Knox spoke first. “I like images three and seven.”
“Those are polar opposites. One has clean lines. The other has Japanese influences.”
“Probably why I like them both. Any chance you could marry those two styles into something bolder?”
Amery started clicking on the keys, designing on the fly. Taking suggestions. Adding, discarding.
An hour of collaboration later, Black Arts had a great new logo. They were so pleased with it even Deacon said, “Fine job.”
Then Knox and Deacon left the conference room.
“You are very good at what you do, Amery. I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’ll confess I hoped it’d take a lot longer. That way we would have excuses for long lunches.”
She gave Ronin an arch look. “So you need an excuse to see me?”
Annoyance flashed in his eyes. “No.”
“Good to know. Do you want to give me a list of all the promotional items you’ll need updated? I can set up the orders with the printer and make sure everything fits—”
Ronin grabbed her by the back of the neck and stopped her jabbering with a long, deep, wet kiss. By the time he pulled back, her body shook. Inwardly. Outwardly. And Ronin took great satisfaction in his effect on her. He didn’t say a word; he didn’t have to. He just leaned in to kiss her again.
The next kiss was lazy. A sensual exploration. He caressed the side of her face while he fed her kiss after kiss. Then he cranked up the intensity. She finally understood what it meant to be weak-kneed—and she was sitting down. If Ronin kept this up she’d slide into a big puddle on the floor.
The door opened and Knox said, “Ronin, do we have—oh, shit. Sorry. Didn’t mean to barge in.” Then he was gone.
Amery turned her head and rested her cheek on his. “Guess your second-in-command knows we’re . . .” Whatever this is. She’d wait to hear what term he used to explain it.
“I won’t hide the fact that we’re seeing each other. The only place it might be an issue is in the dojo during class.”
“I’m not dropping out,” she warned. “Molly needs this class, and the only way she’ll stay in it is if I’m around.”
He gently tilted her head back. “I wouldn’t ask you to quit.”
“Then I think you should let Sandan Zach teach me.”
“No. I’m teaching you.”
She did not understand why it was so important to him, but he had that don’t argue with Sensei Black look in his eyes, so she let it slide.
“But I don’t want to wait until class to see you. What are you doing tonight?”
“A Bikram yoga class. I’m exhausted afterward. Don’t you teach tonight?”
“Yes.” He sucked her lower lip and gently bit down. “Since I can’t see you tonight, have lunch with me.”
“Did you already make reservations someplace like last time?” she teased.
“No.” Ronin lifted her hand and kissed her palm. “I ordered in a light lunch and thought we’d eat upstairs at my place.”
Amery had opened her mouth to say yes when Knox walked in and headed to the minifridge for a bottle of water. He drank deeply and addressed Ronin. “Are you coming back to finish our training session?”
“No. Amery and I are having lunch upstairs.”
Knox’s jaw tightened and his gaze winged between Amery and Ronin. “I’ll remind you that you called this training session. If you’re leaving halfway through, Deacon and I won’t be around when you’re done.”
Ronin carefully placed Amery’s hand on her lap and stood. He said, “A word please,” to Knox before he brushed past him.
Might make her snoopy, but given the tension between the two macho men, something was going on and she wanted to know what. She hopped up and stood by the door. And she heard way more than she bargained for.
“Lose the attitude, Knox.”
“Or what? You gonna discipline me?”
“Maybe I need to,” Ronin said evenly. “Regardless of our friendship, I’m still your sensei and your boss.”
“What is it about that woman?” Knox demanded. “You’ve been off your game since the moment she walked into this dojo.”
Her heart skipped a beat.
“I can’t explain it.”
“You mean you won’t explain it,” Knox said hotly. “Is she why you were wandering around aimlessly at the club Saturday night?”
Amery frowned. Club? What club?
“That is none of your f**king business.”
“Bullshit, Ronin. I was f**king there after Naomi, remember? And this goddamn situation has Naomi written all over it again.”
Who the hell was Naomi?
“We are not discussing this. You and Deacon are done for the day. I’ll finish up the paperwork on the job proposal for Stanislovsky after lunch.”
Amery practically ran to her seat. She didn’t want to get caught eavesdropping. She shut down her computer and looked up when Ronin reentered the room.
“Sorry about that. So about lunch?”
“Sure, if it’s not a long lunch. I always have a ton to do on Mondays.”
“Standard hour. No more.”
Amery shouldered her laptop bag and picked up her portfolio. She watched as Ronin snagged a plastic deli bag from the fridge.
“Let’s go.”