In Deep Kimchi (24 page)

“What’s wrong with Ichiro?”

“What do you mean?” Satoshi asked. He placed some food on Amaya’s plate and then his own. Dai and Kaori went off to speak to the CEO of
Flowing
to see if maybe they still could take an ad out in the magazine, leaving him alone with their pissed off daughter.

“Why is he acting so anti-social? I haven’t seen you guys in a long time. The least he could do is come over and say hello.”

“You know Ichiro isn’t much of a socializer, and besides, he has company.”

“Tell me the truth. Are the two of them dating?”

“Yes,” Satoshi answered.

Yori made a face that Amaya did not see. “See, I told you. She thinks I am lying to her.”

Satoshi laughed. “Why would Yori lie about Ichiro dating?”

“Amaya seems to think that Ichiro is more into men than women.”

Satoshi chuckled. “I wish.”

Amaya punched Satoshi on the arm. “Are you still teasing him?”

“Makes my day. You know how pretty he is.”

“Don’t try to change the subject.”

“Amaya seems to think that Ms. Morrison and I have something going on since we have been photographed together lately.”

“It's part of a publicity promotion,” Satoshi said to Amaya.

Takumijo entered the room with a man.

“Isn’t that Osamu Nakaumura?” Amaya asked.

“Yes,” Satoshi answered. “It’s him.”

Yori turned to the door and frowned. Was Takumijo crazy or what? He knew how Mr. Niigata felt about Nakaumura. Leave it to him to pull such a foolish stunt.

Takumijo walked over and introduced him to Amaya. “This is my friend Osamu Nakaumura.”

“I’ve seen all your movies,” Amaya said as she moved near him. “You’re a very good actor.”

Osamu bowed, obviously overwhelmed by the young woman. “Thank you.”

“How do you know Takumijo?”

“We worked together on a drama a couple of years ago and became friends. We get together for drinks from time to time whenever he comes to town.”

Yori kept his comment to himself. He didn’t really like Osamu. The other man had never done a thing to him, but he didn’t like the way Takumijo changed in his presence. Not to mention, he was notorious for getting drunk and causing problems.

“Where is your lovely wife?” Satoshi asked.

“She has a headache and decided not to join me,” Osamu answered.

I bet,
Yori said to himself. In all the conversations he’d had with Takumijo about Osamu, not once had he mentioned that the man’s wife ever joined them for any of their meetings.

An hour or so had passed when he noticed that he didn’t see Ichiro or Shaundra. Amaya and her mother had gone off to the ladies room and Dai was still hobnobbing with the publisher, leaving him on his own to sulk. He looked around and noticed Satoshi sitting off by himself, making him the prime source to ask. He walked over to him and sat down. “Where is Ich?”

“He left,” Satoshi answered. “He said he was tired and was going back to the hotel to go to bed.”

“And Shaundra?”

“She went with him.”

Yori scowled. “She what?”

“Maybe they’ve gone to bed together.”

Yori glared at him. “Ich wouldn’t know what to do with a woman.”

“Do not underestimate him. You also thought he would never ask her out on a date. So far, he’s doing pretty well for himself, and everyone has seen her on his arm tonight.”

“You know it’s not safe for her now that our fans have seen that billboard.”

“Ich won’t let anything happen to her. He does know martial arts. He’s been pretty protective of her all night.”

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Very much,” Satoshi replied. “I just love to see you squirm.”

“Why?”

“Because you caused it by avoiding the fact that you are in love with her.”

“I am not.”

Satoshi raised an eyebrow. “Oh, no, then why are you thinking about sneaking out of here and going over to the hotel to check up on them?”

God damn Satoshi. The man knew him better than he knew himself. “So, what do you advise?”

“See that your future in-laws get back to the hotel safely and spend the rest of the evening with your fiancée.”

Yori sighed. “I should have asked Takumijo. I have a feeling that he would have told me to go over to that hotel and kick Ichiro’s ass.”

“Takumijo has his own demons to deal with,” Satoshi answered without further explanation.

“He better not put a finger on her,” Yori replied.

“Out of your control. You didn’t see the way he looked at her when she came backstage after the concert in that dress. Or how he looked at her all evening. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ichiro gets lucky tonight.”

“Go on, just rub it in. Have your chuckle at my expense.”

“And I’m enjoying every minute of it. But look at it this way. It could be me instead of Ichiro.”

“What do you mean?”

“I had the opportunity to put the moves on her from the first night at the club when we met. But I stepped back because I knew you wanted her.”

“Don’t tell me you’re interested in her too?”

“I’m not saying that, or denying it either. The point to this story is you need to make up your mind. If you want her, tell her. Break off this farce with Amaya and go to Shaundra. If not, just forget about her and let Ichiro be happy.”

“He won’t be happy. She’s leaving after the opening of the publishing company. They’ll be separated by an ocean.”

“Maybe Ichiro will fly there to see her.”

“Ichiro’s life is here. He has plans to open restaurants.”

“Sometimes plans change,” Satoshi replied with much relevance. “He can open his restaurants in the United States, and by the way, how were you going to manage a relationship with her?”

“I hadn’t figured that out yet.” He paused. “Remind me to never talk to you again.” He rose.

Satoshi laughed.

The Saitamas returned.

“Are you ready to go back to the hotel?” Amaya asked.

“Whenever you’re ready.”

Kaori yawned. “I think it’s getting late.”

“Maybe I’ll join you on the walk back,” Satoshi said. “This party is getting pretty lame and I need to check on Ichiro.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Amaya asked. “Is he ill?”

“No, he’s in love,” Satoshi told her.

* * * *

Shaundra stepped out of the shower, dried off and wrapped a big, luxurious robe around her to move from the bathroom to the bedroom. The night couldn’t have been more perfect, she thought as she dried her hair with another towel. She removed the robe and slipped into a red gown and matching robe. She walked back over to the vanity mirror and finished drying her hair. She pinned it to the top of her head and headed for the bed. Someone knocked on the door, disturbing her.

Shaundra marched to the door and opened it.

Yori stood there, looking her over from head to toe. “You better be alone,” he said, scowling at her.

Shaundra stepped back and he entered, towering over her as he closed the door behind him and locked it without looking. He reached up and released her hair from the pins, swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

“What is the meaning of this?” Shaundra asked as he lowered her on to the bed.

“I have to be with you.” He lay down on top of her and pressed his lips to hers.

Her arms wrapped around his neck as his tongue slipped between her lips. The taste of alcohol filled her mouth. Not truly unpleasant that way and real sexy. “We really should not be doing this,” she said as he flipped over until she was atop him.

“I know, but we are going to do this now and worry about the consequences tomorrow.” He pulled her head back down and continued to kiss her. Her breasts heaved and the nipples budded when she felt his erection pushing into her stomach.

“What about your fiancée?”

“What about her?” he asked as he kissed her neck. His hands inched up the back of the negligee until she felt the cold air from the air conditioner against both cheeks, which was quickly replaced by a pair of warm hands.

“Convenient,” he replied. “Were you expecting company?”

“No,” she gasped as he gave each cheek a hard squeeze.

“Are you sure?” He squeezed again. “Not even Ichiro.”

She froze. Why were men so stupid? “No.” She rolled off of him.

“Why did you pause? Did I touch a nerve?”

Of course he had. “Why do you ask that?”

Yori turned until he faced her. “You left the after-concert party with him. I kind of thought you came back here with him.”

“Then you were wrong.” The mood disappeared. “Ichiro was tired, as you should be. Please leave.”

“But I thought we…”

“Think again. The only reason you’re here is because you thought he was here. Well, you’ve wasted both our time.”

Yori eased off the bed, still very much erect and very sexy with bed-tussled hair. “Just tell me one thing. If he hadn’t been tired, would you have gone to bed with him?”

“That is none of your business. At least I would be sure that he really wanted me and wasn’t playing a childish game.”

Yori smirked. “It’s not game. I don’t want you to sleep with him. I know I’m being selfish, but that is just the way I am. And stay away from the bastard Satoshi too.” He walked out of the bedroom and into the living room. She had half a mind to follow and give him a piece of her mind
. Arrogant assed man
. She heard the door open and close and she waited to make sure he was gone before she walked into the living room and secured the door. She wouldn’t be losing any sleep over him, she thought as she crawled between the covers.
To hell with him
. She closed her eyes and they slowly opened them again. “Satoshi?” Oh God, this was going to end so badly.

Chapter Fourteen

“Congratulations on your success,” Harper said to Shaundra the next morning after they had all gathered in the hotel restaurant for breakfast.

“What are you talking about?” She was still in a rotten mood and didn’t want any shit from Harper.

He pushed the newspaper he had been reading toward her. “You made front page news. The headlines.”

Shaundra stared down and gulped. “I’m dead.” It was the magazine cover featuring her and Yori. It looked real sensual even in smaller print. She read the caption. “America’s most prolific erotic author and Japan’s bad boy pop star make beautiful music together.” She sighed. “Crappy title and a bunch of lies. Can I sue them?” She passed the newspaper to Dorothy who looked like she had a hard night. “What time did you get in last night?” The last time she’d seen Dorothy, she had been headed back to the hotel to have a few drinks with John Sampson.