Read Online Bound to You by Shawntelle Madison - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shawntelle Madison
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buzz.
During the whole time, I tried to focus while Xavier stood close enough for our bodies to almost touch. For the bare skin of my shoulder to brush against his. Anyone who looked at us would most likely see him guiding me through the crowd having a good time, but to me tonight felt like punishment. A torture of sorts that made it harder for me to focus.
“Will Nakamura be here tonight?” he asked, looking over at Watanabe as he greeted one of his guests.
“Definitely.” The timing had to be perfect for his introduction to Watanabe. “He’s one of Watanabe’s patrons, but I don’t want you to approach him yet.”
“And why is that?” He was close to me again, his minty breath warming the side of my face. A master of seduction that rivaled Sato’s attentions. The tension in my stomach grew uncomfortable.
“There’s always a good reason why I do what I do,” I managed. “Just like you told me.”
“And you wouldn’t have me do something unless you have a good reason.”
“Precisely.”
I still held my empty champagne glass. Any intentions to put the glass down vanished. Any distraction was welcome so I settled on conversation.
“I love the tapestries in here,” I remarked. On the other side of the room, I caught sight of Nakamura coming in with his wife.
“See something you like?” Xavier asked.
“Many of these are on loan from overseas.” I pointed at the nearest one that put me in the line of sight for Nakamura’s approach to Watanabe. “That one I believe is from an exhibit in Scotland. The first time I saw it was in Paris.”
“So you’ve traveled internationally?”
Did he think I was some rookie concierge who wasn’t familiar with the places I took my clients? “Of course. I might’ve even seen more places than you have. I’ve been almost everywhere—except Japan and Malaysia. Three times last year to South America, and I might be the only person to say I’ve seen most of the hidden gems in the London airport during my countless layovers.”
He gave a small smile. “I’ve never had the opportunity to travel for pleasure.”
Now that surprised me. Around us, the crowd shifted. We had less than five minutes to go before the show began. My gaze shifted toward Watanabe and he followed my lead. A small line formed to greet him.
“Wouldn’t you at least go to Cancun or Monaco or some place like that for yachting?” I asked.
“Sounds like fun, but in the business I’m in, I travel to make more money for my company.”
He chuckled when I made us walk more quickly so that we could get in line to the theater right in front of Nakamura. “All work and no play…” I began.
“Makes Jack a very rich man,” he finished.
Makes Jack a tired man
is what I wanted to say.
“You have to have gone on vacation once.” Nakamura was right behind us, but I didn’t want him to go silent. I wanted to see the real Xavier at this moment.
“Not once, Miss Ashton. Wait, I went to Disneyland with my family. Does that count?”
“Kind of.” Not really. I’d always imagined a man like Xavier Quinn lounging and eating olives on a yacht off Hawaii. Bikini-clad women offering him drinks and saucy conversation. I’d yet to do anything like that.
Xavier laughed.
“What?”
“I remember the day when my brother Marcus broke his leg at the park. At the time I thought he’d ruined the whole trip, but now that I look back, at least we were all together at the time.”
I wanted to ask further what he meant by that, but we finally reached Kaito Watanabe.
The older businessman looked to be no more than fifty, but I knew he was in his late sixties. He smiled, extending his hand toward Xavier. “I’m pleased to see you came, Mr. Quinn. I was pleasantly surprised to hear of your kind donation.”
Xavier didn’t grasp Watanabe’s hand with both of his in the manner that the Japanese prefer, but Xavier was an American so that faux pas could be ignored. “The pleasure is mine. I’m
During the whole time, I tried to focus while Xavier stood close enough for our bodies to almost touch. For the bare skin of my shoulder to brush against his. Anyone who looked at us would most likely see him guiding me through the crowd having a good time, but to me tonight felt like punishment. A torture of sorts that made it harder for me to focus.
“Will Nakamura be here tonight?” he asked, looking over at Watanabe as he greeted one of his guests.
“Definitely.” The timing had to be perfect for his introduction to Watanabe. “He’s one of Watanabe’s patrons, but I don’t want you to approach him yet.”
“And why is that?” He was close to me again, his minty breath warming the side of my face. A master of seduction that rivaled Sato’s attentions. The tension in my stomach grew uncomfortable.
“There’s always a good reason why I do what I do,” I managed. “Just like you told me.”
“And you wouldn’t have me do something unless you have a good reason.”
“Precisely.”
I still held my empty champagne glass. Any intentions to put the glass down vanished. Any distraction was welcome so I settled on conversation.
“I love the tapestries in here,” I remarked. On the other side of the room, I caught sight of Nakamura coming in with his wife.
“See something you like?” Xavier asked.
“Many of these are on loan from overseas.” I pointed at the nearest one that put me in the line of sight for Nakamura’s approach to Watanabe. “That one I believe is from an exhibit in Scotland. The first time I saw it was in Paris.”
“So you’ve traveled internationally?”
Did he think I was some rookie concierge who wasn’t familiar with the places I took my clients? “Of course. I might’ve even seen more places than you have. I’ve been almost everywhere—except Japan and Malaysia. Three times last year to South America, and I might be the only person to say I’ve seen most of the hidden gems in the London airport during my countless layovers.”
He gave a small smile. “I’ve never had the opportunity to travel for pleasure.”
Now that surprised me. Around us, the crowd shifted. We had less than five minutes to go before the show began. My gaze shifted toward Watanabe and he followed my lead. A small line formed to greet him.
“Wouldn’t you at least go to Cancun or Monaco or some place like that for yachting?” I asked.
“Sounds like fun, but in the business I’m in, I travel to make more money for my company.”
He chuckled when I made us walk more quickly so that we could get in line to the theater right in front of Nakamura. “All work and no play…” I began.
“Makes Jack a very rich man,” he finished.
Makes Jack a tired man
is what I wanted to say.
“You have to have gone on vacation once.” Nakamura was right behind us, but I didn’t want him to go silent. I wanted to see the real Xavier at this moment.
“Not once, Miss Ashton. Wait, I went to Disneyland with my family. Does that count?”
“Kind of.” Not really. I’d always imagined a man like Xavier Quinn lounging and eating olives on a yacht off Hawaii. Bikini-clad women offering him drinks and saucy conversation. I’d yet to do anything like that.
Xavier laughed.
“What?”
“I remember the day when my brother Marcus broke his leg at the park. At the time I thought he’d ruined the whole trip, but now that I look back, at least we were all together at the time.”
I wanted to ask further what he meant by that, but we finally reached Kaito Watanabe.
The older businessman looked to be no more than fifty, but I knew he was in his late sixties. He smiled, extending his hand toward Xavier. “I’m pleased to see you came, Mr. Quinn. I was pleasantly surprised to hear of your kind donation.”
Xavier didn’t grasp Watanabe’s hand with both of his in the manner that the Japanese prefer, but Xavier was an American so that faux pas could be ignored. “The pleasure is mine. I’m
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