Page 15 of Playing A Risk
Something tells me he did.
Just as that crosses my mind, someone knocks on the door.
“Come in.”
The door opens and Hunter steps back in. “Here’s your phone. You might want to call Aiden.”
He holds it out to me, so I take it. “You’re right, but what makes you say that?”
“Jamison called. He’s searching all over for you. When hanging up the phone, he mentioned something about Aiden enlisting the help of the FBI if he couldn’t reach you.”
I suck in a breath, then bite my lower lip. I knew Jamison would search for me, but the fact he and Hunter spoke puts me on the verge of tears again.
“Aiden would do that, so I’ll call him in a minute.” I lean against one of the bedposts. “What did you tell Jami?”
“I told him you went on your holiday vacation a weekearlier than planned and will be back in the office after the start of the New Year.”
Hunter’s gaze dials in on me for a second. “I didn’t tell him you were here or that I’d seen you. As far as he knows, you disappeared from his apartment and no one knows where you are. If you want me to let him know you’re here, I will.”
An iron wall goes up in my chest. “No. I don’t want him to know where I am. As long as he knows I’m alive and safe, he has no right to know anything else.”
“Then your secret is safe with me. But can I ask why you don’t want him to know?”
“Because he’ll demand to speak to me. I’m not ready to hear his excuses. I mean, what reason can he have? It’s not like you can just sweep this under the rug. Hunter, it’s his son. He has or had a fiancée. Why would he think that’s okay to keep from me?”
Hunter tilts his head and slides his hands into his pockets. “I don’t know, but there might be a good explanation.”
“And what would that be? Those two facts are huge. It’s not like he didn’t want to tell me he had sex with some woman. He proposed to Lauren. They have a child. How could he ever believe that wasn’t important information for me to have? It’s at the top of the list of things I’d want to know.”
Hunter stares at me stoned-faced, but wildness spins in his eyes. He knows something.
My gaze narrows. “What do you know about this?”
He shakes his head. “I’m not getting involved. It’ll only backfire if I do. When you’re ready to speak to him, you’ll hear it from him. Not me.”
I grit my teeth, wanting to pound on Hunter’s chest and force him to tell me, but he’s right. The explanation needs to come from Jami.
“Sorry. I don’t mean to pull you into this. You’re already doing more than you should.” I turn and go back to the bed.
As I’m climbing into the middle of the luxurious mattress, Hunter walks to the door. He peeks over his shoulder and his gaze drops as he stops himself from saying something.
He takes a breath. “If you need anything, text. I’ve got to go into the office for a bit, but I’ll return soon.”
He closes the door and I’m left to twist in confusion. Hunter not saying what’s on his mind is odd, but I can’t overthink his actions. I need to focus on figuring out this situation myself. But first, I need to call Aiden or he will send out a search team for me.
I dial his number and wait.
“Aiden Fisher speaking.”
“Hi, Aiden. It’s me, Dori.” I fiddle with the edge of a light pink throw on my bed.
“Hey there. What number are you calling from?”
“I have a new phone, at least for a little while. My other phone is acting funny, so I took it in to get it fixed. That’s why I’m calling. I wanted to let you know I’m doing okay and tell you how you can reach me if needed.”
He releases a heavy sigh. “Thanks for that. I was going to call you tonight. Jami said you took an early vacation and that he couldn’t reach you. He has some work thing he needs your help with, so call him after this.”
My throat tightens. Not going to happen, and I need to prevent Aiden from giving Jami this number.
