Read Online Internal Affair by Samantha Cayto - Free Book Online

brushing the back of her neck by accident. She twitched in a shiver that ran down her spine. She whirled out of the coat and his reach so quickly he knew she was trying to hide her response to his simple touch. The way she practically raced to the dining table confirmed his suspicions. He should have been appalled at the confirmation that the attraction constituted a two-way street. But this was the first time that part of him he’d frozen up since his parents’ deaths had started to thaw. The yearning welling up inside him overwhelmed his rational side.
    Of course, now the object of his desire stared down at dinner. He’d taken everything out of the cartons and plated them because his mother hadn’t raised barbarians. That was something he supposed. He hustled to the other side of the table and grimaced.
    “Sorry, I kind of suffered a brain fa—” He cut himself off, remembering he wasn’t living in the land of rude boys anymore. “I mean I just picked up what I like without thinking through…anything,” he finished lamely.
    Parker’s face lit up in an impish grin. There was really no other way to describe her expression. “You think I don’t like Chinese food?” She cocked her head at him with raised eyebrows.
    He sighed. “I’m sure you like authentic Chinese food, but I bet your mother never puts any of this on her table.”
    “That’s true.” She reached over and plucked up a spring roll. “It just so happens I like this Americanized version, too.” So saying, she bit into the roll with an audible crunch. When parts of the crispy wrap fell down, as they inevitably do, she lifted her palm to catch them, then licked them back up.
    Daire stood mesmerized by her actions. Her prim façade faded as she popped the second half of the roll in her mouth. She licked the grease off her fingers with delicate swipes of her pink tongue. He couldn’t stop staring, couldn’t stop yearning as she then took a seat and dished portions of General Gau’s chicken and brown rice on one of the plates he’d set out. Two crab Rangoon rounded out the serving.
    She twisted open one of the bottles of soda he’d ordered with the meal and glanced up at him. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
    He had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something ridiculous like feasting on the sight of her was enough. God, lack of sex with another person had turned his brain to mush. Pulling out a chair, he sat across from her and grabbed the plate of beef and broccoli. “I’m glad you’re not offended by my food choice.”
    Parker swallowed her mouthful. “Why would I be? You mean you thought I might think your choosing Chinese was some kind of dig at my heritage?”
    Daire winced. “Yeah, it occurred to me about two seconds before you rang the bell.”
    She laughed, a high, bright sound. “No chance. I’ve seen racism directed toward me plenty of times and believe me, I don’t get that vibe from you at all, sir.”
    Her reassurance relaxed him, or at least it chased away his concerns. He didn’t think he could be truly relaxed in this woman’s presence. The formality of her address rankled for some reason, even though it was perfectly correct under the circumstances. Thank God Parker had the good sense to keep some kind of barrier between them. A wise man would follow her example.
    But the password for the night was “stupid” so he said, “Daire.” When she raised her eyebrows again, he clarified. “Call me Daire, remember? You’re eating at my table, so I think first names are appropriate.”
    She didn’t look convinced. Before she could say anything in response, her phone rang. The ringtone was Happy by Pharrell, which amused him and spoke volumes about his guest’s personality. “Sorry, I need to get this.” When she answered, it was in Chinese, although he couldn’t tell which dialect. Mandarin or Cantonese perhaps.
    Parker spoke with obvious fluency, and while Daire had no idea what she said, her tone and