“Thanks for going the extra mile.” Priya took the package and closed the door behind her.Get a grip, she scolded herself.Likeyouwould suddenly be the latest tabloid sensation.
As the delivery van rumbled away, Priya examined the package. It was wrapped in iridescent paper with her name embossed on a sapphire-blue tag. Curious, she peeled back the paper to reveal a small velvet box. Inside was a gossamer-thin chain with a star-shaped pendant made from tiny diamonds that looked like they had been plucked straight from the sky.
The accompanying note read:This star burns for you.
Priya smiled softly, remembering the conversation she and Ethan had shared. Walking to the bathroom, she turned on the light and fastened the necklace. The star nestled perfectly in the dip between her collarbones. Gazing at her reflection, Priya realized that the sparkle in her eyes had nothing to do with the diamonds—it was something Ethan had ignited in her. All the distractions and worries of the day faded like cosmic dust trailing a supernova.
The front door opened, interrupting her thoughts. Ethan was back. Priya’s heart leaped as she raced to greet him.
“Miss me?” he teased, tossing his helmet aside just in time to catch her in his arms. He twirled her around like they’d been apart for years instead of hours. He brought her down slowly, his hands resting at her waist.
“Someone’s in a good mood,” he said.
“Someone’s happy to see you.” She slipped her arms around him. He smelled of the wind and woods and earth and leather. “How was your ride?”
“Pure torture.” His kiss was slow and deep. “I couldn’t wait to get back.”
Before she could reply, he scooped her up and carried her toward the bedroom.
“What about dinner?” she asked, as he strode past the table.
“What’s that?” He tossed her onto the bed and stripped off his jacket. Crawling over her, he nibbled on her ear, kissing a path down her neck.
His attention dropped to the star pendant resting between her collarbones. “It couldn’t have found a more perfect spot.” His fingertips brushed over it.
Priya caught his hand, holding his gaze. “I adore it, but no more gifts, okay?”
“I don’t make promises I can’t keep,” he murmured, lowering his head to lick the sensitive skin just below the pendant.
Priya melted beneath the possessive heat of Ethan’s touch, her hands gliding over his shoulders as the rising tide of desire swept her away.
Twenty
Days melded into nights,weaving together like chapters of a story that Priya never wanted to end. Although spring brought warmer days, mornings and evenings retained a chill. It was as if the universe, too, was urging Priya and Ethan closer. They cuddled under the blankets at dawn, and in the evenings, they lit a bonfire in the field and watched the embers float to the sky.
Sitting in the open doorway of the forgotten freight car, with her shoulder leaning against its metal frame, Priya’s legs dangled over the edge. Ethan lay on her lap, reading a screenplay. His expression transformed with each page, the storyline pulling him into its world. A carpet of grass and wildflowers surrounded them, swaying under the afternoon sun.
As she scrolled lazily through her phone, Priya suddenly perked up. “Ooh. This looks cool.”
“What is it?” Ethan put his script aside and sat up.
“An app-building contest.” Priya tilted her screen toward him. “Hosted by a nonprofit that supports tech start-ups. You come up with an original idea; build a prototype across Android, iOS, and the web; and submit it.”
“Winner gets fifty thousand dollars and help launching a real app.” Ethan skimmed through the description. “Not bad.”
“I know, right? I’ve been playing around with a bunch of ideas, but this gives me a reason to commit and actually start building an app.”
Ethan gave her a thoughtful look. “How much would you need to launch something like this on your own? I mean, if you bypass the contest? I do a bit of angel investing if you’re interested.”
“I appreciate the offer, but after what went down with Manoj, I’ve learned my lesson. I’m never mixing business and personal stuff again.”
“Pri, I’m not Manoj. We could—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “Just having you here, listening to me ramble on is more than enough. I need to do this on my own, to prove to myself and my parents that I’ve got what it takes. Funding is only one part of the puzzle. Winning could open doors to mentorship, collaborations, and sponsorships too.”
“You can do anything you set your mind to, Pri,” Ethan said, his eyes scanning her face. “You’ve always had a quiet courage inside you. When life knocks me down, I raise hell, spewing smoke and exhaust fumes everywhere. But you? You just rise, dust yourself off, and push forward.”
“I liked the hell-raising biker.” Priya smiled. “But I always saw beyond the rebel to the guy with a soft, gentle heart. Fame hasn’t changed you one bit.”
