Page 52 of Playing My Rivals

“Nope. Hit or miss.”

“Thanks. Keep digging and find out if Dorothy Fisher has been to his place and vice versa. I know Jamison has walked her home, but let me know if he ever went inside.”

I gather the photos and place them back inside the envelope. Knowing I’m now investigating the woman I love, I hang my head in defeat.

I can’t believe it’s come to this.

I don’t want to go there yet, but it’s a possibility. They could be playing me to take down my business. It’s enough to make me want to roll over and die. She says she loves me, but now I don’t know.

Please let her love me.

As I think about it more, I remember her telling Jonah she had feelings for her brother’s best friend. At the time, I thought she was covering for us, but now I know that wasn’t the case.

She has feelings for Jamison. My heart breaks and hangs by a thread. One she could easily sever.

The stool crashes to the tile floor as I spin off of it and march out the front door to find her. My heart can’t take any more. I have to confront her lies.

CHAPTER 12

DORI

The banging against my front door sends me out of my skin in surprise.

“Dorothy, it’s Hunter. Open the door,” he growls. His tone is enough to tell me this won’t be a pleasant visit.

As I work my way back into my body, I rise from my couch and go to open it.

I take a deep breath as he comes into view. “Hunter, come on in.”

“As if you had a choice.” His shoulder brushes mine as he stomps by me and goes directly to the kitchen.

“Um…I do have a choice, so check your attitude with me or I’ll ask you to leave.” My gaze follows him as I shut the door and stand with my hands on my hips.

His green eyes darken and sweep over me. A million different expressions run across his face. There’s a whirlwind of confusing emotions in his eyes.

He grips the edge of the counter as he prepares himself for something. “Explain to me what this is between us.”

The room vibrates with foul energy. If it were a smell, I’d want to plug my nose.

I brush it off and join him. “What are you talking about, Hunter?”

“You heard me. Tell me what’s going on between us.”

“You know what’s going on between us.”

“I only know what you tell me. I don’t know what it really is.”

His distress is confusing me. I run my hand over his back. “Yes, you do. We’re in a relationship. We love each other?—”

“I love you, but do you really love me?” There’s something devastating in his voice, like a child who lost their favorite blanket, causing me to sense a rip in our connection.

“You know I do. What is this about?”

He spins to face me. His eyes beat down on my locket. Fury flashes in his eyes. “Who gave you the necklace?”

I freeze. He’s still focused on my jewelry. He’s like a rattlesnake waiting to strike.

Jamison warned me about the possibility Hunter was spying on me. I didn’t believe him.

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