Page 45 of Playing My Rivals

“In that case, I’ll eat whatever else he serves.” I close the doors behind us. We return the lawn mower and finish our chores. Needing something to brighten my outlook, I tip my head toward the flowers. “Did you want to go out to the sunflower field?”

“You know I do. They’re beautiful.” She skips toward them.

Seeing her like this warms my soul. She’s so free and calm here. She’s in her element. I let my mind wander as I stroll over to her.

Over the years, we would go camping. Even though Aiden and some other friends were always with us, it was a special time for us. We would hike and I would point out flowers and tell her their names.

At night, all of us would lie on a huge blanket and take turns trying to find different constellations. I always did my best to be near her and I think she did the same. We’ve always loved being in nature together.

By the time I reach her, she’s already taking selfies with the giant sunflowers in the background. She’s absolutely radiant. Her smile holds enough energy to light the world.

She’s the sexiest, most beautiful ray of sunshine mixing in with the sunflowers. She could be the goddess of them if there were such a thing.

“What’s that grin all about, Jami?” She poses and snaps another picture.

“I was just remembering when we would go camping. Today has reminded me a lot of those days.” I reach out for her phone. “Let me take a couple of you.”

“Thanks.” She situates herself in between a group of flowers. “Look at this, Jami. They’re taller than me.”

“They’re Mammoth Sunflowers. They’re supposed to be that tall.” I take a few pictures of her. “I’m sending a couple of these to myself.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to remember this smile on your face.”

“I do that all the time.”

She steps out of the flowers while I group a few pictures and text them to myself. She reaches for her phone, so I hand it back.

“Not like this, you don’t.”

Her expression fades as she glances down, then her eyes sweep over the ranch. “It’s nice being out here. I don’t have all this pressure pushing on my mind.”

“That’s why I like it out here, too. I love the city, but this is a great place to visit on the weekends.” I start toward the house.

She skips up to my side. “How did you meet Chuck, anyway?”

“When I was looking to move, I came here early to find a place and went into a store. A woman was hanging an ad for a room for rent on a corkboard.

“She lived here and had moved out, so he had a room available immediately. I took it. A month later, I found a place to rent in the city until a unit in my current building came on the market. Chuck and I became fast friends for whatever reason. The rest is history.”

“So you’ve moved three times since you got in town?”

“Yep, but I don’t plan on moving again until after my contract is up.” I reach down, pick up a stone on the lawn, and toss it to a rock bed.

She gazes out to the fields and folds her arms across her chest. She gets quiet and lost in her thoughts. I give her the respect of silence because I think she’s wrestling with something. I’ll be here for her when and if she’s ever ready to discuss it with me.

I stay late at the office the following Thursday to conduct a conference call with my team. When I’m done, I wrap up and stroll home. I find myself passing by Dori’s loft even though it’s a couple of blocks out of the way.

She’s been unusually focused at work, which causes her to shut down emotionally. The timing seems coincidental, but I won’t push her, especially with Hunter in town.

Right as I enter the lobby of our complex, he spots me as he’s coming in from the garage. My muscles flex on instinct.

He swerves and comes over to me. “Jamison, it looks like you’re just getting home. It would be good to catch up.”

“I am, but I have some work to do, so another time.”

“I’d like to go over some updates we need. You don’t mind if I join you, do you?”

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