Page 38 of Playing My Rivals

She paces in front of me, so I rest over my legs and take her in. I love her so much it’s overwhelming.

“Hunter, what are you going to say to them?”

“I’ll tell them that I know you were with Jamison. They know he has a contract with my company. Once I tell them you work for me and Jamison was helping me keep watch over you while I was away, I’m sure it’ll all be forgotten by the time they get back to their apartment.”

“And you think they’ll believe you?” She guides me back and crawls onto my lap.

“I don’t give a fuck if they believe me or not, and neither should you. As long as I believe you, what’s the difference?” I pull her closer to me. I need to feel her.

She sighs and sinks into me. “If you believe me, I guess it doesn’t matter what they think. I’m sorry to even put you through it, though. I know you asked me to distance myself from Jamison. This wouldn’t be happening if I stayed at my loft, but your place has security, so I?—”

“If you wanted to be here because you felt safer, I don’t have an issue with it. Now, can we get on with more important things?” My lips reach for hers.

She presses her breasts against me and the rest of the night is what dreams are made of. This woman has me at her mercy, so I pray I don’t regret giving her my trust.

As we lie in each other’s arms while falling asleep, thoughts twist in my mind. She means too much to me to even think about losing her. I hug her a little tighter.

That means I’ve got to figure out the clause in her contract so I can walk her home and do things a normal boyfriend does, not Jamison. He’s protective of her, which doesn’t sit well with me.

My mind spins with ways he could steal her away from me. I roll to my side and let Dorothy sleep while I try to figure out what Jamison wants.

I get out of bed and go upstairs to my office so I can go through his contract. Information about his employment with Mateo is the second set of documents I go through.

He was there for two years, so there has to be something Mateo can give me that would help me figure out what Jamison’s up to. That gives me an idea, one he won’t see coming, so there will be no way for him to hide.

Ready or not, Jamison. Here I come!

CHAPTER 9

DORI

“You need to hear me loud and clear. These requests for changes need to get to me earlier than the day before they’re due.”

I roll my eyes as one of our marketing managers on the phone explains why they aren’t doing better with their requirements.

Once my conversation is over, I slam the receiver down. I know I’m being bitchy. Melanie’s made that clear by pretending to be busier than she is.

Jonah peeks his head in my office. “I know things are rough right now. They’ll get better.”

“Really? When?” I snap. “I’m about to tear my hair out. Nothing is going as planned and my ass is on the line to complete all our marketing proposals for our casinos by the deadline. The app is taking up so much of my time. I need another one of me just to complete the normal job requirements.”

“I understand, but it will get better soon.”

That’s all he says before he disappears. I know he’s avoiding me because of my shitty attitude, and I don’t blame him.

On top of that, Hunter told me he’d be out of town all weekend, attending various events. If we were a normal couple, I could fly out and be with him. But instead, Ava Aldridge gets to be on his arm all weekend. I place my head down on my desk and try to calm myself.

“Are you not feeling well?” Jamison strolls back into our office.

I lift my head. “I’m physically fine, but I can’t say the same is true emotionally.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“With a therapist, yes. You, no. If I do, you’ll think I’m nuts.” I pick up my phone and read the last scathing text message I sent to Hunter.

“What if I told you I already know you teeter on the nuts side?” Jamison teases.

I deadpan. “Very funny. I’m not sure you would want to hear about it anyway.”

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