glared at her. Pregnant or no she'd take her ass out. "True, they could even be Yori's."
Amaya's mouth opened like a carp and then closed.
"Nonsense. My husband would not touch you with a ten-foot pole."
Yori nodded that he would behind Amaya's back.
"I think I better get back to my room before I do something I won't regret. Make yourself at home Amaya, or go back to your own. There's food in the kitchen."
Yori stopped her. "How are you feeling?"
"Bitchy," Shaundra replied. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Brainstorming with the fellows. We need to come up with our next career move."
"I don't know about your next career move but if I were you I'd get her pregnant as soon as possible and work some of that venom out of her system."
Yori chuckled. "Amaya does not want any kids at the moment."
Shaundra sighed. "Poor choice. You need some kids and she needs to get that stick out her butt."
"At least my butt is not spreading all across Japan," Amaya shot back just as bitchy.
"Yori doesn't think it too big, do you, Yori?" Shaundra asked him.
"No, it's exemplary."
"What are you doing?" Ichiro asked Shaundra as he walked into the den.
"Fucking with Amaya."
He pushed her gently toward the door. "Hormones," he explained to Yori.
Yori looked at her and she winked to get his attention and to piss Amaya and Ichiro off. There was nothing wrong with her hormones and just because she was pregnant she still refused to be a punching bag for Amaya.
"I'll give your advice considerations," Yori said to her bowing. "Try not to tire yourself out."
"I'm cool," Shaundra said looking back at him as Ichiro led her out.
"Why are you screwing with Yori's head?" Ichiro asked her.
"Because I'm bored. I just came down for a movie and Amaya started in on me."
"I know you can take her but don't."
A cold shower hadn't done a damn thing for him. Ichiro was still packing one serious erection. One she chose to ignore. She hadn't forgotten that argument. Some things could not go unpunished. She planned to let him squirm for a while.
"Do you need me to do anything for you before I go back downstairs?" Ichiro asked.
"No, I'm cool," she said sitting in her computer chair. "I have to get back to work."
"Do you think you might try to eat something later?"
"I know my way to the kitchen," Shaundra replied. "You go brainstorm with Aomori." She actually meant it. She still did not want to be a burden to him or come between him and his music.
Ichiro bowed to her and left.
Shaundra slipped her glasses on her eyes and turned her laptop back on.
Ichiro shook his head and walked back downstairs. Yori and Amaya were in a heated discussion. He was just about to walk past the den door and head for the recording studio when he heard his name.
"How does he know he's even the father? For all he knows they could be Harper's babies," Amaya said. "Or Satoshi's or even yours."
Ichiro waited for Yori to deny the allegation.
"They are Ichiro's babies."
"How can you be so sure? All of you are forgetting that she walked out on him. Why? Because she found out that she was pregnant with another man's child."
"Even if it is true it is none of your business. Regardless of what you think, Shaundra is not that kind of woman."
"Oh, yes she is. She strung both you and Ichiro along for months. And you see the way she eyes Satoshi. My money is on him. Why did he let a perfectly good woman like Cristal get away? Because he knows those can be his babies. He used to be the biggest womanizer in Japan and had women going in and out of his bedroom like ants at a picnic. Think about it. When was the last time he went out on a date or had a woman in his life? Not since he met Shaundra."
"He dated her daughter in the United States," Yori answered in Satoshi's defense.
"All a show," Amaya replied. "If those babies come here blond, they're Harpers. If they come here with blue eyes, they are Ichiro's. But if they come here with chocolate brown eyes, spiky hair and trying to look down the nurses blouse then they're Satoshi's."
"What if they come out looking like me?" Yori asked.
"Then you're going to find yourself single," Amaya answered.
Ichiro tipped past the den and hurried to the recording studio. Amaya was crazy. Shaundra would never cheat on him. He paused