time—a day ahead from when we left, of course.”
Taylor nodded. There was a sixteen-hour time difference, and her body felt it.
“You all right, honey?” Candy asked.
Taylor ran her hand over her brown bird’s nest. All it was missing were the twigs. “Yes, I just really needed to talk to Bennett.”
Candy gave her a look.
“What?” Taylor said, her voice scratchy and tired.
“If I can offer you a little advice, Ms. Reed; I wouldn’t call him that. People will get the wrong impression.”
“I’m not sleeping with him,” Taylor grumbled, trying to get her seat back into the upright position.
“Oh, I know.” Candy said it like the idea was impossible.
“How?” Taylor asked, a little offended.
“That’s easy. Mr. Wade would never, and I mean never touch a woman who works for him. That man,” she shook her finger, “is a gentleman. They don’t make ’em like that anymore. But his mama raised him right. No hanky-panky with the staff.”
“But what about you?” Taylor blurted out before she could stop herself.
Candy’s jaw dropped, and she placed her hand on her chest. “Me? What would give you the impression that Mr. Wade and I have ever…?”
“You said you have quickies and overnighters a few times a week.”
“Oh! No, I’m sorry.” Candy laughed. “I meant I check on him during our flights to see if he needs anything. He’s asleep half the time on these long trips.”
“And Robin? Is he dating her?”
“Dear God, no.” Candy leaned in. “Robin bats for the other team.”
She does? Taylor never would’ve suspected that.
“She’s been with her partner Bonnie for years.”
“Oh.” Taylor now felt silly for assuming Bennett had slept with every woman he made contact with. “I guess I misjudged him.”
Candy sighed. “Well, honey, there was a time I had a little thing for Mr. Wade, but now I see him more as family.” She shook her head appreciatively. “That man is my guardian angel. He’s done more for me than anyone on this planet, including my own parents.”
“Like what?”
Candy grabbed a small black carry-on from a small closet near the front of the plane. “Well…I…it’s a story best told over a drink. Let’s get you to the hotel, and then I promise I’ll share, but only if you promise never to speak about it to anyone.”
“Why not?”
She smiled knowingly. “That’s part of the secret.”
CHAPTER 8
The entire way through customs and immigration, Taylor’s mind itched with curiosity. What would Candy tell her? Was Bennett really just some closet old-fashioned gentleman? Come on…gentlemen don’t ask women if they “fucked last night” in the middle of a meeting. Which was why Taylor really wanted to hear Candy’s story.
Together they checked into the Ritz Carlton Tokyo, and Taylor found herself feeling very uncomfortable with the room Robin had booked for her. The check-in form she’d been asked to initial had a room rate of one hundred and twenty thousand Yen per night.
“But don’t you have anything more—” Taylor leaned a bit over the counter toward the reception clerk “—modest?”
“Ms. Reed,” the young woman said with impeccable politeness, “this is your room. We are all booked up. So sorry.” She bowed her head.
“But this is too much. Maybe one of the other guests would—”
The clerk slid the key across the marble counter and then snapped her fingers for the bellhop. “Your dinner reservation is at eight. Your after-dinner massage is at ten. That may be done in your room if you so desire, or in our members-only spa.”
Taylor blinked. “Massage?”
Candy, who stood at Taylor’s side also checking in, quickly interceded, “Ms. Reed, that’s standard procedure when you do a long trip with Mr. Wade. He likes everyone well rested and feeling their best.” She glanced at her watch. “See you at eight for drinks and dinner?”
“Uh…sure.” Taylor nodded. She understood that this was Bennett’s way of doing things, but she didn’t feel right taking a room that cost one thousand U.S. dollars a night or a massage that likely cost a few hundred.
She looked at the clerk. “Thank you. But please cancel the massage. I’ll be going to bed early tonight,” she lied. She was wide-the-hell-awake, but no way could she take a perk like that.
Taylor made her way to the nicely appointed room with a view of the Roppongi district, and the bellhop arrived shortly after with her enormous suitcase. She’d been to Tokyo once before on a client visit, so she wasn’t a stranger to the no-tipping rules. That said, it still felt unnatural simply thanking him with a bow so she just