I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Imari Jade Page A

were gambling in a club in Paris and the place got raided,” Yori explained.
    “Which they?”
    “Satoshi and Cristal,” Yori told her.
    Getting answers out of Yori sometimes was like pulling teeth. “So how did the rest of you get dragged into it? And what were the rest of you doing while the two of them were gambling?”
    “The rest of us were innocently taking in a show in the front of the club,” Yori said.
    Shaundra glared at him. “What type of show?”
    Yori raised his hand to his mouth. “Erotic dancing.”
    “You losers were in a strip joint?” Shaundra asked excitedly. “And you dragged poor Cristal with you?”
    “It was her idea,” Satoshi said in their defense. “She likes to gamble.”
    Shaundra gazed over at Yori again. “Please tell me you guys aren’t overseas screwing some lousy strippers?”
    Yori shook his head. “I can honestly say I haven’t been, but I can’t vouch for the rest of them.”
    “You are such a coward,” Satoshi told him. “No one slept with any strippers. The dealer was cheating and I called him on it. The next thing I knew, we were fighting and the police arrived and carted us off to jail.”
    “Cristal must have been so scared,” Shaundra said. “Poor thing.”
    Yori chuckled. “Poor thing started wailing on some guy with her purse. I literally had to drag her off him.”
    Shaundra folded her arms. “I swear. You guys are incorrigible. And I’m surprised at Cristal. I thought she’d be shopping or visiting tourist attractions with her free time.”
    “Why would you think that?” Satoshi asked. “Cristal is one of us. Don’t let that beautiful face fool you.”
    “I don’t know if you realize it or not, but she is a girl. You should be wining and dining her in Paris instead of dragging her to strip joints.” Shaundra shook her head. “No wonder she left your ass for Yi-jun.”
    “Ouch,” Satoshi said, putting his hand over his heart and faking hurt. “You wound me, lovely lady.”
    “Don’t try to con me, player. When are you going to wise up and marry Cristal? You two are perfect for each other.”
    A strange look crossed Satoshi’s handsome face. “I have learned from other people’s experience not to rush into a marriage before getting to know my future mate.”
    Shaundra rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was referring to her. “You think I don’t know what you’re implying? But you’re right. You never truly know someone until you marry them. Note to self, never get married again.”
    “Low blow, Shaundra,” Yori said. “Do you ever intend to forgive Ich?”
    “No,” Shaundra answered. “I plan to make him suffer for a very long time. Women are vindictive that way when their men cheat on them.”
    “But what if he’s telling the truth?” Yori asked.
    “Okay, smart guy. How can he prove to me he didn’t sleep with her?”
    “You can always ask Eri,” Satoshi suggested.
    “Yes, I could. But you know how I am. I might haul off and punch her in the face. Would you like that to happen?”
    Satoshi nodded his head furiously.
    “You would. Listen. I appreciate what you guys are trying to say, but Ich and I will work this out eventually.”
    “And what if you can’t?” Yori asked.
    “Then we’ll amicably end our marriage.”
    “You mean you’d divorce him over this?” Yori asked.
    “Hell yes,” Shaundra answered. “For four months he thought I was pregnant by one of you guys and he wasn’t man enough to come and ask me. I love Ich with all my heart, but he’s not the only man on this side of the Red Sea. If he wants that waitress, all he has to do is tell me. I will walk away with no problem.”
    “But what about the babies?” Satoshi asked.
    “What about them?” Shaundra asked. “I raised the other four and I can raise them too.”
    “But boys need male figures in their lives.”
    “They’ll have plenty of those,” Shaundra said. “But this isn’t about them. If Ichiro wants me to forgive him, he needs