Luke navigated the car onto the road. “I thought we’d check out this new Japanese restaurant. I think you’ll like it.”
I smiled. “I’m sure I will.”
Luke went on to tell me about the owner of the restaurant, a Japanese chef who had won top awards in restaurant competitions in Japan. He’d since opened an exclusive restaurant in the States and people were loving it.
It felt so nice to be out with him.
After parking the car, quick as a flash Luke was around to my side. He opened the door and helped me out.
I shot him a grateful smile. It would be easy to fall in love with Luke. Once you got to know him beyond his cold exterior, you found a gem underneath.
Another warning bell rang in my head.
We could never be anything more than lovers. Luke had made that very clear. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to be in a real relationship with him.
In the low-lit restaurant, Luke gave his name to the hostess, a Japanese lady with a gentle manner and welcoming smile.
“Please come with me,” she said after checking the reservation. She led us to a private cubicle with a low table on a highly polished wooden platform.
Luke slipped off his shoes and I followed suit before we went in. We sat on cushions around the low table.
“Someone will be with you in a moment,” the hostess said with a nod. Then she withdrew, sliding the screens shut.
We were once again, alone in our own little world. “Wow! This is the real thing, isn’t it?” I said looking at the gorgeous black and pink paintings of lotus flowers on the screens.
“Yes, very authentic,” Luke agreed.
“Thanks for bringing me here. I’ve never been to a place like this,” I said, meeting his eyes. In the soft glow of the lantern over us, he seemed beyond beautiful. A god almost.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “I hope you like the food.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll like it. I’m not fussy about food. I usually eat whatever’s on the table,” I told him with a laugh. Then I leaned closer to him. “I’m only fussy about the cock I swallow.”
Luke’s eyes widened.
Before he could answer, a faint knock came on the door, and a waiter opened the screens to take our order.
Luke recommended the hot sake for our drink and I was more than happy to try it. Luke’s idea was to order a variety of meals, so we could sample a lot of their dishes.
It sounded fun but terribly expensive. “Isn’t this going to cost the earth?”
“This is the reason why I work hard. Relax. Enjoy it. What’s life without enjoyment?”
He was right. He did work hard and he deserved this. We fell into an easy conversation. Luke made me feel like his equal, asking my opinion about important things and making me feel as if he genuinely valued my thoughts.
As we were sipping our warm sake, Luke leaned on the table and stared at me. “Tell me something about you I don’t know.”
I cocked my head and searched my memories. Laughter bubbled up my throat as a memory came to me. “I can pole dance, or at least I could.”
His jaw dropped. “Really?”
“Yes, Ruby and I took pole dancing classes when we were younger. Before we became boring,” I told him, a wistful note in my voice.
The screen doors were opened again by a woman and two waiters appeared bearing our food. They arranged the various dishes around the table.
A laugh escaped my mouth at the sheer quantity of food for just two people.
“Dig in,” Luke said when the waiters left.
I didn’t wait for a second invitation. I tasted every single dish, making a face at one.
Luke laughed. Darn it, I loved his laugh. It relaxed his face and made him look younger and carefree.
“That is octopus. It tastes horrible by itself, but you have to dip it in this sauce here.”
“No, I think I’ll pass, thank you.”
“It’s delicious,” he insisted. “Here try it.” He picked up a piece of the meat that had made me want to gag between his chopsticks, dipped it into the brownish sauce, and held it out for me.
I leaned forward and opened my mouth. The sweet and sour flavors mixed with the meat and burst in my mouth. “You were right. It’s delicious,” I agreed.
“Here’s another one,” Luke said and fed me again.
It felt weird but fun and scary how much I enjoyed Luke’s company. It would have been far easier if his company had been dull. But no, he had to be charming and attentive. He would always go out of his way to ensure I was kept entertained and tantalized. No man had ever paid such attention to me.
“You were telling me about pole dancing,” Luke reminded me.
I laughed. “You’re not going to let me forget that, are you?” I told him about the lessons and how terrible we were in the beginning.
“Did you ever practice on a boyfriend?” Luke asked, the laughter gone from his voice.
I didn’t know what to make of his question. “Once, but it didn’t go down well. Stan accused me of behaving like a slut.” Why the hell had I said that? I hated talking about Stan to anyone.
“He was a fool,” Luke said. “Some men can’t tell their good fortune when it’s right in front of their eyes. How long were you together?”
Stan and I were together for too long. “One year one month and five days. It was good at first, for maybe six months. Once he persuaded me to give up my apartment and move in with him, it then went downhill all the way.”
He nodded at this answer, a strange expression on his face.
Curiosity about him came over me. I knew that he’d
