Page 150 of Playing the Game
Yes, I threw that in there so she’ll remember the night we decorated the Christmas tree.
She smiles wide. “My dance moves are cool.”
I take in the moment, staring at her a little too long. My chest hurts without her in my life. We belong together. Resolve rains over me, and I focus on the plan to get her back.
“I’d like you to take my jet to Miami when you leave on Friday. Flying on a commercial airline isn’t how I want you toexperience your departure from here. I want you to have good memories when you think of me.”
Her eyes shine back at me. “That’s very sweet of you to offer, but I already have my ticket.”
“Cancel it. The jet is way better, and you know it.”
“Hunter, I can’t accept a gift like that from you. It wouldn’t be right.”
I shrug. “Fine. I guess you won’t be getting the routing numbers you want.”
Her lips part as if she’s about to say something, but she stops herself. She shakes her head and glances at her hands in her lap.
I’ve got to convince her, or my plan will fail. I don’t want to think of the horrible things that could happen if she doesn’t agree to this.
The server comes over, giving me time to think about how to persuade Dorothy to take the jet. Once we’ve given our order, I try to get back on track.
“If you’re concerned about how being on my jet will affect Jamison, please don’t worry. I’m not planning on going with you. All I have to do is drive you there and make sure I see you off. I promise no funny business.”
She plays with the straw in her water glass. “And if I agree to this, you’ll give me the routing numbers so I can return the money?”
“You have my word. Once you’re on the jet, you’ll find an envelope on the table. That will have all the information you need to transfer the money back to me.”
I scoot a little closer to her, wishing I could scoop her up and take her out of here. “Please, let me do this one last thing for you. Call it our parting gift.”
Searing pain shoots through my chest. I can’t let her go. Once I have my mother locked up and Dorothy knows she can come back to work with us, I can win her back.
She stares at me with what looks like admiration. “Thank you, Hunter. That’s very kind of you.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, so don’t think twice about it.”
The server comes back with the bottle of wine and opens it up.
I take the first taste and dip my head. “It’s delicious. Thanks.”
He pours us each a glass, puts the bottle in a stand near the table, and excuses himself.
She lifts her glass. “Cheers to meeting you, Hunter. I’m blessed to have gotten to know you.”
I tap my glass to hers. “Cheers to our time together. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
Our glasses clink, and we take a sip while staring into each other’s eyes. The love is still between us. Maybe not a raging fire, but there’s passion swirling in her eyes.
She places her wine down and peers my way. “I’m glad you agreed to meet with me. It’s important to me to have this conversation with you.”
“I’ll always make time for you.” My heart rate kicks up. This is my chance to plant the seeds of what I want to happen. “I’m curious how Jamison feels about us being together.”
Her eyes light up like a megawatt lightbulb. “He’s the one who suggested it.”
What?
And I really hate the look in her eyes.
“Jamison suggested we meet?” I ask.
