"Mary Janice Davidson - Thief Of Hearts" - читать интересную книгу автора (Davidson Mary Janice)

delicate Japanese spices.

Kara took an appreciative breath while they waited for a table. She loved the way the Japanese did
things, their understated efficiency, the beauty of their food presentation, their droll humor and could have
eaten sushi three times daily. Too bad Jared looked ready to jump out of his skin. She could sense no
danger to him here, but resolved to keep her eyes open.

The hostess stepped toward them, dressed in a sapphire blue kimono embroidered with white seagull
silhouettes. She bowed a greeting, then asked them pleasantly if they wanted smoking or non.

тАЬNon,тАЭ they said in unison, then followed her to a table by the window.

тАЬExcuse me,тАЭ Kara said, тАЬbut weтАЩd prefer a table at the back of the room, if you please.тАЭ

The hostess apologized and led them to a booth in the back. When she was gone, while they were
wiping their faces with the hot, damp washcloths she had left them, Jared said, тАЬYou donтАЩt want me
sitting by the window, huh?тАЭ

Kara shrugged. тАЬForce of habit. Listen, youтАЩre making me nervous. WhatтАЩs the problem? Why donтАЩt
you like this place?тАЭ

тАЬI love this place,тАЭ he assured her. тАЬThe food is fabulous, the service is great.тАЭ

тАЬThen whyтАФтАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs a long story. Never mind. What are you having?тАЭ

Before she could answer, a voice boomed, тАЬAh, Dr. Dean!тАЭ and Jared sighed.

тАЬBusted,тАЭ he muttered, just before a middle-aged Japanese man rushed to their table. The man was wiry
and looked strong. His head was so bald and shiny Kara itched to touch it, to see if it felt as smooth as it
looked.

тАЬHello, hello! So nice to see you again and youтАЩve brought a lovely lady friend, too, how wonderful.тАЭ

тАЬIshiguro, this is Kara. Kara, this is the owner, Ishiguro. Listen, pal,тАЭ Jared said to the beaming man,
тАЬletтАЩs not do this, okay?тАЭ

Kara edged closer to the edge of the booth, ready to pound the man into jelly if he so much as twitched
a trigger finger. Jared promptly stuck his foot up onto her seat, barring her way.

Ishiguro quit smiling and looked stubborn. He snapped his fingers and a waitress appeared, bowing to
him and then to Jared and Kara. тАЬThese are my friends,тАЭ he said, тАЬand they must have anything they
want. Bring appetizers. Dr. Dean is partial to seafood.тАЭ

The waitress bowed again and practically sprinted to the kitchen.
тАЬIshiguro,тАЭ Jared said warningly.

The man rapped something sharp in Japanese and Jared shut up. Ishiguro turned to Kara and said, тАЬDo
you know the story of how the wonderful Dr. Dean saved my only son from hideous death?тАЭ