Free Secrets of the Playboy's Bride by Leanne Banks Page A

the egg,” she said, pushing back, clearly closing the door in his face. He didn’t know why that bothered him, but it did.
    “And now?”
    “Now I try to depend on myself for my security,” she said.
    “Ah,” he said, feeling another dig in his gut. He didn’t like it that she didn’t feel she could count on him, but he also understood it. Even though they were married, they didn’t know each other very well. “Your job makes youfeel more secure. In that case, keep it. Just negotiate more time away from the office.”
    She let out a sigh of relief, but he could swear she didn’t want him to see it. One second later, her face brightened with a smile. “Favorite board game?” she asked.
    “I haven’t played board games in years,” he said.
    “Think back,” she said.
    He shook his head and strained his memory. “I don’t remember much about it. This game had aircraft carriers and submarines and there was a grid and you had to guess the location of your opponent’s ships—”
    “Battleship,” she said with a triumphant smile. “Bet you loved it.”
    “And what about you?” he asked. “What was your favorite?”
    “In my younger years, it was Candy Land and Hungry Hippos,” she said.
    An image shot through his mind of Calista as a little blond-haired girl playing games. “And now that you’re in your ancient mid-twenties?”
    “Wii,” she said. “I bought it for my sisters and occasionally whip their butts at bowling. I could probably whip your butt, too.”
    “Is that a challenge?” he asked.
    “I’m sure you’re too busy dominating the shipping business to play games,” she said in a silky smooth voice, but the dare was still in her eyes.
    “I might make an exception,” he said and sent a text message to his assistant to purchase a Wii. “So what are the stakes for the winner and loser in your Wii bowling?”
    She shot him a blank look and shrugged. “Bragging rights?”
    He scoffed. “There’s got to be more at stake than that,” he said. “What’s the use of playing?”
    She laughed and shook her head. “For fun.”

Five
    T he first thing that struck Calista as Leo’s plane landed in Tokyo was the density. There were so many tall buildings tightly packed together. “They’re so close,” she murmured, looking out the window. She’d been so focused on her work that she hadn’t had much time to think about exploring Tokyo while she was here.
    “What would you like to see while you’re here?” Leo asked. “I’ll be in meetings most of the day and we’ll have dinner with Mr. Kihoto, but there’s no reason you can’t explore. My assistant has arranged for a tour guide and interpreter for your convenience.”
    “I haven’t even thought about it. What should I not miss?”
    “Depends on how adventurous you are,” he said.
    “I still need to work while I’m here, but I should be able to sightsee a little bit,” she said.
    “Do you ever take a vacation?” he asked.
    “Do you?” she retorted.
    “Good point,” he said. “You’ll probably want to go shopping for souvenirs. The tour guide can escort you there. I have a few things in mind for you.”
    “What?” she asked.
    “Surprises,” he said and grinned. “You trust me, don’t you?”
    Her stomach dipped. Yes and no , she thought, surprised in a way that she trusted him at all. As long as Leo didn’t know the truth about her plans for their temporary marriage, she suspected he would take care of her. But if he found out too soon…She shuddered at the thought.
    At their hotel suite, Leo allowed her extra sleep to recover from jet lag. The next morning, she awakened to find him gone and instructions for contacting her personal guide. She got up and spent extra time in the bathroom, fascinated by the TOTO toilet, which actually lifted its lid as she approached and closed it as she left, all the while playing Mendelssohn.
    She forced herself to work, although she was distracted by the beautiful small