Chapter 24
CHAPTER 24
DORI
My face is heated, and I’m sure my eyes are laced with guilt. I turn away from Hunter and walk over to grab my water off my desk.
“Are you going to answer me?” He follows me, telling me I can’t escape.
Knowing I’m between a rock and a hard place, I go on the offense. “Yes, I was there to see Jamison. Now my question is, how do you keep knowing all these things about me?”
“We’ll get back to Jamison, but first, let’s talk about your question. What things do I know about you?”
Hunter backs up against my desk, sitting on the edge with his arms crossed. He extends his legs and crosses them at his ankles like he has all the time in the world.
“How do you know I was there last night?” My eyes sweep around the office. “Are you spying on me everywhere or just here?”
“Dorothy, I saw you leaving the building. I was in the restaurant and saw you right as you left. Now, what are these other things I know about you, and why do you think I’m spying on you here?”
“I just do. ”
“I’m not buying it. Tell me the truth.”
His comments and questions about where I’ve been race through my mind. Although I can’t provide any evidence, I have a strong intuitive sense that he’s capable of keeping track of my whereabouts.
“Fine, I’ll come clean. I’ve had a feeling for a while you have the office bugged or something because you knew about Jami giving me that locket. No one knew about that, so how did you?”
He glances up to the corner of the ceiling. “All the offices have cameras in them. We watch the video recording on occasion for security reasons. Why do you think I’ve never tried to have sex with you in here?”
Heat rises from my toes to my cheeks. “Wait a minute. What possessed you to watch videos of my office?”
He shrugs. “I’ve never lied to you about my jealousy toward Jamison. I knew he was up to something and I figured I would find something I could point out to you.”
My jaw drops with his admission. “You watched to trap me?”
“Not at all.” He pushes off the desk and steps toward me. “I went over them to find something that he did.”
“What did you expect to find?”
“I don’t know, but enough about that. I’m curious to know if you ever wondered why I never tried to have sex with you in here.”
His question throws me off, so I stammer through my words. “I...thought you didn’t try…because you knew it would be too risky.”
“That too, but we have locks on our doors. We could easily have a quickie and not get caught.”
“But you said you didn’t try to because of the video recordings.”
“That’s right.” His gaze twinkles with playfulness .
My eyes round. “You’ve actually thought about it, haven’t you?”
“I’d be lying if I said no.” He holds back a smile. “Are you saying you haven’t?”
I immediately latch on to a visual of me kissing him as I back him up against his desk and take him in a fit of passion. My cheeks burn, and I want to crawl away and hide.
I can’t tell him I’ve had fantasies about fucking him in his office.
His smile grows as his eyes glimmer my way. “It’s nice to see I still have that effect on you.”
“What effect is that?”
“You have that beautiful shade of crimson painted on your cheeks. Like I’ve said before, you blush that color when you’re turned on.” He reaches out and runs the back of his fingers down my face.
I shiver in response. He’s not wrong about how I’m reacting to him, but I can’t help it. I still have feelings for him.
My eyes connect with his as love beams from his to mine and my heart fills with warmth. Here I go again, falling right back into the same old pattern I have going on.
Why did I let him steer me off topic?
My therapist has asked me to watch out for this kind of behavior, so I move around my desk to stop myself from leading him on and get us back on track.
“Hunter, you’re confusing me.”
“How is that?” He turns to face me.
“I can’t think straight when you stare at me like that.”
He leans over to me and lowers his voice. “I can’t help the way I feel about you. You know I love you, so you’re going to see it when you look me in the eyes. Especially when we’re talking about having sex.”
I glance at the door and then back at Hunter. “Don’t say that here. You just got done telling me there are cameras in here. What if someone watches and hears that?”
“The cameras are the same kind they have on the casino floors. There’s no sound with the videos.” He pushes off my desk and slides his hands in his pockets.
“Oh… Well, still don’t say that at work. Someone could overhear it, which reminds me. Why was Ava here the other day?”
“Like I told you before. She was in town and stopped by to say hi. We have another event coming up and she wanted to make sure I was attending.”
“From what I know, she didn’t mention that.”
Something like fear flashes in his eyes. “Just how much of our conversation did you hear before Jamison and you had your little powwow outside my office that day?”
Shit.
I’m in a corner, so I just admit it. “Enough to know you aren’t being honest with me right now.”
“Why do you say that?”
“I overheard her say she knew you were dating someone in the office. Why haven’t you said anything to me about it?”
“You haven’t given me much of an opportunity to bring it up. You said you needed some space.”
My shoulders slump. “I know that, but you should’ve told me.”
He shakes his head. “How do you expect me to speak to you about something like that when you don’t give me the time of day anymore?”
“That’s different. Ava could ruin me, so I’d want you to talk to me about that.”
“In that case, come by my place tonight, and we can discuss everything then. There’s too much to go over for us to do it here.” His hopeful gleam shines my way.
My chest caves in and I sigh. “Hunter, I can’t go to your place when I’m trying to get clear on my feelings. It?—”
“But you can go to Jamison’s?”
“That’s different.”
“How so? ”
My heart fills with warmth as I recollect my time with Jami. “When I hang out with him, we talk and laugh about things. We’re friends who enjoy each other.”
“We behave the same way.”
“Not really. When I’m with you, things get…”
He raises his eyebrows. “Get what?”
“There’s a lot of relationship and sexual pressure.”
“Does that bother you?”
“It’s difficult for me to understand because I’ve always been attracted to you. My body and heart say one thing when my mind says another.”
“That should tell you something.” Hunter’s eyes glow like the cat that just ate the canary.
My brow furrows. “What would that be?”
“You and I have passion. You want me and I want you. I don’t want to be just friends, and after that disclosure, I’m thinking you don’t either.”
Why did I say anything?
“Hunter, you’re reading me wrong.”
“Am I? I know you and your reactions. I’ve been studying them for months.”
He saunters over to me and whispers in my ear, “Beauty, you’re pent-up. That means your body holds all the promises of the most sensual heaven a man could ever know.”
Sex with him is amazing.
“Hunter, stop.” I press my thighs together to hide my reaction.
He continues, despite my pleas. “Come to my place tonight and let yourself go because I want to experience heaven with you. I think you want it too, so let me give you the release you so desperately need.”
My breath hitches and warmth spreads through my lower abdomen.
Good God, what is he doing other than getting me all hot and bothered ?
Hunter’s warm breath blankets my neck, causing goosebumps to spread across my skin. “Jamison fucked up by only wanting to be friends with you. Now I’m first in line at Heaven’s gates, so open up and let me in.”
My lips part to say no, but his spicy and seductive cologne whirls around me. My insides clench on reflex. If I open my mouth, I’m sure to say the wrong thing.
I haven’t had sex in a while, and after last night with Jamison, I’m about ready to combust on words alone.
Stop this, Dori!
“Hunter… I can’t, not when I’m… It wouldn’t be right.”
“Beauty, don’t run from this. We want each other and there’s nothing wrong with admitting that.”
“Hunter…”
“Tell me I’m not reading you correctly and I’ll stop.”
I’m about to blow up into tiny sex-starved pieces and beg him to put me back together. His invitation has my body responding in ways I know will take me right back to going back and forth between him and Jami.
Take control, Dori, and do what’s right.
I step around him. “I can’t. There’s too much we need to work through.”
“We can do that tonight.”
“But—”
Someone knocks on the door. I turn away from him and straighten my skirt.
“Come in.” I glance his way.
He’s got a noticeable bulge in his pants and a smile the size of the planet smeared across his face.
“Hi, Dori. I hope I didn’t catch you at a bad time.” Isabella steps into my office.
Hunter spins away and slides his hands into his pockets. I shift my gaze to Isabella.
“Isabella, it’s good to see you. What can I do for you?” I keep my eyes peeled so I can watch their nonverbal communication. Anyone with common sense can see they have a past.
But why does she make Hunter so uneasy?
She’s the only woman I’ve seen have this kind of effect on him. Even I don’t affect him like she does.
“I just finished up with Melanie and thought I’d come up and ask you if you wanted to join me for dinner.” She glances at Hunter, who just whipped around to face her.
His facial features are tight and pulled together. “Dorothy already has plans tonight.”
He should know better than to take away my choice, so I guess I need to teach him the lesson again.
“Actually, I don’t. Those plans were never put in stone.” I nod once to Isabella. “Where would you like to go?”
“There’s a sushi place down the street we could walk to. How does that sound?” She eyes him, and a wicked smile breaks through and covers her face.
“That sounds good.” I address him. “I’ll get back to you later on that request. Something tells me you need more time to fine-tune it so it fits better to the specifications I gave you.”
His gaze flies between Isabella and me. He swallows hard and runs his hand through his hair.
“Would you two like company? It’s on Efron Worldwide if you do.” He bounces his eyebrows up and down.
“No, thanks. I need some girl time, so if you’ll excuse us, I’m getting hungry.” I turn and go get my bag.
“What if I told you I’m starving and want sushi? Would you make an exception, then?” He comes to the edge of my desk, seeming a little too anxious.
I face Isabella. She flashes me a look like she’s daring me to invite him to join us. My gut screams, ‘Don’t do it, Dori. It’s a setup.’
“No, Hunter. I want to talk with Isabella alone. You can grab sushi on your way home.” I pick up my belongings and motion to her .
“It looks like you're ready to go. I have everything I need, so let’s see to it.” She strolls out of my office.
I follow with Hunter on my heels. “Dorothy, would you please reconsider?”
“Not tonight. Another time, though.” I wink and throw him a bone. “If you came along, there’s no saying what kind of trouble we’d get into.”
“And we can’t have that,” Isabella interjects.
The elevator doors open just as I step up to them. “Good night, Hunter. We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks for inviting me out. It’ll be good to spend some time getting acquainted.” I place my bag on the chair next to me.
“I figured we could use it since we’re going to be working closely together for the next few months.” Isabella picks up the menu and peruses it.
We take a minute to get our order together and wait for the server. Isabella twists her hair into a bun and secures it with a hair tie.
“My hair always gets in the way.” She rams a chopstick through her bun. “When in Rome.”
I like her attitude, so I find myself laughing. “It’s great to be out with another woman. Melanie, the one who’s working on your social media campaign, is my best friend. I should’ve invited her out with us.”
“Oh, I asked her, but she had plans with Jamison.”
This news jabs at me like someone’s sticking a chopstick through my heart. “Did she say where they were going? Maybe they haven’t left yet, and I can get them to meet us.”
“You said you need girl time. If you invite them, Jamison will come along. We’ll be forced to discuss work issues.” She glances up at the server who just came up to our table.
We place our order and I decide to make this dinner count. She knows things about Hunter and it’s time I figure out how far back they go.
She knocks me off my game by diving in first. “I have to tell you something. When I first met you, I thought you and Hunter were an item, but since you can’t date him, I know better.”
“What made you think we were dating?”
“The way you two interact. There’s chemistry there.”
“But nothing is going on.”
“That means it’s time you help me out. Tell me everything you know about him.” She plays with the straw in her water glass while peering over at me with stars in her eyes.
Oh, she wants him bad.
I try to catch my bearings and stall. “Um…okay. But first, how do you know I can’t date him?”
“I had a meeting with him and asked him. He explained your contract clause to me clearly. He didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea about you two. It would cause a ton of undue issues for you.”
“True. But he didn’t say anything to me about it, so it caught me off guard.”
“Why would he tell you? It would only upset you that someone assumed something so dangerous because it could cost you your job.”
I rest against the back of my chair. “I guess you’re right.”
She’s quicker than I like. If I’m going to get the information I want, she can’t be directing the conversation. But once again, she dives in before I can take control.
“This goes back to Hunter, but do you know if Ava is seeing Jamison? I mean, I know he’s going out with Melanie, but does he also date Ava?” Isabella pours some sake into a little cup and lifts it to me. “Here’s to ladies’ night. ”
Why does she think Jami and Melanie are dating?
This woman is making me work too hard.
I toast her glass with mine. “Here’s to ladies’ night.”
Too bad she’s causing my brain to explode. Between her question about Hunter and her comments about Melanie and Jamison dating, I think I’m about to blow.
I take a moment to steer this discussion the way I want. “Ava isn’t dating Jamison. He may have taken her out on a date, but he’s not into her.”
“Hmm. That means she might only have eyes for Hunter.” Isabella looks off to the side and considers that for a second.
Now’s my chance to get this thing going in my direction. “It sounds to me like you have a thing for Hunter. I heard Ava and you in the hall the other day. She said you and Hunter have a past relationship. Care to share?”
“We do, but it’s nothing serious. Not unless you’re willing to put in a good word for me.”
“I’m not sure Hunter would take my suggestion if I encouraged him to date you.”
“Why? You two seem to be close.”
“Hunter and I have a decent relationship, but we don’t discuss who we’re interested in or going out with.” I fiddle with my chopsticks.
“Then how does he know you’re dating Jamison?”
My cheeks heat. “There have been rumors spread about us.”
She leans in closer. “Really? Like what?”
“You know how those go.”
“Yeah, but tell me what was said about you. I’m curious.”
I wave it off. “Just that we were seeing each other. It was no big deal.”
She runs a suspicious glance over me. “Hmm. Okay, but isn’t it weird to date the same guy as your best friend?”
Good God, she jumps all over the place.
“Isabella, let’s take one issue at a time. We’ve gone through so many topics and we’ve been here for a total of ten minutes.”
She tosses her head back and laughs. “You’ll need to excuse me. I’m terrible with my focus when I’m discussing my love life. Where would you like to start?”
I smile and thank God she gave me the reins. “Why don’t we start with Hunter? How long have you been involved with him?”