Page 38 of Who Said Mobsters Were Scary?
“Where to now?” he says, clearing his throat as he shakes me off.
“I’m hungry. Do you like Indian?”
“What, like proper curry and those fried onion things?” He scrunches his nose when I give him a sideways glance, looking embarrassed. “I’ve never tried.”
Satisfaction floods me. I really shouldn’t be entertaining this kind of thing. Leo is my bodyguard and things should stay professional between us, that’s how it works. The problem is that it might be a bit too late for that. He caught my eye that night at the club’s backyard, and my interest is only growing the more I get to know him. Once he’s officially started and I’ve introduced him to my father, I’ll behave. Probably. I have to, because this is a very bad idea, no matter how alluring Leo might be.
I pretend I’ve convinced myself not to pursue this and lead us to the small restaurant. It’s situated in atwo-story wooden house and occupies both floors. The chef is an Indian woman in her fifties, while her husband, who’s Japanese, handles the customers. I’m somewhat of a regular, so he seats us at my usual table on the second floor. It’s the one by the window, giving us a view of the alleyway and the main street it merges into.
“Any preferences?” I ask Leo, who is studying the drapes decorating the interior.
“Um, I’m not sure. Just nothing too spicy. And I do want to try the onion…” He pinches his eyebrows and pouts. “Stuff.”
“It’s called bhaji.” I click on the ringer and Minato appears with a jug of water and a bowl of poppadoms.
I order some korma along with their mix of curries, two fresh naan breads and the bhaji. Leo digs in the moment the food arrives, moaning and gasping and saying how good it tastes. I’m a lot more civilized about my own food, but I don’t say anything. His enthusiasm is just too endearing.
I’d have never guessed he has this side to him with how snappy and bratty he was before we sat down to talk at the shrine. It makes me wonder which part is more prevalent during sex, and that in turn gives me a whole different way to look at his noises of appreciation for the dishes.
Fortunately, he finishes eating shortly after my unintended association, saving me the trouble of trying to stay calm while he sounds like a porn star getting railed.
“You know,” he says when we leave the restaurant, tucking his hands in the slack’s pockets. “Is it normal for your bodyguards to have dinner with you? I was so excited, I kind of forgot to ask. Should I stand behind you and scowl at people next time?”
I huff outa laugh. “That will probably be wise if there are any people around to frown at. But I told Minato he shouldn’t let anyone in while we were visiting, so there wasn’t any need for that.”
He hums as we rejoin the crowd on the main street, schooling his expression into what I’ve dubbed his bodyguard scowl. Shops have started closing, thinning the throng of people most of whom are now headed to clubs and bars.
A long queue lines up in front of Evio when we get there. Leo studies it while I chat to the security guard, who calls over one of his buddies the moment he recognizes who I am. The second man takes us to the VIP zone, where three hostesses are waiting with a tray of complimentary drinks. The one who serves me is my type, and usually I’d have considered inviting her to one of the suits upstairs. But one glance at Leo standing straight as a pole on the side of the booth has me imagining him serving me drinks and batting eyelashes at me instead, and that almost gives me a boner.
Yeah, I think I’m a lost cause.
The owner of Evio shows up ten minutes later, taking a puff from his Cuban cigar. “Mr. Akiyama, welcome.” His beady eyes flick to Leo, who shows no reaction. “New bodyguard? Are you branching out in the gaijin market?”
The jibe is intentional, but I ignore it. I’m not here to stir trouble. The quicker I get this over with, the quicker I could get Leo out of his bodyguard mode. Maybe we could go to a nicer place, somewhere with private rooms, so he can relax and show me that sexy smile again.
“I’m here to discuss Evio’s contract, Mr. Nishiki. If you are interested in our bodyguards and how we source them, I suggest you speak to my father.”
That wipes the sleazy smile off his face. He sits on the couch across from me and puts his cigar away. “Of course.”
Luckily, my remark keeps him on his best behavior. We conclude our dealings half an hour later when he signs the renewed contract at a slightly higher rate.
“Pleasure doing business with you,” I say and don’t wait for his reply, nodding at Leo as I pass by him.
“That guy seemed like an asshole,” Leo says, holding the door open for me.
“Was it that obvious?”
“Yeah. Don’t need to understand what he was saying to tell.” He scrunches his nose. “He was also giving me a look.”
Ah, so he noticed. Some of the people in my line of work don’t like anyone who’s not part of this world. Especially guys like Leo, who just naturally stand out around here. It’s his height and hair. I used to get the side eye too since I’m quite tall compared to the average Japanese man, but with him by my side, it’s no surprise the glares go to him. It’s kind of the point really, and it makes me feel even more giddy inside since I’m the only one who knows his goofy side.
“I was thinking—”
A woman with sparkles and glitter on her hair bumps into me, almost spilling her drink all over my suit. Leo steps in between us, placing his hand on my chest and pushing me back gently so I’m sufficiently away from her.
“Huh? Leo, that you? What a coincidence!” she says, trying reallyreallyhard to appear shocked.
Leo looks between me and her, a glimmer of amusement sparkling in his eyes as they go wide after a short delay. “Oh! Uh, Naomi! Wow, what a coincidence indeed! What are you doing here?”
