Page 11 of Top Secret Cowboy


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She tried not to look like she was about to puke when she met Anthony’s stare and repeated the phrase that definitely included their business relationship. Her affiliation with WEST Protection? Not so much.

They all sipped.

Anthony was a clean-cut guy. His suit jacket and button-down shirt fit with the restaurant’s vibe. But Jace looked like a fish out of water, right down to his dark beard that was a little too long for her liking. Actually, she disliked any facial hair on men.

“So how did you two meet?” Anthony asked.

She started to speak, but Jace cut her off.

“Funny enough, in a Japanese restaurant.”

Anthony’s smile spread. “Is that so? Well, it’s good luck that we came here then.”

She had to get the conversation off their fake relationship. And off herself at all.

“I hear that Beyonce visits this restaurant every time she’s in town.”

“Is that so? I hadn’t heard,” Anthony said.

Jace remained silent. Bronte couldn’t believe it—she’d finally shut him up with pop culture.

They chatted a little more about celebrities and their favorite hangouts in the city. When their food arrived, she held her breath as the server placed a platter in front of Jace.

He took one look at it and pushed it away.

“Is there a problem, sir?”

“That isn’t tai.”

The server grew flustered. “Of course it’s tai. Perhaps you should have a taste.”

Jace reached for the fish and picked it up with his hand, which didn’t go against Japanese custom but made him look more out of touch with his surroundings. She watched his lips close around the bite of fish. He chewed and then set the food back on the platter.

“That’s not tai. It’s whitefish, a cheap substitute.” He sat back in his seat and eyed the server until he took the platter.

“I’ll return this to the kitchen.”

“I’d like to speak to the chef.” Jace’s declaration made her eyes go round.

This disaster was like a blimp on fire, and it was about to hit the ground in a ball of flames. She couldn’t have her client thinking she chose a pushy, bossy know-it-all like Jace Abel—especially when she didn’t choose him atall.

She and Anthony’s eyes met. She gave an awkward little shrug and pushed her bangs out of the way.

In seconds, a small man in a chef’s uniform approached the table.

“Is there a problem?” he asked in broken English.

“Yes. You’re charging far too much for the tai sashimi if you’re using cheap whitefish.”

He stared blankly at Jace.

Then, to her shock, Jace continued the conversation in Japanese. The chef seemed just as surprised. Anthony grinned, but Bronte wanted to crawl under the table. They conversed for several minutes, then the chef bowed to Jace and walked away.

Jace picked up his drink and sipped. “I’m giving him another chance to bring me the dish I asked for.”

Bronte almost plastered her hands to her face but resisted. “You…never told me you speak Japanese.”

“Still some mystery in our relationship.” He shot Anthony one of those looks men exchanged when they were right about something.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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