Page 58 of Playing With Secrets
Of course she would.
“Sauvignon blanc, coming up.” I tip my head at the bartender, who signals one minute. “What brought you here tonight, Isabella?”
“I’m in town on business. My colleague wanted to come here, so I tagged along. Meeting you proves it was a good choice.” She crosses her legs, causing her dress to fall open at the slit again.
She has beautiful legs, but even that doesn’t entice me. Who am I kidding? I don’t want anyone but Dorothy.
I give my attention to Isabella, hoping to forget my troubles. “This colleague you’re with. Where is she or he?”
“He’sspending his time getting to know a woman in the other room.”
“I see. Does that bother you?”
“No. Why would it?”
I shrug. “You came here with him, but he’s leaving you all alone.”
She reaches over and touches my chest. “I’m perfectly fine without him. I found you, so I say I’m the one winning in this situation.”
“If you say so.”
We make small talk while we wait for the bartender to take our orders and then deliver our drinks. This Isabella woman is well-spoken, so I decide to stick around.
She’s good for my ego. Too bad I can’t stop thinking about Dorothy.
After way too many drinks, I’m ready to get out of here. “Isabella, it was nice meeting…you. It’s best I go…now.”
“Are you going home to your girlfriend?”
I’m stuck because, as far as I know, nobody knows about Dorothy. And technically, we aren’t dating. We’re seeing where things go as we learn more about each other, so I’m not sure how to answer Isabella’s question.
I finish my drink as I try to stay focused. I’m well beyond drunk and don’t want to mess up. “Who might this person…girl…woman be?”
“Ava Aldridge.” Isabella gives me a look like she’s busted me.
My laugh comes out fast and loud. “Wrong. Ava and I are not together. She uses me for…whatever she feels like.”
“In that case, stay.” Isabella finishes her wine.
I shrug and decide another drink can’t hurt. It’s helping to keep me from focusing on Dorothy and Jamison. Once I’ve had so much that the bartender cuts me off, I decide it’s time to leave.
I can barely walk, so Isabella helps me out. My brain’s a fuzzy mess.
My driver lets us in the back of my car. She climbs in, straddles me, and tries to kiss me. She’s one assertive woman, but I only see Dorothy’s face when I close my eyes.
“Beauty, I’m way too drunk for this.” My haze sucks me away as I push Isabella off me.
The next thing I know, we’re in front of my complex. My driver helps get me out of the car as Isabella rambles something about taking care of me. I stumble to the front doors.
Once we enter the lobby, she takes my arm and lets me lean on her as we go to the elevators. We get to the waiting area and she presses the call button.
The door opens. As I’m getting in, I trip over my feet and slam into the back of the lift. I reach to hit the button to my floor right when Jamison slides in.
If Isabella wasn’t here, Jamison and I would be going rounds right now. Instead, he gets the satisfaction of seeing me with someone other than Dorothy. I groan and prop myself against the wall.
Isabella presses against me and tries to get me to kiss her, but Jamison and I are locked in an evil stare-down.
“Jamison, how are you this evening?” I bite out.
