Turn Towards the Sun: Book Three- Forever in Bloom (The Sunflower Trilogy) by Jennifer Domenico Page A

nods and holds the door open for me. Enzo climbs in the opposite side and we both settle in for the morning drive to downtown Phoenix. Enzo pulls out his phone and answers a few emails before turning slightly to face me.
    “I’d like your opinion, Ava. Do you think I should announce the tentative date for La Bellissima today? Or wait until we get a little closer?”
    I cock my head at him. Enzo has never asked me to help him with any decisions on this level. I am almost too surprised to answer.
    “What are you leaning towards?” is my tentative response.
    He shakes his head. “I’m not sure. Part of me wants to put it out there and generate some excitement, but there are still so many things that could delay the opening. I just don’t know if the timing is right.”
    “Who helped you with these types of decisions before?”
    Enzo looks up at me, his blue eyes shimmering in the sun, and smiles warmly. “No one.” He brushes my cheek with the back of his hand. “But now I have you, my partner in all things. I want your opinion.”
    This simple gesture nearly causes my heart to burst. “Thank you for trusting me.”
    “I always have.”
    “My honest feeling is that it is too soon to announce a date. To your point, we still have a lot to accomplish. I think you can start talking about how it’s several months ahead of schedule and maybe even share some of the features and amenities of the hotel. That should generate the excitement and interest you want.”
    Staring at me for a moment, Enzo simply lifts my hand to his lips, and presses a gentle kiss against it. “Perfetto. As soon as I heard your words, I knew that was the right thing to do. I think I am just getting excited. I love unveiling a new hotel, Ava. It’s like…” he stops suddenly and I think I realize what he almost said.
    “It’s like a baby?” I ask. “It’s okay, babe. I understand what you mean.”
    “Well, yes. Watching something I created from nothing, become something. It’s the closest analogy I can think of.”
    “I get that. It’s very exciting.” I smile and rub his hand, then twist my fingers in his. “You know something?” Enzo looks over at me. “I adore you. You always tell me that, but I need to say it back to you. I absolutely adore you.”
    Enzo chuckles softly. “I know this but I do love hearing it. Your words have always been precious to me.”
    My eyes shift to the front seat where Grayson sits, appearing to focus on the road, but the smile on his lips gives away that he was listening to us. Pulling up in front of the building where the news station is, I’m reminded of our press conferences related to that horrible book scandal. At least we’re here to talk about something positive.
    We walk inside and up an escalator to the studio where the interview will take place. As soon as we enter the room, a receptionist greets us and a young man named Eric comes out to meet us right away. He ushers us to another room where we are told to wait for a just a few minutes until the anchor is ready for us. Never in my life did I think I would be going on a morning show for any reason. Even though the interview isn’t about me, it’s still very exciting.
    Moments later, Eric returns, talking in a headset, and leads us to the set where the anchor, Jasmin Taylor, waits in a seat for us. Two women stand over her, fixing her hair and makeup while she sips a cup of coffee and stares at her phone. Her eyes shift up at us briefly, but she makes no attempt to address us or even smile.
    Before I know it, an army of women come at me and Enzo, patting us with powder and picking at my hair. Now I really know how it feels to be a celebrity. I look over at Enzo who is obviously used to this treatment. He winks and smiles while a woman moves his hair into just the right position, in her opinion.
    After several minutes of this, we are led to our seats. Jasmin sits in her seat across from us and has yet to even acknowledge our presence. She