I raise my brows. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy?”
“Maybe. Have you seen the women in Miami? They’re like the most gorgeous women on the planet.” Her head lowers. “I’ll try to be there soon, but I don’t see it happening until next week at the earliest.”
I lift her chin to find her gaze. “None of them have anything on you. I love you and only want you. I only see you. Everyone else is invisible.”
“Great. That just means you’re going to be bumping into a lot of attractive women.”
I laugh at her strange wit. “Who’s this woman who took over my confident girlfriend?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been this worried about things like this before. Sure, I have a jealous streak, but this is downright possessive as fuck. It’s messing with my head.”
“You have nothing to worry about. There’s nothing that will come between us.” I run my fingertips along the side of her naked thighs.
She nods as she stares into my eyes. Hers turn red and gloss over.
Shit.
“Sweetness, don’t cry.” I pull her into my arms. “We’ll be back together in two weeks at most. Time will fly with all the work you have to coordinate, and I’ll be busy getting things ready at our new place so you can move in without any worries.”
She holds me but doesn’t say anything. It hits me this likely isn’t about any of that. Her sadness is most likely about saying goodbye to a life she loved here. My stomach twists.
“Dori, tell me what’s really bothering you.”
She steps back. “Once you leave today, I’m here all alone. I don’t like how I feel.”
I tuck a strand of her hair that’s fallen out of her messy bun behind her ear. “What can I do to make you feel better?”
“Stay with me.” She glances down. “I’m only half joking. It’s going to be hard being here without you. We’ve been inseparable, and now you’re going to be gone.”
“Hey. We can talk as often as you want. I’ll make sure you have my attention whenever you need it.”
She peeks at me through slightly swollen eyelids. “I know, but it won’t be the same.”
“True.” I take a deep breath and offer something I hate, but whatever. She needs this.
“Dori, why don’t you set up a time to spend with Jonah and Hunter before you go? They were a part of your life. I’m wondering if some of this sadness has to do with your time here coming to an end.”
“That’s part of it, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
My gut tightens. “Why don’t you want to say goodbye to them? What are you afraid will happen?”
CHAPTER 32
HUNTER
I curlmy fingers around my phone, struggling to contain my excitement. “Yes, Aiden. Jamison has left already and is in Miami. He won’t get in the way.”
“Good riddance. How are the other details coming along?” Aiden’s in FBI mode. Focused and controlled.
“Everything is going as planned. Isabella and my mother think Dorothy is coming back to work this week.”
“What if they’re watching her?”
“She wants to discuss a few things, so I’m having her meet me in the office. If my mother is watching, she’ll assume it’s because Dorothy’s back at Efron Worldwide.”
“Just keep Dori safe and away from Jamison. I’ll do the rest. The only thing you need to do is have Dori where I need her to be when we take down your mom.”
“That won’t be a problem. I already have it planned to the last detail.” I stare at Dorothy’s reinstatement letter.
