I Just Can't Stop Loving You (10 page)

“Well, I think we better go so she can come out of the pool,” Max replied. “Nice meeting you, Miss Morrison.”

“You too, Max,” Tricia said as she watched the three of them disappear from the pool area. She quickly got out of the pool, dried off, and dressed.

Damien returned a few minutes later carrying two sodas, still wearing his towel.

“Who are those guys?” Tricia asked.

“Hired security,” Damien told her. “They’re friends of my father and keep an eye on his properties when he’s out of town.”

“No wonder you didn’t seem surprised to see them. How often do you come here skinning dipping?”

“No comment,” Damien said, handing her the soda.

Tricia accepted the can and sat down to dry her hair. “I swear you’re living up to your name, demon seed. My hair is ruined. This weave costs a fortune.”

Damien put down his soda and began to dress. “I’ll pay for your next trip to the hairdresser,” he replied. “I’ll even get your feet done.”

Tricia tossed the wet towel at him. “Nails too,” she said. “I’m a high-maintenance tease.”

Damien pulled his shirt over his head, covering that chest and his six-pack abs. “So I’m beginning to realize.”

“We better get back to school,” Tricia told him. “I need to get some more studying done.”

“And I need to masturbate,” Damien replied.

“Yuck, gross,” Tricia said, stepping into the patio door.

Damien followed her in and locked the door. “I don’t know why you’re complaining. It’s your fault I’m like this.”

“Poor baby,” Tricia teased. “Just think how much fun it’s going to be when you finally get some.”

“Can you give me an exact date?” Damien asked as he set the alarm and walked out of the front door behind her.

Tricia just chuckled.

****

“Where are you off to so early in the morning?” Satoshi asked Cristal as he and Takumijo waited for Ichiro to bring their breakfast out of the kitchen.

“I have a meeting and then I have to go over to KiNii to check on things,” Cristal replied, sitting down at the table.

“A meeting?” Takumijo asked. “Who knows you’re back in town?”

These guys were truly nosey. “Mr. Niigata and everyone in at the publishing company. But I’m meeting a realtor first.”

Satoshi gazed over at her. “A realtor? Why?”

“I’m thinking about moving into an apartment. It’s going to get crowded here soon.”

“Oh, you mean the babies. They’re tiny,” Satoshi said, eyeing her up curiously. “How much room are they going to take up? And besides, Masaaki has already moved out. What are we going to do without you here to look after us?”

If he didn’t stop looking at her with those puppy dogs eyes, she wouldn’t be able to do it. “You’ll get by just fine,” she finally said. “Ichiro won’t let you guys starve and you can help Shaundra with the babies.”

“But that woman’s work, woman,” Takumijo said. “You should be here to help her.”

Cristal rolled her eyes at him. “I’m sure that would be nice, but I’ll leave the mothering to Shaundra. I need my space.” She gazed over at Satoshi again. His expression was hard to read.

“What area are you looking at?” Takumijo asked.

“This area or something close to the office. It doesn’t have to be very big, but I need at least two bedrooms.”

“Expecting guests?” Satoshi asked.

Ichiro entered the dining room pushing a cart of food.

“No, I will need an office.”

“You sound as though you’ve thought this out pretty thoroughly,” Satoshi said.

Cristal nodded. “It’s been on my mind for some time now. And Ichiro and Shaundra need their space too.”

Neither man argued with her.

“What’s going on?” Ichiro asked as he placed bowls in front of them.

“Cristal is thinking of moving out,” Takumijo answered.

Ichiro stopped. “Have you spoken to Mr. Niigata about this?” Ichiro asked as he placed a bowl of porridge in front of her.

“Yes, and he agrees that a move would be the best thing for me at this time.”

“I just think you want your own place so you can have wild, passionate sex with some guy,” Takumijo said. “Because in your own place, you can get as loud and as freaky as you want to.”

“Do you need some help moving out?” Satoshi asked.

Cristal sneered at him. “You two can help, but nothing freaky is going to occur unless the two of you want to get naked and have fun with each other,” Cristal told him.

Takumijo looked Satoshi over and shrugged.

Satoshi just smirked and shook his head.

“You guys should think about moving out too,” Cristal told them. “Shaundra and Ichiro need time alone.”

“Listen to the woman,” Ichiro said. “Maybe my wife and I might want to get freaky after she’s discharged from the hospital.” He sat down at the table.

“Slim chance of that happening, Ich,” Cristal told him. “Shaundra is going to be out of commission for a few weeks until her body recuperates from the Cesarean.”

“And she’s still angry at you,” Satoshi added.

“I know both of those things,” Ichiro said. “But I have a feeling that she will eventually come around. And she’s gone without sex all this time too. I bet she’s been counting the weeks until she can get her hands on me.”

Both Cristal and Satoshi chuckled.

“You better be trying to find a way to convince her you didn’t cheat on her,” Satoshi told him. “Or else you’ll be using the palm of your hand for a very long time.”

Ichiro blushed and lowered his head. “You’re so gross, Satoshi. And in front of Cristal.”

“Don’t mind me,” Cristal said, smiling at him. “I’m liking the visual.” She went back to eating her food.

Ichiro groaned. “Maybe your moving out is a good thing. You’ve been around these two guys so long you’re getting as bad as they are.”

“Regardless of what everyone thinks, Ich, I believe you didn’t cheat on Shaundra,” Cristal told him. “Just like she didn’t cheat on you. But I must admit, I didn’t believe you at the beginning either. Shaundra’s real hurt and it may take some time for her to forgive you. My advice to you is to just hang in there and prove to her that you still love her.”

“I do love her,” Ichiro said. “More now that she is the mother of my sons. I know things are going to be strained around here when they come home, but I’m going to try my best to win her back when we finally finish the tour.”

“I’m rooting for the two of you,” Cristal said, rising. “But I better get going.” She waved to them and left the farmhouse. Less than an hour later, she stepped into the perfect apartment between the farmhouse and her Osaka office. One hour later, she signed the lease. The next day, Takumijo and Satoshi helped her move out.

****

“It’s nice to see you,” Daichi said to Ichiro when he stopped by to check on the restaurant and to make sure they didn’t need anything. The two brothers hugged.

“And congratulations on becoming a papa.”

“Thanks,” Ichiro said. The idea of being a father sounded good now that he knew that the twins were actually his.

“I’m sorry I haven’t gotten over to the hospital to see them, but Hana tells me that they are very handsome boys.” Daichi sat down at the table and Ichiro slid into a chair across from him. It was still early in the morning and the doors wouldn’t be opening for business for another hour.

“Have you named them yet?” Daichi asked.

Ichiro shook his head. “Not yet. We’re supposed to do that this afternoon. Shaundra and the babies are being discharged tomorrow.”

“Then you better get a good night’s sleep tonight,” Daichi chided. “All the plans for the christening have been finalized and by Christmas, the twins will be officially a part of the Yoshida family.”

Stupid traditions, Ichiro thought. The boys were already a part of his family the moment they had been born.

“Have you taken care of that other little matter?”

“Yes,” Ichiro answered. “I registered the marriage a couple of days ago. Shaundra is now Mrs. Ichiro Yoshida in the eyes of Japan.”

“Good,” Daichi said, breathing a sigh of relief. “It you weren’t taller than me now, I’d knock you on your ass.”

“Huh?” Ichiro looked up surprised by his brother’s statement. “Why?” He and Daichi were close and Daichi had been the only father figure in his life since their father and grandfather passed away.

“What the hell were you thinking by not registering your marriage? How come you doubted your wife?”

“Put yourself in my shoes,” Ichiro argued back. “Men just simply love Shaundra and she’s a free spirit.”

“A free spirit, but not a cheater,” Daichi said. “Everyone knows she loves you and has sacrificed a lot to be with you. And you have taken that love and ripped it apart with your insecurities.”

Ichiro lowered his head in shame. “But she is so beautiful and I still can’t believe that she chose me over Yori.”

“But she did,” Daichi said. “And your life should be better tomorrow since you’re finally going to be one big happy family. Do you know what I would give to be in your shoes? You’re married to one of the loveliest and talented writers in the world and she loves you. You should be dancing on a cloud.”

“Well, not exactly,” Ichiro said. “Something happened.”

Daichi glared at him. “What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything, but now Shaundra isn’t talking to me because she thinks that I cheated on her.”

Daichi leaned forward. “Why would she think that?”

“Because I accidentally called out another woman’s name while we were making love a couple of months ago.”

Daichi leaned back and shook his head. “Stupid.”

Ichiro lowered his head again.

“What woman’s name?”

“Eri,” Ichiro answered.

“Fire her,” Daichi said angrily. “I knew this was going to happen.”

Ichiro lifted his head quickly. “I can’t do that. She hasn’t done anything.”

“Not yet,” Daichi said. “I am not blind. I see how she looks at you. Or the way you look at her when you’re around her. Don’t blow a good thing for a piece of hot tail.”

He’d never thought he’d hear his brother speaking that way.

“How far have the two of you gone?” Daichi asked.

“We kissed, once.” Ichiro confessed. “And to set the record straight, she kissed me.”

“And you kissed her back, got an erection, and you entertained the idea of getting with her.”

Ichiro nodded. “Her name just accidentally slipped out at the wrong moment.”

“You have to fire her,” Daichi insisted. “Shaundra is never going to believe you.”

“But Eri isn’t a threat to her. And if I fire her, it will just make me look more guilty,” Ichiro said.

Daichi shook his head. “You know the two of them will finally come face to face one of these days and it won’t be pretty.”

“Maybe I can send Eri to work at one of my other restaurants. I can’t just fire her without a good reason.”

Daichi sighed. “Suit yourself. You have always been the kind not to take advice.”

“I didn’t come here to argue,” Ichiro said. “Things are going to work out between Shaundra and me.”

“I still think you should get rid of the temptation. What are you going to do if Eri tries to kiss you again?”

“Not be foolish enough to kiss her back.”

The back door opened and some of the restaurant’s employees arrived. Eri was one of them. She waved and walked over to the table.

“I’m glad to see you,” she said to Ichiro. “Congratulations on the birth of your sons.”

“Thank you,” Ichiro said, trying not to make eye contact.

“Is the tour over?”

“No,” Ichiro said. What had he been thinking? Eri was cute, but his wife was beautiful and she rocked his world in and out of the bedroom.

“Well, nice to see you,” Eri said. She waved and left to get ready for work.

“What’s on your mind?” Daichi asked.

“I’m not even attracted to her,” Ichiro admitted. “I didn’t feel a thing just now.”

“That’s because you know in your heart that Shaundra is the one and only woman for you. You two are destined to be together,” Daichi told him.

“Not if she won’t forgive me,” Ichiro said with a pout.

“Waitresses can be replaced,” Daichi said. “Soul mates can’t.”

Ichiro nodded. Suddenly, everything was clearer. He had to win Shaundra back even if it meant firing Eri.

“We’ll give her a nice severance package,” Daichi said. “We’ll blame it on the recession. She’ll understand.”

Ichiro finally agreed. “You do it. I might get tempted again.”

“Consider it done,” Daichi told him.

Someone knocked on Shaundra’s hospital room door. She’d just put one of the babies into the incubator and was feeding the other.