Page 10 of Daigo

"Because I wanted to make you go away." Her hand tightened on his. They were talking, and she appreciated it. "You intimidated me, and I thought you just wanted a roll in the hay."

"I thought that was what I wanted in the initial stage. It was only meant to be physical." He shrugged again and shook his head. "I fought it, remember?"

"Tooth and nail." She smiled at him. "You couldn't shake me."

He leveled a glance at her, expression contemplative. "I found out I couldn't and didn't want to." Turning over his hand, he linked their fingers. "You had your hooks in me deep."

"You still resent it."

"Sometimes," he admitted. "I never allowed anyone to have that kind of power over me."

"Is it power?" she wondered. "I'd like to think that it's love, pure and simple. And I've embraced it. Why can't you?"

"I'm trying." He smiled slightly, nodding his head at her side of the platter. "You ate everything."

She looked down in surprise and realized that she had even eaten all the vegetables.

"Good Lord. No wonder I feel so stuffed."

"Riku will be pleased. Ready?"

"I just need to use the restroom to get the scent of fish from my mouth."

"I have some mints in the car."

"I need to use the facility anyway."

"I'll settle the bill." He watched her weaving her way through the tables. Leaning back, he pleasured himself, shaking his head when he saw her stop to chat with a group of people. His wife was friendly, sometimes too friendly. He had warned her about letting people come too close, but nothing he said made a difference.

He nodded as Riku came over.

"Shelby-Anne cleaned her plate," Daigo told him.

Riku's dark eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "I'm humbled." He shook his head when Daigo handed him his card. "Your money is no good here."

"Riku, you're running a business--"

"And I'm running that business because of you. You took a chance on me when no one else would." He started cleaning up the area. "You will never know how grateful I am for that."

"You already expressed your thanks a thousand times. Once was enough. You've made something of the place. The food is outstanding." Resigned, Daigo tucked the card back inside his wallet.

Riku beamed his pleasure at the comment. "You've sent several business associates my way. More gratitude."

Daigo merely shrugged, his eyes straying toward the back as Shelby made her way toward them. "Smart business move. The more places they find to eat, the more they will want to invest."

"Riku, I enjoyed the food as usual." Shelby made the man blush again by going on her toes and touching her lips to his cheek.

"I packaged something for you to take with you. The clam chowder is outstanding. You don't have to cook when you get home." Before they could refuse, Riku hurried away.

"I wasn't planning on cooking anyway." She patted her stomach. "I'm full to the brim."

Sliding from the booth, Daigo helped her with her jacket before donning his.

As soon as their packaged meal was brought out and Riku walked them to the door with the promise that they would come again very soon, they headed out to the parking lot, which had started to fill up while they were inside.

"He does a thriving business," she murmured as they walked to the car.

"Hmm." Opening the back door, Daigo put away the container with the food and was about to get the passenger door for her when she laid a hand over his.