Read Online Love and Truth by Kathryn Vance-Perez - Free Book Online

wait for Jonathan.
    He walked up minutes later, looking irresistible in his karate gi . The v of his uniform top displayed his tan, toned skin, taunting my resolve. I asked myself again why he had to be so damn sexy. I noticed that he was wearing a black belt that had Japanese script on the ends of both sides and one side had two stripes on it. He smiled and noticed me admiring his gi .
    “What does it say?” I asked. He grasped the ends of the belt, rubbing his thumbs across the symbols.
    “This side is my name and the other is the name of the dojo where I train. The stripes represent what Dan I am.”
    “What’s a Dan ?”
    “It just means what level or grade I am. Once you make it to black belt, you move up a Dan with each test you pass and a new stripe is added as you advance.”
    I reached out and ran my fingers across the stripes.
    “Wow, that’s very impressive. I can’t wait to see your mad skills tonight.”
    “Hmm, a little feisty this evening, are we, Ms. Harrison?” He seemed pleased at my attempt at being flirtatious and I smacked him on the shoulder. He grabbed it in mock pain.
    “Ouch, don’t injure me before class.”
    “I’m not being feisty. Feisty isn’t a word that describes me. I’m a reserved in-control girl, and don’t forget it.” I said it weakly, as though trying to convince myself.
    “Sure you are,” he said, laughing. And Nicole?” “Yes?” I said as he looked at me with those eyes that do all sorts of unfamiliar things to me.
    “Woman.” Huh, what does he mean woman?
    “What are you talking about, woman what?”
    “It’s just that you described yourself as a girl.” Then he slowly raked his eyes down to my toes and back, setting me on fire. I was like a moth caught in a flame. He smiled again. “I see no girl standing here. You’re a beautiful, desirable woman, Nicole; don’t let anyone tell you different.” Then he grinned that sexy ass smile that melted my insides.
    I stood there completely and utterly obliterated by his words. My resolve is shattered into a million tiny pieces all around me. My face felt hot and I blushed, frozen and staring into his eyes.
    “Red is a good color on you,” he added, noticing my reaction to his words. Shoot me now! I thought. This guy is going to be the death of me for sure.
    “Come on beautiful.” He says trying to keep from laughing. “Let’s get going. Maybe I can be on time to class for once!” He walked ahead and I followed beside him, shaking my head in disbelief.
     

     
    We walked side-by-side and he gently placed his right arm around my waist, his hand on my hip. It felt natural, like we had done this a thousand times. His hand felt like it was burning through my clothing and the warmth crept through my veins, causing my stomach to flutter; I had never been touched by a guy. I smiled and he looked back down at me. Our unspoken words said more than anything we could speak aloud. I heard the chants from the dojo floating down to us as we approached.
    “Okay, I need to warn you,” he said. “My friends are a little…what can I say? They’re a bit crazy. Hiro is my best friend, we’ve been friends since before I can remember. We were in the same preschool and we graduated together. He’s a very loud, animated kind of guy and has zero filter-says whatever comes to mind. Please don’t take offense to anything he says.”
    “Got it.”
    “Izo is a playboy and thinks he is God’s gift to women. He went to high school with Hiro and me. We were all in the same English class, so they’re both fluent in English too. I already warned Izo that you’re off limits. So try not to judge them. They’re really good guys and they always have my back no matter what.”
    Oh, lord. More guys. I thought. I had no experience with guys and it seemed that ever since I got here that was all I was meeting.
    “Okay, thanks for the heads up. But I’m pretty good at handling myself.”
    “Yeah, I know. The first day in the café