Page 34 of Playing With Secrets
How could she turn to him for comfort after what she and I went through yesterday?
It wasn’t Hunter’s baby Dori lost, yet he was the one who took care of her and held her all night.
I’m doing my best to hold in all my anguish, but I’m close to my threshold and don’t care that Aiden’s here to witness it all.
She pushes off the floor as Hunter and I stand and move away. She walks over to Aiden and gives him a hug.
As she does, Hunter leans into me and slaps me on the side of my arm. “How’s Lauren this morning?”
He said it near my ear, so I don’t think Dori and Aiden heard it. I glare and shove him away, seething inside.
Until I get things straightened out with Lauren and knowshe won’t attack Dori, he’s got me right where he wants me. He laughs under his breath and turns to Dori.
“I’m going home to get ready for the day. I’ll check on you later.” He strides over to the door.
She follows him. “Thanks, but that’s unnecessary. I’m fine.”
“Nonsense. You were up half the night sick and in pain. I’ll get everything in order at work and call you afterward to give you an update. If you touch anything work-related, you’ll be stepping on my toes, so don’t think of lifting a finger.” He stops and faces her.
“Okay, I won’t.” She glances down. “But I feel bad.”
“Not another word.” He leans in, gives her a kiss, and then stares at her lips like he’s going to eat them. “What that mouth and those pouty lips do to me. Damn, beauty. You’ve got me for life.”
“Stop. Not now.” She brushes him away and her pale face turns bright red.
Someone should kill me now. I’m sure he said it to aggravate me. But now the question’s in my head.
What exactly did she do with her mouth?
I think I’m going to be sick.
“Jamison and Aiden, it was nice to see you this morning. Jamison, I’ll see you in the office soon. Aiden, if you have time before you leave, I’d love it if we could sit down and have a discussion about my relationship with your sister.”
Hunter dips his head at Aiden. “Just ask Dorothy for my number if that’s something you’d like to do. I know it would mean a lot to her if we found a way to get along.”
“Don’t count on it,” Aiden growls.
And that’s why he’s my best friend. He has my back even when he doesn’t know it.
I can’t hide the smug smile from appearing on my face. Hunter glances my way and notices how pleased I am. His eyes shoot me with invisible arrows.
I laugh to myself, knowing I got to him. It might be something small, but I’ll take every inch of dissatisfaction I can give him.
Dori turns his shoulders and leads him out of her loft. “Goodbye, Hunter. Thank you for helping me last night and with work today. I’ll make it up to you soon.”
He says something to her in the hallway, but I can’t make it out. Aiden shakes his head as he assesses them.
“He stays the night, and she thinks nobody will find out? It’s almost like she’s trying to get fired.” He sighs and moves to her sofa.
His statement lands funny with me. I’ve never thought about it, but it could be a possibility.
“She wouldn’t do that, would she?” I stride toward him.
“Not consciously, but who knows? She’s playing a stupid game with her career. Anyone can see that.” He sits and looks around her tiny loft. “When is she going to move to a nicer place? One with a separate bedroom would be nice.”
“Tell me about it.”
I stare at her bed and wish I could erase the memory of finding Hunter in there with her when we walked into her place. At that moment, I was convinced the heartbreak I was going through would be fatal.
