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

all.”
    We ate for a few moments, enjoying the weather and the city itself. I had to admit, I was definitely enjoying this trip to Venice much more than my previous one. I looked across the table at Nami. There was no denying that it was due to the company.
    “You never told me yours,” I said as the waiter cleared away our appetizers and placed our entrees in front of us. “If family wasn't an issue, what would you want to be? What would you do?”
    She flushed, piquing my curiosity. Whatever it was, it had to be interesting.
    “Now you have to share,” I said.
    She pushed some of her food around on her plate and took a bite. I didn't press her again. She'd tell me when she was ready. I could see that she wanted to. After a couple minutes of us eating in silence, she finally spoke.
    “I wanted to be a teacher.”
    “A teacher?” I was surprised, not because I didn't think she'd be good at it, but because it didn't seem to match her initial reaction.
    “And a mother.” She looked down at her plate.
    Ah, that made sense now. Well, sort of. “Will your family's business keep you from being a mother?” The question popped out before I thought about it. “Shit. I'm sorry. That's none of my business.”
    “It's okay,” she said, her voice quiet. “Let's just say that if I have children, because of my position, I'd most likely see very little of them. They'd be raised by nannies. Governesses.”
    “Couldn't your husband take care of them? If you've got such a good position, he wouldn't need to work long hours.” Dammit. I kept putting my foot in my mouth, but I couldn't help it. I wanted to know more about her, how she thought, what she wanted. “That is, if you planned to get married. You wouldn't need to just to have kids. I mean, I just assumed since your family was so adamant about the whole sex thing...”
    Shit. I sounded like such an idiot. Fortunately, Nami was laughing. It wasn't the same full laugh she'd had before, but it was real.
    “Yes, Reed, I would need to be married.” She was smiling, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “My parents would not approve of children any other way.”
    I frowned as I took another bite.
    “You do not approve.” Her accent had thickened and I knew she was upset.
    “Actually, I was just thinking of how well our parents would get along.” That was half the truth anyway. “My parents put an 'heir' clause in the business contract they drew up when Britni and I got married.” I stabbed a piece of chicken with a little more force than necessary. “Kids are just pawns to my parents.”
    Nami reached across the table and put her hand on mine. I jerked my head up, startled as much by the gesture as I was by the touch itself.
    “All we can hope for, then, is to do better for our children than our parents have done for us.”
    There was something in her voice that made me turn over my hand and squeeze hers, offering her comfort for whatever she was feeling. I raised our hands and kissed the back of hers.
    “I'm sure you're going to be a great mother,” I said sincerely. I felt a stab of jealousy at the thought of her with another man and immediately shoved it away. I had no right to be jealous. She wasn't mine. This was just a fun follow up to a great night.
    “I don't think so.” She pulled her hand away from mine. “My eldest will be forced to do exactly what I'm doing now.”
    I frowned. “But you don't have to do things the same way your parents do. You can let your kids do whatever they want.”
    She shook her head, but didn't expound. She went back to eating and silence fell between us again. When the waiter came back to ask if we wanted dessert, we both declined and I asked for the check.
    “I'll pay,” she said, reaching for her purse.
    “No way.” I picked up the check and handed the waiter my card. “My treat.”
    As the waiter walked away, Nami leaned across the table, her expression serious. “Reed, you do understand, this is not a date. It cannot