“Then I‘m going to go on, and I’ll see you Friday morning. Seven sharp, right?”
Nodding, Julia waved as the trainer jogged away. “Good morning, what’s up?”
“I was just lying here, wondering when I’d become such a simple woman—a woman happy with a new job and the prospect of my own money in the bank,” Bianca said and yawned.
“I’m happy that you have redefined yourself.”
“Don’t be funny.”
“Funny? I just finished an hour with Glenda, the Trainer From Hell, and there is nothing funny about that.”
“You know you love her, but I called because I wanted to share my news with you. It was late when we finished inventory at Kin Kura last night, so I didn’t see the package until nearly midnight.”
Julia dug her keys out before trudging along the stadium’s cinder track toward her car. Ready for a nap, she was still waiting for the water to take effect—Glenda always said water helped in recovery. “What package?”
“I was already kind of excited when I left work. Even though it took most of my paycheck, I sent a payment to Kelvin. It wasn’t as much as he would have wanted, but I sent it. I didn’t want to see him, so I sent it by messenger.”
“He’s going to think you sent him something special when he sees the messenger.”
“Special to me, maybe, but at least I’ve made a start. I actually thought that was going to be the high point of my day, but it got better the second I opened the package.”
“Again with the package. What was in the package?”
“The Neiman’s contract. I told you about it. It finally came. It’s been approved, and now it’s in my hands for signing.”
“I am so happy for you.” Reaching her car, Julia managed to get her door open, and couldn’t stop smiling. “Do you need one of my attorneys to look at it for you?”
“No way,” Bianca said, almost too quickly. “That’s how I got burned with KPayne…trusting someone else to do what I should have done for myself. I intend to read every line of this contract, and maybe when I finish, I’ll have to bring it to one of your people. But first, I’m going to read it for myself.”
“Okay…”
“Not that I don’t appreciate the offer…”
In the silence that followed, Julia could hear her sister wrestling with her decision.
“Jules…”
Jules? She hadn’t called Julia that since they were kids.
“Jules, you know I appreciate the offer, don’t you?”
“I know.” Julia smiled and turned the key in the ignition. The childhood nickname felt like love.
“I didn’t call to insult you,” Bianca said softly.
“I know.” She cares about my feelings.
“I really called because I want to celebrate. With you. Can we?”
“Are you kidding? I would be insulted if you asked anybody other than me.”
“This is that sister thing again, isn’t it? Dang, there ought to be a rule book or something,” Bianca said and laughed. “Can we celebrate over lunch? My treat? It just has to be reasonable.”
“Is reasonable a code word for cheap?”
“Whoever it was that called you the Slow One was off the mark.” Bianca laughed. “I can afford to do a nice restaurant. We’ll have to save chic and classic for another celebration.”
It was Julia’s turn to laugh. “My schedule is clear for most of the afternoon. Why don’t I meet you at the Kin Kura showroom? Can you get away around one?”
“Please, I don’t work on a plantation. They don’t chain me to a desk. Yes, one is fine, and I’ll see you then.”
“Absolutely.” Yep, Bianca could definitely count on seeing her at one, maybe a little before. It might take a little time to look around Kin Kura and get a feel for her sister’s new job.
* * *
Walking through the double doors, Julia appraised the Kin Kura showroom with a realtor’s eye. Better than ten thousand square feet, she estimated. Not bad for company less than ten years old. No doubt about it, money was spent here, she concluded.
Without moving, she assessed the modish elegance of her surroundings. Styled with chic and traditional Japanese art, the showroom was inviting and soothing. Beautifully maintained plants and the soothing scent and sound of fresh moving water were pleasing to her senses, as was the nearly subliminal music filtering through the room. Soft light, designed to soften and highlight the features of everyone and everything it touched was smart. People can’t help being beautiful in this space. And beautiful people buy beautiful things.
Julia crossed the showroom to the receptionist’s desk and gave her name before taking a seat on one of the soft leather settees. Lulled by her surroundings, she was startled when the handsome man appeared.
“Julia Coltrane?”
“Yes?”
“I am Akemi Jordan.” Bowing slightly, he offered his hand.
There was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t quite make the connection, though she usually had a good memory for faces. She took the hand he extended and smiled. “Konnichiwa.”
His face lit up at the greeting. “Konnichiwa. Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?”
“Hai, hanasemasu,” she laughed, leaving her hand in his. “Yes, I speak just a little Japanese. It has been years, and goodness knows I don’t have many people to practice with here in Atlanta.”
“Still, you speak very well,” he said and grinned. “Cute accent.”
“Oh, you’re a charmer.” Julia laughed again. “My accent is only cute with certain words.”
“Then I’ll make a suggestion: While Bianca is finishing up, why don’t I show you around Kin Kura, and you can use those certain words?”
Standing, Julia said, “I could do that.”
He tucked her hand into the curve of his arm and led her through the showroom and into the restoration studio. Listening to him talk about his business and clientele, she decided Akemi Jordan was indeed a smart man. Walking with him, liking the smooth timbre of his voice, feeling the full force of his masculinity as he guided her through his domain, she decided he was also a very hot man.
She took in the exquisite lines and tailoring of his suit. Hugo Boss, she guessed. What’s wrong with him? I know Bianca is not blind.
Julia looked at the hand she still rested against Akemi’s arm, then up into appreciative dark almond-shaped eyes, focused on her and nothing else. He definitely likes women…Then a red flag went up. Maybe that’s what it is. He’s a flirt, a womanizer, a man-whore!
Julia nearly tore her hand away, but he was saying something. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
“I asked where you learned to speak the language.” Leading her beyond the shoji screens, he pressed his palm to a wall panel, opening the door to his office. Like her sister, Julia was caught off-guard by the wall-spanning aquarium when she stepped through the door.
Open-mouthed, she stood watching the delicate aqua-ballet before her. Recovering, Julia turned to Akemi. “That is one of the most astounding and impressive accent walls I have ever seen.”
“I find it relaxing and enjoyable,” he said, offering her a chair. She sat, gingerly holding her purse in her lap, with her feet primly flat on the floor. “You never told me where you learned to speak the language.”
He seemed genuinely interested, and as flattering as that was, Julia kept her answer brief and businesslike. “I was an exchange student at the University of Tokyo. For graduate school.”
“Business? At the Nippon Budokan?”
“You know the program?”
He nodded and leaned forward in his chair. “Yes, and I would have given my right arm to have attended. But I didn’t quite make the cut; I settled for Oregon State.”
“Not the worst school in the world.”
“True. It’s just that the University of Tokyo is…” He spread his hands and smiled. “The University of Tokyo.”
“I learned a lot, and while it wasn’t always the
most fun I’ve ever had, it was a significant part of my education.”
“Wakarimashita,” he said, his smile twisting slightly. “I understand. It can be difficult adjusting to a new place, new people.”
“A new language, new foods,” she finished for him. “I think I was homesick for about twenty minutes.”
“Resilience runs in your family, I see.”
“Something like that.” Julia felt herself liking him again. Okay, so maybe not a man-whore. Just a really hot flirt. “There are some things I really miss about the Japanese experience.”
“But you can find similarities here in Atlanta.” Julia looked dubious. “You can. You have to go all the way to Duluth, but what about the Jeju Spa?” He gave a little moan of pleasure. “It’s heaven.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that. I’ll also give you yakitory and karaoke, but not like you could find in Tokyo.”
“Not like Tokyo,” Akemi agreed, “but good. Satisfying and fun; what more can you ask?”
“I’m not sure, but I wish I could drag my sister out for a little fun.”
“Really? I never thought of her as a homebody.”
“Why would you say that?”
“I’ve watched her. She’s quite attractive, but she seems focused on being sharp and all about business.”
“She’s all business, all right,” Julia sighed, making a face. “I just wish I could get her to do something besides work and mope about resurrecting her boutique. She used to be such fun when we were kids, but right now, there’s no way I’m going to get Bianca out for yakitory, and I can definitely forget a Soba bar or restaurant.”
“Ditto for my brother. Don’t get me wrong, Harry has a lot of good qualities. Heck, because of him, I’ve always been able to take the easy way out. He’s shouldered the Japanese side of our heritage, and let me be me.”
“Sounds like a perfect pain in the butt.”
“I could say the same thing about your sister,” Kemi said, smiling.
“Wouldn’t bother me if you did.” Julia sat back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Where has this perfect brother of yours been?”
“Japan. A significant portion of his accounts are there, our parents have retired there. And did I say that Harry loves his work? Now he’s back in Atlanta.”
“Sounds like a workaholic.”
“That’s exactly what he is. Now that he’s back in Atlanta, he only leaves home to go to work. And he owns the company.”
“Being the boss has its perks.”
“But I can’t see him using any of them. He’s become a hermit, and it’s not natural. He doesn’t even do his own shopping anymore—says he doesn’t have time. Between student interns, delivery, and his housekeeper, he manages to eat. He buys books and movies online, and entertains himself with twenty-four-hour newscasts—and karaoke.”
“Karaoke? He sings?”
“Every chance he gets.”
“Bianca and I love karaoke; in fact, we had a machine in the basement when we were kids. Man, we grew up doing some mean renditions of the Supremes and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Bianca always had to be Diana Ross.” Nostalgia softened her smile.
“Harry and I used to do the Temptations and the Miracles,” Akemi said, moving his hands to imaginary music. “I’d bet money that no one in Atlanta can do a better version of the Four Tops or the Spinners. Can you and your sister say that?”
“Not the guy groups, but when it comes to the girls and duets, I’ll bet my sister and I can take you on any day.”
“If you could get her out of the house.”
Julia let her neck move—just a little. “I can, if you can.”
“We could get them together, omiai-style. Call them out for a night of karaoke.”
“Wait a minute, isn’t omiai like a blind date?” Julia asked cautiously. “Yeah, well, that might be okay for your brother, but for my sister—I don’t know. Besides, you already know what my sister looks like. I don’t know jack about your brother.”
“You actually do.”
Julia’s eyebrows rose. “I do? How?”
“This is where I have to make a confession.” Akemi brought his fingers together at his chin. “He lives in your sister’s building. He was with me the day we ran into each other. You must have seen him.”
“The day we ran into each other? You ran into me?” Sudden recognition brightened Julia’s eyes and she pointed at Akemi. “The elevator…the day Bianca moved in. You were one of the men we ran into getting off the elevator. I knew I recognized you from somewhere; I just couldn’t put my finger on it.” She shook her finger at him. “I saw you the day you ran into me. There was another man with you, but I don’t remember what he looked like.”
“Flattering, but you ran into me and he was there, too.” Akemi pushed a small framed picture across his polished desk top. “That, dear Julia, is my brother, Haru Jordan, better known as Harry.”
Picking up the picture, Julia smiled. “Pretty.”
Akemi couldn’t help grinning. “Yeah, I think he’s been called that a time or two.”
“Looks like this one went swimming in the deep end of your gene pool.”
“I could say the same thing about your sister.”
“You probably would.” Julia looked up, caught the mischief in Akemi’s eyes, then dropped her gaze back to the photo in her hand. The long-legged man in the picture rested against a terraced stone wall, and looked like the hard-bodied bonus player in the game of life. Caramel skin, almond-shaped ebony eyes, stunningly lush lips, and sculpted features that matched and improved on his brother’s made Julia’s heart flutter. I could almost keep this one for myself, she thought. No, I’m doing this for Bianca, but I swear, if she doesn’t want him…
Sneaking another look as she handed the photo back, Julia cleared her throat. “He definitely looks like her type. Please tell me he’s not as dumb as a bag of rocks.”
“My brother? No way. One thing Harry has been good at all of his life is being first: first in his class, first-string on any team he ever tried out for, and now he operates a first-class security franchise.”
“So how do you propose we pull this off?”
“Anzuru yori umu go yasashi.” Kemi grinned.
“I told you my Japanese was rusty.” Julia frowned. “Help me out.”
“It means that an attempt is sometimes easier than expected. Harry’s birthday was a few weeks ago. He liked the samurai sword I got him, but he wouldn’t let me drag him out for dinner or drinks.”
“You didn’t say he was a monk,” Julia said and frowned again.
“Because he’s not. I just didn’t think of karaoke. He’ll come out for that. This Friday?”
“Friday is good. I’ll work on Bianca over lunch. She’ll do it for me.”
“She won’t find that suspect? You come here, meet me, and then a blind date?”
“You’re going to get enough of doubting me, you know that?” Julia said, thinking. “Okay, I’ll bring it up, real casual-like; tell her it will be fun, that we can relive a happy bit of our childhood. She’ll buy it.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
Julia fluttered her lashes. “How about this. I’ll tell her I met you while I was waiting for her, that I was completely charmed by you and accepted your offer of a date.”
“If we’ve come that far, then you’d better call me Kemi,” he said, smiling disarmingly.
“Kemi. Right.” Warming, she reminded herself that she was a grown woman and that she was doing this for her sister. “I’ll tell her I want to get to know you without any pressure, and that this karaoke date is a neutral place to start.”
“A very good start. Now where? What’s a good place?”
“On a Friday night? How about Dugan’s?” Julia looked sly.
“Aren’t they known for cold beer and hot buffalo wings?”
“Instead of sushi or anything else one of them might find suspect.”
“Ah, karaoke and matchmaking. Iss
eki nichio.” Kemi brought his palms together, bowed slightly. “One stone, two birds. Clever.”
CHAPTER 8
Bianca ignored the cellphone chirping in her purse. She knew it was Julia without looking. Every call she’d had today had been Julia badgering her about going on a tacky date with her and her new dream man—Akemi Jordan. Then she remembered she’d had one other caller today. KPayne. He’d gotten her check and found it lacking.
“How are you going to try to play me like this? This little piece of change is not enough to keep me in bubblegum, and it’s nowhere near what you owe me!”
“Kelvin…”
He was determined not to hear her excuses. Did she think money grew on trees? Did she think he was going to allow her to ignore her obligation to him? Bent on a full-blown tantrum, K-Payne continued his tirade. “My mother was right. She said you were as common as table salt. She said if I wanted to do charity work, I should write a check to the United Way. My father said you were a poor investment. He said…”
Standing in the middle of the Kin Kura showroom with the phone pressed to her ear, Bianca had bitten back the words she wanted to say. Still listening to the venom Payne spewed, she headed for the ladies’ room. Glad to find it empty, she pressed her back against a cool tile wall and took a deep breath.
“Bitch, did you hear what I said to you?”
The word was a slap in the face, like being doused with ice water. In the eight months she’d known him, even with all their spats and arguments, he’d never used that word with her. And she hated him for doing it now, especially because she knew in her heart he meant it.
“It doesn’t have to go like this, you know. We almost had something once, but that’s over and I’m through paying for it. I’m not about to let you keep telling me I have to wait on my money. I want it all, and I want it now. So what are you gonna do,” he demanded, forcing thick faux-street attitude into his voice. “What?”
“I told you that I’m going to pay you back, and I’ve already sent a check to your lawyer. That’s it. I don’t make a mint, that’s the only option I have, Kelvin.” Bianca’s mouth was hot and dry when she tried to swallow. The hand holding the phone was slick with quick sweat; her other hand curled into a tight fist.
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