Page 91 of More than Paper

He wraps me into his arms, making me feel safe and loved as if no one but us exists. “How long is your lunch break?”

“An hour, but I can get away with ninety minutes.”

He kisses the top of my head. “Okay, doll. Let’s go eat.”

We walk into the restaurant and quickly are seated in a quiet booth. Jamison slides next to me and puts his arm around my shoulder.

All the lonely nights and emotion-filled days of thinking about him and trying to figure everything out without him suddenly seem like the wrong way to figure this out.

I need to figure it out with him.

“I wish you didn’t have to go,” I blurt out.

“I’ll be back next weekend. Chase and I have some things to do for work in Chicago, but I think Noah is getting a VIP room at Club D for Friday night. Unless you’re ready to tell everyone about us, I don’t see how we are getting out of Club D.”

Am I ready to tell everyone about us? No. What are you going to say when they ask questions about your relationship, and you don’t even know the answers?

“I’m not ready. We have things we need to figure out.”

“All right. We can keep it as it is. But can I take you out Saturday so we can spend some time on our own?”

“Yes.”

“At least we can dance together all night.” He wiggles his eyebrows.

The waitress comes and takes our order and leaves.

Jamison’s phone rings. He cringes. “I’m sorry, doll, but I have to take this.”

“It’s okay. Go ahead.”

“V, I just sat down for lunch with Quinn, and her time is limited. Can I call you back?”

He brushes the back of his fingers on my cheek, but it doesn’t do anything to calm my shaking insides.

Of course he has to take his phone call. It’s his wife.

Stop it, Quinn. Valeria is kind and wants you with Jamison. It must be important.

She will always be his number one priority. They exchanged vows.

“He did what?” Jamison shakes his head.

I put my hand on his leg.

“Okay, V. I’ll call you later. We need to figure this out.” He hangs up.

“Jamison, what’s wrong?”

He looks up at the ceiling then in my eyes. “Nothing to worry about doll. Just more ways V’s father is stepping over the line.”

The hairs on my neck stand up. “What do you mean? Are you in danger?”

“No. Everything is fine.”

“Tell me what is going on?”

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

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