Sweet, Sweet Disaster: An AMBW Romance (Sweet Treats Book 2)

by Nia Arthurs

  She looked up. Her car was still a few meters away. Her fingers trembled and she let them drop to her side, playing with the loop of her jeans. Should she try to act cool or call the police?

  A hand clamped on her shoulder.

  Jo screamed and whirled around, her purse powering through the air like a whip. She smacked the assailant on the back and closed her eyes in terror when he clutched her upper arms and shook her.

  “Jo!” a familiar voice yelled. “Jo!”

  Her eyes burst open.

  A face hovered close to hers. Pale skin. Thatch of dark brown hair brushing across strong eyebrows. Dark eyes. Strong nose. Rugged jaw.

  Sun Gi.

  Her heart kept pounding even though her brain registered that she was no longer in danger. Sun Gi’s cologne wrapped around her as securely as his hands surrounded her shoulders. He smelled like something spicy and cold.

  She stopped screaming abruptly.

  Sun Gi released her.

  The moment he let her go, the wind rushed in as if to punish her for finding warmth in someone else. She shivered from the cold and tossed a lock of curly hair away from her face.

  Her mind struggled to make sense of Sun Gi’s sudden appearance.

  “Didn’t mean to scare you,” he said, his gaze running over her from her head to her toes.

  Jo tried to swallow, failed, and lifted her chin instead. “What is wrong with you? You just shaved off ten years of my life. Don’t you know better than to sneak up on girls in dimly lit parking lots?”

  Sun Gi swiped his thumb along his bottom lip as if to hide his smile, but she could still see it gleaming in his arresting brown eyes.

  Her temper flared. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “You’ve got a mean set of pipes. I was afraid you’d shatter these windows.” He gestured to the parked cars.

  Jo felt her cheeks burning. “What are you doing here?”

  “I came to check on something.” He regarded her with a thoughtful tilt of his head. “Where did you come from? I just left the bar and I didn’t see you.”

  Jo’s heart thudded. She couldn’t let Sun Gi know that she was Nightingale. Her fingers smacked her leg. “I left the bar a while ago, but uh… I was looking for—” her eyes darted from left to right. A beer bottle sparkled on the ground. An idea popped into mind. “My earring! Yeah, I lost my earring.”

  Sun Gi’s eyes fastened on her face.

  Her pulse skittered.

  Why was her body so on edge?

  He took a step closer, his shoes crunching against the gravel. Jo’s breath came hard. She skidded back as something hot and strong coursed through her veins. “W-what are you doing?”

  Sun Gi snatched her arm and tugged her closer.

  She stumbled forward.

  Throat tight, Jo slowly leveled her gaze up, up, up to match his exceptionally tall height. His slender fingers hovered in the air before resting on her chin and gently applying pressure.

  Heat exploded in her chest.

  Jo couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.

  Sun Gi turned her face to the side and asked in a calm voice that seemed distinctly contrasting to the havoc he was wreaking on her insides. “Left or right.”

  “W-what?” Jo was losing her mind here. What kind of question was that?

  “Did you drop your left earring or your right?”

  “Uh,” she licked her lips, “left.”

  Still holding on to her chin, Sun Gi grasped her hand and raised it. Jo finally returned to herself and snatched her wrist back. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  Without a word, Sun Gi grabbed her hand again and guided it to her head. Her nostrils flared from attraction and annoyance. Jo tried to resist him, but he increased the pressure on her wrist and didn’t stop until he’d moved her hand to her ear.

  Something hard scraped against her fingertips.

  Jo stiffened.

  Her earring.

  Dammit.

  “The right one’s in there too.” Sun Gi stepped back and gave her an appraising look that set every inch of her skin on fire. “Are you lying to me, Joana?”

  It was the first time he’d used her full name and it did things to her…

  He’s engaged.

  She had to think of Hanna. If Jo had a super hot fiancé, there was no way she’d be down with him holding some other girl’s hand in a random parking lot.

  “You couldn’t just tell me that I had them in?”

  Sun Gi stepped back and folded his arms over his chest. He was using his impressive height to intimidate her and it wasn’t working.

  Okay, it was working a bit.

  “Don’t try to avoid my question,” he said. “Why’d you lie to me?”

  Her gaze dove to the concrete. Okay, time for Plan B.

  She stumbled and held her head. “Ooof.”

  Sun Gi sprang toward her, ready to catch her if she fell.

  Jo remained upright but swayed from side to side for added effect. “I don’t feel so good. I think I’m drunk.”

  Sun Gi smirked. “Really?”

  “Yeah, I drank way too much tonight.” Jo held a hand to her head and pretended to be woozy.

  “I see.”

  “I get really crazy when I overdo it.” She waved in his general direction. “So I’ll just be on my way—”

  Quick as lightning, Sun Gi snatched her keys away from her.

  “Give those back!”

  “You’re drunk.” He arched an eyebrow. “What kind of man would I be if I let you loose on these streets?” He held her stare, his dangerous smile growing the longer she remained silent. He’d backed her into a corner and they both knew it.

  “What about your truck?”

  “I’ll have Luis drop it off for me. It’s no problem.”

  Jo struggled to find an alternative, but Sun Gi steered her to her car and opened the passenger door for her before she could find a way to stop him.

  Sun Gi nudged her when she didn’t get in. “Is there a problem?”

  Yes, I like you. Too much. You make my heart race with your disgustingly perfect face. That’s my problem.

  “No,” she said weakly.

  Sun Gi arched both eyebrows and then jutted his chin toward the car. “Well then…”

  Accepting defeat, Jo collapsed into her seat. Her heart pounded so hard she swore Sun Gi would be able to hear it from outside.

  Get a grip, Jo.

  Sun Gi was just a friend. No, not even that. A friend of a friend. A distant acquaintance. She had to behave herself tonight. Sun Gi could never find out about her other identity. He could never find out how she felt.

  12

  Joana Lee Gregory was cute. And he wasn’t just saying that because she was barely five-feet-two.

  She had a clumsy, innocent side that had, somehow, evaded his notice when he’d seen her at Sky’s bakery. Her attempts at lying and pretending to be drunk were hilariously transparent. And slightly endearing.

  He’d been disappointed when he stormed out of the bar tonight having just missed Nightingale’s performance. Hanna’s confession was still heavy on his mind and his mood was beyond sour.

  But Jo gave him an adrenaline shot he didn’t know he needed.

  For that reason alone, he was glad he’d bumped into her.

  He glanced over. Jo was curled up against the door as if she’d pop it open and spring to the highway at the slightest provocation.

  Sun Gi stopped at a light and observed her openly. His mind drew similarities between Joana and the mysterious Nightingale. They shared the same creamy brown skin and curly hair.

  His gaze dipped to her body. It was dark in the cab and Jo was making herself as small as possible, so he couldn’t tell what curves—if any—lingered beneath her thick polo and khakis.

  “Eyes on the road, buster.”

  Sun Gi whipped his gaze back to the highway. “Just checking to make sure you didn’t escape.”

  “Surprise, surprise. I’m st
ill here.”

  The light turned green.

  He let out a sigh of relief and drove, sailing down the empty road.

  Jo sat straighter. Her clothes rustled against the leather seats as she adjusted the seatbelt. This time, he could feel her studying him.

  “How’s your fiancée?” Jo asked.

  He locked his fingers on the steering wheel. “Fine.”

  “That’s good.”

  Awkward silence filled the car.

  Sun Gi noticed Jo’s discomfort but didn’t try to diminish it. If Jo wanted to talk about girly things like wedding dresses and flowers, she could call Hanna. He’d already done the song and dance with the Parks and he was all tapped out in that department.

  I’m taking your heart. Hanna’s words echoed in his mind despite his best efforts to tamp it down.

  He shook his head. Insane. He still couldn’t believe she’d gone and fallen for him. They’d had an agreement. Now that Hanna’s feelings had changed, how could he get married to her?

  Maybe he should call it off. For her own good. He wasn’t a total jerk. Shackling a woman to a lifetime of unrequited love was beyond the scope of his villainy.

  “Why were you at the bar today?” Jo prodded. “You said you were checking on something.”

  He turned to her. “Why are you so curious?”

  “I’m just making polite conversation.”

  “Why were you there tonight?” he countered.

  She narrowed her eyes and clamped her lips shut.

  “You still haven’t told me why you lied about losing your earring.”

  “I didn’t lie.”

  Sun Gi chuckled. “What exactly are you trying to hide, Joana?”

  He saw her shiver.

  Sun Gi shot his hand out and dialed the air conditioning back. She must be cold.

  Jo cleared her throat. “Is it a crime for a single woman to go drinking alone?”

  “You drank alone?” His eyebrows shuttled high. It was near taboo to drink alone in both the Belizean and Korean culture.

  Jo remained silent.

  “What about Nightingale?” he asked. “Did you see her? What did you think?”

  She went quiet and stared straight ahead.

  “Jo?”

  “I did hear… someone. Nightingale, you said?”

  He nodded. “She’s incredible, isn’t she? When she sings, the whole world stops and takes notice. It’s breathtaking. She’s breathtaking.”

  “She’s not all that.”

  “Are you kidding?” He shook his head. “I’ve never heard a voice like that in my life.”

  “Nightingale has to work on her technique. She loses her breath on the notes. Sometimes she goes flat. I think she’s trying too hard to be somebody else. She should chill.”

  “You sound jealous.”

  “Jealous? Me?”

  “It’s okay though. I understand why someone like Nightingale would intimidate you.”

  Jo laughed. “I am not intimidated and you—” She nodded to him. “You sound like a crazed fan.”

  Sun Gi pulled his lips. “Call me what you want. There’s something about her…”

  Jo’s cheeks went red. “Do you… like Nightingale?”

  “I’m a fan,” he admitted. “I saw her performance on opening night. She was looking right at me the entire time. I think we… connected.”

  “Really?”

  Feeling exposed, Sun Gi stared straight ahead. “Anyway, I’m trying to get in touch with her but the owner swears she doesn’t know who Nightingale is. The only person who does, Carrie Lockwood, refuses to give her up.”

  “I see.” Jo wore a satisfied smirk.

  Sun Gi wasn’t interested in finding out why.

  “I think it’s a ploy for the bar to make a name for itself,” he mused thoughtfully. “It’s a brilliant plan actually. Keep people guessing. Make it so they never know when Nightingale will pop up again. I applaud the marketing department.”

  “Are things always so black and white with you?”

  He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

  “You ever thought that maybe Nightingale has insecurities? Maybe it’s not just a publicity stunt?”

  “Anyone who sings like that has to be proud of who they are. It makes no sense to hide her identity unless it’s a gimmick.” He flicked his indicator. “And what about the way she looked at me? That woman was not insecure.”

  “Maybe she just needed someone to connect with so she didn’t feel nervous and out of place. Or it could have been a trick of the light.”

  He chuckled. “I doubt that.”

  “Your ego knows no bounds.”

  Sun Gi considered Jo’s words. Did he really imagine the moment between him and Nightingale?

  The thought killed his enthusiasm and harsh silence filled the car.

  In the quiet, Sun Gi heard a low growl. He twisted around to check the backseat on the off chance an enraged Chihuahua had stolen into his truck.

  Nothing was there.

  The growl sounded again. Jo slapped an arm over her stomach. Her expression pulled taunt with embarrassment.

  Sun Gi smiled and changed lanes.

  She shot him a nervous look. “My house is the other way.”

  “I’m hungry. You mind if I make a quick stop first?” It wasn’t a total lie. He’d picked at the shrimp back at the restaurant. Sun Gi could never really enjoy his food when he was doing business.

  And yes, his marriage to Hanna fell under that category.

  “I don’t know…”

  “Come on. It’ll only take a second.” Sun Gi pulled the car over in front of a Chinese fast food place. The restaurant was usually crowded but, given it was almost ten thirty, no one was out.

  “You’re getting fried chicken?” Jo asked in astonishment.

  “Why? You want something else?”

  She unbuckled her seatbelt. “No.”

  “Stay in the car. Just tell me what you want. I’ll buy it for you.”

  “I can handle myself, thank you very much.” Her eyes sharpened.

  Sun Gi chuckled. He couldn’t take Jo seriously, even when she was trying to be intimidating and rough.

  Despite her physical similarities to Nightingale, he just couldn’t picture her as the sultry singer.

  Jo was... different.

  He climbed out of the car when he heard the answering slam of her door. Sun Gi gaped over the hood of the car, stunned when he saw Jo trotting over to him. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m buying.” She lifted her chin. “Consider it a reward for finding my earring.”

  Sun Gi snorted. “Suit yourself.”

  While Jo strode to the window and ordered, Sun Gi hung back. He kept a cautious eye on his surroundings.

  The streets were empty, the air still. From the corner of his eye, Sun Gi spotted a vagrant hovering near the bicycle rack on the other side of the wall.

  Sun Gi moved closer to Jo, hovering right behind her, his eye on the suspicious character. He felt Jo stiffen, but she didn’t complain about his invasion of her space and he didn’t offer a word of explanation.

  “What you want?” someone snapped in broken English. He glanced through the iron bars and found the Chinese server peering at him, black eyes narrowed with annoyance.

  “Me?” Sun Gi asked.

  “Yes, what you want?”

  “I’m with her.” Sun Gi jutted his chin toward Jo.

  The woman’s eyebrows shuttled high and a glimmer of confusion clouded her dark gaze. At last, she turned away to yell their order into a microphone.

  Jo looked up at him, eyes crinkling with humor.

  “What?”

  “Sorry,” she croaked, a hand covering her mouth. “That was too funny.”

  “What was?” Sun Gi leaned against the wall.

  “This happens all the time with my parents. Whenever they go somewhere together, people assume that they’re separate.” She snickered. “Like one time, Dad was with
mom at the grocery store and he forgot something he wanted so he went back to get it. When Dad tossed his item on the counter, the cashier glared at him and told him to wait his turn. Mom and I died laughing.”

  The vagrant moved closer.

  Sun Gi flashed a warning look and the guy backed off.

  Refocusing his attention on Jo, he smiled. “Your mom is Korean, right?”

  “And my dad is black.” She tilted her head. “In the cashier’s defense, I would have assumed Dad was being rude before I assumed that he was with an Asian woman too.”

  Sun Gi looked up and found the vagrant had disappeared.

  He relaxed. “I think it’s hard to break away from what our family expects. Every culture has a list of acceptable romantic partners. I know for us it’s that we marry a ‘good, proper’ Asian woman.”

  “Does your family have a list?”

  “No, I’ve never had that kind of pressure. My dad was the type who judged a person by their character rather than their skin color and he never cared that we were dating outside of our race.”

  “Oh? So you’ve dated black women before?”

  “Of course. I think black women are beautiful.” His eyes perused her face. I think you’re beautiful.

  The thought came out of nowhere.

  Before Sun Gi could brush it away, something sharp plunged through the thin material of his dress shirt. Putrid breath hit the back of his neck. Sun Gi stiffened, eyes widening as panic flooded his veins.

  The object piercing against his flesh was a knife.

  His gaze darted to Jo who was smiling prettily, completely unaware of the danger. Sun Gi’s fingers pulled into fists. He sucked in a breath and prepared to wheel around and defend himself.

  A voice hissed behind him before he could. “Don’t make any sudden movements or you and your girlfriend are going to die.”

  13

  Jo noticed the moment Sun Gi’s expression changed. One minute, he was draped against the wall, standing a little too close for comfort. The next, he was stiff as a board, eyes narrowed to slits. She could see his muscles coiling beneath his white shirt.

  Why is he looking at me like that?

  Jo backtracked. They’d been talking about her parents and the discrimination—prejudice? bias?—they’d received as an interracial couple. Then she’d teased Sun Gi about dating black women.