Page 70 of Unspoken Promises

He takes a ball from the box. “Here, I’ll show you what I learned in Little League.”

I can’t remember the officer’s name but I know Cal doesn’t surround himself with scum. Still, when he begins to slide into Ava’s personal space to give her a lesson, I’m not letting that happen.

I tap his shoulder before he gets any closer. “I got this.”

All eyes snap to me, especially Cal’s friend, who takes this as a man-to-man moment to assess what I’m really trying to say. My gaze must be a clear message because he hands me the ball.

“By all means…”

There are a lot more people around than I’d like when I stand almost flush with her, all that skin smelling of musk and tempting me more than ever. Every inch of her is irresistible. I want to dive right in and take a bite of that beautiful curve where her neck meets her shoulder. My heart pounds, and I try to concentrate on the task because everyone is looking at us, which makes me all the more uncomfortable, but I’ll take this discomfort to watching another man be anywhere near her.

She takes the ball from me, and I stand behind her, slide my hand over the back of hers, and raise her arm to show her the motion.

“You’re raising your arm too up and down.” I show her what she’s been doing and how she was releasing the ball to close to her shoulder.

She allows me to move her arm up and down but she’s stiff almost everywhere else, and I’m getting stiff, too. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the urge to wrap my free arm around her waist and haul her into me.

“What you need to do…” I draw her arm back farther. Her shoulder blade hits my chest, sending electricity across every inch of my skin. “… is pull back a little farther.” I move her arm slowly to show her the motion. “And release it here…” When her arm falls forward in mine, her hips inch backward, skimming the fabric of my now tight jeans.

I let go of her hand but can’t resist the urge to let my touch glide for a moment along her feminine wrist. Lord, how I could throw her down here and now and suck that perfume right off her.

Fuck.

I shove hands in my pockets and dip my head toward the dunk tank. “Give that a try.”

Her lips are parted in that sensual way like she’s asking for more. Damn, I’d like to give it to her.

She’s breathless. “Thanks.”

Her honey eyes hold mine like they don’t want to let go. But if I hold this gaze any longer with her in that sexy hoodie hanging off her shoulders and her nipples pointing right at me, I’ll have a fuck-it moment coming on.

I flick my finger toward the tank. “Give it another go.”

She nods, and it somehow releases us both from this magnetic pull. She shimmies her shoulders, preparing for another throw. This time, the ball releases better, but it’s not enough progress to hit the target.

She throws her hands to her hips. “I’m not sure that’s my forte.”

Santi offers another ball. “It takes practice.”

She shakes her head. “Thanks, but you have a go.” Her intensely gorgeous round eyes sparkle when her gaze meets mine. “I’m off to the Ferris wheel?”

A hot trail burns through my insides, and I dip my chin, turning from everything I don’t give a shit about and toward everything I ever wanted from tonight.

Suddenly, I don’t regret sending that text one little bit.

She waves goodbye to Callum and Penelope, and we’re no more than ten steps away before a ping sounds off behind us, followed by a splash.

Ava giggles but doesn’t look back. “Sounds like they got Bran.”

“Santi has a good arm.”

“You have good arms…” A lilt of flirtation hangs on her statement.

A smile teases the corner of my lips. It’s a common feeling when I’m with Ava. Thealmostsmile. Fuck, I feelgood around her. Everything turns from gray to color in her presence.

We amble along, and I don’t want to make conversation and ruin watching her experience all of this. It’s an adventure just observing her. When a kid bumps into her because he’s too focused on unwrapping a toffee, she laughs. When a small practice firework whistles into the sky then fizzles out like hundreds of falling stars, her chin tips upward, and the awe in her eyes is as breathtaking as anything I’ve ever seen.

Everything she does is a lesson in how to live. Appreciate every moment. Be in awe of the small stuff.

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