Secrets of the Playboy's Bride(13)

"What would you like to see while you're here?" Leo asked. "I'll be in  meetings most of the day and we'll have dinner with Mr. Kihoto, but  there's no reason you can't explore. My assistant has arranged for a  tour guide and interpreter for your convenience.""I haven't even thought  about it. What should I not miss?"

"Depends on how adventurous you are," he said.

"I still need to work while I'm here, but I should be able to sightsee a little bit," she said.                       
       
           



       

"Do you ever take a vacation?" he asked.

"Do you?" she retorted.

"Good point," he said. "You'll probably want to go shopping for  souvenirs. The tour guide can escort you there. I have a few things in  mind for you."

"What?" she asked.

"Surprises," he said and grinned. "You trust me, don't you?"

Her stomach dipped. Yes and no, she thought, surprised in a way that she  trusted him at all. As long as Leo didn't know the truth about her  plans for their temporary marriage, she suspected he would take care of  her. But if he found out too soon … She shuddered at the thought.

At their hotel suite, Leo allowed her extra sleep to recover from jet  lag. The next morning, she awakened to find him gone and instructions  for contacting her personal guide. She got up and spent extra time in  the bathroom, fascinated by the TOTO toilet, which actually lifted its  lid as she approached and closed it as she left, all the while playing  Mendelssohn.

She forced herself to work, although she was distracted by the beautiful  small garden view from the window. After e-mailing one of her  assignments to her office, she called the guide, a charming woman named  Nakato. She went on a whirlwind tour, taking in the narrow streets,  sounds and smells of Tokyo with a few shopping stops along the way.  Nakato took her to a six-floor toy shop and she picked up a silly gift  for Leo.

She dressed for dinner, fighting a sudden attack of nerves. When Leo  walked through the door, she felt a whisper of relief until she saw his  brooding expression. "How have your meetings gone?"

"Could be better. I learned that my biggest competitor has already been  here for a visit and Mr. Kihoto was impressed with him and his wife. I  think Mr. Kihoto is a little put off by how young I am. At least having a  wife means I've overcome one of his objections," he muttered under his  breath.

Calista went very still, taking in his last comment. "Pardon me?" she  finally said. "Did I hear you correctly? Are you saying you need to have  a wife to get a business deal with this man?"

Still clearly distracted, he shrugged. "It's part of his expectations.  My marital status doesn't have a thing to do with my business abilities,  but having a wife smoothes the way."

"Are you telling me that you married me so I could smooth the way for  your business deals?" she asked, shocked and almost hurt despite her own  approach to the marriage. She couldn't possibly be really hurt because  she didn't have any real feelings for him.

"I had several reasons for marrying you. I've demonstrated that," he  said and flicked his gaze over her from head to toe. "I'll wash up and  we can leave in a few minutes."

Calista paced from one end of the living area to the other, fuming. The  more she thought about Leo's motivation for marrying her, the more upset  she became. She remembered how he hadn't called her for weeks. He  hadn't really had any feelings for her. He'd just been frustrated  because his prospective business partners were reluctant with him  because of his youth … and lack of a wife. So, what she'd really been was  convenient. She wanted him to feel as vulnerable as she did.

"The limo's waiting," Leo said as he strode into the living area. "Let's go."

He took her elbow when they exited the elevator and she wrested her arm  away from him. Despite the fact that she intended to divorce Leo in six  months, she could barely swallow her indignation.

He shot her a look of cool curiosity as they got into the vehicle. "What's your problem?"

"You could have married just anyone," she said. "So, why me?"

"I told you before. You captured my attention."

"Plus I didn't want a big wedding. That was in my favor, too, wasn't it?"

Leo wiped his hand over his face in frustration. "Listen, there's no  reason for you to pretend you're pissed off because part of the reason I  married you was for practical reasons. You need to remember that you  were very firm on getting married." His mouth tightened. "Despite the  fact that you were not a virgin when we said our I-dos."

"I never said I was a virgin."

He lifted his hand. "This is nonsense. You and I have an explosive  passion for each other. More than most married couples I'd say. You're  getting what you want out of this bargain, and I am, too. If you wanted  an emotional, romantic man, you picked the wrong guy. I never  represented myself that way." He met her gaze. "Now, I want this deal. I  don't want to feel like I've wasted my time by making this trip. So,  just try to act like an adoring wife and you can resume your pissing fit  after it's over. If it makes you feel better, I'll give you a blank  check and you can shop off your anger tomorrow."                       
       
           



       

She stared at him in shock. "Do you really think going on a shopping spree is going to make me feel better about this?"

"Works with most women, doesn't it?" he asked as the limo pulled to a stop.

She would love to teach him a thing or two. After she secured her  sisters' education and health care. She knew it was hypocritical, but  his attitude still galled her.

"You're a jerk, but don't worry. I'll fake it," she said to him and got out of the limo.

Leo escorted her into the restaurant where a host greeted them.

"You're making a big deal out of nothing," Leo said under his breath. "Smile, darling. Here come the Kihotos."

The middle-aged couple approached and Leo made the necessary  introductions. Calista smiled and nodded to each of them. "I have a  small gift for you," she said to Mrs. Kihoto.

Mrs. Kihoto smiled shyly, but shook her head. "Oh, no, I can't accept."

Calista knew it was custom for the Japanese to refuse gifts up to three  times. "Please do. It's very small and you would be doing me a favor."

Mrs. Kihoto gave a slow nod. "You're very kind and beautiful."

"Thank you. You're very generous to join us for dinner," Calista said and felt Leo's gaze on her.

When they sat down, he whispered in her ear, "Very nice. You surprised me."

She smiled, whispering in return, "Is this when you say 'good wife' and pat me on my head?"

She heard him smother a chuckle under a cough.

Calista successfully made it through the meal without stabbing Leo with  her chopsticks and not pointing them in a culturally offensive  direction. She even remembered to say the traditional "Gochisosama  deshita" at the end of the meal.

Leo, again, appeared impressed. So did Mr. and Mrs. Kihoto. Calista  collected her beautifully wrapped gift for Mrs. Kihoto and the woman  also presented her with one.

"Oh, look at how beautiful," Calista said, admiring the gift. "You shouldn't have. Your company was a huge gift."

Mrs. Kihoto insisted and Calista thanked the woman and her husband again, relieved when she climbed into the limo.

"Very well done," Leo said. "I must show my gratitude. Since you're not  interested in shopping one of my credit cards up to the limit, what can I  get you?"

Calista leaned her head against the back of the leather seat and closed  her eyes, the fiery brunt of her anger at Leo fading a little. She  shouldn't have been surprised that his motive for marrying her was  mercenary. And how could she blame him when her motive was almost as bad  as his. The only thing that made her motive more honorable was that she  was doing it for someone else, her sisters. Others might see that as  splitting hairs. "I'd like a cheeseburger." She glanced at him out of  the corner of her eye. "And maybe one of those TOTO toilets with all the  bells and whistles."

He chuckled and loosened his tie. "Liked that, did you?"

"I was like a little kid. I think I played with it for thirty minutes," she confessed.

"I was the same way my first time too," he said.

She looked at him and felt a slight softening warring with her resentment.

He moved closer to her and pressed his mouth against hers. "You're an excellent wife."

"You were just surprised that I got Mrs. Kihoto a gift," she said. "I  told you I'd been taught etiquette for several different cultures from  the classes I took."