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Except curiosity burned hot and bright within me, ignited by Marissa’s mysterious hold over me. I wanted to see her again, to uncover the secrets behind her quirky smile and guarded eyes.
Rin tossed me a towel. “We’re going out for lunch. You in?”
Wiping the sweat from my neck, I shook my head. “Not today.”
“Ah, so the mighty Red Dragon has given in at last,” Keiko teased. “Planning to see a certain, uninterested masseuse?”
I opened my mouth to object, but no argument came. The human side of me wanted to rip something to shreds in frustration, but Jou purred in contentment. The beast wanted nothing more than to take what he thought was his, which was this woman who’d enchanted us both.
My friends were right—I couldn’t deny my feelings any longer. Besides, I had never been one to back down from a challenge, and Marissa was a mystery I was determined to solve.
Perhaps once I did, this infatuation would pass.
With a wry smile, I raised my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay. I have a lunch meeting with a potential client, but I’ll track her down after.”
My friends erupted into laughing cheers, slapping me on the back and offering enthusiastic encouragement. I allowed myself a moment to enjoy it, anticipation building within me.
This pursuit would be anything but ordinary. Just from one meeting, I knew Marissa wasn’t like other women. If I wanted to win her over, I would have to approach this strategically. No more careless flirtation or hollow charm.
She deserved more than that, and I found, possibly for the first time when it came to a woman, that I wanted to give her more.
Later today, I would visit the massage school. Only this time, I wouldn’t be dissuaded so easily. I had made up my mind, and once I set my sights on something, I didn’t give up until it was mine.
CHAPTER 9
Dominic
Three hours later, I stood outside the front doors of the massage school, not far from Foggy Bottom Metro station. Cars zipped by, splashing through puddles left by the morning rain, while pedestrians navigated the crowded sidewalks.
The school took up a narrow, three-story brick building wedged between a nail salon and a coffee shop. Visible through the large front windows, a reception desk and several closed doors led to private massage rooms.
My heart thrummed in anticipation. When was the last time I’d felt this nervous about asking a woman on a date? Years, at least, if ever. Getting women had never been a problem—my charm, good looks, and reputation usually did all the work.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, I opened the door and stepped into the lobby. Immediately, the scent of lavender and eucalyptus curled around me, soothing my heightened senses. Soft instrumental music played in the background and created a serene atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the chaos outside.
I approached the reception desk, smiling as the young blonde woman sitting behind it looked up. “Good afternoon. I’m here to see Marissa Johnson.”
Taking in the flowers I held, her eyes widened. “Marissa? Sure. Just a moment.” She picked up the phone and dialed a number. Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink as she snuck a glance at me again. “Hey, you have a visitor.”
Knowing Marissa would be there that day because I’d called ahead to ask, I arrived with a bouquet of red roses and had dressed in a pair of expensive yet comfortable dark jeans and a button-down shirt. I had considered asking her out to dinner over the phone, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized asking her in person would be better.
She wouldn’t be able to resist my charm so easily, and my presence would show my sincerity.
A moment later, a petite yet curvy young woman with red hair and bright blue eyes entered the lobby from within the school. There was something familiar about her face and the way she moved, though I was sure I’d never seen her before.
Even though they weren’t medical professionals, every student wore a matching set of scrubs with the school’s logo embroidered on the front, just as Marissa had done the day before. The new woman took one glance at me and her jaw went slack.
I flashed one of my best smiles, knowing how devastating it could be. Maybe winning Marissa’s peers over would work in my favor.
Snapping her mouth shut, the woman glanced at the receptionist, who nodded at me. Confusion made my smile falter as the red-headed woman approached me. Her lips transformed into a gorgeous smile.
“May I help you?” Her voice was light and lyrical, the opposite of Marissa’s more sultry timbre.
“No, thank you,” I said. “I’m waiting for someone.”
Her smile twisted into a cute smirk. “Me, I presume. I’m Marissa Johnson. You asked to see me?”
Now it was my turn for my mouth to go slack. There must have been a mistake. “You’re Marissa?”
