Page 65 of One Hot Chase

"Oh, fantastic," Bree laughs. "We'll be the clueless couple stumbling around, butchering the language and probably using the wrong chopsticks or something."

"Probably," I agree with a grin. "But that's half the fun, isn't it? Besides, Ren speaks excellent English. He'll keep us from making complete fools of ourselves."

"I thought his name was Inada."

"Sorry, pet, I should have explained. Japanese names are flipped round from the English-language perspective. His first name is Ren, and his surname is Inada."

Bree leans back in her seat, a dreamy look in her eyes. "I can't believe we're really doing this. Flying halfway around the world on a whim, staying in a traditional Japanese inn...it's like something out of a movie."

"Well, if it's a movie, I'd say we're the stars," I tease, giving her a wink. "Though I hope it's not one of those lost-in-translation comedies where everything goes wrong."

She snorts, shaking her head. "With our luck? It just might be. But you know what? I don't even care. As long as I'm with you, I'm up for anything."

While we soar through the sky, taking the requisite stops to refuel and find sustenance, we also share more of our pasts with each other. We're already engaged, yet we have so much to learn. I know the most important things about Bree, though. She is beautiful, clever, sexy as hell, and adventurous. Sabrina Remington is the perfect woman for me. How I got lucky enough to bump into her at the Savoy, I'll never know. But I'm deeply grateful to whatever power gifted me with this strawberry blonde angel.

"How long will our trip take?" Sabrina asks.

"Well, love, the flight itself will take about fourteen hours, give or take," I reply, checking our flight plan. "We're traveling faster than an airliner. So, even with our stops for fuel and rest, we're looking at about a day and a half of total travel time. We'll touch down in Tokyo first, then take a scenic train ride to Nikko."

Bree's eyebrows shoot up. "A day and a half? That's not as bad as I thought. I was picturing us island-hopping across the Pacific for weeks."

I flash her a cocky grin. "Don't worry. I've done longer hauls than this. Besides, I've got the best co-pilot in the world to keep me alert."

She raises an eyebrow. "Co-pilot? I thought I was just eye candy."

"Oh, you're that too," I tease, earning a playful swat on the arm. "But seriously, if you're interested, I could show you some of the basics. It might come in handy someday."

Bree's face lights up with excitement. "Really? I'd love that."

Our journey becomes an even more exciting adventure than our mutual chasing of each other. Over the next day and a half, we explore lesser known locales that even I haven't explored yet. Bree loves every minute of it, and I love it too---because she's with me.

When we finally touch down in Tokyo, I swear I can feel the bustling energy of the capital city buzzing around us. Bree's eyes are wide with wonder, taking in the neon lights and towering skyscrapers. We navigate the crowded streets, hand in hand, behaving like any tourists might. But we aren't mere tourists. We are international adventurers.

"Um, sweetie, I think I just ordered us something with tentacles," Bree giggles, pointing at a picture on the vending machine screen.

I peer over her shoulder, chuckling. "Actually, darling, that's...Well, I'm not entirely sure what it is. Shall we find out?"

Her radiant smile could light up the entire city. "Absolutely. When in Rome, right?"

I abruptly realize what she said a moment ago. "Did you just call me 'sweetie'?"

"Yep. Do you mind?"

I kiss her cheek. "Not at all. You can call me 'sweetie' anytime."

We spend the night in a capsule hotel, marveling at the tiny, pod-like rooms and high-tech amenities. Bree can barely contain her excitement as we squeeze into our adjacent capsules. It isn't my favorite way to sleep, but Sabrina insisted on having a pod experience.

"This is insane," she whispers loudly, poking her head out to look at me. "I feel like I'm in some futuristic spaceship."

I grin back at her. "Welcome to Tokyo, love. Just wait until you see what Nikko has in store for us."

The next morning, we board a train to Nikko, watching the urban sprawl of Tokyo give way to lush green mountains and tranquil forests. Bree's face is pressed against the window, drinking in every detail of the passing landscape.

As we step off the train in Nikko, the air feels different---cleaner, crisper. The bustling energy of Tokyo is replaced by a serene calm that seems to emanate from the very earth itself.

"Oh, Declan," Bree breathes, taking in the picturesque scenery. "It's absolutely gorgeous here."

I squeeze her hand, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. "Wait until you see the ryokan. It's just up this path."

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