Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
JAMISON
My phone chimes, so I glance at it. Hunter’s name glowing on the screen triggers a surge of adrenaline, making my heart race. This can not be good. He never sends me messages this late.
“What is it?” Melanie leans against the elevator wall and pins me with a stare.
“It’s a work thing I need to deal with.” I step back and open the message.
Hunter: Emergency. If you don’t want Dorothy to learn about Lauren, get your ass over to the sushi place near our office. Do it fast!
Fuck.
Me: On my way. Care to tell me why?
Hunter: There’s no time. Just do it and hurry.
I shove my phone into my pocket, the slightly too large case bumping against my keys. “I changed my mind. Can we do sushi instead?”
Her eyes narrow. “Who were you texting just now? ”
“We go from sushi to you trying to dominate my phone again. We really need to work on your boundaries.” The doors open and I wait for her to step out.
“It’s not my boundaries that need working on. You need to work on not showing all your cards when you get a message you don’t like.” She buttons her coat as we stroll to the door.
Every second I waste with Mel means I’m closer to losing Dori. The ticking clock is deafening.
The image of losing her grows sharper in my mind. “Can we talk about this over sushi?”
Melanie shrugs. “I guess, but why the change of heart?”
“I was on the fence and thought about it more. I had pasta last night, so I need to eat something lighter tonight. Sushi sounds good, so it works.” I hold the door open for her.
She steps onto the sidewalk. “You and your strict weightlifting diet. You’re worse than a girl.”
“This body doesn’t make itself. I have to work for it.” I tighten my jacket as the cold air cuts through my shirt.
“Well, in that case, you get to decide where we eat all the time.”
The icy wind stings our faces as we hurry to the restaurant, desperate for the heat. Once we get inside the warmly lit space, I know why Hunter sent me the text.
“Oh, look. Dori and Isabella are here. Let’s crash their party.” Melanie dashes off to their table.
Thankfully, she doesn’t call me out on my change of plans and I breathe a sigh of relief.
“Hey, hey, ladies. We’re here to crash your party.” Melanie moves Dori’s bag and sits next to her without waiting for permission.
“What are you doing here?” Dori’s gaze travels to mine.
“Do you mind if we join you?” I stand next to the table and pray she agrees.
“Um…sure. Take a seat.” She motions to the seat next to Isabella .
“Thanks.” I take off my coat and sit next to her. “How are you tonight, Isabella?”
“Good, but how are you?” Her eyes trail to Dori and Melanie.
“I’m the only guy sitting at a table full of beautiful women. I’d have to say I’m doing great.” My gaze shifts to Dori. She takes my breath away.
“Isabella was just asking me about you and Melanie dating,” Dori smirks.
“Is that right?” I turn to Isabella, reining in my emotions. “Who said I’m dating Melanie?”
“You walked in with her, didn’t you? If this isn’t a date, what is it?” Isabella motions between Melanie and me with her hand.
“God, I wish, but she saw him first. We aren’t dating because you’re looking at a man who is madly in love with the lady beside me.” Melanie taps Dori on the shoulder. “I’m filling in the gaps with Jamison until she’s ready to take the plunge.”
Dori’s head falls forward and her body subtly shakes. I beam a sharp look of warning to Melanie as Dori gets herself together.
“I was wondering how that worked.” Isabella peers between Dori and me. “How long have you two been an item?”
I should answer, but I’m going to let Dori handle this. It’ll give me an idea of where her heart stands with us.
She lifts her head and rolls her shoulders back. “We aren’t together. We’re old friends, so people assume things.”
“They’re more than friends. They just won’t admit it.” Melanie waves to our server.
“It sounds like a good story if I’ve ever heard one. I’d love to hear the details.” Isabella wiggles her brows at Dori.
She shifts uncomfortably. “There’s really nothing to share. We?— ”
“We care deeply about each other, but we’re focusing on the app.” I save her while getting my point across.
I still love her, and I told her after her miscarriage that I was ready to move forward. My comment was to show her I still feel that way. But until Lauren gives me what I want, I’m stuck.
Isabella faces me. “Why only focus on the app? Does Dori distract you while you work?”
Fuck me.
I go with it because I have to keep the conversation off of Hunter. I think he’d even appreciate this topic over his night with Isabella.
“Yes, as a matter of fact, Dori distracts me a lot. We used to share an office, but it proved to be a big problem.”
“That’s an understatement.” Dori’s head lowers. “They made Jami move to a different floor altogether.”
“Since they moved us apart, we decided we needed to do our jobs and quit focusing on how much I wanted to kiss her. It doesn’t work well for us when I can’t keep my thoughts off her.” My eyes hook with Dori’s.
I’ve kept those intense longings hidden, a sinful secret, and the revelation burns between us—a raw, sexually exposed nerve. I make a mental note to thank Hunter for sending me here tonight.
“See, I told you. He’s got it bad.” Melanie’s attention is diverted when the server approaches the table.
We give her our drink order and take a minute to look over the menu. We decide on a variety of sushi. It’s going to be way too much, but we can’t agree on anything.
“Since you’re up to speed on their situation, tell us about you.” Melanie rests her chin in her palm. Her elbow is on the table, and she’s giving Isabella her full attention.
Dori catches my gaze. Through her thick eyelashes, she tosses me a passion-filled, flirty stare. The blood in my body rushes to my dick and it instantly gets hard .
With a slight shake of my head, desire, palpable and heavy, flies from me to her in a silent wave of longing. A smile sneaks from the corner of her lips.
She knows she’s torturing me and couldn’t care less. I’m about to throw her over my shoulder, take her to the restroom, and fuck her right there on the sink.
“I see what you mean, Melanie. They would be skipping dinner if we weren’t here with them.” Isabella laughs and Melanie joins her.
Dori tears her eyes from me and waves it off. “The two of you together are bad news. Isabella, I already have one friend I have no control over. I don’t need another one.”
“Oh, that reminds me.” Melanie taps the table in front of Isabella.
“No!” both Dori and I yell at the same time.
“We’re not talking about that right now.” Dori glares at Melanie.
Isabella pushes back into her chair. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing. Melanie just has no boundaries or filters. We knew what she was going to say, and it’s not going to fly with us tonight. She’s had enough fun for one night.” I settle back and search for our server.
We need drinks and food so I can keep Melanie’s mouth busy. Dori takes her phone from her purse and moves it under the table.
My first thought is that she received a text—probably from Hunter if I had to guess. My mind quickly changes when I get a message of my own.
Melanie and Isabella’s conversation disappears into the background when I realize my message is from Dori. I don’t dare look at her, so I open it with my head down and read it.
Dori: You should’ve told me you were thinking about kissing me in the office. Who knows what kind of fun we could’ve had?
Me: As if you didn’t know. Now, tell me about this fun we would’ve had.
Dori: Well, it wouldn’t be knitting or going to a pottery class.
Me: Yeah, I didn’t think so, but I’m interested in what you have in mind.
Dori: Use that brilliant brain of yours. I’m sure you can imagine what could’ve happened if you had told me you were fantasizing about us.
Me: You’re stalling. Come on, temptress, what are you waiting for? Tell me about the fun you would’ve wanted to have.
I send it off and pretend to be paying attention to Melanie and Isabella talking about all the men in the office they have crushes on. It’s full of nice-looking men, so Dori and I have some time to play this game with one another.
Our drinks are delivered while Dori types away on her phone. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and licks her lips before returning to what she was doing with her phone. It’s been a few minutes, so she’s invested in whatever it is.
She lifts her head. Her cheeks flush right as I receive another text. She jumps into the conversation with Mel and Isabella as I peek at my message.
Dori: huh? Okay, then. You asked for it. First, I would’ve locked the door and forced you to sit in your twirly chair. Then I would’ve tied your wrists to the arms of it so you couldn’t touch me. After that, I would’ve unzipped your pants so you had room to grow that amazing… Mmm, just thinking about it. Wow. Next, I would’ve sat on the floor in front of you, lifted my skirt, and spread my legs. You would’ve found I wasn’t wearing any panties. You would’ve seen my lips were slick and ready for you. I would’ve taken my hand between my thighs and made you watch me get myself off to the thought of you driving into me. Tell me again why you didn’t say anything before now.
I fucking groan out loud. All their heads turn my way.
“What is it, Jami?” Melanie asks.
My face is on fire, and my cock is about to rip through my pants. I have one evil little temptress on my hands and she’s only getting better with practice. I’m a dead man when it comes to her.
Shit, as far as I know, they had a full-blown conversation about how Hunter and Isabella know each other. I wouldn’t have heard any of it because I was stuck visualizing Dori’s message playing out in my head.
“It’s nothing. I just got a text and didn’t know how to respond.” I shift forward and down half my Jack and Ginger.
“Hand me your phone and I’ll answer for you.” Melanie throws her open hand across the table and wiggles her fingers.
“We’ve been through this, Melanie. You aren’t allowed to touch my phone anymore.” I glance at Dori, who’s laughing under her breath.
She’s enjoying this too much, so I think she needs to be taught a lesson. “Isabella, how are you with answering text messages? ”
“I can handle anything. Give me your phone.” She pats the space on the table between us.
With my hand outstretched to give her the phone, Dori shrieks, her voice tight with panic. “Don’t do it, Jami! I will never forgive you if you do.”
“Why, Dori? What do you know about the text I received?” I cock my head and raise my brows, telling her I’m better at this game.
Before she can answer, Mel grabs Dori’s phone off the table. “What’s going on between you two?”
Melanie turns on the screen and taps something on it. My jaw practically slams against the table as it falls open.
“She knows the code to your phone, Dori?” I did not think this through.
Of course, Melanie knows Dori’s code. She’s a pushover when it comes to Aiden and Melanie.
Dori wrestles Melanie for it as Isabella sits back and watches the chaos unfold. I stand and snap the phone out of Melanie’s hands.
“Dori, change the code on your phone.” I hand it back to her. “Jesus Christ, Mel. You need to learn when to stop. Not everything is meant for you to know.”
I sit back down and Isabella laughs hysterically. Dori and Melanie trade glances and then bust out laughing.
I think they’re all out of control, so I just roll my eyes and shake my head. Whoever thinks going to dinner with a group of females when you’re the only man would be fun is out of their mind.
“What’s the matter, big guy? Can’t handle the heat?” Melanie asks through her snickering.
“I’ve got to see the message you sent. He’s seven shades of purple.” Isabella throws her head into her arms and snorts.
That only spurs them on. I figure I’m better off joining them than being the butt of the joke, so I jump in on the mayhem .
While waiting for the sushi, we playfully tease each other with lighthearted jokes and jabs. Dori and I keep exchanging looks of promises we can’t keep.
“You two are adorable together.” Isabella pinches a piece of fish between her chopsticks. “Do you have any influence over Hunter?”
My mouth is full of food, so I can’t answer. I’m chewing and swallowing as fast as I can.
Dori beats me to it. “Why? What do you have in mind?”
“Maybe you could put in a good word for me. Then we could set up a double date.” Isabella shoves a piece of sushi into her mouth.
The room falls silent. Melanie turns to Dori at a loss for words, which I’m thankful for. I’m still working the food down my throat.
Dori leans toward Isabella. “I thought you and Hunter shared a past. Why would you want to go out with him again if it didn’t work out the first time?”
I motion to Isabella, who’s trying to swallow her fish. “We shouldn’t pry. Let her eat in peace.”
Melanie studies Isabella for a second. “That’s a good question. Why try again?”
“Look at Dori and me. We’ve tried a few times and still can’t get it right. Maybe their story is the same. But again, we should respect their privacy.” I reach for another piece of sushi, hoping to move on from this topic.
“What’s with you, Jami? Why do you keep trying to stop us from having this conversation?” Melanie narrows her eyes at me.
“I’m not trying to stop it. I just find it uncomfortable to talk about.” My eyes travel to Dori’s.
Her gaze lingers on me, clearly picking up on the strong waves of nervous energy I’m projecting.
“Why is it uncomfortable for you?” Isabella asks.
Fuck me again !
Hunter owes me big time for this.
“Hunter and I are friends, so I don’t want you to say something you don’t want him to know.”
Melanie barks out a laugh. “Oh, Jami, that’s not even close?—”
“It’s true.” Dori twists to Melanie like she just figured something out. “Hunter and Jami are good friends. We should honor Jami’s boundaries.”
Dori must think my reaction is because I don’t want Isabella to realize that Dori and Hunter share a past.
I should be focused on that because it’s just as dangerous, but I’ll be a dead man if Dori finds out Hunter and Isabella recently spent the night together.
“I don’t have any secrets, so I don’t care what you tell Hunter. Besides, he knows me intimately, so he’s very aware of how I feel.” She pops some edamame into her mouth.
And that does it. Dori dials in on Isabella. Melanie glances at Dori, waiting for her to pounce.
I can’t stop the train wreck from happening without drawing all their attention to me. It’s taking place in slow motion but full speed ahead.
Dori doesn’t waste a second. “You seem pretty infatuated with Hunter, so it must’ve been recent. Just how long ago did you two hook up?”