In Deep Kimchi - By Imari Jade Page 0,18

a small hibachi grill place in front of them.

Surprisingly enough, the waitress positioned them in an odd seating arrangement with Yori at her right and Ichiro at her left. The impact of their colognes sent conflicting emotions through her body. Damn, what are they wearing? Usually, cologne and body sprays made her cough.

Thankfully, not this time, she mused as she crossed her legs at her ankles to ignore her raging hormones and dampening panties. This is so embarrassing.

"Is something wrong, Ms. Morrison?" Chirau Narita asked from across the table. "You look a bit flushed." Chirau was seated across the table from her between Satoshi and Riley and her cheeks were very rosy too.

Shaundra looked down shyly. "No, it's probably from the heat of the grill."

Chirau giggled. "Yes, I know exactly what you mean."

Shaundra rose. "Excuse me a minute. I need to use the little girl's room."

"I'll go with you," Dorothy replied, hopping up from her seat between Harper and Masaaki.

Dorothy was standing next to her before she could reply. They had to walk out of the room and back into the main dining room to access the ladies room. Shaundra pushed the door open slowly so she wouldn't knock anyone down. There were a couple of ladies standing before mirrors fixing their hair and makeup. Shaundra ducked into one stall while she heard Dorothy go into the one next to her. She really didn't have to go, but she needed to get some air and quiet the thoughts in her head. Her bladder complied to justify with Dorothy that she had to go. The next thing she knew, both she and Dorothy were standing at the sink washing their hands.

Dorothy dried her hands under the blow dryer. "He's cute," she replied.

"Who?"

"Ichiro."

"Oh, him. Well, I think the correct description is beautiful." She pressed the button on the dryer.

"Have you ever seen guys as handsome as those four?"

Shaundra rubbed her hands vigorously under the air to dry them. "No, I haven't. Where the hell were men like that when I was in my twenties?"

"These weren't born yet," Dorothy said into a girlish chuckle. "He likes you."

"Who?" Shaundra asked as she stepped over to the mirror to check her hair and makeup.

"Ichiro."

"Huh?"

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed the way he's been watching you."

"No, I haven't," she lied. "He's just a kid."

"So is Yori."

Ah hell, where is this conversation leading? "I'm flattered, but I didn't come all the way to Tokyo to get involved in some scandalous triangle with two Japanese pop stars."

Dorothy hugged herself and giggled with glee. "Wow, wouldn't that make one hell of a novel premise?"

"Probably." She finished with her hair, and washed and dried her hands again. "We'd better get back before they think we've fallen in or something," Shaundra said, changing the subject. She led the way to the door and Dorothy followed.

"Do you think I can get one of them interested in me? You know, if you're not in interested in dating either one."

"Sure. You're a pretty nice lady, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't happen. They have some pretty strange customs in some of these places where they can only date their own race, or worse, they have to stay pure until they're married."

"Yuck. What an antiquated, Victorian idea." They re-entered the dining area. The waiter had arrived with the food and there were several red-clad chefs preparing meat on the hibachis. Shaundra and Dorothy scooted back into their seats as the chef set the meat on plates and passed them around to the diners. The waiters returned with steamed rice and soups. Everything looked delicious.

"Ooh, what's that?" Shaundra asked.

"Yakimono," Ichiro answered. "Grilled fish." Mostly everyone stopped what they were doing when they heard him speak.

Shaundra looked over at him and smiled.

Ichiro shook his bangs back out of his eyes, revealing his adorable face and capturing her full attention. He began scooping some of the fish into a bowl and then he reached for Shaundra's set of chopsticks, opened them and began feeding her.

Shaundra chewed, never removing her stare from his. She swallowed.

"Thank you. It is very delicious."

Ichiro handed the chopsticks to her.

"I don't know how to use them."

"Let me show you."

Those were the most words she'd heard him say since she met him.

She pitied the world for not hearing his silky and mesmerizing voice. She bet there were a lot of wet panties in the audience when he performed.

Ichiro demonstrated how to use the chopsticks and then reached them back to her to try.

Shaundra lifted