How can a woman afraid to be touched find a way to let a man into her world?Sumire Kotani is an arm's length girl, with a very long arm. She doesn't like people, doesn't like being touched by them or having to interact with them or anything.Nick Pensieri is a model turned actor who's convinced his good looks and charm will get him anything he wants, whether it be women or a part in a movie, whatever. When she's hired to teach him Japanese for a part in a movie, it's hate at first sight. To him, she's an overly defensive girl who's wound way too tight about nothing at all. To her, he's an unpleasant guy with no manners or discipline, just an all around disgusting person.But somehow they're going to have to work together for the next year, first in Los Angeles to learn Japanese, then in Japan to actually film the movie. And as the days progress, Sumire learns that he's not that bad, that under the ego and charm there lies an actual man who has a warm and generous heart, a kindhearted person who is giving and loving to those he cares about. Nick learns that Sumire has reasons for being standoffish, for keeping the world away from herself, for not wanting to let people in, and he learns that she might be willing to let Nick in, once she gets to know him.However, it takes more than two nice people to make a relationship work. Can they overcome their circumstances and remain together, once they find each other?Meet the CharactersSumire KotaniTHE SHY LINGUISTShe's petite and half Japanese, a doe-eyed sprite with dark secrets that keep her from engaging with the world. Smart and acerbic of wit, she's learned how to keep herself safe, until she meets Nick Pensieri, who figures out how to breach her defenses.Nick PensieriTHE CHARMING PLAYBOYA dashing, handsome model turned actor from Brooklyn, he's street smart, charming, and always knows how to get what he wants. He's never met a woman he couldn't get until he meets Sumire, whom he pretty much hates on sight, but who kinda drives him crazy, in a good way.Darcy PensieriTHE OPINIONATED SISTERNick's beautiful sister, a student at NYU, who sees how things are between Nick and Sumire as soon as she meets them. She wants desperately to help them, but how do you help people who don't even know they need it?Mrs. NishimuraTHE KINDLY LANDLADYSumire's sweet old landlady. She's always helped Sumire, though Sumire thinks it's the other way around. She's avidly curious about the new young man in her life, but she's too polite to ask. Who is he, and what could he possibly want with her Sumire?Mrs. DawsonTHE WATCHFUL MOTHERSumire's mother, who married Sumire's father, became a widow, then married her stepfather, and thought she'd get everything she ever wanted.Mino-chanTHE CUTE DRIVERNick and Sumire's Japanese driver while they're on the set. He speaks very little English, but he's good at communicating in all the ways that matter. And he sees everything. If only he had someone to tell all his secrets to!