Oh, and that sounded so much better.
“Dramas. Chinese dramas.” She chucked it out there before he had to go for the awkward professionalism discussion. “Consider anime a gateway drug to all the great Asian dramas out there. One of my favorites has been made into a live action drama in Taiwan, Korea and Japan.”
He relaxed against her. “Which is your favorite version?”
“The one from Taiwan.” No doubts about it.
“Because of the language?” The elevator dinged and he stretched a hand across the threshold to hold the elevator for her.
“No.” She chewed on her lower lip, thinking on it as she stepped out. “I don’t mind reading subtitles, so those wouldn’t be a factor. The story line is closer to the original manga they were all based on and I just like the actors better. Plus, the soundtrack is cute.”
He huffed. “Soundtrack?”
“Yeah. The actors who play the main hero and heroine are both in music groups.” Smiling, she rose up on her toes and pressed a light kiss on his jaw, for the benefit of the security camera, of course. “Thank you.”
Then she scampered out of the elevator as fast as she could.
He’d had no trouble catching up with her. None at all. As he fell in behind her, he settled his hand on the small of her back and gently herded her down one hallway. Changing gears, she wondered whether he danced. A strong lead could guide his partner with minute pressure in the small of his partner’s back. It was similar to what Gabe was already doing.
But he was still on their earlier topic. “Hmm. Smart marketing.”
It was a miracle he’d been able to track her thought-hopping for as long as he had.
“Guess so.” Maybe it was because he didn’t seem to mind. An-mei hadn’t either, but she switched topics even more often. And she was the better dancer despite the both of them having been sent to dance classes. An-mei hadn’t enjoyed dance as much as studies on the piano, though. It’d been Maylin who couldn’t get enough of the dance lessons.
“Hey.”
Maylin stopped short, the space on her back where his hand had been gone cold in its absence. Heat filled her cheeks as she turned to see him waiting by a door. He must’ve stopped and she’d kept right on walking.
He raised a single eyebrow, slid the card key into the reader and opened the door, then held it for her to enter.
“Why don’t you settle your things in the bedroom and take a look at the room service menu.” Gabe proceeded ahead of her, his gaze sweeping the room as he opened the closet and flipped the curtains. The realization hit her a moment later. He was checking the room for other people.
Had she ever thought to do the same when she’d stayed in hotels in the past? No. Should she?
“It’s been hours since you last ate, and a quick to-go sandwich at the airport on the way to pick up a rental car is not a real meal.” He edged around the doorjamb and took a good look in the bathroom. “You might want to take advantage of the shower too. Hot shower to wake you up before we head to the embassy.”
“I want to ask them about An-mei as soon...”
He pinned her with a glare. “You take the time to get food in your belly and your head on straight. Polish yourself so their impression of you is at your best. You’ll get a better response.”
She swallowed angry words and absorbed what he’d said.
An embassy was full of people who made appearances and perception an art form. If she rushed in there bedraggled and halfway to fainting, they’d dismiss her. He was right. And if she’d been thinking with the professionally savvy part of her brain, she’d have anticipated it too.
“Thank you.” And she meant it.
“Don’t thank me yet. We’re only getting started.” He set his small duffel on the couch and opened it up.
She hovered in the doorway. “I must be very silly to you.”
He stopped, straightened, then turned to face her. “No. You’re incredibly driven. And focused. Too focused. Your thought process hasn’t strayed from your sister for longer than sixty seconds since I met you.”
“She’s important.” Anger and frustration welled up inside her, boiling up from her belly.
He nodded once. “Yes, and you’re too close to see your way clearly. In this kind of situation you need to learn to step away and look at other things. Let your mind go off on side trails. That’s when we’ll find the things no one expects.”
As she stepped into the bedroom, she chewed on his advice. Mulled it over as she unpacked her hastily balled-up dress suit and put it on hangers.
“Did you have anything you needed ironed?” she called out into the living room, not sure where he was. The man made almost no sound moving around.
“I’ve got a dress shirt.” After a moment, he was at the doorway with shirt in hand.
She took it from him. “I’ll take it into the shower with me.”