Page 26 of Playing My Rivals

“It wasn’t like that. I found it odd that she jumped the second you walked into the room and told you what we were talking about. You didn’t ask, so it seemed…I don’t know, a bit paranoid.” I swallow down my disgust.

Yeah, the asshole in me is alive today.

Dori’s eyes shoot out of her head like she can’t believe I said that out loud. Hunter glances at her and she quickly squares her shoulders and stares back at him. I want to roll my eyes again, but don’t.

“I think she was just being considerate of me. Paranoid is a stretch.” He steps up to my desk and thumbs through the packet Dori gave me. “It looks like you’ve put a lot of work into this.”

Dori softens with Hunter’s praise. “We have. If you want, I’d happily review it with you in your office.”

He smiles at her with longing. “I wish I could, beauty, but I need to leave now. We take off in an hour.”

Her eyes quickly shift between Hunter and me. She lowers her voice. “Don’t call me that here.”

He nods, but with an “oh well” kind of smile. “Of course not. It was a slip.”

“Well, don’t slip again.” She glances back at the door and rubs her neck.

“Relax. Only Jamison heard me say it, and he doesn’t care. Do you?” He tilts his head and half glares, daring me to say otherwise.

I’m feeling ornery, so I let my inner asshole show. “I wouldn’t call her pet names in the office, no matter who’s in the room. You put her in an awkward position. You know how she feels about her job, so it seems selfish to do it knowing she could lose it if someone found out.”

His chest expands in caution, telling me to step back. “Your protectiveness for her is wearing on me.”

I raise my eyebrows and shrug. “That sounds like a personal problem.”

“You two need to stop. This is not the time or place.” She glares at me as she pushes Hunter toward the door.

I laugh inside, knowing I got to the selfish prick.

“Watch yourself, Jamison.” He gives me a side-eye warning and then turns to Dori. “I’ll call you later. Feel free to stay at my place while I’m gone.”

She gasps and wraps her arms around her waist. “Hunter, not here. Good God, are you trying to get me caught?”

“Sorry. I’ll work on it.” He places his hand on the doorknob and mouths “I love you” to her.

I almost lose my breath with his declaration. It slices my heart into two as my stomach turns to iron. I suck in air and twist away so I don’t have to witness her response.

It was enough to see him say it. I don’t need to torture myself anymore.

My cell phone rings, so I check to see who it is. Hunter opens the door and leaves. I glance up and Dori’s staring at the floor.

The phone rings again, so I go to answer it. It’s Chuck.

“Hey, Chuck. How are you?”

“Jamison, I’m doing fine, but I’m calling to ask a favor.” He coughs and I shake my head. His cough hasn’t subsided much.

He needs to get back to the doctor because this has gone on way too long.

“What kind of favor?”

He wheezes. “I’m a little under the weather. The doctor called in a prescription for another antibiotic. It’s ready to be picked up. Since you’re coming out here tomorrow, do you mind grabbing it for me?”

“Sure. Just text me the pharmacy and I’ll have my assistant pick it up. I’m glad you called the doctor. I was just thinking I needed to get you back in to see them.”

“That’s nice of you to worry. I might need to go if these antibiotics don’t work, so here’s hoping they do. I don’t like doctors. They enjoy telling you bad news.”

His comment reminds me of all my losses. “In a lot of cases, I’d say you’re right. Although it’s not their fault they’re the bearers of bad news.”

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