Page 79 of Torrid Love
“I’ll stick to Perrier if that’s okay with you.”
“Absolutely. Whatever the lady desires,” he smiles. “I took the liberty of asking the waitress what she recommends since you’re not a fan of sushi. She suggested the pan fried Gyoza and the steamed edamame for appetizers.”
“I can handle dumplings and soybeans,” I say.
“Good. Wait until you hear about the mains.”
“I’m all ears.”
“Thepièce de résistanceis their eighteen different types of tempura dishes.”
My eyes grow wide.
“Seriously?”
“Yes,” he says before leaning into the table. “I’m definitely having the sushi, but you’re more than welcome to sample all eighteen dishes,” he whispers as if we’re exchanging a big secret.
“I might take you up on your offer.”
“A woman with an appetite is a woman after my own heart.”
“Let’s not get carried away, it’s only Japanese food,” I joke.
We both laugh.
* * *
As usual, my eyes are bigger than my stomach. I gave it a valiant effort, but in the end, the tempura won. I’m so taking the rest home. Joel polished off his massive tray of sushi. The food was delicious—far better than I expected. Despite this being a business meeting, Joel couldn’t resist putting on the charm. He gave me the whole,‘I can’t believe a stunning and smart woman like you goes to bed alone at night. What a crying shame’, spiel and the,‘It so happens, I’m also single and I’ll be posted in the US more now. Maybe we can hang out’. I smiled and explained I was happy with my singleton status and waking up alone in a big king size bed has its advantages. All arguments I wholeheartedly believed until yesterday morning. Nothing compares to waking up pressed against Roderick Wolfe’s hard body.
Damn him.
“So, what’s this opportunity of a lifetime you wanted to talk about?” I ask as he refills his beer glass.
“Straight to business?” his eyes shift up to mine as he drops the bottle back on the table.
“I disagree. We’ve been chatting for the past hour. You know everything there is to know about me.”
He shoots me an incredulous gaze. “Good try, but I don’t buy it. I doubt we’ve even scratched the surface. There’s so much more to know about you, Dominika. So, now that you’re stuffed silly, you can’t wait to get the hell out of here?”
He almost sounds offended.
“I have a long day of complicated editing work tomorrow. I could’ve opted for drinks, but I agreed to dinner. Getting to know me, isn’t part of our agreement. I direct and produce your videos. You know the essentials. You have something to share? I’m listening.”
The longer we drag this out, the easier he might misconstrue this for a date.
“Fair enough,” he says. “I want you.”
“Don’t they all. Take a number, mate,” I joke.
“Your sense of humor is contagious. Can you blame me for liking you so much?”
“Joel,” I warn.
“All right, all right, you win,” he lifts his hands up in capitulation. “Let’s get down to business. As you know, in four months, the band and I are embarking on our first US tour.”
“Yes.”
“I want to capture every moment of it.”
