Page 66 of Unspoken Promises

A smug smile quirks the corner of her mouth. “I said an argument in a sex shop not a sexual argument but I think that there is a Freudian slip. It was something all right. You were all loud and annoyed, and suddenly I couldn’t hear what you were saying.”

“You were listening at the door?”

“Luis was listening, too.” Her shrug tells me she thinks somehow this justifies her snooping.

It’s not like I need to hide things from Penelope, but Luis? Would he have talked to Enzo about it?

I throw my forehead in my hand. “Does everyone think we have a thing for each other now?”

Just then, Callum walks in.

Great.

Penelope doesn’t skip a beat, and why should I expect her to? She already told me she tells Callum everything. She’s totally relaxed as if I’m not blood-red over here.

“Ava just asked if everyone thinks she and Enzo are hot for each other.”

“Oh.” He digs around in a candy bowl on the checkout counter and picks one out. “Pretty sure the pool party cemented that rumor.” He unwraps the chocolate and pops it in his mouth. “So what’s the deal?”

Ugh. I’m having another moment wondering what’s appropriate to say. Enzo is my boss. But we’re friends, too, right? But then there’s the wave of hot lust that shivers downmy core every time he leans over my shoulder to point at my screen…

“I don’t really know what’s happening. I feel chemistry on my end, but it’s not going anywhere.”

I didn’t even think Enzo was a relationship guy until I heard about Dr. Frisco.

I’ve gone from feeling warm and fuzzy to inadequate real quick.

“You two would be a good match,” Pen offers.

Callum nods, still chewing something that clearly had caramel in it. He swallows. “You would. And he hasn’t been with anyone since Tara.”

Pen smacks his arm. “We’re not talking about her.”

“Oh.” Callum scrunches his nose and tilts his head at me sympathetically. “You like him enough you’re jealous already?”

“It’s notjealousy…” I try to find accurate words for how I feel. “I was surprised to hear about her…”

Penelope throws a hand on her hip and points at me. “Whatever you’re thinking, scratch that now. Yes, she was a decent woman, I’m not a hater like that, but you aremorethan enough woman for Enzo. You’re gorgeous, intelligent as fuck, kind, and down to earth… which is something that guy needs in his life by the way. I hope you’re not even thinking just because his ex was a doctor that you can’t replace her. People break up for a reason anyway.”

“Plus, he’s into you,” Callum says. “The man doesn’t take his eyes off you when you’re around. He’s obsessed. If I didn’t know he’s a good man, I’d put one of my guys on your doorstep.”

My heart feels all floaty again. “I’m just happy we’re getting along and working together on something meaningful. I mean, at GhostEye.” I wonder if Callum’s observationcould possibly be true. “It’s just a temporary, silly crush.”

As soon as the words leave my lips, they feel all wrong. Crush doesn’t seem like the right way to describe what’s going on in my guts when Enzo is near. But I don’t know much about being in love.Nothingto be exact. I don’t know what it’s like to have a feeling beyond some flutters downstairs over Manny Montana inGood Girls. I mean, that bathroom scene with her husband outside was enough to make any woman fall to her knees. But liking a man romantically? Is this what it’s like? Being so crazy you compromise your morals? Jealousy? Feeling not enough in an instant?

I liked it better earlier today when he grabbed my mouse off me and his warm, manly skin sent fireworks across my own.Thatfelt good. Now that I’m trying to define it, it’s confusing.

Maybe the way my stomach dropped hearing about Tara is all part of the messy emotion, because Pen seemed to read me perfectly. I guess she’s been there before. Maybe with Callum. There’s no doubt there were people staring at him at that pool party, too. And some did more than stare. Not that he entertained any of it.

Penelope goes behind the counter to lock the cash register. “We better go. These sessions are actually live first so you can ask questions. We can’t miss the beginning.”

Just then, my phone beeps in my pocket. I slide it out.

ENZO

Did Penelope and Callum mention the festival Thursday?

We walk out of the back shop room, and Penelope locks it with a key.

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