For The Love Of Rei
Rochelle Hayes is the proud owner of Hayes Graphics and Animations. The company is growing wonderfully and when she gets a chance to establish it in the international marketplace, she reluctantly takes it. She now has to host a Japanese animator in her company while sending her best animator to Japan. When she meets Raiden Rei, she knows for sure she's in trouble because Raiden is unlike any Japanese man she'd ever met.
Raiden Rei reluctantly leaves Japan for Canada to take on an employee exchange program. All he wants to do is go, do his job and return to Japan without having anything amputated due to frost bite. When he turns around and sees the sexy Rochelle Hayes, his plans change. But no matter how much he tries, Rochelle is fighting him with everything she can. How much will he be able to take before dropping everything and returning home?
For The Love Of Rei © 2010 Tigra-Luna LeMar
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A MuseItHOT Publication
MuseItUp Publishing
http://www.museituppublishing.com
Cover Art © 2010 by Delilah K. Stephens
eBook ISBN: 978-1-926931-16-6
First eBook Edition * December 2010
Production by MuseItHOT Publishing
Dedication
To My Readers—Thank you for everything.
To Mark Browne—You are missed.
Chapter One
When her secretary came to her with the thought of an exchange, Rochelle detested the idea. She didn’t want some stranger she didn’t interview herself coming into her company to stay for any period of time. She definitely didn’t like the idea that one of her workers would have to take this stranger home. Rochelle Hayes didn’t want to host an exchange businessman from Japan. Out of all the countries in the world why did it have to be Japan? She didn’t know the language—not even a little bit. She would have to be overly cautious to not commit some form of cultural taboo that could cause an international incident. But in order to get her company in the good graces of the international world, she didn’t have a choice.
Her graphics company grew slowly to the level where it was a well known name in North America but she wanted to go global. The company had done some major work for bestselling authors and singers alike to popular acclaim; not to mention the children’s cartoons and the like they created in the past few years. She would have to participate in the exchange program in order to move internationally. She couldn’t go to Japan herself because she had to run the company. Instead, she sent one of her top animators in her place. Asuka promised to send her someone whose talents would surpass who she sent. Rochelle didn’t see that as a possibility. Jeffery is a genius at what he does; when he accepted her offer to work at Hayes she was stunned but didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Shoving her feet into her heels, she stood up to peer at herself in the mirror. Her outfit had to be perfect. This is the day she had to meet the Japanese worker and she didn’t want anything to be out of place—she didn’t want a Janet Jackson super-bowl incident. The cold weather outside worked in her favour. She dressed in a white turtle neck with a black suit jacket with matching pants and stilettos. She slipped in some silver earrings and added the matching necklace before tying her braids up into a tight pony tail.
Satisfied with how she looked and smelled she walked down the hall to the guestroom. It had to be immaculate. She could put him up at a hotel but Jeff was not staying in one. He was getting the real Japanese treatment and Rochelle would be damned if they outdid her.
Lifting her chin proudly, she headed back and grabbed her purse, some files she brought home the night before to approve for inking, and then she hurried out the door. She got halfway to the car before remembering she didn’t remove her cell phone from the charger. Continuing to the car, she chucked her stuff onto the back seat. She ran and skidded back toward the house to grab her phone.
She stood in the kitchen going over a mental checklist of her things ensuring she hadn’t forgotten anything else. With the list clear, she grabbed an apple for good measures and headed out the door again.
She must be losing her mind wearing high heels in the damn winter time. It didn’t snow yet, but it rained the night before and the water instead of draining away had frozen. The whole city looked like one giant ice-cube—the exact words the weatherman used. Making a face, she backed out of the driveway and headed toward the centre of town. It would be a longer and careful than usual drive into work this morning with all the ice.
Rochelle gritted her teeth. She expected traffic, but not traffic jam hell. She kept slamming on her brakes every few seconds to avoid running into the back of the vehicle before her. A growl left her throat and her knuckles turned white against the wheel as people kept cutting in front of her car and stopping without warning. She honked at the latest person to do it and got the middle finger for her troubles.
“Yeah! Same to you, pal! You ever seen a car in a hospital?” she hollered, slamming her palm against the wheel. “I cannot believe these people!”
She glanced at her clock. Rochelle wanted to scream as she reached forward and grabbed her headset. Eyeing the traffic, she slipped it over her head. She quickly scrolled through her cell phone and hit send before placing the phone into her lap. She waited through the rings until the secretary picked up.
“Hayes Graphics and Animation!” a cheerful female voice answered the phone. Rochelle wondered for the millionth time why she hired this woman. Kelly sounded too chirpy so early in the morning—it wasn’t natural.
“Kelly, it’s Rochelle.”
“Morning, Boss! Are you on your way to get our exchange?”
Rochelle arched a brow. “What? I thought you called a car to pick him up?”
“Yes, but you said you would do it—you would get him. You didn’t forget did you? Because if you didn’t you are cutting it a tad close.”
Rochelle suddenly remembered the conversation vividly and she wanted to slam her head against the steering wheel. She had been so caught up making things perfect that she forgot about the most important part—picking him up at the airport. Her eyes widened.
“What is his name again? Kaiden something-or-other?”
Kelly chuckled. “Raiden Rei. His plane will be landing in twenty minutes so if you hurry you should be able to make it.”
“Ugh! Move!” Rochelle yelled at the car that just slipped in front of her. “This traffic is horrible! Everyone left the house at the same damn—” At that moment a car slipped in front of Rochelle without signaling, causing her to slam on her brakes. She banged her hand into the horn. “Thanks a lot, ass wipe!”
“Uh, Boss? You okay?”
“Can you believe these people? The road is wet, there’s black ice everywhere and they have the damn nerve to cut in front me, during a traffic jam without signaling! What if my brakes weren’t working? Then what?”
“Want me to send a car? It wouldn’t be that much of a hassle.”
“No, Kelly. I’ll handle it. Sending a car is just so— it isn’t personal. I’ll call you once I get him.”
“All righty then. He’s coming in at terminal two—”
“Thanks.”
Yanking the headset from her head and dropping it on the passenger seat, Rochelle g
lanced behind her and then into her mirrors. She slid her signals on and poked the nose of her vehicle in the other lane. Once the car straightened she slid on her signals once more and pulled completely off the highway and sped along a side street. If the stoplights didn’t all decide to stop her she should get there just as the plane touched down. How in the world did she forget to pick him up?
Moaning she almost ran a red light. She slammed on the brakes and the luxury car jerked to a sudden stop. She took the few minutes at the light to check her make-up, roll on some lip-gloss and released her hair over her shoulders. She frowned at her reflection in the mirror and retied her hair just as the light changed. Glancing both ways, she shot through the intersection, all the while eyeing the clock periodically. By the time she made it to the airport, in the final few minutes, traffic slowed down and Rochelle wanted to scream. She inhaled remembering he had to get through customs; that should take a little while—she hoped.
By the time she slowed down before the airport’s exit, she was already fifteen minutes after the plane landed. She didn’t receive any phone calls telling her he needed to be picked up which meant she had some time to pull into the parking area. Someone honked at her and she frowned before flipping on her signal and made her way into the underground parking garage. She paid, stashed the receipt on her dashboard before changing her shoes. The last thing she wanted to tackle is the ice while rushing through the snow in heels. Now dressed in a pair of black running shoes, she hurried up the steps and into the cold again when her cell phone rang.
“Hayes,” she answered.
“Ms. Hayes, this is Raiden Rei—” he had an unmistakable accent. Her heart hammered within her chest. “Your secretary told me to give you a call once I was through customs.”
“Yes, that is correct. Where are you now?”
“I am at—exit B.”
“All right, stay right there.” Rochelle dodged a car as she jay-walked across and into the building. “I’m on my way.”
“Very well.”
Once he hung up, Rochelle dumped her phone into her pocket and sped toward exit B. It would have been easier to find the exit by walking outside but the cold weather prevented her from that. Her face froze during her brief foray outside, and Rochelle was glad it heated up quickly once she stepped indoors. She didn’t want to look like a popsicle when she saw him for the first time. In her rush, however, she made a few wrong turns getting hopelessly lost. Frowning, she looked around at the many overhead signs in French and English and moaned at the number of them. “Excuse me!” she called to a security officer. The man skidded to a halt and faced her.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“Can you tell me where to find Exit B?”
“Sure.” The officer obviously wanted to laugh. “Go down that escalator and to the left. You can’t miss it.”
She didn’t even remember going up stairs. Maybe she entered the building on the wrong floor to begin with.
“Thanks.” She offered a shy smile and hurried off again in the direction the guard gave her. The airport seemed more enormous every time she came. It seemed every time she was there it was going through one set of renovations or additions after another. Finally making it to the right door, she glanced around. She couldn’t believe the amount of Japanese men there at this particular moment. She wanted to cry. Finally, she called the number he called her from. Thankfully only one man reached for a cell phone.
“Hello, Mr. Rei.” She smiled from behind him, pretending not to be flustered.
The man turned around. When he faced her, she didn’t expect what she saw. Raiden Rei isn’t a pretty-boy like many of the Japanese pop-bands she’d come to know and love over the years—not by a long shot. His long, dark hair framed a face that any woman would be crazy not to love. His almond shaped, brown eyes felt like they looked through to her soul. Rochelle wasn’t sure if she liked that one bit. His eyes were intense. They were carried off by a proud nose and sensuous mouth. He had those lips that from the moment Rochelle saw them, she wanted to brush her lips over them. She wanted them to kiss her and roam her body. Rochelle fought hard and bit back a moan. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene when Japan Boy took off running back to his plane because boss lady wanted his booty.
She knew he had a masterpiece of a body beneath his jacket—there was no hiding that. He couldn’t hide it if he tried. His clothes hung off his frame just perfectly. His jacket, set around wide shoulders, draped downward over long fingers. Raiden Rei looked unlike any man she’d ever seen or met
His solid body towered over her. Raiden Rei is all man.
I’m in serious trouble!
She expected a handshake but instead he bowed to her.
“Oha, Ms. Hayes.”
It made her uncomfortable to have someone bowing to her but she returned it. Bowing made her feel like some kind of royalty—awkward. She knew showing someone your head in bowing meant you respected and trusted them but it still unnerved her.
Stunned speechless, Rochelle blinked when his voice drew her from her daze. She managed a small smile. “I hope your flight went well.”
“It was fine, however, very long.”
Nodding her head, she glanced around. “Here, let me help you with that—” she reached for his suitcase but he declined her help with the larger bag. Instead, he handed her a smaller, red bag.
“This is for you.” He told her with a smile.
“Mr—”
“Please, call me Zero.”
“Zero—you didn’t have to.”
“Of course. It is customary that the guest bring a gift for the host.”
Rochelle thanked him, suddenly feeling horrible. Not only did she forget to pick him up, she also forgot to get him a welcome gift. She led him to the door she entered and stopped him. “You stay here. I’ll get the car so you don’t have to walk out there. It’s really cold.”
“Thank you—” he bowed his head and Rochelle hurried off.
Raiden Rei is definitely unlike any man I’ve ever met before.
She knew from the moment he turned around and laid those beautiful eyes on her, she would be in trouble. But she had to be good—he is here to work for her. She had to remember that. Sliding into her vehicle, she opened the bag and peered in—it contained beautiful, pink candles. She wondered if anyone told him she adored candles. She rubbed a finger tip over one and her eyes widened. They weren’t the cheap brand either—the ones that flaked if you touched them too hard. When she sniffed her finger, the scent of Japanese Cherry Blossom assaulted her senses.
Absolutely lovely.
Moaning, she hurried to stashed the bag in the back seat, started the engine and tried to figure out how to get out of the parking lot without running over someone who decided to rush across the path the moment they saw the vehicle coming.
Without incident, she made her way back to him and once again he declined her help. He lifted the suitcase into the trunk, on his own.
“I know I am your guest, Ms. Hayes, but a gentleman always does the heavy lifting.”
She blushed and nodded. She climbed back behind the wheel and waited for him to get in. Soon the journey back through traffic began and Rochelle made a decision. She would take him to her house first and, perhaps take the day off. He would have the weekend to get accustomed to things before she shoved him into the office environment.
“You aren’t very talkative, are you?” Raiden questioned as they sat in gridlock. “I was told Canadian women were—made for pleasant conversations. I hope that is true?”
“Sorry—I don’t know what to say.”
“All right, how about, are you hungry, Zero?”
Rochelle’s cheeks burned and she gasped. “I’m sorry. I should have asked. Are you hungry?”
“Starving. Know where I can get a good slice of pizza?”
“Really?” She turned her head and stared at him in shock. “Pizza? Are you sure? You’re going to come all this way and eat pizza?”
&
nbsp; “Well, unless you are willing to cook for me. I make it a point to never turn down a home cooked meal.”
Rochelle arched a brow. The temptation to say “I’d be willing to do far more than cook for you,” surged strongly through her, but she bit her lip instead. She turned to face the traffic once more before getting an idea. “I have the perfect suggestion. Ever had Jamaican food?”
“No. I’ve never had anything Jamaican.”
“Well, Zero, you, my friend, are in for a treat. I cannot believe...” she glanced to check the mirrors before pulling off the highway toward her house. “...you’ve never had Jamaican food.”
“It’s not very plentiful in Japan.”
Rochelle made a face at him and he laughed. The sound of his laugher rang soft yet masculine and she felt her knees knocking together. The light changed to red stopping them and Rochelle whispered a silent prayer. If she didn’t stop she could not be sure what would happen. Her legs trembled with arousal. She somehow managed to pull herself together again by the time the light changed to green.
Frowning, she stopped in the parking lot of a supermarket and inhaled deeply. She prayed he didn’t smell the scent emanating from her body or she’d be in big trouble. She hopped from the vehicle quickly and slammed the door. He joined her before walking into the store. He offered to get the cart and after pressing a quarter into his palm, she made her way through the turn-style and stopped at a fruit stand. She had no idea what kind of fruit he liked. She stood there like a moron with a banana in one hand, an apple in the other and a plastic bag to put the fruit in under her chin.
“I am partial to apples,” he explained in a whisper from behind her.
Gasping, she jerked around and slammed into his chest.
Yep—definitely built like a brick house.
“Gomen,” he whispered to her. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
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