy is creeping up my neck. “What would be the first thing you get for your house? When you do settle?”

The personal question catches her off guard. But besides distraction, the urge to get to know her better is real. What are Ava’s hobbies? What’s her favorite season? How would she decorate her home?

“I’ve never been able to choose home decor before…” She stands again, taking that sensual view along with her. “Art, I guess. I’d love to have some art.” She glances around. “I see you’re into your paintings and sculptures.”

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