Jaded by Karin Tabke

thrust his hips at her. “That is your dinner, whether you’re hungry or not. You owe me for three years of patience.”
    Having gained control, nonplussed Jade smiled and strode into the room, stopping at the edge of the table. “Come, my lovely Jade,” Hiro cajoled. “Open those beautiful lotus blossom lips, and wrap them around my samurai sword.”
    If the situation wasn’t so lewd, she’d laugh. “I’m afraid, Mr. Hiro, you will have to find your lotus blossom lips elsewhere. I don’t give blow jobs on command, and not for any payment, imagined or otherwise. Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll step out while you dress and we can finish—”
    The door swung open. Jade cried out and whirled around. The server had been forbidden to enter, not even to knock. No disturbances, Mr. Hiro had mandated.
    Jade’s eyes widened as they clashed with the owner of the ocean blue ones. The detective’s dark face scowled as he quickly surmised what was going on in the room.
    “You almost had me believing you were as innocent as Snow White. Shame on me,” he said, his gaze unwavering.
    “This is a private dinner, sir! I demand you leave at once,” Katsuo shrieked. He didn’t bother getting up from the table nor, at the very least, did he cover himself with a napkin. Not that he needed one; a cocktail napkin would have sufficed.
    Jade kept her cool. “All is not always as it seems, Detective. Are you going to arrest me?”
    “I’m thinking about it.”
    “And what would be the charge, dining with a naked man?”
    “Sir, I demand at once you leave us to our privacy!” Hiro insisted.
    Jase ignored Hiro’s demands and continued to hold Jade’s gaze. Jade quirked an eyebrow. The detective looked like he wanted to strangle her.
    “You looked a little rattled a few minutes ago, are you all right?”
    She doubted his concern. He was hoping to catch her red-handed. “I’m fine. Please leave us.”
    Jase nodded. Then exited the room.
    Hiro relaxed back down on the table, grabbed his receding erection, and wagged it at her. “Come, my sweet cherry blossom, open your mouth for Papa-san. ”
    Jade sighed and grabbed her margarita. She took a long sip and thought how much she’d enjoy a shot of Patrón. “Mr. Hiro, zip up, I’ll be waiting in the bar for you.”
    Jade exited the room amid Mr. Hiro’s demands for her return. She wondered what she had done to make him think that after all these years she was his for the taking. Since Jack Morton took over two months ago, the status quo at Callahan’s had steadily gone downhill. It was time for the meeting he kept avoiding.
    Jade slid onto a smooth leather-backed barstool, and immediately the bartender moved in front of her. “Señorita? Qué te gustaria ordenar?”
    “A new life?”
    “Qué?”
    “A shot of Patrón, por favor, and make it a double.”
    Instantly, two shotglasses materialized in front of her.
    She felt his energy long before he spoke. And very unlike what Katsuo’s presence did to her, a sudden heat emanated from inside of her, and the soft percussion of warm breath against her ear sent shivers coursing along her skin. She licked the salt on her hand, downed the shot, then sucked the lime wedge.
    “I bet this happens once in a blue moon,” Jase said from behind her.
    Jade turned in the seat, refusing to back away when he leaned into her. Where Katsuo couldn’t generate a reaction, Jase did, on many levels. Locking gazes with him, she licked her hand and threw back another shot.
    When she sucked the lime, Jase smiled. “I had you pegged for Cristal all the way.”
    “Champagne has its place, Detective, but not here, not tonight.”
    “Then maybe some sake?”
    “Hardly.”
    Jase didn’t retaliate. For the small gift, she was grateful. She was tired of being on the defense with him.
    “I was going to offer you a ride home.”
    “I have a ride.” Not that she wanted it.
    “Your date left.”
    Jade shrugged. “I’ll call a cab.”
    “Why do