Page 48 of Playing With Secrets
I nod and dive in. “He doesn’t want kids. Now she doesn’t. He wants her to quit so they can go public. She’s doing careless things by going out with him in plain sight. You saw it yourself. He stays the night at her place. She stays at his too.”
“Fuck, she can be a pain.”
“I even ran into them in the elevator, making out as the doors opened. It could’ve been his brother. If that happens, she loses everything. You know those things get out and she’ll lose her professional reputation.”
“Wait a minute. Back up. You said she doesn’t want kids now. That’s a complete one-eighty.” Aiden glances off to the side.
“I know. That’s why I’m concerned. Not only that, but she’s going to get caught and then get fired.”
“She’s always been a little reckless, but him putting her in situations that could get her fired doesn’t sit well with me. When is she going to date someone decent?”
Guilt takes hold of my hand and whips me around a fewtimes before I can speak. He would kill me and never talk to me again for everything I’ve done. This included.
I gaze at the latest industry magazine I have on my desk. “There’s one other thing that could help you if you decide to do this.”
“Tell me everything you know. It can only help.”
“Grab your pencil and jot this down.”
He flashes me his digital notebook pen and gets ready to write. “Shoot.”
“There’s a woman by the name of Ava Aldridge. Her dad, Douglas Aldridge, is the ethics officer who sits on the board.”
“What do they have to do with this?”
“Hunter spends a lot of time with her in public. Their relationship doesn’t fit with what he says his intentions are. I’d start there because their relationship is odd.”
Aiden takes a moment to respond. “I’ll start looking into him. If he’s going to marry my sister, I need to know what he’s up to.”
“Thanks, Aiden. I think this will be helpful.”
“We’ll know one way or another if he’s a good match for Dori or if she should dump his ass.” He fakes a laugh. “It might be easier to tell her we love him and think he’s perfect for her.”
My expression twists with confusion. “Why would you say that?”
“Because she likes to do the exact opposite of what people tell her to do.”
“She can be rebellious, but not oppositional.” I take a moment to think back. The only thing that comes to mind is she takes Aiden’s word as gospel. “I’m going to respectfully disagree. She seems to do exactly what you tell her to do.”
He huffs. “No, she doesn’t, but I’m not going to argue with you. We both know she can be reckless, so let’s focus on that instead.”
“Whatever you say.” Grateful I’ve enlisted his help, my neck and shoulder muscles relax a little.
“Good. I’ll dig into this and get back to you when or if I find something.”
“Fair enough.”
As much as I’m happy about our discussion, unease sets in. When Aiden said Hunter and Dori would get married, my insides cramped. Aiden said it as if it was bound to happen, and I can’t let that occur.
It’s at this moment all my defenses break apart and I admit to myself I’m still hopelessly in love with her. I make an excuse to end our chat and sit, reviewing all the pictures I have of Dori and me together.
I sift through photos of her alone. My chest heats and collapses.
I don’t want to live without her.
Despite everything, I want her by my side. God knows I have my own issues I’ve kept from her. I guess we all make terrible mistakes.
We lost a child and Dori’s dealing with her grief in a way I didn’t expect. Instead of giving her grace and support, I gave her disgusted hell. I can and will make that up to her one day.
