In Deep Kimchi (13 page)

“Can I undress now?” Shaundra asked, trying to pull up the neck of the dress to cover her breasts.

Both Yori and Jay stopped what they were doing to watch.

“I mean, is it okay to go to the changing room?”

“I know what you meant,” Jay teased. “But I was just struck by the fantasy of you undressing in front of him and me. Harper is one lucky man.”

Yori’s gaze shifted from her breasts to her eyes.

“Why is he lucky?” Shaundra asked.

“Aren’t the two of you dating?” Jay asked.

Shaundra shook her head. “Only in his dreams. Harper is my boss.”

“Women date their bosses all the time.”

“Not this woman.”

“Then what about him?” he said, nodding toward Yori.

“I think I better leave,” Yori said as his cheeks flushed pink with color.

“He’s blushing,” Jay teased. “Hey, your secret is safe with me. Ms. Morrison is really a beautiful woman. I can see why your body responds to her.”

Shaundra looked back at Yori once, smiled, and dashed out of the studio. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest just thinking about the erection she’d incited from Yori. Impossible, she thought as she walked. Did she still have it?
Oh gawd, he must be just as confused as I am over what happened
. What does it mean to him getting a boner after posing with a woman old enough to be his mother?

* * * *

Not good
, Yori thought as he donned the last of his own clothes in the dressing room. And how inappropriate. He also hated the fact that the photographer got a laugh at his expense. Why did his body act that way whenever Shaundra was around? She was just a woman and he had been around women before. Amaya, for that fact, but for some reason he could not recall that ever happening when the two of them were together.

He looked down at his crotch. He still hadn’t recovered and the jeans got tighter as he conjured up her face. How was he going to get past his friends in such a condition?
Think unpleasant thoughts. Kissing Dorothy Brown.
He then tried imaging the older woman in a bikini. Oh, that did it a little. He pulled the T-shirt down to try to hide the remainder and walked out of the dressing room to the hall in search for the elevator. He ran into Shaundra roaming the hall. His penis hardened again.

“Where are those elevators?” Shaundra asked. “I have no sense of direction inside buildings.”

“Follow me. I think they are this way.”

“Thanks.”

He walked away and she followed.

Yori looked back at her. “You looked really pretty in that white gown earlier.”

“But you didn’t like the red dress.”

Her nearness made him nervous. “It was okay.”

Shaundra caught up to him.“Yes, I know what you mean. It was a little too tight. I don’t know what Jay and Mr. Niigata was thinking when they picked it out.”

Yori looked down at her. “They were thinking like men.”

“Yes, I suppose,” she agreed. “But you seemed a bit uncomfortable.

“I don’t like having my picture taken. That’s more Takumijo’s thing. So let’s change the subject”

He spotted the elevator. Finally. Those big brown eyes were going to be the death of him. “Ichiro liked the white one too. He said you looked like a princess.”

Shaundra chuckled and leaned against the wall. “That was a lot of words even for him. He’s really sweet.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” Yori lied as he pressed the button to call for the elevator. It arrived quickly and they stepped inside. He pushed the button for the first floor.

“You speak English well,” Shaunda said once the elevator started to move.

“Satoshi taught me most of it and we’ve been taking lessons.”

Shaundra moved in closer to him, tugging at his sleeve to demand his attention. “Now, back to the other subject.”

Why isn’t this elevator getting to the bottom floor
? Yori wondered.
Her scent is intoxicating.

“You are a celebrity and a very handsome one too. Photographers love to photograph beautiful things.”

The elevator finally stopped and the door opened. “I am not a thing.”

“That’s not what I meant, but you are beautiful.” She followed him off the elevator. “Does it bother you that I think you’re beautiful?”

“Yes, only women are beautiful. I am not a woman.” He walked off.

Shaundra followed. “Ah ha. I see what the problem is. No, you’re certainly not a woman. Only a fool would make that mistake.”

“A lot of fools have.” She knew what had been ailing him all these years. Shaundra Morrison was very perceptive. He’d have to stay his distance from her.

“I never will. Jay was right. It is very impressive.”

Yori groaned and covered the erection with his hands, in pain and humiliated that she noticed that he could not control his feelings for her. “American women are too forward. You could have pretended not to notice.”

“I’m flattered,” she replied. “At least I know now that the attraction between us is not all in my head.”

They continued walking until they met up with the others and went their separate ways to the vans.

Yori watched as the van carrying the Japanese authors drove away first, followed by the one with the Americans. He climbed the stairs of the van with Satoshi close on his heels. Takumijo and Ichiro had already boarded and were in their usual seats. He sat down with Satoshi next to him. “What is on your mind Yori? You haven’t said much all day.”

“I don’t know what you mean. I’ve been busy just the same as you guys.”

“Busier, I heard. Congratulations on the cover.”

“Thanks. Mr. Niigata insisted.”

“You could have turned it down,” Takumijo replied.

“Are you jealous that they didn’t ask you?” Satoshi inquired.

“No. I had enough covers this year.”

Satoshi wouldn’t let up. “How about you, Ichiro? Are you upset that you were not asked to be on the cover with Yori and Ms. Morrison?”

Ichiro shook his head and looked out of the window.

Satoshi laughed. “He probably would have fainted.”

Takumijo laughed too. “What is Amaya going to say when she sees it?”

Yori had not thought about that. “I suppose she will be a bit upset.”

“She is going to be more than just a little upset,” Satoshi reminded him. “You better get yourself together and come up with some type of excuse.”

“I don’t need an excuse. I will just tell her the truth. It is a part of my job.”

Satoshi slid back into his seat. “This is one of those things that the group can’t help you with.”

“Did I ask for help? I don’t need help.”

“Which one are you going to choose?” Satoshi asked.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“Will you remain faithful to Amaya, or will you put the moves on Ms. Morrison?”

“Don’t be silly. Ms. Morrison has children our age.”

“What if she didn’t?”

“I don’t see the point in this conversation, Satoshi.”

“Make a decision. We’re not blind. She has some type of effect on you. Either you make a decision or let Ichiro have her.”

Ichiro head turned slowly at the mention on his name, but he did not comment.

“I am engaged to Amaya,” Yori replied in his defense.

Takumijo rejoined the conversation. “So what is taking the two you so long to make the official announcement?”

“We plan to do it after I return from the American tour.”

Takumijo snorted. “I would like to place a wager that it will never happen.”

“You’d lose,” Yori replied, upset that Takumijo and Satoshi were ganging up on him. He felt like he was losing his leadership control over them. When had they grown up and become men?

“I don’t think so,” Takumijo replied, closing his eyes. “That was quite some hard-on you were sporting when the two of you walked off that elevator.”

Yori fidgeted in his seat while Satoshi snickered at his discomfort.

“What’s so funny?” Yori asked Satoshi.

“Nothing, but this is one bet you’re going to lose.”

Chapter Nine

The phone started ringing the moment Shaundra finished tying her shoe laces. “Hello?”

It was Dorothy.

“I think you’re going to have to do the rehearsal without me. I am so tired. That photo shoot wore me out.”

Shaundra panicked. “Go by myself?”

“You’ll be fine. Tell me all about it tomorrow.” She hung up.

Shaundra replaced the receiver and looked over at the clock. “Shit, I’m going to be late.” Masaaki was sending the car for her. She grabbed her purse and left her hotel room headed for the elevator. She made it down to the lobby just as the limousine pulled up to the door. The driver got out and helped her into the front seat and then he walked around and climbed in behind the wheel.

“Weren’t there supposed to be two of you?” he asked as he drove out into the street.

Shaundra fastened her seatbelt. “Dorothy is still tired from the photo shoot, so you’re stuck with me.”

“Not a problem.” He leaned over, turned on the CD player and then straightened back up in his seat to watch the road.

“What is your name, if I might ask? I don’t want to call you Mr. Chauffer Driver.”

“My name is Kenshin Ichikawa, but everyone calls me Kenny.”

“Then I’ll call you Kenshin.”

He chuckled. “Mr. Masaaki told me to take extra special care with you.”

“But you’ve been an excellent driver so far. Why the extra precaution?”

He maneuvered the car out of traffic and got on the highway. “He likes you.”

Shaundra moved nervously in her seat and turned a little to face him. “What?”

“Not in that way. He likes the way the boys respond to you.”

“You call them boys. You don’t look much older than they are. How long have you been their driver?”

“Since the beginning”

“So, are you close to Aomori?” Maybe she could find out more information on them, especially Yori. “What are they really like?”

“A real bunch of demons.”

That part she had figured out for herself. “And you like their music?”

“Yes, they’re very talented and they work hard. Sometimes too hard. It’s not often they get out of Osaka or have any fun.”