Page 108 of Playing With Secrets
“What’s with you, Jami? Why do you keep trying to stop us from having this conversation?” Melanie narrows her eyes at me.
“I’m not trying to stop it. I just find it uncomfortable to talk about.” My eyes travel to Dori’s.
Her gaze lingers on me, clearly picking up on the strong waves of nervous energy I’m projecting.
“Why is it uncomfortable for you?” Isabella asks.
Fuck me again!
Hunter owes me big time for this.
“Hunter and I are friends, so I don’t want you to say something you don’t want him to know.”
Melanie barks out a laugh. “Oh, Jami, that’s not even close?—”
“It’s true.” Dori twists to Melanie like she just figured something out. “Hunter and Jami are good friends. We should honor Jami’s boundaries.”
Dori must think my reaction is because I don’t want Isabella to realize that Dori and Hunter share a past.
I should be focused on that because it’s just as dangerous, but I’ll be a dead man if Dori finds out Hunter and Isabella recently spent the night together.
“I don’t have any secrets, so I don’t care what you tell Hunter. Besides, he knows me intimately, so he’s very aware of how I feel.” She pops some edamame into her mouth.
And that does it. Dori dials in on Isabella. Melanie glances at Dori, waiting for her to pounce.
I can’t stop the train wreck from happening without drawing all their attention to me. It’s taking place in slow motion but full speed ahead.
Dori doesn’t waste a second. “You seem pretty infatuated with Hunter, so it must’ve been recent. Just how long ago did you two hook up?”
CHAPTER 26
DORI
Isabella’s eyes widen,and she shakes her head.
I shouldn’t ask, but I’ve got to know. “Come on. You can tell us how long ago this happened.”
Isabella isn’t acting like someone who has harbored a longtime crush. If anything, she’s acting like she has a newfound appreciation for Hunter and wants to explore it.
She glances at Jami as she finishes swallowing her food. He reaches his hand out in front of him and knocks over my martini. It spills all over me.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Dori. I was trying to get that piece of sushi.” Jami rushes to my side of the table.
“It’s okay.” I stand, grab my napkin, and start wiping myself off.
“Maybe you should go rinse it off in the bathroom.” He tries to guide me away from the table, his touch light but firm.
He’s behaving strangely; a nervous tremor seems to run through him, so I meet his gaze, searching for answers.
I say to him under my breath, “What is wrong with you?”
“Let’s go to the restrooms and I’ll explain,” he whispers.
With a slight nod and a quiet “Excuse me,” I slip away.
His woodsy cologne floats around me, a subtle but persistent signal that he’s following me.
“Since I’m up, I’m going to use the bathroom. We’ll be right back.” He’s at my side a few seconds later.
