Free One Kiss in Tokyo... by Scarlet Wilson Page B

again. Within a few seconds people started to accumulate at the sidewalks all over again.
    He folded his arms and faced her. ‘You mentioned this place and I said not tonight.’ He was still gazing in wonder. ‘I didn’t expect it to be quite like this.’
    â€˜Well, get used to it. The place we’re going for dinner is diagonal to us.’ She pointed to a silver and blue high-rise building. ‘Are you chicken?’
    â€˜What?’
    He finally dragged his eyes off the crossing to face her. There was no doubt about it. There was a definite smirk on her face. She was baiting him. Again.
    â€˜You think I’m chicken?’
    She leaned forward, as if their conversation could be heard by others. ‘I think you’re a Hachiko virgin. Let’s just call it survival of the fittest here.’ Her voice was low and he had to move closer to hear. Somehow he knew it was a deliberate act. And the choice of words?
    He didn’t have a single doubt that over the next few months Katsuko Williams was going to drive him crazy. Good crazy.
    â€˜Do you want to take a bet on this?’
    She looked at him curiously. ‘And what exactly would that bet be?’
    He liked it. She’d take the bet, whatever it was.
    â€˜Who can get across quicker?’
    She laughed out loud. ‘Are you crazy? You, the slow-moving, never-been-here-before American, against me, the agile local girl?’
    Every word made his skin prickle. He loved her feistiness. He loved the challenge in her eyes. He glanced over at the throng with his chin held high. He could hardly see any gaps between all the bodies. ‘I played American football. That’s not a crowd. That’s just a smooth path to home.’
    She shook her head. He could tell from her expression that she thought she’d already won. She waved her hand. ‘I guess it doesn’t matter, but what do I win?’
    A group of rowdy workers passed by, singing at the tops of their voices. ‘A kiss,’ he said suddenly.
    He’d touched her. He could smell her. But he wanted to taste her. Taste those lips.
    Her brow furrowed and she pulled back a little. ‘Not a chance.’ She was surprised but she didn’t seem repelled. Although she might flirt with him and taunt him a little, there was still a whole host of invisible barriers surrounding her. She put her hands back on her hips. ‘Loser has to buy dinner. That seems fair.’
    She gave a flick of her shiny geometric-styled hair. It seemed to all move together. There was never a hair out of place. What would she look like if it was all mussed up? He was beginning to realise that that move seemed to indicate she’d made up her mind. ‘I still plan on collecting that kiss,’ he murmured under his breath.
    She took a few steps in front of him and he grabbed the back of her black fitted jacket before she disappeared into the crowd completely. By the time they reached the edge of the crossing people were packed around them. He tucked his head on her shoulder and stood right up close. He had the perfect excuse. There was no space around them at all.
    He pointed diagonally across the street. ‘That building over there? That’s where we’re headed?’
    She nodded. ‘Twenty-second floor has one of the best sushi restaurants around. We can sit and watch the madness of the crossing.’
    â€˜Sounds good.’ He glanced upwards. He could sense the people around him leaning forward a little, ready to move the second the lights changed. He lowered his mouth to her ear. ‘See you at the front doors.’
    He couldn’t wipe the smile from his face as he darted out from behind her, making a beeline for the building. Once he was in the middle of the thing it wasn’t quite so daunting. The Japanese people were endearingly polite. They seemed to have a sixth sense for stepping out of the way—in the right direction. The only blips