Читать книгу Her Book Of Pleasure - Marie Donovan - Страница 6

“NO WAY. I AM NOT interested.” Megan Michiko O’Malley stared at her friend in horror.

“Chicken?”

“I mean it. If you had any kindness in your heart, you wouldn’t do that to me.”

It wasn’t every day Meg saw an elegantly gowned bride cluck and flap her elbows. After one last loud hen imitation, Rey Martinson grinned. “Superstitious, are we?”

“No!” Meg busied herself with shoving the detritus left by the other bridesmaids into one big pile on the vanity table. They could sort out their own lipsticks and eye shadows. “It’s only a little bouquet of flowers, not a magic wand to conjure Mr. Perfect.”

“There is someone for you, Meg. And he’ll probably appear out of thin air when you don’t expect him.”

Meg rolled her eyes. “It’s been so long, I’ll probably forget what to do with him.”

“Call me if you can’t remember.” Rey laughed. “But not tonight. It’s my wedding night.”

“So I guess we have to get you married first.” Meg took a deep breath. She’d just grin and bear it like a good maid of honor. “And then the bouquet toss at the reception.”

“Great! Stand in the front row, and I’ll throw it straight to you. But watch out for my cousin, Inga. She played field hockey in boarding school.”

“Jeez, Rey. Should I get a mouthguard so she doesn’t knock my teeth loose?”

“You’re much shorter than Inga, so I’ll toss it low.”

Meg grimaced, picturing herself rolling around on the ballroom floor, pulling hair and clawing with her French-manicured acrylic nail tips. Pro wrestlers would get stomped into the parquet by a crowd of desperate single women at a bouquet toss.

“Promise me you’ll try to catch the bouquet. I want you to have it.” Rey caught her gaze in the mirror, her wide blue eyes pleading.

Meg sighed. It was a waste of flowers, since she had no prospective groom on her horizon. But Rey was in the sappy, syrupy stage of bridal bliss and Meg couldn’t pour cold water over her. “I promise.”

“Thanks, Meg.”

The wedding coordinator popped his head in the door. “Ten minutes, ladies.”

Meg checked the back of her friend’s gown to make sure the satin buttons were all fastened. “You look beautiful.” It was true. Rey Martinson stood almost six feet tall in her strapless white sheath dress. She fit perfectly with what Meg called the three B’s: blonde, blue-eyed and big-boobed. Or was that four B’s?

Anyway, Meg did love her dearly enough to wedge herself into a bridesmaid dress that she’d only wear today before donating it to the local resale shop. Some short, big-hipped, flat-chested girl would have a great prom.

Unfortunately, Meg’s only B’s were brunette, big-bottomed and blotchy. She’d inherited her short stature from her Japanese mother and her green eyes from her Irish-American dad. Everything else was a peculiar mix. Her hair was dark brown with reddish highlights, currently pulled into a complicated French twist that matched the bride’s. She moved from behind Rey to check her own dress and makeup. “My freckles are still showing,” she complained.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like your mother’s here to nag you about them.” Rey, of course, had skin like fresh cream thanks to her Swedish heritage.

“She and my father were sorry they couldn’t come today. Dad is in the middle of some complicated deal and Mom won’t travel outside Japan on her own.” Although her traditionally minded mother had taken to the Internet like an oshidori duck to water and regularly pecked at her via e-mail.

“Be sure to thank them for the beautiful red silk brocade kimono. The golden embroidery is exquisite.”

“It’s an Uchikake kimono and it’s traditionally worn at the wedding reception.” Her mother had bought two Uchikake kimonos, telling Meg that one was reserved for her. Never mind that Meg hadn’t even gone on a date in four months thanks to her teaching schedule at the university. Maybe things would lighten up now that the semester was over.

Rey’s mother Brigitte glided into the dressing room on a cloud of expensive French perfume, her beaded silk champagne suit swishing. “Darling, it’s time.”

Rey stared at her reflection in such a fog of happiness that Meg had to touch her elbow. A wistful ache settled over Meg at how happy her friend looked, preparing to marry the man she loved.

Brigitte kissed her daughter on each cheek and fussed with the spray of tiny white rosebuds in her hair. Meg handed Rey the bridal bouquet, fragrant with large white roses and one pink hibiscus, a tribute to her groom’s Cuban roots. Meg grabbed her own smaller bouquet of roses, the pink flowers contrasting nicely against her pale green dress. The color reminded her of a piece of jade in her father’s collection and the sash circling her waist looked vaguely like the obi that belted a kimono. Rey had a great eye for details, being a wonderful painter and sculptor. She considered keeping the dress, but where on earth would she wear a floor-length green satin dress?

“Thank you for being with me on my wedding day.” Rey reached a satin-gloved hand out and squeezed Meg’s hand.

Meg opened her eyes wide and blinked to keep the sudden tears from smearing her makeup. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

“Come, darling, you don’t want to keep Marco waiting,” Brigitte urged.

“Oh, Mother, Marco’s used to waiting for me.” She grinned at Meg, who rolled her eyes. Rey got so focused on her art that she often forgot what day it was.

Her mother smiled and kissed her cheek. “He loves you enough to wait for you forever.”

Meg followed mother and daughter to the ballroom’s threshold, where a string quartet played Vivaldi, waiting for the bride. As Meg stooped to arrange the folds of white satin, Brigitte’s words echoed in her head. A man who’d wait forever? Ha.

RICK SOKOL was sick of waiting. Waiting for his delayed flight from Hong Kong, waiting on the tarmac for mechanical difficulties, and finally waiting to clear customs at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. He assured the bored customs officer that he had nothing to declare and slung his battered carry-on over his shoulder.

Double-checking the terminal’s huge clock, he set his grandfather’s gold wristwatch to central daylight savings time. He’d already missed the six o’clock wedding ceremony, but he’d stop in for the reception. Fortunately, it was at the Palmer House Hilton, where he’d booked a room to crash in once he’d paid his respects to the bride and groom. He’d been awake for thirty-seven hours, thanks to a seatmate who snored loud enough to drown out the jet engines.

He finally fought his way free of the terminal and stepped into the balmy May air, scented with the exhaust of a thousand buses and taxis. The mild temperature was welcome after sweltering through two weeks in Hong Kong. Wearing wires and hidden video cameras under his clothing hadn’t helped with the heat, either. But it had been worth it to collect the evidence his client could use in a court case against a company that stole its patented technology.

Flagging a taxi, he collapsed in the backseat and stifled a yawn. “Get me to the Palmer House Hilton in half an hour and there’s an extra twenty in it for you.”

The driver zoomed away. Rick leaned back, welcoming even a catnap at this point. After he wished the happy couple well, he’d get more sleep at the hotel. Considering his summer to-do list, he’d need all his wits about him.

“CONGRATULATIONS, Marco!” Rick slapped his friend on the shoulder and received an affectionate Cuban bear hug in return. “And how about a kiss from the lovely bride?”

“Tread carefully, amigo.” Marco narrowed his eyes.

Rick grinned. He and Marco went way back to when Marco was a rookie DEA special agent in L.A. Before meeting Rey, Marco had successfully infiltrated a Caribbean drug cartel as a DEA agent. It had earned him the reputation of a professional badass. Rick didn’t often have to use physical force in his own investigations. Intellectual property and corporate espionage cases rarely required muscle, but it was always better to be prepared than wish you had been. Marco had promised to teach him a few fighting tricks at the gym after he got back from his honeymoon.

Ignoring his friend’s mock frown, Rick planted a brotherly kiss on Rey’s soft cheek. “I’m sorry I missed the wedding ceremony. I got stuck on the tarmac in Hong Kong and in customs at O’Hare.”

“We’re happy you made it.” Marco gestured to the open bar. “Come get a drink.”

“Maybe just one. I’ve been awake for—” he checked his watch “—thirty-eight hours, and if I have too much I’ll fall asleep at the table.”

Marco set his empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray. “How’s the PI biz, Rick? Anything interesting?”

“Some hi-tech companies in L.A. are looking for a new security provider.” Rick didn’t need to be any more specific. He and Marco both had fairly high clearances to work with defense contractors, especially those involved in weapons and encryption software.

“Excellent.” Marco gave him a wolfish grin. “Call me if you need anything. I’ve been riding a desk for the past couple months.”

“Because I didn’t want you breaking your leg right before the wedding. Enough shop talk. Rick, would you like to meet some of my single friends?” Rey linked her arm through his and scanned the room. “Meg’s here somewhere. Do you like brunettes?”

“Uhh…” The last thing he needed right now was to get involved with anyone.

Marco rolled his eyes. “Don’t answer that if you value your freedom. Ever since we got engaged, she’s hell-bent on playing matchmaker.”

Rey released him and wrapped her arms around her husband’s neck. “I want everyone as happy as we are, darling.”

“No one is that happy, querida.” Marco brushed a kiss across his bride’s lips. He gazed into her eyes, his expression unguarded and tender.

Rick looked away and rubbed his neck. Their loving glances made him restless. Before he could cover his mouth, he yawned.

“You poor man, dead on your feet and it’s only eight-thirty.” Rey patted his forearm. “Why don’t you go to your room and sleep? We’ll be home from our honeymoon in a couple of weeks and we’ll take you to dinner.”

A hot flush crept up his neck. “Sorry about that. Let me splash some water on my face and I’ll be fine.”

“Marco says you’re staying at your sister’s condo while you fix up your grandmother’s house for sale. How is your grandma doing?” Rey asked.

“Pretty good. She likes her new assisted living apartment.” At least it was still in her familiar neighborhood.

“I’ll come over with my tool belt and some beer when I’m back,” Marco assured him.

The DJ came over. “Would you like to have the baile de dinero now, Señora Flores?”

“Yes, Mrs. Flores, it’s time for the dollar dance.” Marco grinned like a loon at using his wife’s married name. “If I have to let my relatives dance with you, at least they can pay for it. And don’t let Uncle Armando stuff the money down the front of your dress. That old man needs to remember he’s not in a Key West strip club.”

“I think I can handle Uncle Armando.” Rey smiled demurely.

“I’m sure you can.” Marco took her hand and they walked to the center of the dance floor. A long line of eager Cuban men were already waiting for the bride. Marco’s line wasn’t much shorter, though, with women ranging in age from eighteen to eighty-one.

Rick shook his head and walked toward the men’s room.

MEG’S DUTIES as maid of honor were temporarily over. She’d straightened Rey’s dress, stood next to her as she’d exchanged her vows and made a witty, yet sentimental toast at the beginning of the sit-down dinner—beef, chicken or vegetarian—taking credit for bringing the happy couple together.

And now that the deed was done and her friend was officially married, Meg sipped at her Cuban sangria and smiled wistfully at the memory of how the bride’s and groom’s aunts had pinned a pure white lace shawl on the happy couple, a symbol of their eternal connection.

Her own scarlet brocade bridal kimono was no doubt packed carefully away in her mother’s lacquer chest. She hoped her mother had used acid-free, lignin-free wrapping paper, because at the rate Meg was going, that kimono would never see the light of day.

Meg slugged down the sangria and clinked the empty cup onto the bar. It must have had more booze than she thought, since she was getting positively maudlin.

And to top it all off, a mascara-hardened eyelash was poking her in the eye. She tried to rub it out but only succeeded in poking her eyeball with an acrylic nail tip. Tears immediately blurred the ballroom’s fantastic marbled walls and gold-leafed statuary. She widened her eyes and blinked at the elaborate ceiling mural, hoping gravity would boost her tear ducts’ efficiency. Instead, one tear broke free, and the rest followed.

She muttered a curse and headed for the powder room. Rey didn’t need to see her maid of honor sobbing into her sangria.

Meg ran down the marble steps and passed a small cocktail lounge. A beefy man in his fifties lurched into her path. She tried to dodge him, but he stomped on her dress anyway.

“Hey, watch it!” she called, but he was already weaving away. She made a noise of exasperation and marched into the powder room. The attendant looked at her strangely and Meg recoiled at her reflection. “Oh, my God, I look like the school slut after prom night.”

Huge black rings of supposedly waterproof mascara emphasized the bloodshot whites of her eyes. Red and green Christmas eyes. Ho, ho, ho. Her long-wearing lipstick had worn off long ago, leaving only a rim of plum lip liner surrounding her pale mouth. Clumps of hair straggled down her cheeks to frame her inkblot freckles.

“Your dress, it is ripped!” The attendant, an older woman dressed neatly in a black dress with white cuffs, approached her. Meg twisted around and groaned. Not only had Drunken Oaf stepped on it and left a shoe print, he had ripped part of the train right off her waist. If it tore any further, the whole Palmer House Hilton would get a frightening view of her ass.

Meg wetted a tissue under the faucet and tried wiping away the raccoon rings of mascara. The damn stuff had finally decided to be waterproof.

Lupe, as her nametag read, tsked and pulled out a basket. She arranged a packet of wet wipes, a sample tube of lipstick, a powder compact and a sewing kit. “Come,” she commanded, as serious as a surgeon about to make the first cut. “We fix you.”

Meg submitted meekly. “Thank you.”

Lupe wiped her face with a wet wipe. Meg closed her eyes, relaxing as the cool cloth removed the sticky makeup and drying tear tracks.

Lupe threw away the used wipe and handed Meg the lipstick sample. “We make you pretty for your boyfriend.”

“Ha!” The laugh burst out before she could stop it.

“He is the one who makes you sad?”

“No, I poked myself in the eye with my fake fingernail.” Meg held up the offending digit. “I don’t even have a boyfriend.”

“Ah.” The older woman nodded knowingly.

Meg sighed. “It’s not like that. I don’t even want a boyfriend. I have a great job at the university, I have a great apartment—well, it’s tiny but still very nice—and I have my own life, which my mother refuses to admit because she’s still e-mailing me pictures of boring Japanese salar ymen who want someone to cook their noodles and watch their children while they get drunk after work.”

She took a deep breath, noting how her tirade had brought some color into her cheeks. She applied the plum-colored lipstick sample and smacked her lips.

Lupe brushed at the footprint on the green satin. “All mothers, they want children get married, be happy, find love.”

“Find love?” Meg tucked some hairpins into her ’do. “Who said that was necessary for marriage? Not my old-fashioned mother, that’s who. Marriage first to a man from a good family, then maybe love. Or maybe not.”

“Mothers know best.” Lupe threaded a needle with white thread and started stitching Meg’s dress. Not wanting to argue with a woman wielding a sharp needle next to her skin, Meg quieted, powdering her freckles until they were almost gone.

Lupe finished mending and snipped off the thread. “All done.”

Meg examined the back of her dress in the mirror. Even the footprint was gone. “Wonderful. Thank you so much.” She dug in her tiny purse and pressed a bill into Lupe’s palm.

Instead of putting the money into her pocket, the older woman gripped her hand, her dark brown eyes earnest. “Listen to your mother. Find a nice man. The old ways are best.”

She gritted her teeth. The old ways. Her mother used that phrase all the time.

Meg disengaged her hand and barely stopped herself from bowing in farewell. One mention of the old ways and she was falling into the Japanese manners of her childhood. She escaped the powder room, images of Lupe and her mother swirling through her head. She almost heard her mother’s voice scolding her as she walked to the wedding reception. Great, now the woman had perfected telepathy. Psychic nagging was even quicker than e-mail.

Lost in her thoughts, she bounced off a blue wall. The wall turned and she saw one of the most handsome men she’d ever seen. No, she corrected herself, not handsome, exactly, but compelling. Magnetic. He had wavy hair with streaks of blond, brown and red all tumbled together, kind of like an old color photo of JFK. His eyes were bright blue with tiny glints of gold, set in sharply angled, tanned cheekbones.

“I’m sorry.” His deep voice buzzed across her already jangling nerve endings. She stared at him. He mistook her silence for incomprehension and repeated his apology in careful Cantonese.

“Oh. I’m Japanese, not Chinese.” It was nice of him to try, though. How many men apologized in one language, much less two?

“Sorry. I only know a few phrases in Japanese. But one I do know is Hajimemashite.”

Meg tried not to cringe at his accent. “That means ‘I’m pleased to meet you.’”

“Exactly.” He gave her a white smile, revealing a dimple in one tan cheek. “And I hope you’d say you were pleased to meet me, too.”

Meg raised her eyebrows. He certainly was fast on his feet. She wondered if he was fast off his feet as well. “I might be pleased to meet you if I knew whom I was meeting.”

He extended his hand. “I’m Rick Sokol.” She took his hand. Rick’s grip was gentle but enveloped her smaller hand. His right wrist was banded by a gold watch that was expensive, but not ostentatious. She wondered if he were a lefty.

He released her hand and she fought a peculiar sense of loss. “What’s your name?”

“My Japanese name is Michiko.” Where did that come from? She almost never introduced herself to Americans as “Michiko,” but she didn’t correct herself.

“Mitchy-coe,” he repeated, mangling the pronunciation.

Meg giggled, fighting the urge to cover her mouth like a good Japanese girl. “No, that’s not how you say it. It’s Mee-chee-ko.”

He tried again, getting closer. “Better?” He smiled down at her and her stomach flipped.

She nodded, realizing she was in over her head. She tended to attract either short guys who wanted to tower over her, or pale, weedy types who had seen Memoirs of a Geisha twenty-seven times and were fascinated by a Japanese girl with light eyes.

Tall, tanned, gorgeous men did not smile at her like this and ask her a question, which she had totally missed. “Excuse me?”

“I was asking if you’re here for a wedding?”

She glanced at her attire and was tempted to reply that no, she always wore green satin dresses around hotel lobbies, like some kinky bridesmaid hooker, but no good Japanese girl would even think that, let alone say it. “Yes, my friend got married this evening.”

“Mine, too.”

They both glanced at the ballroom and turned to each other. He took a closer look at her, his blue gaze traveling from her face to glide over her bare neck and shoulders. Her nipples tightened and swelled against the snug satin bodice. His blue eyes brightened to an almost cobalt shade, lingering on her breasts. She tottered on her dyed-to-match sandals, a flood of lust washing over her.

Then he grinned. “I thought I recognized that dress. You’re one of Rey’s bridesmaids.”

He’d been checking out the damned dress, not her. Well, she could at least still be the exotic Michiko. “Yes, I was the maid of honor and Rey’s cousins were the bridesmaids. Are you a friend of Marco’s?”

“Oh, yeah, we met right after college and have been friends ever since. I’m sorry I missed seeing you at the ceremony, but my flight from Hong Kong was delayed. I just had time to toss my things in my room upstairs and rush down to the reception.”

“Hong Kong? You are so lucky—I love Hong Kong.” She smiled up at him, remembering days and days spent in the art museum archives examining scraps of calligraphy.

“Have a drink with me and we’ll talk about Hong Kong.”

“A drink?” She froze midstep and turned. Standing on the fourth or fifth step, she was eye-level with him and the view was even better.

Rick shrugged, his wide shoulders moving elegantly under the well-tailored navy blazer. “To apologize for bumping into you.”

How long had it been since she’d had a drink with a hot-looking guy? Too depressing to calculate. “Yes, I’d like to have a drink with you.”

“Great.” He took her hand and helped her up the stairs as if she were a princess. On the second step from the top, her shoe caught in her hem and she pitched forward.

He caught her against his chest, her feet dangling. Her breath came hard, making her breasts rise and fall against the hard musculature of his chest.

“Are you okay?” At least that’s what she thought he said, mesmerized by the movement of his lips.

Her face was inches from his. If she leaned in, she could press her mouth against his to learn how he tasted.

“Michiko?” Real concern deepened his voice.

“I’m fine.” She’d be even better if he kept holding her, but that wasn’t an option. She loosened her grip on him and slid down his body. It was a long, pleasurable journey. Her breasts scraped against the fine pale blue cotton of his oxford shirt, her nipples peaking. The warmth of his body radiated through her heavy skirt.

“There you go.” He steadied her on her feet.

“Thank you.” She was so shaken by a rush of desire that she allowed him to fold her hand into the crook of his elbow.

“Marco said the bar would be open during the whole reception.” He slowed his long steps to keep pace with her down the corridor into the ballroom. Her tumble into his arms had sharpened her senses to everything, not just him. The gold leaf cherubs on the wall were brighter, the carpet was softer and the chicken dance music had mercifully ended.

Rick guided her to a small table in a corner alcove. “Here we are, Michiko.” She shivered, unused to hearing her Japanese name caressed by such a deep, sexy voice. “What would you like me to get you from the bar?”

It had been a long day. “Bushmills Irish whiskey on the rocks.”

“You like whiskey?” He was surprised.

She grinned. He probably expected her to order sake or maybe even a mai tai. She couldn’t stomach warm rice wine or a fruity umbrella drink tonight. “I drink whiskey sometimes when I’m in America. It’s hard to find in Japan.” That part was true. Her father had her airmail him two bottles every month. Although Dad wouldn’t be caught dead polluting his Bushmills with ice.

“Bushmills it is. I’ll be right back.” He smiled at her and made his way to the crowded bar through the maze of tables, his movements graceful for such a large man in a small space.

Rick seemed like a nice guy. A sexy guy, too. But appearances were deceiving. Her last relationship the previous fall had seemed promising until Ethan began criticizing every single thing she did. She was too mouthy and not demure enough. Her clothes were too bright and tight. She didn’t accept his helpful suggestions.

He should have suggested she call first before coming over. Meg had showed up unexpectedly at his place and found him screwing some Malaysian chick who could barely speak English. Not a problem for Meg, who’d screamed at her in the appropriate Chinese dialect. She’d saved her extensive vocabulary of Anglo-Saxon swearwords for Ethan.

She sighed. Ever since, she’d built up a prickly exterior that was hard to shed, and fighting her way through the Asian art department’s tenure committee to get her associate professorship hadn’t helped her find her softer side.

“Two Bushmills on the rocks.” Rick smiled down at her.

Meg accepted the tumbler as he sat. “You didn’t have to get the same drink as me.”

“I like whiskey and it’s been a while since I drank Bushmills. What should we drink to?” He slipped his arm across her chair, not quite resting it on her shoulders.

“Whatever you’d like.” This time she wasn’t coy. Every rational thought had fled from her mind at the press of his body against hers. The heat from his body raised goose bumps on her arms.

Rick raised his glass. “To new friends and new experiences.” He casually dropped his arm and brushed his fingers over her bare shoulders. She shuddered. His fingertips were only inches from the tops of her breasts. She clamped her thighs together in a futile attempt to relieve the sudden ache.

“You haven’t tried your drink.” He leaned in, the scent of whiskey mixing with his spicy cologne. His eyes had turned that amazing shade of cobalt again. A lock of wavy hair fell across his forehead as he nodded at her tumbler. “If you don’t want it, I’ll get something else.”

“No, no, this is fine.” She sipped, the whiskey warming a path down to her stomach. “So, Rick, what do you do?”

“I own a private investigations company specializing in corporate counterespionage, intellectual property disputes, employee investigations. Basically anything a business owner might need to find out or keep his competitors from learning.”

Meg nodded. So he was smart and ambitious. “Corporate counterespionage? Like companies spying on each other?”

“Right. I majored in engineering so I often handle hi-tech cases myself. I was in Hong Kong to investigate a patent infringement case involving this certain piece of technology that—” He cut himself off and grinned. “I must be tired to even tell you that much, and you haven’t told me anything about yourself except your Japanese name is Michiko. Do you go by an American name as well?”

Meg grinned back. “Maybe, maybe not. You’re the professional investigator, you find out.”

“I can find out in thirty seconds if I ask Rey or Marco. Or look in the wedding bulletin.”

She shook her head. “That would be cheating. Are you a cheater?” she teased.

His eyes darkened and jaw set. Interesting. “No way.” Then his expression lightened. “All right, mysterious Michiko, if you won’t tell me, I’ll find you anyway. That is, if you do want me to find you after tonight.”

She deliberately rested her hand on his, the tiny hairs on the back of his hand tickling her palm. “I do want you. To find me, that is.” Her voice came out breathy as she imagined how his fingers would feel touching, caressing her. Maybe tonight? She shivered. He had mentioned his hotel room earlier.

“I will. That’s a promise, Michiko.”

His sexy voice sliding across her name decided it. Megan O’Malley hadn’t had any luck with hot men, so maybe it was time to let Michiko have a try.

And where Michiko went, Meg would come, too. Preferably more than once.