Read Online Whatever You Like by Maureen Smith - Free Book Online Page B

“Look, I don’t know what you have in mind, but—”
    â€œLet’s eat first,” Roderick suggested smoothly. “Then we can talk.”
    Eat? How could he possibly expect her to eat at a time like this? Food was the absolute last thing on her mind. But she’d ordered the most expensive entrée on the lunch menu—out of pure spite—so it’d be a shame to let it go to waste.
    Drawing a deep, calming breath, she picked up her fork and cut into her braised lobster. As the smoky,succulent flavor burst in her mouth, she couldn’t help sighing a little.
    â€œGood?” Roderick murmured.
    â€œVery.” She nodded at his steak. “Yours?”
    â€œTop-notch.”
    They ate in silence for a few minutes. When Lena glanced up again, she found Roderick watching her thoughtfully.
    â€œWhat made you leave Los Angeles?” he asked curiously.
    She gave him a mocking look. “You mean you didn’t learn everything there is to know about me when you conducted your background check?”
    He smiled faintly. “Sweetheart, I barely even scratched the surface.”
    That disarmed her. She hesitated, then answered, “I grew up in L.A., but I wanted a change of scenery. I moved to Chicago after landing a job at the college.”
    Roderick nodded slowly. “Do you ever miss home?”
    â€œSometimes.” She smiled wryly. “Mostly during the winter.”
    He chuckled. “Our winters take some getting used to.”
    â€œThat’s what people keep telling me.”
    â€œThey’re right.” His eyes glinted with mischief. “You just have to find someone to keep you warm during those cold, windy nights.”
    Lena’s stomach quivered. “I’m sure you have no problem finding volunteers.”
    â€œNor should you.” His voice deepened seductively. “I’m more than ready, willing and able to keep you warm, Lena. And not just during the wintertime.”
    She flushed all over, heat gathering beneath herclothes, inside her pumps, between her thighs. She glanced toward the fireplace, half wondering if she should summon the waiter to put out the flames before she overheated.
    Resisting the urge to fan herself, she reached for her glass and took a long sip of wine.
    Roderick watched her, his eyes dancing with amusement. He enjoyed rattling her, damn him. To prove her point, he announced casually, “We’ve been invited to Japan.”
    Lena nearly choked on her wine. Coughing, she gaped at him. “We?” she croaked.
    â€œYeah. You and me. When I was in Japan last week, I had dinner with Ichiro Kawamoto and his wife. They asked about you, told me how much they’d enjoyed meeting you at the party. They made me promise to bring you during my next trip to Japan. They even invited us to stay at their home in Tokyo.”
    Lena arched a brow at him. “Do they know that I was your paid escort, not your girlfriend?”
    â€œKawamoto figured out our arrangement,” Roderick admitted.
    â€œReally? How?”
    â€œHe sensed a certain restraint between us. Even though we were clearly attracted to each other, he could tell that we were, ah, holding back.”
    Lena snorted derisively. “Some holding back. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other.”
    Roderick smiled a little. “He also said that you referred to me as ‘Mr. Brand’ throughout your conversation with him.”
    â€œOh.” Lena grinned wryly. “Yeah, I suppose that would be a dead giveaway.”
    Roderick chuckled. “He came right out and asked methe nature of our relationship, so I told him the truth. He called you my beautiful American geisha.”
    â€œHe did?” Lena smiled. “Well, geisha were once celebrated in Japanese culture, so I guess I’ll take that as a compliment.”
    â€œYou should. He definitely meant it as one.” Roderick held her gaze. “So will you go