Page 55 of Playing My Rivals

I whip my head in his direction. “I appreciate all you do for me. You know that. But I’m not dating you for your money.”

“No. You’re dating me to get me to drop my defenses.” Accusatory flames flare from Hunter’s eyes.

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“It means you need to make a decision. Give me all your love. Not a love that’s held away at a distance because you have unresolved feelings about your past.” He pats his chest over his heart like it’s hurting. “Quit your job and let’s go public. Or does that ruin your plans?”

“The only plan I have is to do the best job I can at the place I’ve worked for the last four years. I’m not quitting, and it has nothing to do with unresolved feelings. So yes, it does ruin my plans.”

“That’s your decision? To stay at the company and fuck where that leaves us?” He treks toward me.

“Is that a serious question?” I reach for some leverage. “That’s like me asking you to quit.”

“It’s not even close. Now, I’ve already told you what I want. Are you telling me you don’t want the same thing?” He stops moving as he watches me closely.

“Why does this ultimatum feel like it could end us?”

His shoulders relax like he’s giving up some of the fight. “I want to be with you and I want the world to know it.”

“I would love that as well, but how do you propose that happening? And please don’t ask me to quit my job.” I need to diffuse this situation, so I go to him and take his hands in mine.

His eyes fly over my face with possessive need. “Marry me. The clause says you can’t date anyone. It doesn’t say you can’t be married to someone from Efron Worldwide. It’s a technical loophole they couldn’t fight.”

Once again, my mouth drops open. “Marry you?”

“Yes. Marry me and forget about the past. I’ll trust your intentions toward me are true and everything will be back to how it used to be.”

My mind goes blank. “I…I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes.” His expression softens. “Please, say yes.”

“You can’t be serious about this. We’ve only been dating for a few months.” I shake my head. “We still have so much to learn about each other.”

He releases my hands and steps back. An unfamiliar expression covers his face. “Why don’t you try being honest with me and tell me the real reason you won’t marry me?”

My mind shifts through everything he’s said to me since he’s been here. He’s desperate for us to go public, but I don’t understand why. I’m having a hard time reading between the lines.

“The reason is we’re not there yet. We can’t even go out to dinner in a normal restaurant. How can we get married?” I go to my couch and sit, giving myself a moment to think.

The enormity of this moment is overwhelming. He follows me and sits beside me.

Anxious desire emanates from his every pore. “If we get married, I’ll take you to dinner every night.”

“It’s not about that. I need you to slow down and think about what you’re asking of me.” I shift to face him. “My point is we’re not ready for such a big step.”

“Is that because you still have feelings for your brother’s best friend?” He studies me stoned-faced.

My heart stammers, and I blink a few times. “What? Why would you ask me that?”

“I remember you telling Jonah you had a thing for your brother’s best friend. You’re wearing a necklace from Jamison to remind you of something that happened long ago. So my logic is you must be stuck living in the past.” Hunter tilts his head as his expression grows dark.

“I told Jonah that to keep him off our trail.” My eyes drop to the floor because I’m about to fall into another lie. “Jamison has nothing to do with this. He gave me a gift because he knew I was upset.”

Hunter shoots up. “Why do you insist on lying to me?”

On autopilot, I rise to meet him. “I’m not. That necklace was?—”

“An inappropriate gesture from someone who has no business giving you such a personal gift.” He shakes his head, heartbreak oozing from him. “It’s time you stop living in the past.”

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