Page 77 of Playing My Rivals

“She’s a model. Of course, she’s beautiful, but that doesn’t mean I see her in a sexual way. She’s been your girlfriend on and off since the day I met her, so I’ve never let my mind go there.”

“Say she was my sister and you were my best friend. Then how would you feel?”

He tosses the document onto my desk. “You’re being very strange, Hunter. Would you care to explain?”

“Just answer the question.”

“It’s a setup for me to answer the question. I never know where you two stand. You could be with her today and break up with her tomorrow. I’m not going down this line of questioning with you. It’s nothing but trouble if I do.”

“Ava and I aren’t serious. I was just using her as an example because you brought her up.” I shove out of my chair. “Walk with me. I need to go speak with Niles about sales in one of our hotel casinos.”

Jonah nods and follows. I open the door and we meander down the hallway.

“Hunter, what’s up with you right now?” Jonah asks.

I glance at Hailey and smile. She pretends not to notice, but she did. She was looking directly at Jonah when he asked me the question. I wait until we’re far enough away to answer.

“Nothing’s up with me, Jonah. I was just curious if a man and a woman could be only friends.”

“That’s bullshit, Hunter.” We’re passing his office door when he says it and pushes me into the room.

“What the?—”

“What’s this about, Hunter?” Jonah closes the door and crosses his arms over his chest.

I have to come up with something, so I go back to where he took me.

“Ava has a friend she knows from Europe. She says they’re only friends, but I’m thinking there might be more to it.”

He treks to his desk and plants his ass on the ledge. “I knew you were trying to trap me into something I’d regret saying.”

I laugh. “You think I was trying to set you up? I’m beginning to think you don’t like me very much.”

“When it comes to you and women, I know better than to get involved. You don’t have a great record, so I’d like to stay out of it.”

“Says the single guy standing before me.”

“Touché.” He shrugs. “So tell me about Ava. What happened this time?”

I go to his bookshelf to give me some time to think. “It’s nothing that’s too big of a concern, but since she and I have been spending more time together, picturing her with this new guy makes me wonder if I can handle it if she moves on.”

“She’s been around a long time, but you’ve said you’ve never loved her. As a matter of fact, you’ve told me you see her more as a convenient date you can fall back on and that fucking her is just a pleasant side benefit.”

I turn to face him. “But what if she did move on with this friend? Then who would I have?”

“Try someone you actually love.”

That simple statement has me on the verge of telling Jonah everything. He’s my brother and could help tremendously, but would he understand? I’m about to spill my guts when his phone dings with an incoming text.

He retrieves it from his desk and answers it. He spends a minute going back and forth with someone and then gives me his attention.

He places his phone down. “Jamison’s not going to be available at all today. If we need him for anything, he has his right-hand man we can talk to. He warned that he’s a computer guy and not a business guy, so we have limited backup.”

“Did he say why he won’t be available?”

“No, but I’m assuming it has to do with the fact he’s on vacation.”

I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything Dorothy and Jamison told me. Their relationship is difficult for me to understand, so I hold back explaining what I know to Jonah.

---