“He’s not. I know my son. His anger burns very fast and very bright and it is always very short-lived. He does not know what he feels, andthatis what’s making him angry. As I said, I’ve never seen him so preoccupied. You and I will have tea, and I will tell you all you wish to know about your Aunt Sumiko. Don’t give up on him. You’re very beautiful, and a beautiful woman needs a good man in her life. I’m biased, but my son is a very good Nag.”
He was waiting in the parking lot, beside her car.
“Are you going to make me regretnotbeing a dick to you? Is that what this is?”
Don’t give up on him. He doesn’t notice things. I hate being mean to people.Sumi knew she was at an unfair advantage, but an unfair advantage was an advantage just the same. She gave him her sunniest smile.
“Not at all. Your gallantry has already been noted. I wasn’t even here for you, actually. But since you have accosted me at my car —“
”Accosted? This ismyparking lot!”
”— this is the perfect time for us to have a chat and call a truce.”
Ranar crossed his toned, well-defined arms over his broad, solid chest, his dark eyes narrowing once more.I’m going to lick every inch of your body and find out what sort of noises you make.
“When did I say anything about a truce?”
“You didn’t.Idid. Just now. It’s high time for one. And you’re going to agree to it. There’s no reason we can’t be friends, Ranar.”
His nose wrinkled, lip curling back as he drew breath to decline her order, but Sumi didn’t give him a chance. “Thank you for helping me. That day in the rain. You didn’t have to, but you did. You didn’twantto, and you still did. And that really shows the mark of your character, I think. So thank you.”
She moved faster than he had a chance to draw back, dropping a hand to his forearm, still crossed against his chest, using him for leverage to raise up on her toes, brushing her lips against his smooth brown cheek. If he felt the way her breast pressed against his arm while she did so, all the better.
“I’m sure I’ll see you soon.”
He was still standing there as she pulled away, watching him in her rearview mirror grow smaller and smaller. He never moved away.I’ve never seen him be so preoccupied with someone the way he’s been preoccupied with you.She had no real expectation that he would attend the open house she was planning,Pink Blossom’sofficial grand opening, now that they had found their rhythm. He’d made it clear that day in the rain that he had no interest in seeing her dreamy little storefront, and Sumi accepted that he viewed it as likely a bridge too far.
…But she could try. She would ensure he received her invitation just the same, and hoped that he would see it for the olive branch and/or proposal of marriage that it was. And if not, she wasn’t above using whatever tools she had in her arsenal to wear him down.I’ll see you again soon. I’ll make sure of it.
Mid At Best
Ranar
PinksPosies&Pearls:Have I told you about the Nippon Club since I joined?
It’s become the highlight of my week.
The club itself only meets twice a month, but I signed up for this special tea ceremony.
Do you drink tea?
I know we’ve already established you have a caffeine addiction,
but do you ever diversify your drug of choice?
I am a tea drinker, but I drink coffee too.
I don’t really understand the people who are either or & never the twain shall meet.
PinksPosies&Pearls:Anyway — tea ceremony. It’s very intricate.
People study their whole lives to be able to host their own.
Because even the tiniest detail should be thought of as an art form, you know?
Little inconsequential things that are worth mastery.
But on the other hand, I wonder how many people get into something like this
