Page 68 of Playing My Rivals

I shouldn't be telling her this, but I do anyway. “You know, I seem to sleep better when you’re next to me.”

Her cheeks turn red. “I was thinking the same thing when I woke up this morning. I was sure I wouldn’t sleep a wink. When I did, it surprised me.”

Our eyes lock together and heat rises in my chest. I seem to find the most inappropriate moments to want to kiss her. Even though she’s across the table, it’s like she’s in my soul. I run my index finger across my mouth to replace the ghost of her pouty lips against mine.

There’s a glint of fire-red desire behind her emerald eyes. They drop and then lift so she’s peeking through her thick lashes. Her breasts are pushed up and out, and she leans toward me.

With her expression smoky and hot, she asks, “Do you still think about me that way?”

CHAPTER 16

DORI

The terror bleeding down Jami’s face suggests my question may have crossed a line.

“What way would I think about you?” His Adam's apple moves up and down as he shifts in his chair.

My heated gaze is connected with his. “The way you felt about me when you kissed me.”

“Jesus, Dori. The better question is will I ever not think about you that way. But it’s not in the cards for us, so I do what I always do and push it aside.” He glances away with pain etched on his face. “I realize it’s not going to happen.”

“I think you’re—” My phone rings, so I peek at the screen. “It’s the hospital. I’ve got to take this.”

He pushes off his chair. “I’m going to shower and get ready while you do that.”

My eyes travel down his T-shirt-covered chest as he stands. I’ve never hated fabric more because he’s absolutely the sexiest man alive. I want to see that hard, muscular, bare chest of his. On the flip side, he makes T-shirts and sweatpants look like they belong on the designer rack.

Good God, Dori. Aiden’s in the hospital.

What are you doing thinking about how sexy Jamison is right now?

Sleeping next to him was heaven though, so it’s hard to keep my thoughts at bay. He just understands me and always knows how to calm me. My feelings are getting harder to deny with each minute.

I shake my head and take the call. “Hello.”

“Is this Dorothy Fisher?” a female asks.

“Yes.”

“Hi, this is Nancy, Aiden’s nurse for today.”

“Oh, great. I was waiting for your call. How’s Aiden?”

“Aiden’s first round of tests look positive. He has normal brain activity, and the swelling is being managed very well. We still have a few more tests to do before the doctor decides to bring him out of the coma and he wants to watch the swelling for a while longer. But so far, everything is looking good.”

“This is such good news. So he’s going to be okay?”

“It looks good right now. We’ll know more once all the tests are completed. We’ll keep you updated throughout the day.”

“Thank you.” My shoulders drop and the pounding in my head instantly disappears.

I’m hanging up with the nurse when a text comes in. It’s a message from Hunter. My chest turns into a wall of guilt. I haven’t thought of him since I left the hospital and thanked him for the use of his jet. I press my lips together and read it.

Hunter: Hey, beauty. I just wanted to reach out and see how you’re holding up. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.

I bite down on my lip. I don’t deserve the olive branch he’s giving me, not after my lies and lingering feelings for Jami.

It’s at this moment I know I need to figure out my feelings for Hunter once and for all. He’s wonderful, but there’s too much that doesn’t work with us. And my growing emotions for Jami are the biggest thing standing in the way.

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