Down and Dirty Read Online Free PDF

coming for dinner?” Takumijo asked.
    “Yes, Mr. Smarty-pants. I’m going to fix Kobe beef. It’s her favorite.”
    They entered the farmhouse. Ichiro ran up the stairs to change.
    “He does realize he has to cook for us too,” Takumijo said selfishly.
    Satoshi just shrugged.
     
    ****
     
    Shaundra drove up to the gates of the farmhouse in her new SUV and got stopped at the gates by a security guard.
    “Can I see some ID, miss?”
    Shaundra didn’t recognize him and he didn’t recognize her. He was tall, thin, and Japanese, and working on her last nerves. She lifted her sunglasses as she handed him her identification card. “My name is Shaundra Yoshida. I live here.”
    The guard looked at her ID card and then her. “I’ve never seen you before, and I don’t see your name on the list of occupants.”
    Shaundra sighed. She had no right to be upset. He was right. She was the one who moved out. “Just buzz the main house.” It had started to snow again and she was starting to freeze talking to him.
    The guard handed her back her card. He didn’t seem like he was in too much of a hurry. “Cute kids,” he said, peeping into the back seat. “Are they yours?”
    Shaundra rolled her eyes at him even though she knew he couldn’t see it behind her glasses. People asked her that a lot when she took the boys into town since they both resembled Ichiro. “Yes.”
    The guard finally picked up the telephone, dialed, and spoke to someone in Japanese. She did make out black woman and babies.
    The guard quickly took the receiver from his ears. Apparently, someone inside the farmhouse didn’t like something he said and was hollering at him very loudly. The guard hung up the phone. “You may pass through, Mrs. Yoshida.”
    “ Arigatou .”
    He lifted the gates.
    Shaundra drove down the familiar path that led to the main farmhouse. She got a moment of weakness when the actual house came into view. And it got worse when she saw the three Japanese males standing on the front porch waiting.
    Shaundra gulped, shocked by how differently they looked with their new haircuts. Especially Ichiro, who used to have hair all the way down to his butt. Oh my God, Takumijo is a blond . That was sinfully wrong on so many different levels. Her heart did that stupid little thumping thing it did whenever they were near her. Shaundra fought back the silly emotions, turned off the engine, and opened the car door.
    The three men came down the stairs to greet her.
    “Welcome back,” Ichiro said, giving her a peck on the cheek. He greeted her like she was back for good.
    Shaundra didn’t respond, afraid of what she might say or do. She simply smiled.
    Satoshi gave her a big hug and brushed his cheek against hers. “You look great,” he whispered in her ear. His warm breath tickled. He released her.
    One of the babies woke up in the back seat and cooed.
    Satoshi peeped into the car. “Hey, little dude.”
    Shaundra smiled. He sounded so American.
    The baby gurgled and cooed like he recognized and understood Satoshi.
    “Nice to see you again, farmhouse queen,” Takumijo said. He wasn’t much of a hugger, but he managed a weak one to be civil. Of the four members of Aomori, he was the only one not tied to her emotionally, which she was grateful for. He and Satoshi lifted the boys out their car seats while Ichiro grabbed the boys’ diaper bags.
    “They’re getting so big,” Ichiro said, peering at their sons.
    Shaundra smiled and nodded, feeling maybe coming over was a big mistake.
    “Go on inside. It’s too cold out here,” Ichiro told her.
    Shaundra grabbed her keys, locked the SUV, and then walked up the stairs, huddling in her nice warm coat. The aroma of Kobe beef caught her attention as soon as she entered. Ichiro must have prepared it especially for her. Shaundra sighed. Her love could not be bought with food.
    The guys followed her in and then Ichiro led the way to the den. Shaundra picked up the little changes. Someone had