Exotic Desires: The Complete Series Box Set by M. S. Parker Page A

when I'd been here before. I hadn't eaten there, but it sounded like a good place to take her. I'd heard it had an amazing view of the gondolas. Nice and romantic...
    I pushed the thought aside. Romance didn't matter. I wasn't trying to date her. I kept telling myself that as we walked up to Risorrante da Raffaele. Still, I couldn't help but think about what it would be like to take her someplace like this on a real date, as something more than just some girl I'd hooked up with. A girl I was just supposed to be showing a good time.
    I could see how things would play out differently if we'd been here as a couple. We would've been planning the trip together, with the restaurant as part of it. I pulled out her chair for her, returning the smile she gave me. After we ordered, I decided to ask the question I'd been wondering for a while now.
    “What would you do,” I asked, “if you could do anything? If your family business wasn't a factor. What would you do?”
    Nami looked surprised and I understood why. When a person was raised, groomed, to take over the family business, there was never anyone asking what we wanted to do, not seriously anyway. Our opinions, our wants, they didn't matter.
    “I haven't given it any thought.”
    The reply came automatically. I recognized the sound of something that had been rehearsed, the kind of response a responsible older child was supposed to give when asked that question.
    “Yes, you have.” I called her on her lie. “I know you have because I always did.”
    She smiled, unapologetic about the deceit. “You did?”
    “Of course.” I smiled back. “I did the whole MBA thing and found out I have a knack for it, so my dreams changed, but they weren't always for business.”
    “What were they?” she asked. “When you were a child, what were your dreams?”
    “If I tell you mine, will you tell me yours?” I teased as the waiter poured us both the wine I'd ordered.
    She winked. “You first.”
    “All right,” I agreed. I leaned back in my chair. “How far back do you want to go? Preschool?”
    “You were ambitious even then?” She seemed amused. “Why does this not surprise me?”
    “Oh, nothing so ambitious,” I said. “I once wanted to be a police car. Not a policeman, but a car.”
    She laughed, a full, real laugh, not the kind that someone gave to be polite. “You wanted to be a car?”
    I shrugged. “I was four. I didn't know that wasn't exactly an option.” I took another swallow of wine. “I figured it out eventually.”
    “So did you want to be a police officer then?”
    “No.” I shook my head. “When I was older, but before I really understood what it meant for me to take over the family business, I thought I might want to be a lawyer. Not a prosecutor or some sleazy defense attorney. I wanted to go into family law, take care of kids.”
    It was funny how I thought of that now. I hadn't thought of it in years, not since I'd gotten into high school and my parents had started telling me what classes to take. Or, as they put it, 'strongly advising' me what would be needed for me to get into business. I'd been surprised that I'd felt protective of Nami, thinking that I hadn't felt that way before, but I had. I'd wanted to help people.
    “You're quiet,” Nami said, breaking into my thoughts.
    “Just remembering,” I said. “So there you have it. I wanted to be a lawyer and then went to business school.”
    “Is that what you will do now?” she asked. “Go to law school?”
    I shook my head. “No, I've given that up. I don't think I'd be suited for law anyway. I actually do have a good head for business.”
    “So you will go back to your parents' business?” She sounded surprised.
    “No.” I leaned back as the waiter brought our appetizers. “I want my own business.” I frowned. “I thought I had a good idea before, but now I'm thinking I might want something else.”
    “What?” she asked.
    “I have no idea.” I laughed. “None at