She looked back as well and smiled. “Shut up. I got tangled up because some loser was knocking at my door.”
“I’m glad you ditched those satin sheets after you had a lapse in judgment about trying to feel sexy while you slept.” He laughed at the thought while he left her standing at the entry to the bathroom. Walking past her, he went inside the bathroom and turned on the heater for the tiled floor then walked over to start the shower for her.
“That was the worst decision I could have ever made. The bumps and bruises from constantly sliding out of that slick bed was all the confirmation I needed. I will stick with Egyptian cotton from now on.” Rubbing a nonexistent bump on the back of her head at the memory, she laughed.
Duran walked back over to Hi and grabbed her hand and guided her to the shower. “Get in. Take your time. I don’t have any plans today. I will cook us something to eat while you get yourself together.” She nodded her head and gave him a peck on the cheek.
“Thanks, Duran.” He shook his head and grinned.
“You are like my little sister. What else would you expect.” He quietly shut the door behind him, failing to conceal the huge grin he had on his face.
Chapter 2
Two aspirin lay on the kitchen counter beside a glass of water when Hitomi finally came out of her bedroom dressed, smelling clean, and her hair finally tamed. He couldn’t help but smile to himself as he searched the kitchen for something to cook for both of them. He always took care of her like a little sister. She also realized her friends were checking on her more and trying to get her out more. Having a closed heart didn’t bother Hitomi anymore, but her friends were hell-bent on opening it back up. He could only hope that it would not take long for the right man to come along.
Duran grinned to himself as he watched Hitomi. She had finally picked up the aspirin he laid on the counter for her. She was a delicate woman, and he loved her to death. That’s why he kept setting her up on these crappy dates on purpose. He knew the only person who could capture her heart and bring her out of this deliberate funk was the one person she hadn’t spoken of or asked about since college. The opportunity had finally come back around, and this time he was determined to see his little sis happy again. They all missed her beautiful smile when she was truly happy. It took a lot to get a genuine smile on her face nowadays, and he was counting the days until it was plastered on her face permanently. And Duran knew the one man who could make his sis experience this bliss. He had already set the wheels in motion.
“So, I take it your date didn’t go well last night?” Duran asked again as he pulled out ingredients for an omelet. He knew damn good and well it didn’t, and he was hoping she would spill so he could have a good laugh. He knew Kyle was the exact opposite of Hitomi and made most of the women cringe at the gym. It was definitely fun to watch when he was on the hunt.
Choking on the water she drank to swallow the aspirin, Hitomi had to cough and clear her throat a little before she was able to talk. “Funny.” She narrowed her eyes at him when he turned and looked at her. “Casey had to pretend to be my girlfriend…again.” She hopped onto one of her barstools as Duran continued moving around in her kitchen as if it were his own. He cooked more in her kitchen than he did his own.
* * * *
Hitomi licked her lips as she eyed the food Duran had pulled out of her refrigerator. Yum, looks like he’s going to make omelets. Denver, my favorite. But where the hell did he find the shredded cheese? She rarely cooked but managed to keep a well stocked kitchen for visits like these. She was still eying the shredded cheese when Duran spoke.
Duran wailed as he envisioned the scene. “So are you saying that you didn’t like your date?” He was not exactly trying to keep a straight face as he poured the ingredients for the omelet into the skillet.
“Whatever, D.” She gave him a quick replay of what happened the night before with Kyle. “I’m done with the fix-ups, okay? Make sure you relay that to the other partners in crime, Natalia and Riva. You guys are irritating. I’m fine being alone.” She mocked as her stomach growled from the delicious scent the omelet caused.
“I tell you what, I will go on a few blind dates, too, after we get you dating and married off. Okay?” he joked as he placed toast on a plate.
“Dang, we’re gonna be some lonely-ass people.” He turned to her, and they both burst out laughing. “Anyway, you know Riva is not going to let anyone near you. You’re spoken for and don’t even realize it yet.”
Ignoring that comment altogether, Duran turned to her and placed a plate of toast in front of her. “Eat up.”
Her eyebrows shot up at the lack of food in front of her. “This isn’t what I had in mind when you said you would make breakfast, D. I’m starving.” Hitomi whined as she reached for the toast anyway. Something was always better than nothing.
“Look, boozer, start slow, eat the toast first, then we will see how your stomach takes it. I haven’t seen you hungover like this in a long time. If all is well with your stomach, I will fix you a Denver omelet like the one I have. Now eat.” He turned around with a plate that looked so delicious with the omelet, bacon, and toast on it. He placed his plate across from her and went to get some juice from the refrigerator. When Duran returned with a glass of juice, he stopped in his tracks, stunned at her handiwork.
“Oh, now that’s just sad.” He laughed, eyebrows arched so high they almost touched his hairline. He looked back and forth from his plate to Hi, who was looking up at the ceiling trying to chew the bacon and half of the omelet she quickly shoved in her mouth and now tried to conceal behind her hands.
Smack. Smack. “Huh?” One word was all she could manage with her mouth full of food.
“Don’t you ‘huh’ me, piggy. You have no shame.” Duran laughed and snatched his plate. “Come on. We’ve got some things to go over. I’ve already laid the files on the dining room table.”
Heading to the table, she walked beside Duran and bumped him with her hip.
“Thanks, D. You always look out for me.”
He looked down at her and laughed. “I don’t have a choice. Where else will I have free rein over a well-stocked refrigerator? Now let’s get to work.” He bumped her back.
* * * *
When Hitomi walked into her office Monday morning, a bowl of fruit salad was sitting on her desk.
Heather.
She knew her executive assistant left it for her. Again. Heather wasn’t just an employee, she was a good friend, a friend who worried about her and fed her constantly. She always made sure Hitomi had healthy food and snacks in the executive kitchen because she had a tendency to work through lunch or not eat at all. When Hitomi started looking a little too thin, that’s when Heather stepped in and damn near force-fed her. Being a mother, it was instinct for Heather to take care of her. Heather often compared Hitomi to her twin boys: picking up after her, pushing food in front of her, reminding her over and over about meetings.
With a tap on the open door, Heather walked in with a folder under her arm while she managed to eat her own fruit salad. “Here is the file for your client that’s due shortly. It was a last-minute switch. The client was originally scheduled to meet with Duran, who, by the way, also failed to give me the client’s full name. That’s not like Duran at all. He’s always on top of things like this. Anyway…I do know that the client has an import and export business. Sorry, boss, Duran’s secretary just brought it to me.” Heather laid the folder on the desk and took a seat in one of the leather chairs in front of the desk.
Hitomi shook her head, enjoying the fruit salad and checking her e-mails. Without looking up, she said, “No worries, Heather. We will manage.” Hitomi knew she would be lost without her assistant.
This is usually how their mornings started. Silently eating together, lost in their own thoughts, and enjoying whatever selection of music Heather had playing in the office. She couldn’t dream of a better working relationship. After Hitomi greedily finished her fruit salad, she finall
y looked up at Heather.
“Wow! I love your hair. The choppy, platinum pixie haircut really sets off your tan. How did your hubby like it?” she asked, admiring the new look Heather had. Although in her thirties, Heather could easily pass for a woman shy of twenty-five. Working for a company that housed both management accountants and internal auditors, she had seen her fair share of clients’ unhappy employees when mismanagement or theft had been discovered. Her innocent looks and small stature fooled them every time. She was a bulldog.
Heather had been with Hitomi since before the first day she opened her financial firm. They hit it off instantly at her interview. Hitomi never had to ask for anything twice. It was almost like Heather could read her mind, know her needs. Heather brought in just as many referrals when Hitomi first started up the company as Duran. And just like Duran, Riva, and Natalia, Heather took it upon herself to make sure Hi was taken care of as much as possible. Over the years, Heather had expressed how much it broke her heart to watch someone as beautiful, successful, kind, loving, and considerate as Hitomi intentionally avoiding personal happiness. She knew it was not healthy.
Heather and her husband Marc never turned Hitomi down when she offered to take their twin boys to the circus, park, or just an outing to give them “alone time.” They were always happy to kick the kids out and into “Aunt Hitomi’s” car. Hitomi would act just like a child when she hung out with the twins. She was great with them. But she would never allow herself to consider the possibilities of having a family of her own. Her home and office were scattered with pictures of her and the twins and their numerous adventures. At Christmas, Hitomi tried unsuccessfully to not outdo Santa. She spoiled the boys rotten and loved every minute of it.
“Thank you. Marc loves it. The twins got a kick out of it, too. You know we have to keep our diva look up. We get all the male clients because we are notorious for having hot women working in the building.” Heather giggled as Hitomi shook her head and laughed, too. Although unintentional, it did seem that way.
Hitomi’s firm was small and turned an outstanding profit yearly. Word of mouth about a job well done brought in loads of referrals. There were a lot of women that held higher, as well as lower, positions in her firm. It was odd how she had never thought about that before. Duran was the only male that held a senior position—second in command and had no complaints about the unbalanced levels. Testosterone was scattered throughout the office, but it seemed that more qualified female graduates applied for positions with her company, which suited Hitomi just fine.
“You’re a mess, Heather. What else do you have for me today?” she questioned. And as if on cue, Heather reached over to the computer, clicked the mouse a couple of times, and Hitomi’s itinerary flashed across the screen. “Full load today.”
“Always.” Heather smiled smugly. The phone started buzzing. Heather quickly answered it. “That was Reception. Your appointment is on his way up.” Heather reached for the fruit salad trash. She looked up and said, “Check your teeth for strawberry seeds. I’ve got this.” Heather straightened the desk and headed for the door.
“Thanks, Heather.” Hitomi’s cheeks warmed as Heather fanned her away. She walked into her personal bathroom to do as told and performed a quick once-over. There was nothing more embarrassing than conducting a meeting with food stuck between your teeth.
* * * *
Raiden Saga was stunned as he quietly admired the beautiful woman that stood before him. Hitomi had been beautiful in college, and she was even more stunning after eleven years apart, but he had a nagging feeling that she wouldn’t recognize him. His body had gone through a transformation. And as he stood in her office staring at her, his body was going through another transformation just below his belt. It was difficult to ignore the sexy woman and how his body responded to her. Her shiny black hair was longer now. She seemed to have gained mouthwatering curves. Wearing that black pantsuit only made his eyes stay glued to her firm butt as she thumbed through a file cabinet. He was getting hard just looking at her. Damn. She was beauty personified.
Reconnecting with Duran had been fun and quite interesting. They had lost touch after graduating from college and coincidently, Raiden had made Atlanta the new site of his home office four years ago. He hadn’t seen Hitomi since the day they graduated from college. And she still looked the same. Gorgeous.
Laughing to himself, he could not believe she still had the same effect on him now as she did back in college when they first met. She took his breath away. She made his heart skip a beat or three. He recalled how they first met.
On move-in day freshman year, no one was aware that there had been a mix-up. He had been assigned as Hitomi’s roommate because the computer had him down as a female. Neither he nor his parents had a clear understanding of how coed dorms worked. They just assumed that guys and girls were on the same floor but roomed with the same sex.
None of the females gave him a second thought as he walked the stairs with his parents to the third floor of the female side of the dormitory. His parents helped move his things in and then they left, allowing him to get acquainted with his new roommate. Raiden was tall, lanky, awkward, and he sported a ponytail. So, of course, he blended right in. He hadn’t come across his roommate until later in the day, long after his parents had left.
When Hitomi walked into the room they shared and saw Raiden sitting on the bed opposite hers, she assumed her roommate’s boyfriend was visiting. She soon learned that Raiden was not her roommate’s boyfriend. He indeed was her roommate. After Hitomi explained that they were on the female side of the dormitory, she looked over his paperwork and realized what had happened. She didn’t panic or scream. She laughed. She laughed at the computer glitch. She laughed at the fact that no one noticed that he was a guy.
She laughed and his heart tightened. She laughed harder and she took his breath away. At the time, he didn’t know what it meant, nor did Hitomi when she had the same reaction toward Raiden. More amused than shocked, they kept silent for a week before they notified their dorm advisor about the mix-up. By then, Raiden and Hitomi had become fast friends, and their secret love for one another began.
During the time they shared in college, Raiden had never summoned the nerve to ask her out. Even their study buddy Duran had encouraged him to go for it. Raiden was afraid. Not because he didn’t think she would date a Japanese man, they were more well rounded than that. No, he was afraid that it would diminish the friendship they had. Plus it didn’t help that her summers were always occupied by her internships at her godfather’s company in Japan. Although curious about the country, Raiden was born and raised in the United States and never felt the urge to go to Japan to see her when she was there. He wished he had.
All of that changed during their senior year of college. Raiden had taken Hitomi out for her birthday. Just the two of them. It had started off as a platonic date. After a three-hour drive, he had surprised her with a weekend at a bed-and-breakfast and visits to a planetarium and conservatory. Things she had hinted at over the weeks preceding her birthday. Hints she only gave to Raiden. It was a weekend of firsts for both of them. They were each other’s first love and first sexual experience. Unfortunately, Hitomi chose to run from her feelings, from that wonderful weekend they had shared. She had broken Raiden’s heart and avoided him until graduation a few weeks later. He assumed something would happen, but after the ceremony she had broken his heart when she walked away and never looked back.
Chapter 3
“Good morning, Hitomi Narcisse,” he said cheerfully.
Holy. Hell. He sounds sexy. She looked up from her file cabinet in the direction of that deep voice. His voice sounded like smooth, creamy velvet, and she loved how her name rolled off of his tongue. Hitomi tried not to stare at the sexy six-foot Japanese man who was quietly standing in her office. She could almost feel the warmth of his breath caressing her naked body. Her nipples pebbled instantly at the thought, causing her to adjust her jacket in order to conceal h
er body’s response to him.
He looked nothing like she expected. Honestly, she didn’t even open the file Heather had given her. When she thought of imports and exports, she pictured an overweight, balding man. Not this tall walking orgasm standing in her office. The tailored suit he wore accented his wide chest and broad shoulders. She didn’t have to stare long to recognize that this man worked out. His black hair was cut close around the sides, with it a little longer on top, and his whiskey-colored eyes made her mouth dry. She was at a loss for words.
Yum, if that’s a word.
What the hell was wrong with her this morning? Her heart began to race, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach. It must have been the fruit salad. The more she looked at him, ogled him, damn near drooled at the sight of him, the stronger the feeling of recognition clawed at her. He looked familiar but she just couldn’t place him…
Oh. My. God. “Raiden?” Her face lit up, and a squeal of delight escaped as she pushed her file cabinet shut and ran to hug him. Did she just skip? He caught her mid-stride and gave her a bear hug, lifting her off the floor and spinning her around.
Hitomi was delighted that in the eleven years apart, he had definitely grown into a man in more ways than one. The thrill of knowing she still had an effect on him was exciting. Trying to hide her own reaction to him, she began adjusting her jacket over her breasts. This will be interesting.
“My goodness, you are beautiful. I’ve missed you, my silver-eyed beauty.” Whispering in her ear as he placed her back on her feet, he took a cautious step back. He looked as if he’d been struck by lightning.
Alexander, Kortny - Love, Interrupted (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 2