Page 6 of Playing For Keeps
A smile curls my lips just thinking about how much fun I’m going to have when Dori gets here. I plan on taking my time with her, giving her more pleasure than she can stand.
Mel cuts through my thoughts. “I’m never gonna get to live in a condo like this. Thanks, Jami, for ruining my idea.”
“Are you having a hard time finding a place?”
“Yeah. Everything near the office is out of my price range, and I don’t want a roommate again. I thought I’d have enough money that I wouldn’t have to resort to that, but now I know better.”
A red piece of artwork that covers most of the wall behind a poker table off to my right side catches my attention while I consider our discussion. Melanie doesn’t deserve to have tostruggle like she does, so I do what I normally do and make an impulsive decision.
“Melanie, when Dori gets here, why don’t you take her around to a few places you’re interested in? If I can swing it, I’ll buy it, and you can rent it from us.”
Mel’s eyes round, and her jaw drops open. “Are you trying to get me back for messing with you? If you are, take it back because that’s just plain mean.”
“I’m not fucking around with you. I wouldn’t do that.” My heart balloons. “Dori would want this for you.”
Mel stares hard into my eyes, then jumps off her stool. “Holy shit! No way! Oh my god, my life just keeps on getting better. Who would've thought?”
I laugh. Dori would be smiling from ear to ear if she were here. The thought makes me pull my phone out of my pocket.
I glance at the screen. Still no message from Dori, and I’ve been waiting well over an hour for her to call me back.
My chest aches for some reason. I try to ignore it, thinking I’m just missing her, but I know Hunter’s mom is out there, which has me in a tailspin.
“Melanie, have you heard from Dori today?”
Mel twists back to face me. “No. Why?”
My shoulders tense. “I’ve been waiting for a call from her. She was supposed to tell me when her plane took off.”
“I don’t like that worried tone in your voice. What aren’t you telling me?”
“It's nothing, really.” I clamp my lips shut, trying to tame my emotions for Mel’s sake.
If she knew how on edge I’m really feeling about this plan of Aiden and Hunter’s, I’m sure she’d rake me over the coals.
“What’s nothing?” Mel advances on me and stands an inch before me.
I back up against the bar countertop and swallow hard. “Aiden and Hunter are planning some kind of takedown ofhis mom. Since Aiden isn’t talking to me and Hunter won’t share the details, I’m a tad bit nervous.”
Mel holds my gaze. “They’re planning something and haven’t told you what that is?”
“No, it’s their idea. I don’t know anything about it. Hunter just keeps texting me back, telling me to relax and that he has it under control.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“Not really, but my security team hasn’t reported anything strange, so I’ve been trying to give Dori her independence while trusting the two men who don’t like me very much. It’s a difficult thing to balance.”
“I can’t believe you’re trusting them to take care of Hunter’s mom without your input.”
“I didn’t have much of a choice. The problem is I should’ve told Dori there was a plan, but I didn’t know what it was. I didn’t want to scare her.”
“I can see why you’re struggling.” Melanie turns and stares at the dozen red roses for Dori at the corner of the bar. “You should’ve made Dori move with you.”
“I know, but she insisted she wanted to stay and take care of everything for us. Something about her need to feel like she’s contributing. How was I supposed to force her to come?”
Melanie huffs. “You would’ve lost that argument in mere seconds.”
“I tried to convince her, but she shut it down.”
