Page 64 of Unspoken Promises

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It wasn’teasy to work the following day so close to Enzo, because the magnetism between us is a tide so forceful anytime I’m near him it threatens to drag me out to sea. I’m drowning in my attraction to him. Mentally we’re always on the same wavelength. Physically we brush up against each other and the air sizzles with tension. Spiritually… we’re connected in an understanding I never thought I’d find in another human being.

Something happened when he shared his past on the couch in that dim lit, downstairs cinema. Knowing his story, knowing how his soul aches in the same way mine does, knowing his need for justice comesfrom a deep well of darkness just as my own… I can’t imagine I’ll ever feel closer to a person, and it’s made me think about the man night and day. I can’t sit next to him without wanting to touch him and breathe in that masculine spice of his. Concentrating has become a feat of determination.

And I really do need to tell him my story, too, now.

I close up my laptop and steal another glance of his chiseled jawline in the blue light of his computer. Code reflects in his glasses, and he’s the most handsome thing I’ve ever seen. I wish I could throw myself on him, legs spread, and whip our shirts off, dive my tongue in his mouth like I almost got a chance to at the Perks shop. But there’s still too much at stake.

I am here to chase freedom, not dick. He’s my boss, and even if we did hook up, which I know is only frowned upon, not forbidden by the contract I signed, I’m not sure my inexperienced heart could take it if we got involved romantically. If when he finds out I’m damaged goods he doesn’t want to touch me with a barge pole.

All I used to think about was freedom. Now, I think about where I want to be free, and somehow, knowing that’s Echo Valley, even on this ranch, even possibly with Enzo, raises the stakes of my confession.

I slide my laptop into my backpack. “I thought we’d make more progress today.”

It’s a lie. The minute I sat down and felt his energy, I knew I wouldn’t get as much done as I would have in my bed with the breadcrumbs.

He throws me a brief smile of agreement.

Enzo hasn’t withdrawn since telling me about Ensenada, but I can tell he’s feeling raw and vulnerable. I give him grace because I’ll need his before too long. I don’t want to detract from the hacks, it’s the most important thing to himright now, but I’ve decided I need to tell him about Father whether we figure out the source of the hacks or not.

Enzo wants the truth from me. And if Father has any chance of closing in on me, I well and truly feel like there’s too much to lose now.

“All right, time to head to Pen’s.” I smooth my hands into my back pockets and gaze down at his gorgeous profile. “See ya.”

He glances up and holds my gaze for longer than a goodbye should last. So much passes through his deep-brown eyes. So many questions. So much closeness that wasn’t there before.

“Have fun, Scottie. You deserve a break.”

It’s not easy to peel myself away from his side, but he’s right. “You need a break, too. Maybe go ride Estrella or something?”

I worry he’ll work himself to the bone. Then again, if he’s anything like me, and I’m quickly learning he is, you lose all sense of time when you fall down a cyber rabbit hole.

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Promise me you’ll at least eat?”

He puts his hand on mine, and fireworks explode on every inch of my skin.

“Have fun.”

“You’re so stubborn,” I tease.

A smileghosts his lips. “I’ll eat.”

I didn’t wantto leave Enzo, and at the same time, I’m relieved to meet up with friends and not let this shitstorm of confused feelings sweep me away in a muddy river. I need to get the waters running clear before heading back into the office tomorrow.

I really want to tell Enzo about Father soon. I’m getting way to complacent and comfortable here, forgetting for hours on end I escaped and he’s probably looking.

I’m going to need some serious composure to tell my story and be clear about my aim. Right now, I swear every time I talk to Enzo I sound like a breathless teenager.

A Monarch Hills guard drops me on the main street near the Pages and Perks alleyway. I wander past the coffee shop and up the side street, up to the warm light pouring out onto the hammock outside Pages and Perks. The door tinkles its soft bell, and I walk out of the still, warm evening and into the cool air-conditioning to find Penelope.

Penelope asked me and Callum to watch the new video put up by the SETI Foundation and listen to her Ham radio over wine and mocktails. I need this breather. I need something light and fun for a while. Just a short breath of fresh air, then I can dive back underwater again.

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a true-life obsession for Pen. I love having a friend who is passionate about something. She even writes alien cowboy romance which, I’m new to the spicy scene, but I’m thinking is even more niche than Arthur’s art. But who knows. There were a lot more people showing up for Luis’ book club in the teeny town of Echo Valley, so it seems to me, romance readers have taken over the world.

Pen is in the “perks” department stocking vibrators. I squint my eyes at a women’s toy on the shelf that’s basically a tiny stick with a suction cup thingy.

She senses me staring and rattles one of the boxes in her hand. “It’s La Langue Fatale.Honestly, I’m shocked it took that many years to come out with a clit sucker.”

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