He could kiss her right now, and she wouldn’t stop him. The longer they looked at each other, the more she was sure that would happen. Since she hadn’t gotten over him like she should have years ago, she was going to fall into that trap all over again.
She couldn’t do that to herself. Jana looked away, breaking the spell. She couldn’t get sucked into his charms and have him blow up her life while she was still feeling the aftershocks of their last implosion.
“Daddy!”
Imani was awake. Jana exhaled as she shifted farther from Anil. Their child launched herself at him.
Anil’s face changed in a fraction of a second to good humor and affection. It was so easy for him.
“Hi, Mini! I got you a new coloring book!”
Jana stepped into the bedroom to change while Anil showed Imani the pictures in the coloring book. She wasn’t sure they’d resolved anything, but Jana was done with this conversation anyway.
No one ever claimed that they were only trying to make things easier for him, because things were already so easy for Anil Malek.
Chapter 15
Anil ended up taking Imani with him when he left Jana’s room—offering a quick swim before dinner. He barely looked at Jana. She had no idea what he was thinking about the conversation…or whatever else their daughter had interrupted. Hell, Jana wasn’t even sure she knew whatshewas thinking. What had compelled her to be so honest with the man? She almost let him kiss her, for goodness’ sake.
Which meant he was still physically attracted to her, too. It was probably just chemistry. Unwanted, inconvenient chemistry. Eventually, Mom came back to the room, and they both started to get ready for dinner. Jana had just put on a muted green sundress when there was a knock on the door.
Jana opened it to see Kamila wearing an amazing white maxi dress with bright green-and-pink flowers on it and holding a silver tray containing a white teapot and cups and a small plate of mandazi. “I thought you’d like some chai before dinner, since you weren’t with the rest of us in the lounge.”
Jana tilted her head, smiling at Kamila. This was very thoughtful…and needed. Jana invited Kamila in.
“Mom’s in the shower,” Jana said.
Kamila put the tray down on the coffee table. “Good. We can talk.” She poured Jana a cup of chai and handed it to her.
The two sat on the sofa, and Jana inhaled deeply from her warm cup. The rich, creamy scent of cardamom, ginger, black pepper, and tea soothed her instantly.
“Thank you,” Jana said.
“For the chai, or for not bringing the whole brigade with me to deal with your crisis?”
Jana chuckled. “Both. And I’m not in a crisis.”
“Rohan and I saw Anil and Imani in the pool. He said you were…frustrating.”
“Did he—”
“No. That’s all he said. But he looked miserable. I haven’t seen him like that since…”Kamila’s voice trailed.
“Since when?”
“Since years ago. Before Imani was born.”
Jana knew when Kamila meant. “When I refused to marry him.”
Kamila nodded. She curled her feet under her on the sofa. “So you two had a fight?”
Jana took a mandazi and inspected it in her hand, picking at the black cardamom seeds poking out of the dough. “I’m not sure that’s what I’d call it.”
Mom came out of her bedroom then, already dressed for dinner. She quickly greeted Kamila, then rushed out, saying the others were waiting for her.
Jana looked at the door after Mom left. “She didn’t actually say goodbye to me, did she?”
Kamila frowned. “Are you two fighting, too?”
