Page 8 of Playing A Risk
“I’ll need your phone to transfer all your information to the new one.”
“No, you’re not understanding. I want a new number, and I was hoping you could have the IT department set me up with a different email. Just until the New Year.”
I shake my head. “I wish I could help you, but I don’t see how we can get around your email. The phone, yes. The email, I don’t know. People need to be able to communicate with you.”
“I’ve thought about that. The IT department can set up rules to forward important emails to my new one. I’ll still go through my old one, but I need to be able to take some time and not be available to everyone.”
She means Jamison.
“Okay. Leave it with me.” My mind goes into overdrive. This is a tremendous opportunity for me. I’ll make it work one way or another.
Dorothy takes a drink of her coffee and peers over the rim of her cup as she does. “Do you still have Melanie’s cell number?”
“Of course. Mel’s your best friend, so why wouldn’t I?” My stomach rolls over.
For what reason did Dorothy think I would erase her friend’s number?
She swipes away a piece of hair that’s fallen in her eyes. “I didn’t know where your head was. The last time we had a private conversation, you told me you were rethinking how you felt about me.”
“You told me you wanted something with Jamison more than you did me, but I didn’t believe we were done.” My hands shake. “Did you think it was completely over betweenus? Is that why you assumed I would’ve erased Melanie’s number?”
How could Dorothy brush me off that easily?
She bites her lip. “I didn’t know for sure. Telling you how I feel about Jami must have really hurt you, so I figured you would walk away and never talk to me again.”
My entire torso hollows out. “And it was that easy for you to let that happen?”
She spins off the stool and marches to the window. Her shoulders shake, but no sound comes from her.
I take a minute to try to understand—we were hours away from being over forever. The blood drains from my body and fear balls in my chest.
I round the island and stride over to her. “You said you wanted to be honest, so please tell me now. If what we had is done and over with, don’t string me along.”
She turns to me, her swollen eyes coated with sorrow. She wipes her face with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. I fold my arms over my chest to hold together my breaking heart.
“Hunter, I don’t know how to answer that. My mind’s a scattered mess. I can’t remember what I was thinking other than I had come to terms with the fact that you and I couldn’t go forward with our relationship because of work. I wasn’t ready to walk away, but I didn’t see any other choice.”
“The work issue makes sense. You’ve been upfront with me about that part. My question is, what are your feelings for me now?”
“My feelings haven’t changed. Good God, Hunter. I’m not a robot.” She has the audacity to storm away.
I growl deep from within. She knows running away from me makes my blood boil, but I restrain myself from going after her. She disappears down the hall and I take a minute to stabilize myself.
This therapy bullshit is working better than I thought itwould. Dorothy’s pushing every one of my buttons and I’m remaining in control.
My phone rings, so I jog into the kitchen to answer it. Jamison’s name illuminates the screen. No doubt he’s calling to find out if I know where Dorothy is.
My hands curl into fists. Since this guy makes me want to kill, I connect to his call to see how well my therapy is working for me.
I grit my teeth. “Jamison. Good morning. What can I do for you today?”
CHAPTER 3
JAMISON
My chest burnsfrom the shame that fills me, knowing I messed up. It’s clear I made a mistake, but Dori has to know there’s more to why I didn’t mention having a son.
Hunter’s smug attitude travels through the line. “As far as I know, Jamison, she took her vacation a week early. She’ll be back in the office in the New Year. There isn’t much to do these next two weeks, so the time off could be good for her. She has been stressed lately.”
