Page 46 of Playing With Secrets
“What if he doesn’t want that from you?”
Her brow furrows, and she stands. “Would you like something to drink?”
“Sure, a bourbon sounds nice.” I sit back and admire her, wanting to get off the topic of Jamison.
She leaves the room and goes into the bar area. She moves about making drinks for us as she thinks about something. My guess is she realizes Jamison was serious when he said she was all mine before she left the room.
It doesn’t matter to me what she’s thinking about. I just love seeing her comfortable in my house and going about life as if she lives here.
I get up, move to the bar, and slide up onto a stool, resting my chin in the palm of my hand. She finishes pouring her drink and passes me my bourbon.
She swirls her wine around in her glass to let it breathe. “What are you smiling about?”
“I love having you here and you being comfortable again. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m returning to my old self. When I was this honest and relaxed with you, we were good. Actually, we were fantastic.”
“Things were great back then. And I’m thrilled you feel honest and relaxed. If that’s your old self, I like it.”
My heart jumps at her response as my stomach holds on for dear life. “That leads me to a question I have for you.”
“And what would that be?”
I suck in a breath and slowly release it. “Does that mean you’ll consider making it official between us again?”
CHAPTER 12
JAMISON
I’min the biggest battle of my life. I hit the video chat button and rub the ache in my chest.
It rings twice before Aiden’s camera connects. “Jami, it’s good to see you. What’s so urgent that you needed a face-to-face meeting instead of just a chat over the phone?”
“I needed your full attention and I don’t trust you not to multitask if it’s just a call.”
“In that case, tell me what’s going on?” He moves closer to the screen.
I should walk away and leave this mess behind, but I can’t.
“When you were here, you mentioned investigating Hunter Efron. Is that still something you’re interested in doing?”
“What’s this about, Jami?”
My ribs tighten, but I push through it. “I had a discussion with him Friday after our mock launch. During this talk, he mentioned he’s closer to getting your sister to marry him.”
Aiden’s eyes bulge. “You’ve got to be shitting me. How does she expect that to work out?”
“They think they can take their relationship to the board and have her clause removed.”
“Would that be a bad thing? If she loves him and he makes it so she won’t lose her job, maybe taking it to the committee is the best thing for her. She seems to be into the guy.”
My thoughts go back to our dinner. She defended Hunter, which is probably why Aiden is reconsidering his position around their relationship.
“Aiden, I wouldn’t care, but I’ve seen sides of him that are huge warning signs. If she marries him, it’ll be a horrible decision.”
“Do you think he’s that much of a concern?”
“With every cell in my body.” I glance at the picture of her on my desk in my home office.
She’s surrounded by sunflowers and beaming from ear to ear. She’s carefree and in her natural element. It’s the Dori I know and love.
