Leather and Lace
By: Maidens of Konan
Disclaimer: This absolutely-not-for-profit story is based on the manga and anime versions of Fushigi Yûgi owned by Watase Yû, Shogakukan Comics, Pierrot Studios, TV Tokyo, Pioneer and Viz. The rights to the original characterizations and ideas appearing in this story should not be copied or used without permission. Anyone who steals or plagiarizes will feel the clobbering wrath of 'The Thing'.
Author's Note: For the record, law enforcement officers are consummate professionals as well as heroes. Please forgive and indulge the artistic liberties taken with police protocol for the purpose of furthering the plot of this fan fiction.
Chapter Three
Even though she had half-expected to see it, Miaka gasped as the policeman took off his hat and a full head of flame-colored hair was revealed. The smooth, molten strands seemed to kindle beneath the sun's rays, just like Tasuki's had always done.
It was a riveting sight.
She watched avidly as the police officer turned his head from one side to the other, presumably to aid her perusal of him. As he did so, she saw that a severely combed back hairstyle hid the fact that his hair was much longer than first appeared; the thick, fiery strands at the nape of his neck dipped well down inside the collar of his shirt. He ran a hand over the luxuriant mass, and the gesture dislodged his slicked back bangs. Several of them slid down onto his forehead, where the top of his Ray Bans halted their progress.
That hairstyle...the idea of what it might be a portent of ...
No! She was just seeing what she hoped to see, what she missed so very dearly!
Guess I just gave away my secret!" The redhead said cheerfully.
"Your secret?" She echoed.
"This," he pointed to an unruly hank of hair, "is not even close to regulation length for a uniformed cop!"
Maybe so, but I'm glad you haven't cut it short, Miaka thought, smiling at the notion that this man and Tasuki would share a penchant for rule bending. "My friend's hair color was the same as yours." She told him.
"Really?" His expression was easy to read- a Chinese guy with red hair was an unusual occurrence. "Well, mine is natural..."
"So was my friend's!" She asserted, and couldn't resist adding, "it's a gorgeous shade of red!"
He smoothed the back of his head in what she recognized as a self conscious gesture. "Well thanks, glad ya like it!"
In the awkward pause that followed, Miaka tried hard not to let her burgeoning interest in the man standing next to her overwhelm her sensibilities. The pull she felt with him was as strong and undeniable as any she'd had when looking for her celestial warrriors...and yet more uncertain in that she knew he wasn't the same, was his own person. Was there anything more going on here than instant attraction to a very good looking guy- which in itself was disconcerting?
This kind of longing, this spark of desire, went deeper than that. It was something she'd been missing in her life for a long time. The idea of Tasuki being reborn into her world was almost too good to be true, but it explained the intense connection she was feeling to someone she'd just met. And how could it be wrong to want it to be him? She owed the valiant and loyal Tasuki a debt that she'd never acknowledged...the chance to thank him in this world was the least she should do to make amends.
If only she could see his eyes. She wished he'd take off those darn sunglasses.
"Miss Miaka?"
She gave a visible start."Hai! I mean, yes, Officer?"
He chuckled. "You've gotten a good look at my hair, was there anythin' else ya wanted to see?"
His tone was polite, but she sensed mischief in his smile. Again, she was reminded of Tasuki, who had always enjoyed getting her riled up with his teasing, but unlike Tasuki, this man had been nothing but patient and courteous with her. Which also flustered her, because it made her conscious that wasn't appropriate to take his time with nonsensical questions when he had a job to do...
"I just want to thank you for being so nice and patient with me," she said.
"Nice? Wow, that's a word I wouldn't expect to be hearin' from someone I just gave a ticket to!"
"Well, yes...I'm kind of weird that way." She wrinkled her nose as he laughed. "Still, it's true. You've been very nice to me."
"It's been my pleasure," he said. His tone held a finality that told her their conversation was at a point where she could no longer delay the inevitable. "Okay. So, I guess if there's nothin' else...you can take off whenever you're ready."
She was free to go, but she said nothing and her hand made no move toward the ignition. Her mind was in a whirl, her emotions in a jumble. Was it just wishful thinking or a coincidence? Or had Tasuki found his way here? How would she find out for sure if she drove away now and couldn't find him again?
He was on the job. Maybe she could ask him to have a cup of coffee and a slice of pie after he got off work? But no, she could hardly ask him to accompany her anywhere after telling him she had a boyfriend! What reason could she give for asking him?
Her gaze sought out the faint glint of the eyes hidden behind dark lenses.
Those eyes would tell the whole story. If they were the same, what would she do?
Several seconds had elapsed without her having any idea of how she could prolong their encounter.
She sighed.
She'd signed the register and put away the ticket without hesitation, which she wouldn't have done if her intent was less than sincere. So it stood to reason that her doleful expression and sigh meant Miaka was just as bummed out about leaving him as he was about having to let her.
And that, Dante thought, made him very happy. Despite learning the hard way that it was best to keep his distance and his feet on the ground when it came to women with prior relationships, there was no containing what he was feeling, or that the simmering hope that he'd set out to face the world with this morning was now a bubbling kettle full of real possibilites.
He couldn't explain what had happened in the last few minutes or why it had happened. All he knew was that the moment he'd laid eyes on Miaka, all of the women he had been romantically involved with had been reduced to footnotes in his life story.
There was absolutely no doubt in his mind that she was feeling the same connection with him that he was with her.
But there was a fly in the soup. Was she serious about the boyfriend?
There was no more to be said, and yet the redhaired policeman hadn't moved an inch. He seemed to be waiting for her to take the intiative to leave.
She realized with a start that she didn't have a name for him. He'd shown her his ID, but she hadn't really paid attention at the time. He wasn't wearing a nameplate, which gave her an excuse to ask him for his name. But wouldn't asking for it at this point worsen the impression she had made on him? She was a law breaking foreigner who had called him by a foreign name, then followed up that gaffe by asking personal questions and taking up his time for selfish reasons. She'd hate to add any more negatives to that list. He would have introduced himself if he really wanted further contact, wouldn't he?
Not that she should even be thinking of that when Taka was waiting for her.
"I suppose...I should be going." She said.
The star of her thoughts nodded. "I'll wait until you leave. Make sure you're givin' yourself plenty of space between cars before you pull out."
She nodded, trying to hide her disappointment behind a smile. "I'll take my time."
"Good." He hesitated. "So, I'll be seein' ya."
The words were casual, his expression masked. And yet there was something in his voice that made them sound like a promise rather than a goodbye.
"Hopefully it's when you're off duty!" She responded. As soon as the words were out, her stomach dropped to her shoes. She'd meant it as a little joke, but it came out sounding as if she were hitting on the man!
But the officer wasn't looking offended. Quite the opposite in fact, if she could judge by the ear to ear grin he was now wearing.
Her face heated at the possible cause for that grin, even as a tentative response to it curved her lips.
It was green light all the way, Dante told himself happily. Hints didn't get any more obvious than that, and by God, there was no question that he'd be following up! Unfortunately, direct pursuit of female companionship on the job had always been against his personal code of honor, as well as the rules governing his conduct as an officer of the law. He would have to bide his time and hope that the hint he was about to throw out in return would help set the table for a future off the clock meeting.
"You know I'm very disposed to making that happen," he replied, letting the suggestion hang between them. It was as much as he dared say, but her reaction said that she understood. The smile, the blushing...she was too damn cute!
Time to go, while he still had a grip on duty.
He donned his hat, then touched two fingers to the brim.
"Until we meet again, Miss Miaka. You take care."
Her hand fluttered to the ignition switch, and closed around the key. "I will, thank you. And you too. Please be safe."
Knowing he had her address and phone number were the only things that enabled Dante to turn from her window and walk away. But after a few steps, the lack of a starting engine made him stop and turn in place.
Well now, wasn't that interesting? The adorably shy Miss Yuuki wasn't making any move to start her car because she was too busy checking out his rear view in her side mirror.
That was more than fine with him.
Facing forward once more, Dante tucked his ticket book into his pocket and slowed his stride to a deliberate stroll.
Miaka watched with rapt fascination as Tasuki's look-alike sauntered back to his patrol car, barely aware that her hands were now tightly gripping the steering wheel while she tried to convince herself that what she was seeing wasn't possible.
But the bubble of excitement welling inside her kept expanding in spite of her efforts to contain it.
The reasonance of his voice, the flame red hair, the fanged smile, the forthrightness, the unwavering, confident demeanor were identical to Tasuki's- well, as identical as they could be if her seishi had been born an American. And there was the feeling, a feeling she hadn't had from anyone but Taka since she was last in the book. The unbreakable bond she had shared with each celestial warrior was as individual as they were. The feeling of Tasuki was like nothing else. Experiencing that connection made it difficult for her to be objective in deciding what to do.
That Dante the individual seemed to be attracted to her as much as she was to him complicated things even further.
Before she made any decision, before she did anything rash, she should inform the one man who knew and shared her secret.
Relaxing her grip on the steering wheel, she reached for the pocket book lying on the seat beside her. While keeping one eye on the retreating figure in her mirror, she fumbled inside the purse and finally pulled out the cel phone that Taka insisted she carry at all times. Hopefully he was still at the restaurant. If not, she'd have to text him about what happened and her discovery.
The screen flickered when she tapped the number and send button, and she sighed in exasperation at seeing the readout message that the battery was too low for calling or sending messages. In her rush to find her keys, she had forgotten to plug in and recharge it.
Taka had to be wondering where she was by now. He had probably been trying to contact her...maybe for the entire time she had been stopped. She pursed her lips in vexation, but then shrugged. It wasn't like it was the end of the world to be yelled at. Complacency and being taken for granted was worse. Pages, voice mails and interrupted calls seemed to have taken the place of Taka's physical presence in her life, not to mention it had become the electronic equivalent of a leash, ensuring she didn't go astray while he was off doing whatever he had do to without her.
She'd never ignored his texts or failed to call. He had blown her off on several occasions, but without reproach because he always had an excuse that made her feel petty for complaining.
Really, if she were honest about it, not charging the phone was probably a passive aggressive sign of her resentment. Or maybe...a sign that she didn't think of Taka in the same way as she had?
Anyway, if she was going to be in trouble, she might as well enjoy this respite.
Tossing the phone on top of her purse, she turned her attention back to the mirror, and a smile immediately appeared.
There was just no denying it- the man definitely had Tasuki's patented, bandit-style swagger!
With that acceptance, came the realization that she couldn't just let him walk away without at least finding out what his name was…and that she'd have to be quick about it because he was almost back to his car.
She grabbed her keys from the ignition and quickly opened her door, swinging her legs out as she called out to him. "Officer! Officer! Please…wait!"
As he paused and turned her way, her heart skipped a beat. The way he moved, the raw power and animal grace in his bearing, was oh so familiar.
She could feel the inevitable blush stinging her cheeks, and she held on tightly to the set of keys to disguise the trembling of her hands as kept walking until she was directly in front of him.
"Are ya havin' some car trouble?" He asked, as she came to a halt.
The unabashed hope in his tone made her pulse flutter, as did being in close proximity to him. He was lean and fit. And so tall... the top of her head was more than an inch short of reaching the underside of his chin.
"No, the car is fine." His grin faded at the denial, but then reappeared in force as she took a deep breath and continued, "but I was thinking, don't you think that it's only fair that I have your name, since you have mine?"
"I'd say it's more than fair." Even through the shield of his sunglasses, the masculine interest in his gaze was apparent- she was now absolutely sure that she wasn't the only one feeling the strong chemistry between them. "My name's Dante- Dante Tager."
She repeated it, tilting her head thoughtfully. "It's a good name, unique and strong! It suits you, Officer Tager!"
"Thank you," he replied, "and I'd prefer it if you'd just call me Dante."
"All right." She agreed happily. Being on a first name basis with someone she just met wouldn't be condoned in Japan, but this was everyday America, where asking for and using someone's first name was actually considered proper as a way of extending the warm hand of friendship. "At the risk of making you think I'm a complete nutcase, Dante-san, could I ask you for one more favor?"
"Name it!"
His immediate agreement was flattering and a bit disconcerting. "Thank you! Could...would you mind...removing your sunglasses so that I could see your eyes?"
Though his slight hesitation indicated that he did think it an unusual request, Dante did as she asked without question.
Removing his hat, he slowly slid his Ray Bans down and off his nose.
As he turned his naked gaze upon her for the first time, Miaka's breath caught and her eyes grew misty. Though the almond shape of Dante's eyes wasn't asian in origin, those exotic, amber colored irises could not have belonged to anyone other than a reborn Tasuki.
She hadn't dared to dream it was possible to have another of her seishi join with her in this world after being given the gift of a reborn Tamahome.
But here was living proof of another dream come true standing right in front of her.
Emotion overwhelmed her, and she unthinkingly reached up to touch the face that had been haunting her dreams since her last sojourn in Konan.
Dante remained silent and still, accepting the gentle caress of her fingers down his cheek to the line of his jaw as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
He was reassuringly real.
His breath warmed her skin.
His lips were just inches away from her fingertips.
Even in America, touching a stranger like this was improper.
But he isn't a stranger to me! And how can I explain that? Hearing that he's a reincarnation of a celestial warrior from another world would certainly go over well with Officer Dante Tager. Miaka thought ruefully. I'm sure he'd have no problem accepting that, and that I first met him because of my falling into a book!
And Taka? What would happen if the two of them met? The thought stung her out of her trance. Jerking her hand back, she gave a laugh tinged with nerves. "I'm really sorry. I...don't really have a good excuse to give you for doing that."
His eyes were solemn. "Sure you do- it's 'cause I look like the old friend, right? And you really miss him."
She simply nodded, moved by his insight.
"Does it upset ya that I resemble him?"
"Not at all." She stated, with unwavering certainty.
"That's good to hear." He replaced his Ray Bans with the air of a man on a mission, and she thought that was going to be the end of it.
But it wasn't.
"Now I gotta be honest and say that I'm glad ya did that, Miaka," Dante went on, "it kinda breaks the ice and gives me a chance to ask you somethin' personal too, if you don't mind."
Knowing what was probably coming, and his use of her name without a preceeding honorific made her heart beat faster. "All right, I will be happy to answer."
But was she? Everything she felt said her life was about to get very complicated...
He looked down at his hands, which were clenched around the brim of his hat. "I know this is awkward. And I know we just met under less than ideal circumstances an' all...but unofficially, as someone who's unattached myself, I was kinda wonderin'…well...if you're totally exclusive with the guy you were goin' to see today?"
Miaka found herself gazing at him in consternation- not because she was offended or embarrassed... but because it had hit her like a ton of bricks that this was the first time she wanted to say no to that question. It was confusing...bewildering...actually, everything that was happening to her was a bit hazy. Although she felt oddly lightheaded and her pulse was thumping in her temples, she couldn't help but smile at Dante. The man wasn't exactly shy. But his hesitancy and politely worded question showed restraint and an inherent courtesy which she found surprising and endearing.
He was waiting for her answer. But what could she say? She had been in a solid relationship with Taka for years now, and she'd never hesitated telling any other man that this was so. But this time she wasn't able to form the word. Now that she'd met Dante Tager, nothing in her world felt rock solid.
Of course, that feeling could have also been due to the fact that her head increasingly felt disconnected from her body, and that the earth had begun to lurch and tilt beneath her feet. With a sharp sound of distress, she reached out a hand in a desperate attempt to steady herself against the squad car, but her blurred vision caused her to misjudge the distance. A stifled cry escaped her as she felt herself pitching forward.
Then suddenly, miraculously, strong hands were grabbing her arms as a warm and very solid body stopped her fall.
A small sound of relief escaped her as she was gathered into a protective embrace. She allowed herself to lay her head against the wall of Dante's chest while her eyelids drooped. She inhaled slowly, taking in deep breaths and the reassuring essence of the man who held her.
They stood in silence for a minute, and then two.
When she had begun to feel reasonably steady, Miaka raised her head.
"Th-thank you, Dante." She stammered, acutely aware of the firm pectorals that rose and fell beneath her palms.
"You're welcome." He said. "How are you doing?"
"I think it'll be okay." Her hands gently pushed him in the opposite direction as she began to step back and out of his arms. "I'm feeling better."
"Yeah, right." He scoffed, as she swayed and stumbled.
"Really, I'm okay." She protested in a weak voice, as he reestablished his hold on her.
Dante's sunglasses had slipped down his nose once again, and for a moment his naked gaze burned into hers. "The hell you are! I can feel you shaking and you're as pale as a ghost!"
Miaka barely heeded his tone; she was too caught up in watching his entrancingly shaped lips forming words. His scent was heady, a mixture of soap and nature. She was also very conscious of the taut, flexing musculature of the body pressing into hers and that the arms that encased her were steely strong yet delightfully gentle.
Lifting her head a bit more, she met her rescuer's gaze, admitting silently that even with as ill as she was feeling, his hot, hungry eyes sparked an answering need within her.
Had Tasuki ever looked at her in that way? She couldn't recall that he had, other than the night he had taken her to the inn. But then he'd been under the influence of the demon lord Hikou. If the feelings the bandit seishi had harbored for her had been in any way romantic, Tasuki hadn't acted on them on his own. And why would he have, anyway? Tamahome was his friend, and she'd made it clear back then she couldn't see herself with anyone but Tamahome.
But what about now? It could be said that Dante didn't know Taka at all, so there was no conflict of loyalty. And her own feelings of estrangement from Taka didn't exactly preclude having a change of heart. Which led her to think that it wasn't a coincidence that she had crossed paths with this man at this time. When it came to the book's machinations, events like this didn't happen by random chance. There was a reason for everything...and a purpose...
The sound of a rudely blaring horn and a ribald catcall from a passing vehicle finally penetrated the spell of contemplation that had fallen.
Dante muttered something uncomplimentary about the motorist as he pushed up his sunglasses with an impatient gesture.
"I should have had some water." She whispered, embarrassed, but loath to leave the security of the arms that held her.
In an instant, his full attention was back to her. 'Fraid I don't have any with me here, but I'll be glad to go get ya some."
"Thank you so much, but I have some back in my car." She replied. "I should have taken the time to drink it earlier. That's the problem...if I don't keep myself fully hydrated, I get the effects of altitude sickness."
He nodded in understanding. "That's the one catch to livin' here."
"It's not a problem, usually. I've made a practice to drink a twelve ounce bottle of water every morning before I leave my place, but today I was in such a hurry that I skipped-oh no!" She broke off and jerked upright at the reminder of her original destination. "I need to find a place to make a phone call. My cel phone is dead, and I'm so late for breakfast!"
Dante had relaxed his hold, but his hands lingered at her waist as she backed out of his arms-slowly this time. "That was a pretty serious header ya took. You sure you can drive?"
"I'll be fine!" She gave him a thumbs up and her most chipper smile to prove it just before her world began to spin once more. Dante reacted with lightning quick reflexes as she swayed, catching her and then lifting her up into his arms in one fluid motion.
"It's pretty obvious to me that you aren't fine!" He informed her startled face. "You're not drivin' anywhere. I'm takin' ya straight home!"
"Don't be silly, that spell wasn't half as bad as the first one!" She protested, even as her arms slid up and around his neck. "I'll be fine after I drink the water in my car. If I don't show, my boyfriend will wonder what happened-"
Dante interrupted. "You're the silly one if you think I'll allow you to get behind the wheel!" He stated with authority. "You're in no condition to drive! I'll drop ya off at your home, an' you can call your date from there an' make arrangements for him or someone else to pick up your car. If he has a problem with that, I'll give you a number where he can page me an' I'll set him straight!"
Though she was being chided, Miaka couldn't hold back a goofy smile. Dante's temper, his take charge attitude and even his distinctive accent were truly uncanny in their resemblance to Tasuki's. Even as he yelled at her, the way he cradled her in his arms, as if she were something very delicate and precious, was an insight into who he was as a man…
Stop thinking that way! She quickly scolded herself. He has no idea who he was! And he's only doing his job!
But as was often the case, her heart was refusing to listen to her head. Something in the way Dante Tager was fussing over her told her his concern was very personal. Because of that strong impression and how good it made her feel, she yielded to temptation.
"All right, you can take me home." She conceded. "But I am certainly capable of getting to the car under my own power-and you can stop giving me that look! If makes you feel better, I'll hold onto your arm as I walk, okay?"
"Fine." Dante's reply was curt, but she noticed that he was extra careful about setting her back on her feet.
He reached down to retrieve his hat from the ground, where it had lain unnoticed since being dropped in all the excitement, and after dusting it off against his knees, slapped it on his head with a grimace that spoke volumes of what he thought about having to wear one.
"Okay! Let's get ya over to the passenger's side and then I'll go lock up your vehicle."
As he took her elbow and began to lead her around the car with slow, almost painstaking steps, Miaka laughed to herself. Nothing's changed at all! He barks at me, then handles me like he thinks I'm about to break.
Once they were on the squad car's passenger side, Dante went to open the door. "Dang, it's locked. Stay here."
After making sure she was leaning in against the door, he quickly circled around the vehicle and tried the other door. When it refused to budge, he felt his pockets-then whipped off his sunglasses and bent down to look through the window. A spate of profanity followed.
"Something's wrong." She said as he straightened.
Folding and jamming his sunglasses into a pocket, he glared down at the door and then across at her. "Yeah. My fuckin' keys are fuckin' locked in the fuckin' patrol car!"
She was sure Dante wouldn't take kindly to her laughing at him or their predicament, so she gnawed on her lip to stifle a giggle and refrained from comment. Her eyes were soft with warmth and concern as she watched him look away and take several deep breaths.
He then turned back to give her an apologetic half-smile.
"Sorry 'bout the language. I have this nasty habit of cussin' when I fu- uh, mess up something."
She was still struggling, but somehow managed to maintain a straight face. "It wasn't anything I haven't heard before. And quite an understandable reaction, given the present situation."
Dante yanked his hat from his head and ran an agitated hand through his hair, dislodging more flame-colored strands from his comb-back. "The spares are back at the station, but they might as well be on Neptune! My two way is in the car, so I can't even radio for a backup!"
"Dante-san."
"This sucks! The guys will never let me live it down-"
"Pardon me?" She held up her car keys and shook them to get his attention. "We could take my car."
His scowl disappeared in an instant. "Ya don't mind?"
"Of course not! I don't think we want to stay here, do we? Although I certainly wouldn't mind the company..." she'd never known she had it in her to be flirtatious. It was rather fun.
Grinning, he accepted her offer. "But I'm drivin'!"
She handed over the set of keys with a sigh and a roll of her eyes, then put her hand on his arm as he pointedly offered it.
"You're very obstinate, aren't you?" She asked, smiling at him.
"I'd say that goes both ways." He retorted.
"You think that I'm stubborn?"
"Oh yeah. And too damn cute for your own good, which means I gotta keep my eye on ya."
Of all the clever comebacks he could have made, he had to come up with something that sounded like a B movie pick up line.
But it was effective in getting her to the car without further argument. Whether that was because she was feeling sick again or because she was thinking he was a total cornball putz, he couldn't tell.
Real smooth, Tager. Any more dumbass remarks like that one an' you'll end up walkin' back to work!
He kept his eyes forward as they walked, conscious that the slightest brush of her body against his was making him hotter and hotter for her. An extremely specific and intimate thought followed that observation, and he pushed it aside. He definitely wasn't the bashful type, and usually didn't regret anything he said or did. But it was humbling to have his feelings for this woman reducing him to the rank of a hormone-fueled teenage boy hanging with a girl he wanted more than anything.
After he had settled his conspicuously quiet charge into the passenger seat of her car, he shut her door and walked behind the vehicle. There he paused for a moment, staring down at the mistreated hat in his hand and trying to repair his frayed composure by going over what he needed to do. First thing would be to touch base with headquarters. Second would be to get the spare keys without calling attention to himself. Lucky for him that Eileen was working dispatch today. She treated him like one of her eight kids, and could be counted on to be discreet.
Then he'd take Miaka straight home. He was on patrol now, which meant no more lollygagging, no matter how much he was enjoying being in her company.
Which was a lot, dammit.
Never in his entire dating career had he had such a strong reaction to a woman as he was having now- and it wasn't just a carnal one either! What made this woman so damn special, and so different from the rest of the women he knew? How the hell had she gotten so deeply under his skin in so short a time?
And more importantly, what was he going to do about it?
Ensconced within the stuffy confines of her car, Miaka waited out the dizziness that had done nothing to curb the excitement running amuck within her.
Dante's comment about her being cute continued to replay itself in her mind, adding fuel to the feelings being with him provoked. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel his arms about her and his hard muscles beneath her hands. Thinking about it was dangerous, but only if she let go on for too long, right?
It's only natural to feel an attraction. He's sweet and handsome and well built. And it's been a long time since I've been held so protectively…it would turn any red blooded women's head to have a man like him come to her rescue.
But even as she tried to convince herself her feelings were based in physical attraction, she knew it to be a lie. Though it was true that it had been a long time since Taka had held her in an intimate embrace, it was also true that there was no way she'd respond in that way to another male just because they happened to pay her some badly needed attention. She'd had to deal with more than a couple of charming and good looking men who'd attempted to make them themselves accessible to her in Japan in Taka's absence, and there'd been a couple who'd sought her out since she'd arrived in the States as well. Up until now, she hadn't had to think about how to keep from wanting anyone but Taka in that way- discourging them had been as natural and effortless for her as rain falling on a parade.
That was why she knew she was in dangerous territory. The forceful combination of Dante's personality, some excellent personal chemistry, and the unresolved feelings she held for Tasuki were the right ingredients to stir up a very powerful longing, one that could bring about the end for her once storied relationship by its very existence. Even if she never acted on them, the fact she had no desire to repress these feelings was enough to make her question where and with whom she belonged.
Uncomfortable with the direction her thoughts were going, she forced herself to think of something, anything, else. Reaching into her purse, she retrieved her date book, another present from Taka. Hastily she made a note to recharge her phone and began to write out a grocery list. She would have to make this morning up for Taka by fixing him one of her famous dinners that had never failed to impress even the fussiest of critics. Hopefully that and a heartfelt apology would be enough to atone for causing him needless stress.
But despite her good intentions, thoughts of Taka were scattered to the wind the moment Dante opened the car door, tossed his hat into her backseat and then eyed the position of the front seat with dismay.
She giggled, and then gave him instructions on how to adjust it to accommodate his much longer legs.
After he had slid in and shut the door, he regarded her with a smile tinged with embarrassment. "Again, I'm real sorry about this, Miaka."
"Please don't be concerned." It was thrilling to have him in her car, and she was excited to be in close proximity with him a bit longer. As realization dawned as to just how excited she felt, she bent her head and resumed work on her grocery list, concentrating harder than was necessary on her notations.
As he turned his full attention to the woman beside him, Dante stared in admiration. Her head was bent over the book in which she was writing, and her silky-looking hair kept falling in a cascade to hide her face before being pushed back by an aggravated hand. Her cheeks were flushed and she gnawed on her sexily curved lower lip as she wrote. His eyes drifted from her face to her bare knees, and then to her thighs. Desire slammed into him head on, and he forced himself to look away.
Casting about for a distraction, he found himself looking at the unopened bottle of water sitting in the console next to his arm. "Hey, shouldn't ya be drinking your water?"
"Nani?" She twitched as if touched with a cattle prod and turned her startled gaze to him. "Yes, you're right! The water… I forgot." She dropped her pen and reached for the bottle just as Dante did the same. They froze in place, his hand over hers. After what seemed like forever, the police officer finally withdrew his hand to focus on starting the car and working the clutch.
"Damn, it would have to be a stick." He mumbled, as the engine hesitated, coughed, and then roared to life.
"Is that a problem?" She asked, just before lifting the water bottle to her mouth.
"Not at all." He said cheerfully. "It's been awhile, but it's like riding a bike. You never forget."
Glancing at Miaka as he replied, Dante immediately wished he hadn't when he saw the tip of her tongue emerge to collect the droplets of water clinging to her lips. Tranfixed, he followed its movement as it swept the curves of her mouth.
She put the bottle in the cup holder, then turned to look at him. "Do you want some water, Dante?"
"No thanks." He answered shortly, doing his best to ignore the pleasure that filled him at the sound of her saying his name. He reached past her knee to flick on the air conditioning, and then put the car into gear with a loud grinding noise that made him a wince. "Crap."
"If you aren't used to driving a five speed, I can-"
"No you can't! I said I'll be fine!"
Miaka turned her attention to the traffic flying by her window.
"I'm sorry if I gave offense." She said quietly. "It wasn't my intention to question your ability."
Dante rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "No, I'm sorry for snapping at ya like that. It's just that…well…I'm feelin' like a total dumbass right now! It takes some kind of genius to lock his keys in his patrol car and then not even be able to drive another car in the proper way!" The smirk he gave her as she turned back to him was one she knew well and was happy to see. "Bet it makes ya feel real safe to know there's inept cops like me out there, huh?"
"You're being much too hard on yourself! Anyone could make that mistake!" She exclaimed, as she reached out and laid a gentle hand on his forearm. "And as a matter of fact, I do feel much safer having you here with me."
Her words and the touch on his sleeve sent heat rocketing through Dante's body. "Well thanks. That makes me feel better."
The smile in her eyes lit up his world. "I'm glad."
Even though she removed her hand, he felt its lingering imprint on his skin. He reached out and adjusted the air conditioner vent as an excuse to avoid the woman who was looking at him with a disconcerting amount of warmth. What was uppermost in his mind now was far too tempting; if he didn't watch it, he'd end up blowing her trust in him and his profession to smithereens. "If you don't mind, I'll stop at the station first to get my keys. Then I'll take you home and leave your car there."
"But how will you get back to your car?"
"I'll call a cab to pick me up."
"All right. If you're sure..."
"I am."
He was pleased that Miaka agreed to the plan, and even more so that she'd apparently forgotten all about the waiting boyfriend in the course of the discussion. Despite the snafus and the bad news that the morning had begun with, this turn of events boded well for a lot of things.
"I think you've got the hang of it now!" She complimented, as he shifted. "That was so smooth!"
He chuckled. "Confucious says that things always go better when one does not force them to go."
"Words to live by," she agreed. Her glance was sly. "So do you practice what you teach?"
"Pretty much never!" He admitted cheerfully. "I don't like holdin' back when it comes to makin' things happen, which can be both a plus an' a minus..." He paused. "Huh. You don't look surprised to hear that."
She grinned at him. "I'm not. You've always been that way."
"Yeah?" His glance lingered. "And just how do you know that?"
"I, uh, really don't," she stammered, quickly looking out the side window, "it- it's just a feeling I have about you, that's all."
"Are ya psychic?"
She laughed. "No!"
"Women's intuition?" He teased.
"Yes, I suppose that's what it is."
Her quick glance did not quite meet his gaze, and Dante eyed her as carefully as he could while driving. As much as he wanted to follow through with this very interesting line of questioning, this was one time when discretion was the better idea, if he could judge by the way she was clinging to the armrest and staring out the window. It gave him the impression of a butterfly resting its wings, but poised to flitter away at first opportunity.
If he was going to get her to stick around, putting her at ease was priority one.
He had already decided to take the more scenic and much longer route back to the police station. Now comfortable with the rhythm of shifting gears, he began a regular conversation, and congratulated himself on his uncommon restraint as Miaka relaxed and turned towards him once again. She was genuinely interested in everything he had to say, which had him doing far more of the talking than he intended.
But even though he kept to safe topics such as the beauty of the city they were living in and its history, Dante couldn't dispel a growing certainty.
Chatting away like they'd known each other from way back was only adding to the power of attraction and his increasing need to act on it.
Taka Sukinami tapped his fingers on the top of the mahogany desk in front of him as he waited for Miaka to answer her phone. Finally, he heard a click and took a breath to speak when he heard the same recording he had been hearing all morning.
"We're sorry, but the customer you are trying to reach is not available…"
Slamming down the receiver, Taka sighed in frustration. This explained why she hadn't returned his texts- apparently, Miaka had forgotten to charge her phone again. He had spent well over a hundred dollars on a phone that didn't function most of the time; just thinking of the waste made his stomach tight with irritation! But she deserved the best and he refused to buy her anything but. She just needed to get used to the fact that a cel phone was a necessity if she wanted to talk to him more...
Glancing at his watch, he swore under his breath. How many times had he also told Miaka that time was money? He had cleared his schedule for her this morning and now she wasn't even going to show up. The fact that he had done the same to her more than once conveniently slipped his mind as he dialed her apartment's land line, also in vain.
A soft l knock sounded on his door before it opened, revealing the face of his secretary. "Mr. Sukinami, the chair of the corporate activities committee just called and wanted to know if you are planning to attend the company fund raiser next month?"
Taka scowled as he set down the receiver. "That's well over a month away!"
"They need your RSVP as soon as possible, sir. It's going to be a very high class affair and they want to make sure they have enough food and drink for everyone."
"Call them back and tell them I'll be there with a guest."
The petite, blonde-haired woman nodded and scribbled on her notepad, turning to leave the office when he stopped her. "Oh, one more thing, Sara… have you taken any other messages for me this morning?"
"No sir. Were you expecting a call?"
Glancing at the phone, Taka sighed and shook his head. "I guess not. Could you give Rhodes a buzz and tell him I'll be able to make that ten thirty meeting after all?"
"Yes sir."
Angry and a bit worried, Taka began to gather his papers for the meeting that would take place in less than an hour, a presentation he originally had intended to miss. How could Miaka be so thoughtless as to squander the time he had free to be with her? Usually he was the one being called away, but he had gone to unusually great pains to make sure that wouldn't have happened this morning...
This must be how she feels each time I've had to cancel or stand her up. He thought, feeling remorse replace anger. Knowing that he'd made Miaka feel even a fraction of what he was feeling now several times over made him determined to make every one of those times up to her.
When I get that promotion, she'll see that all the sacrifices and disappointments are worth it. Especially when I give her the engagement ring of her dreams.
To be continued…
Reviewers of this chapter will receive a complimentary bottle of 'Bed Head' hair gel and a Kokopelli key chain!