Down and Dirty Read Online Free PDF Page B

bought new drapes for the living room, and changed the light fixture in the hall. And there was a new clock on the wall. There were also several new pictures of Aomori in the den, probably from their European tour.
    Satoshi and Takumijo got the twins out of their winter wear while Ichiro helped her out of her coat. The scent of his cologne just drove her crazy, and the look he gave her literally stole her breath away. The hunger in those big blue eyes could not be denied.
    “Doesn’t she look fantastic?” Satoshi said as he sat down on the sofa with Ryoto. “It’s hard to believe you just gave birth to twins.”
    “Thank you,” Shaundra said. She’d been working out hard and practicing martial arts with Dae-Hyun to get back into her pre-pregnancy shape, but she couldn’t tell him that without starting a riot. She wore a pair of black slacks, a black-and-white pullover sweater, and her new black knee boots. “I’ve lost most of the weight, but I’m still trying to tone up a bit.”
    Ichiro had his eyes fixated on her bosom. Those she still had to work on.
    “Are you still nursing?” he asked.
    There was no subject taboo to these guys. “Yes. The boys refuse to drink their milk from a cup.”
    Takumijo chuckled at her joke. “Good boys,” he told Raiden. “You will grow up big and tall like Uncle Takumijo.”
    Shaundra smiled. No doubt the boys would be tall and fine like Ichiro.
    “Would you like something to drink?” Ichiro asked.
    She could use something to stop the butterflies in her stomach, but she didn’t drink, and she didn’t want alcohol to contaminate her breast milk. “No, thank you. I’m good.”
    Ichiro finally drew his eyes off her breasts and hung up her coat. “Dinner will be ready shortly.” He left the den to check on it, leaving her standing in the same place.
    “You can sit down,” Satoshi told her. “You’re safe.”
    Shaundra sat down in a seat across from the sofa. She wished she could believe him. Ichiro was on his best behavior at the moment, but she didn’t know how long it was going to last.
    “It’s so quiet now that the others are gone,” Shaundra said, speaking of Yori, Cristal, and Masaaki.
    “We’ve gotten used to it,” Takumijo said, playing with Raiden.
    “How’s the writing coming?” Satoshi asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she arrived.
    “Fine. My latest book is on the top of some best-sellers list again.”
    “And you don’t think that’s fantastic?” Satoshi asked.
    Shaundra shrugged. It was hard keeping up with such things with the twins constantly needing her attention. Dae-Hyun was big help, but he couldn’t nurse the twins. “Yes, I think it’s great. The royalties are just rolling in.”
    “That’s a sign of a good writer,” Takumijo said. “Before you know it, you’ll be a millionaire.”
    Shaundra smirked. She was already a millionaire. Harper had taught her how to invest in stocks and property, and she was raking in the dough. Sadly, none of that mattered to her. “Have you heard from Cristal?” she asked.
    “No,” Satoshi answered.
    “She’s okay,” Takumijo said. “Mr. Niigata is keeping her busy, and she has a new assistant to help her out.”
    The expression on Satoshi’s face said he didn’t know any of this, which led her to believe that something bad must have happened between Cristal and Satoshi in Europe. She’d spoken to Cristal a couple of times since the group returned, but her friend hadn’t told her a thing.
    “Are you ready for the christening?” Satoshi asked, obviously changing the subject. No one wanted to bring up any bad subject or open any wounds.
    “Yes, Daichi has been drilling me on my part, and I’m looking forward to a little road trip.”
    “Speaking of which, isn’t that a new SUV?”
    Shaundra nodded. “I needed something bigger to chauffer the boys around in. Two boys, two car seats, and two diaper bags take up a lot of room. I guess I’ll have to invest in a family