A One Night Affair (Kissing the Boss Book 2) Page 3

I liked it.

  Just like I enjoyed seeing the usually unflappable and neat Nobuki Miyano so messy and disheveled.

  Julian gave him the finger, which Nobuki did not see.

  But I did and laughed.

  It felt…great.

  The strange, strained mood between Nobuki and Julian had dissipated and by the time we got on the eight-lane freeway, the gentle lull of their conversation made me sink into a deep, almost comatose state.

  Head lolling on the head rest, I watched the countless numbers of cars pass, not thinking of much at all, too tired to do anything but blink languidly in the brilliant sunlight.

  “— presentation is scheduled for Wednesday. You’re a speaker. Is that okay? You’ve always hated being the center of attention.” Julian’s voice was low and rumbly like a great beast.

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  “Doesn’t make it any easier, Nobu.”

  Just work talk.

  I let myself slide deeper into a dream state, smiling under the warm spring sunlight.

  “—fault.”

  Julian sighed. “Don’t sweat it, man. We went at it like hammers and tongs last time we saw each other, remember?”

  “I remember,” said Nobuki, his voice barely audible over the honking of a speedy red convertible in the next lane. “Can’t believe we fell into a mirror. I still have the scar on my shoulder.”

  “Lucky bastard,” replied Julian. “At least you can hide yours. I swear, if another Korean person confuses me for Owen Wilson again, I’m going to start signing autographs in his name.”

  I opened my eyes and stared at the back of Julian’s head.

  The slight hump in Julian’s nose.

  Nobuki did that?

  It was hard to imagine my cool, suave boss as a hothead, swinging his fists around in wild abandon.

  “Did you have any specific plans for the show?” asked Nobuki.

  Julian shrugged his wide shoulders. “Nah, just make sure everything is good for you and your secretary. Speaking of which…” His head moved in my direction, and I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

  “What?”

  “What’s her status?”

  “Her status?” echoed Nobuki.

  “Yeah, man. Is she married, boyfriend, fiancé, plays for the other team, or what?”

  Nobuki guffawed. “I’m pretty sure she’s not a lesbian.”

  “Oh yeah?” A moment of silence. “What about you?”

  “Am I gay? Have you been taking drugs?”

  “Man, you know what I’m talking about.”

  By now I could’ve sworn my ears were bright red.

  What was Nobuki going to say?

  Please!

  Say something!

  “Are you interested in her?” Nobuki asked.

  Julian sighed. “You always answer a question with another question. You did that when we were kids and you’re still doing it. Just give me a straight answer. Is she or is she not available?”

  “The answer depends on whether you’re interested in her, you moron.”

  “If I wasn’t interested, would I have asked, you straight-laced mama’s boy?”

  I wanted to laugh at their childish name-calling, but that would’ve blown my cover.

  “So you are interested?” Nobuki seemed almost bored by the entire exchange.

  Julian shifted in his seat. I tried not to move, or even breathe for that matter. To them, I was as good as invisible.

  “You’re not?” asked Julian.

  “Now who’s the one replying to a question with another one?”

  “This is never going to stop, is it?”

  “Stop asking questions, then.”

  Julian muttered something under his breath.

  “Well?” asked Nobuki. “How about the truth, bro?”

  Julian snorted. “Yeah, fine. I’m interested in her. You happy? Yes, I would like to get to know her a little better.”

  I felt a flutter of excitement in my belly. This Viking god wanted to know me better? Maybe I should’ve bought a lottery ticket to capitalize on this strange bit of luck.

  “What makes you think she’d want anything to do with you?” asked Nobuki. “For all you know, she’s probably scared of you.”

  “Aw, come on, man. I’m not bragging or anything, but you know the ladies like me.”

  “The ones here do.” Nobuki sighed. “But we’re talking about American girls. They’re not like Japanese girls. Didn’t you learn your lesson? You’re not that much of an idiot.”

  “According to you, I am. And I learned a thing or two from Hanami.”

  “It’s that thing or two I’m worried about,” murmured Nobuki. “Anyway, Rika’s nothing like her.”

  Who was Hanami?

  I had all these questions, but got the sneaking suspicion I’d never get all the answers I wanted.

  “I know. I knew it for sure when she said she’d drive us to New York.” Julian laughed. “Hanami would’ve never said that. She would’ve sat quietly in the car. Miss Hasegawa has spirit. She’s feisty. I like it.”

  “You can’t treat Rika like the girls here or like Hanami.” Nobuki paused. “She’s…”

  “She’s?”

  I couldn’t remember the last time I wanted to open my eyes more.

  What kind of expression would’ve been on Nobuki’s face?

  Or on Julian’s?

  “Different,” said Nobuki. “She’s different.”

  “Different?”

  My thoughts exactly.

  “What do you mean?”

  Again, exactly what I was thinking. I wondered if Julian and I were communicating via telepathy.

  “She’s innocent,” mused Nobuki. “But not innocent. She’s stubborn, but she has common sense. She’s afraid of many things, but she’s brave enough not to let it show. She has spunk, but she’s not…well, you get the idea, don’t you?”

  “Sounds like a walking bucket of contradictions.”

  “An understatement.”

  “You almost sound fond of her.”

  Oh my God.

  “She’s a hard worker.”

  My excitement deflated like a balloon left out in the cold.

  A hard worker?

  That’s it?

  Out of all the damn things for Nobuki to say, he chose to refer to my diligence?

  “My friend, that is the first compliment I have heard from you since the day I shoved your head in the school bathroom.”

  “Go fuck yourself.”

  “I’ll pass. Not as fun as they make it sound.”

  A pause. “I don’t even want to know.”

  I kind of did.

  “I’m going to ask her out.”

  “Do what you want,” said Nobuki. “Just so we’re clear, you know we leave in a week, right? You never struck me as the casual type, Julian.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Then?”

  “We’re always looking to hire exceptional people, and according to you, she sounds like a perfect addition to Taylor and Bayson.”

  Nobuki snickered. “You think Rika’s going to quit her job, leave everything she knows, for you? I knew you were full of yourself, but I didn’t think it was this bad.”

  “Maybe I’ll move to Japan. I’m sure Shokogan wouldn’t mind someone like me.”

  “You are fucking crazy. You’d move all the way back to Japan just for a girl?”

  I winced. I was kind of hoping I was more than just a girl.

  “I did it before for Hanami, didn’t I? I can do it again.”

  “You’re an idiot who never learned his lesson.”

  “Whatever, man.” I heard something tapping, like knuckles on a steering wheel. “So you’re okay with this?”

  Nobuki sighed. “You don’t need my blessing to flirt with Rika.”

  I ignored the pang of disappointment in my heart.

  Of course he would say that.

  It’s not as though we had any kind of connection
beyond the workplace.

  My heart felt heavy. The last time I felt remotely like this was when I confessed to my first love in high school. He turned me down, kindly, but still it was a no.

  And so was this.

  Then again, it wasn’t as though I had made any overtures on Nobuki. He didn’t know my feelings for him. Heck, I didn’t even know if these feelings were real or not, but it would’ve been nice to explore them outside of my dream.

  “One thing, Julian. Remember I said Rika isn’t like any other girl you’ve met?”

  “Yeah?”

  Someone shifted in his seat, making the leather squeak.

  “You hurt her, and our friendship is over.”

  “Oh, so this is a friendship, Nobu?”

  “I’ll make that hump on your nose look like a beauty mark by the time I’m through with you. Got it?”

  What was happening?

  Why would my boss say that?

  “Don’t worry.” Apparently, Julian didn’t like the smear on his reputation. “Things come down to that, I’ll do it myself.”

  “As long as we’re clear.”

  “Definitely, bro.”

  “Jet lag hit her hard. She’s still sleeping even through all that.”

  “Or she’s pretending.”

  Crap.

  I stopped breathing again, and my pulse sped.

  Think sleepy thoughts…think sleepy thoughts…

  “No,” said Nobuki after a brief pause. “She’s not that kind of person. Trust me, if she was awake, we’d know. There’s no way she would’ve let us have that conversation. Probably strangle us both on the 405.”

  Julian chuckled. “There are worse ways to go.”

  “Worse ways to go than crushed underneath a semi?”

  “This is the size of a Humvee. Other cars become truck fodder, not this one.”

  “I see. Is this something you worry about, Julian?”

  “Shut up, mama’s boy.”

  “Barbarian.”

  “Fussy pot.”

  “Wolf.”

  There was a pause. “Wolf?” Julian replied. “Wolf? Are you fucking kidding me?”

  “You’ve got hair everywhere. It seemed apt.”

  “That’s normal.”

  Nobuki laughed. “Not in Japan.”

  “Remember the time I went to the bathhouse out by the college? Made all the old Japanese guys stare. I thought their eyes were going to fall out. I felt like a mutant.”

  “The one next to the convenience store that sold taiyaki?”

  “Hell yeah. I used to get a bag of those every day in the winter. Gained like twenty pounds, but Christ, was it worth it.”

  “Do you miss it?”

  “The taiyaki or gaining twenty pounds in three months?”

  Despite the interest I had in following their conversation, the gentle lull of it was sending me to sleep.

  I didn’t want to.

  Not with the things to consider.

  Julian professed an interest in me.

  Julian and Nobuki dated the same girl…Minami or something.

  A pang of envy ran through me. Some women get all the luck.

  But the most surprising piece of information was that Nobuki was willing to sacrifice his friendship with Julian for me.

  You hurt her, and our friendship is over.

  It was strangely heart-warming and somewhat depressing.

  A big, very big part of me wanted to be with Nobuki in a sexual manner, yet he thought of me as nothing but an industrious worker.

  Which wasn’t the worst thing in the world, but still.

  My eyes popped open as a sudden realization smacked me across the face, chasing away any possible chances of sleep.

  Two weeks.

  I’d known Nobuki for maybe fifteen, sixteen days.

  I didn’t have enough fingers on my hands to count the number of times I had dreamed of fucking my boss.

  What the hell?

  “Did you have a good nap?”

  My face heated. “Er. Yes. I did. Thank you. I’m sorry. I didn’t think I was so tired, but…”

  “Well, it is a twelve-hour flight,” said Julian, his eyes wide and very, very alluring in the rearview mirror.

  And he wanted to take me out on a few dates.

  Professed to want to know me better.

  Even said he wouldn’t think it strange to continue our possible relationship by coming to Japan.

  No one had ever shown me this kind of interest.

  “I haven’t been able to sleep very well,” I admitted, unable to look away from his eyes, even though I knew I should’ve let him turn his attention back to the road.

  We were off the freeway and surrounded by stores, gas stations, and to my right, a large shopping center, the immense parking lot stuffed with cars.

  “What’s up?” Julian laughed. I loved the sound of his laughter. “Nobu keeping you up all hours with his crazy demands?”

  “What?” I almost choked on my heart. “What? No. Not at all. I don’t…”

  For one moment, just one stupid, idiotic moment, I thought he was referring to my dreams.

  It was his choice of words. After all, there was no way Julian knew about my almost nightly sexual fantasies.

  Julian broke into another burst of laughter.

  “You’re scaring her,” said Nobuki.

  “Yeah, I know.” Julian turned a quick left, his eyes back on the road, thank God. “For a sec it looked like she was going to jump out of the car.”

  My breath was ragged as I tried to gain back some sense of self. “I’m sorry. I was just flustered.”

  “I see…” Julian’s gaze turned contemplative. “Wonder what kind of thing you’re making your secretary do to make her all red and flustered.”

  I pressed my hands over my cheeks, trying to massage some of the heat away.

  “Nothing, you pervert.” Nobuki rolled down his window. The brush of fresh air felt wonderful against my face. “Unlike you, I know how to keep my work and personal life separate.”

  Basically meaning that while I was his secretary, I had no chance in hell of ever being with him.

  Well, that wasn’t particularly surprising.

  In fact, it should’ve been obvious.

  A workaholic like Nobuki Miyano was nothing like my past boss who loved having sex on his office desk. Not with me, though, thankfully.

  Not saying Mr. Abe wasn’t good at his job, but comparing the two was like comparing a black plastic bag and a leather purse from Prada.

  “Oh yeah?” challenged Julian. “What about Hanami?”

  “Hanami was young.” Nobuki sighed. “We all were. I learned my lesson. Did you?”

  Even from where I sat, I saw the smile slide off Julian’s face, saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel.

  “Maybe.” A corner of his lips kicked up. “I think that’s the first time I’ve heard you admitting a mistake.”

  Nobuki shrugged. “I’m not perfect.”

  “Wow, congratulations, you’re human.”

  “Shut up and just get us to the hotel.”

  “Calm down,” said Julian mildly. “We’re here.”

  We rolled up to the double front doors of a large hotel, a bellboy already coming toward us, with gloved hands and the silly hat that must’ve been required because I couldn’t imagine why anyone would choose to wear a fez.

  We collected our bags and Julian thwacked Nobuki on the back again.

  “You need to stop doing that,” muttered my boss, frowning. It said something about someone when they looked attractive with a frown.

  “Well, I could give you a bro hug again,” said Julian.

  “Pass.”

  Nobuki rolled past me and through the double doors with his luggage, not even looking behind him to see if we were following.

  Typical.

  Where did he get such confidence?

  “Here you go.” Julian wheeled my luggage onto the curb and closed the SUV’s b
ack door. “You better get in before he disappears. He’s always been kind of inconsiderate like that.”

  I felt the instinctive urge to defend Nobuki. You know, because I was his secretary and all. “Not always. When I was, um, sick, he got me medicine.”

  Julian whistled low. “And you didn’t even ask for it? No, wait. If you asked, he definitely wouldn’t do it.”

  “You’re right. He wouldn’t.”

  We both stared at Nobuki’s back as he strode to the front desk, oozing confidence and competence.

  “You know, I used to be pretty jealous of the guy,” said Julian conversationally.

  “If I were a man, I think I would be, too,” I agreed. “On the other hand, I don’t think I’d be man enough to admit it, unlike you.”

  He laughed, shaking his head. “Could be that I’m still jealous of him.”

  I watched the sunlight play across his tanned features. “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you two friends? It almost seems like you dislike each other.”

  This I said in Japanese, mostly because I didn’t know to express my thought properly in English. My English was okay, not great.

  “He’s a porcupine,” replied Julian in flawless Japanese.

  I blinked, convinced he had used the wrong word. “Porcupine? We’re talking about the animal with all the spikes, right?”

  “Yeah, the animal with all the spikes.” Julian grinned and then waved as Nobuki turned around at the front desk, his eyes on us. “He’s prickly and defensive. He’s been that way ever since he was a kid. But there’s no one I trust more. It’s weird to say this, considering how cold he is, but he’s honest. I respect that.”

  “I think I understand. Um…” I held out my hand, feeling awkward at such a formal action. “Thank you. For helping us. Mr. Miyano didn’t say thank you, but I’m sure he thinks it.”

  He stared at my hand.

  Uh-oh.

  Did I commit a social faux pas?

  My hand wavered in the air, but he took it between his.

  “Hey, Nobu told me you weren’t seeing anyone. That true?”

  I was tongue-tied. Also, the warmth from his hands was almost too much to bear. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.”

  “Okay, good.” He paused. “So here’s my question. Do you mind if I, you know—”

  Even though I was pretty sure my face was as red as a tomato, I somehow managed to summon the courage to say, “You’re asking me out on a date?”

  His mouth fell open.

  It was terribly cute.