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stood, forcing me to come with him.
I climbed the steps self consciously, seeing eyes turn toward me. What are you doing? I
hissed. I thought all I had to do was bring you the damn computer. He handed the laptop to the
other Korean man, who bowed to me and smiled broadly.
"Well, now that you're here, you might as well stay awhile. I need a partner for dinner,
he replied in an irritated undertone that told me not to quibble.
I opened my mouth to protest, but a very distinguished looking man in his late fifties or
early sixties was climbing the steps, his eyes on me, and I swallowed my words as James turned to
greet him, still holding my hand firmly in his. I recognized him instantly, and I held my breath as
he greeted James warmly and then turned to me.
"Miss Kanegawa, forgive me for staring like an old fool, but James description of you
hardly prepared me for the reality. He took my hand from James, and he bowed to me formally,
touching his forehead to my fingertips. He merely told me that his fiancée was an extremely
lovely young woman from New Haven. I blinked, my cheeks going bright pink as he smiled into
my eyes warmly. He should have told me that his fiancée was an exquisitely beautiful and
captivating creature with eyes the color of the morning skies and hair the color of a midsummer's
sun."
I couldn't help it. I was so startled by his description of me, I laughed, and he smiled even
more broadly. Master Park, you are not only a wonderful teacher, you are an exemplary
politician. You could get all the way to the White House with a line like that. But thank you. I
bowed back politely, and he laughed, his dark eyes sparkling with amusement.
"I like your choice, James. It's about time you settled down. He smiled at James, and I
flushed again. He patted my cheek, laughed, and moved on, stepping across the dais to another
group of people.
I stared after him, until James said softly, I know what you want to say, but please don't
spoil the evening by telling them that you and I are no longer an item. These are my friends, and
it would be extremely embarrassing if you made it known that you have decided not to marry
me."
I stared at him. How the hell did they find out about the marriage plans in the first
place?"
"My father was so delighted; he called everyone and told them. I hope you can bear with
me just for tonight. I arrived to find that everyone had expected to meet you here tonight. I'm
sorry about having to use the computer as a ruse to get you here. His dark eyes held mine for a
moment, and I found myself slowly falling under his sensual spell once more. NO. NO no
NO.
"You mean... I glared at him, fighting the urge to smack his handsome face off.
"If you continue to glare at me, my friends will get the impression that you don't like me
much, he smiled silkily.
I swallowed. How am I supposed to look at you? I hissed irritably.
"Like a woman in love would look at her fiancé. Would that be so terribly difficult? Just
for a few hours? His dark eyes were unreadable.
I swallowed and shrugged. I'm not very good at acting."
"You did it very well the night you showed me how to be a little romantic, or have you
forgotten?"
My cheeks were hot as I drew a deep breath. How in the hell could I forget? I shook my
head, and I said softly, I feel like a fraud."
"Pretend I'm your lover... he breathed softly, and I stiffened. His eyes were very dark, and
I wondered exactly what he thought I should act like.
I lifted my chin, and I said in a tight voice, I'll do my best. He could stuff what he
thought. It served him right if he got the wrong idea.
I felt his hand on my waist as I turned to greet another person coming to congratulate us
on our impending nuptials, and I reached down to draw his hand about me further, to rest on my
ribs. I leaned against him a little as I accepted a kiss on the cheek from one man, and handshakes
from several others, and I slipped my arm about his body as well. Play it, girl.
It was so easy to slip back into the manner I had used with him when I had felt he at least
liked me knew that he wanted me. I smiled and laughed, and after the group moved on, I
looked up into his face and I said softly, How am I doing now? as I allowed my breasts to press
against his side. I lifted my mouth to ask for a kiss, and he bent to give me one, much to the
delight of several people watching us. He kissed me lightly, and I laughed softly up into his face as
he drew back. You can do better than that. I was playing with fire, teasing like that.
He inhaled slowly, and I saw his eyes darken a little. He bent to kiss me again, but this
time, his mouth opened mine slowly, and I felt my body melt beneath his marvelously sensuous
kiss as he pulled me close enough to let me feel very plainly that he had not forgotten our days
and nights of mad lovemaking. His tongue swept into my mouth, his lips teased mine he sucked
my tongue into his mouth and nipped it gently with his teeth. My body was aflame.
When he lifted his mouth from mine, I felt dazed, and extremely vulnerable, and my eyes
were wide with all the pathetic longing I couldn't hide at that moment. I was unable to catch my
breath for a moment, my heart was hammering madly against my ribs, and then he smiled and
whispered, Was that better?"
I inhaled slowly and forced a shaky smile. Much better. I almost managed to speak
normally.
He seemed to be about to say something more, but another friend stepped up, and he
looked up with a quick smile as the man clapped him on the back and said, You can do that
later. Stop keeping this lovely creature to yourself. My wife is eager to meet her."
The next few minutes went by quickly as I was passed from group to group, and James
introduced me to at least fifty different people whose names I would never remember in a
million years. And then someone said, They're ready James. It's time."
I found myself being drawn back to the dais, James arm firmly guiding me as we went up
the steps, and then he seated me at a place on the head table, a few chairs away from the podium.
People were gravitating toward the horseshoe shaped table, and others were moving toward
dining tables that had been moved into place. Soon, the entire assemblage had been seated, and
Master Park rose from his place beside James and walked to the podium, smiling as applause
burst from the tables.
"Good evening, my friends, James... he acknowledged James with a nod and a smile, and
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