Page 92 of Playing A Risk
“Okay, I won’t. But we should still get tested.”
“If that’s what you want, we will, but I’m not worried.” He pulls me into his arms. “Don’t let thoughts of her seep into our reunion. There’s absolutely zero interest on my part, so please don’t worry about her.”
“Hunter, if there’s anything I’ve learned over the past couple of weeks, it’s that I can trust you. That’s worth more than you’ll ever know.”
“I hope that’s enough for you.” The insecurity in his voice fills the room.
I push away and find his fearful gaze. “Now it’s your turn. What are you worried about?”
CHAPTER 23
JAMISON
Panic zigzags through my core.The last time I was this nervous, I was waiting to hear about landing this contract. It’s only fitting Hunter would be holding my relationship with Dori in his hands just as he was my financial future.
It’s her first day back from her extended break. I’ve waited all day to approach her and I’ve been praying she’ll hear me out. I rattle my knuckles against her open office door.
She glances up from her desk and our eyes meet. She’s more beautiful every time I see her.
My breathing picks up as I step into her office. “Do you have a minute to talk?”
“Jami.” Her cold gaze scans over the work laid out on her desk. “I still have a lot to do.”
“I imagine so after taking more than two weeks off.”
She glares at me. “You know why I took that time off, so don’t you dare give me that judgmental tone.”
“I didn’t mean to have a tone with you.” I inch closer to her desk. “Did the time away help?”
Knowing she was with Hunter should tell me her break didn’t assist my cause, but I’m trying to keep this as neutral as possible.
“If you think a sabbatical, having multiple therapy sessions, and dealing with your betrayal was helpful, then yes. It was beneficial.”
Guilt squeezes me. “That’s what I want to discuss. Can we please talk about what happened between us?”
Fire radiates from her skin as she stands. “Nothing happened between us because we never got that far.”
“Dori, we were about to cement our relationship in stone. How can you stand here and say nothing happened?”
Her lips curl into a hateful smile. “You seem to forget valuable information, so let me remind you what actually happened. You took a phone call while I learned about your son and fiancée, or whatever she is. So nothing happened between us. Does that ring a bell?”
I deflate into myself. “Can we please go somewhere to talk about this?”
“Why? Are you finally ready to tell me about them? After all, it’s been months since we’ve been working together. Maybe that’s still not enough time for you to trust me with that kind of information.” Her voice cracks, exposing the level of hurt she’s holding in.
My shoulders round. “I was going to tell you everything that night, but things…”
“You don’t have to find the words. I was there and lived through it.” She gathers some files off her desk and shoves them into her bag. “Say what you need to say so I can get out of here.”
“Let me walk you home and we can talk about it then.”
“Sure, Jami. Anything for you.” Sarcasm coats her words.
“Can you give me five minutes to get my jacket?”
“I’ll tell you what, Jamison. If you get to me by the time I make my way to the front doors of this building, you can have all the time you need.” Her eyes flick with plans of sabotage. “Time’s ticking.”
I hesitate but know her well enough to know she’s notbluffing. I leave, take the stairs, and run to my office to gather my things as fast as I can.
