Page 112 of Playing With Secrets
He runs his hand over his beard as he makes his decision. A heavy breath blows between his lips. He draws in a lungful of air and concedes.
“I’ll lose you, Aiden, my career, and any chance of evermaking another dollar. It’s bad. That’s why I need you to trust me.”
“I do. I always have.”
Jami shakes his head and scrapes his teeth over his bottom lip. “Shit, I’m already risking it all just by being in here with you.”
“Why? What does being in here with me have to do with it?”
“Jesus Christ, Dori. Isn’t it enough to know I’m trying to get it fixed so we can be together? If I tell you anything else, I’m putting it all on the line.” He grasps the edge of the counter as his eyes dart around the floor.
My stomach flips inside out. I’ve never seen him in this much turmoil. It’s seeping from his pores and filling me with dread.
A part of me wants to pound on his chest until he tells me what I want to know, but something tells me that will only make matters worse for him.
“Jami, please talk to me.”
“I can’t. Not right now. Just give me a little more time.”
I join him at his side and run my hand over his back. “If you can promise me you’re working toward us figuring this out, I’ll give you more time to tell me.”
“Trust me, I’m doing everything I can to get us to the finish line.” He takes my hands in his. “While I’m doing this, I need you to do something for me. Everything about our relationship rides on it.”
CHAPTER 27
HUNTER
My palms sweatas I wait on pins and needles to find out what Isabella said to Dorothy. She might not want anything to do with me now.
Dorothy comes out of the stairwell, marching toward me. “Hunter, what are you doing here?”
I kick off the wall and meet her in the hallway. “I stopped by to see if we could talk. You ran out to dinner before we had a chance to finish.”
“It’s getting late. Are you sure this can’t wait until tomorrow?” She bypasses me and goes straight to the door.
“I’d like to have an open conversation tonight while we’re not in the office. You close down there.”
“You’re right about that. Come in and let’s talk. But fair warning, I need some sleep, so it can’t be a late night.”
“That’s fine.”
As she fumbles with the key and the metallic sound grates against the lock, I stand quietly at her side. She pushes the door open, revealing her dimly lit interior.
We enter, the silence broken only by the faint sounds of our own footsteps. I take off my coat as she removes her shoes and jacket.
She gives me a quick once-over. “You start because I can’t remember where we left off.”
“We were talking about you coming to my place tonight so we could rekindle some of our passion.”
“Make yourself comfortable on the couch. I’m going to change into something else. I spilled and smell like a martini. If you want a drink, there’s wine and whiskey. I also have iced tea or water in the fridge.” She rummages through her drawer and grabs some clothes.
“Can I get you anything?” I meander to the kitchen and look through her wine rack.
“Water, please.” She disappears into the bathroom.
I fix us a drink and make myself comfortable. My eyes wander around this tiny box she calls a loft. I don’t understand how she can live here. She keeps it clean and decorated nicely, but it’s nothing like my place.
After a few minutes, she steps out of the bathroom and tosses her clothes in a basket. “Sorry about that.”
