When she was done, he waited for her to let go of his hand but she didn’t, instead her fingers curled gently around his callused ones.
“Thank you.” His words were a hoarse whisper.
“I never did thank you for that night in New York,” she said, her gaze still on their joined hands.
“You don’t need to thank me, Tani,” he murmured, his voice low and deep.
“But you need to thank me?” She looked up now, her beautiful honey coloured eyes meeting his. “Is that what we’ve come to, Kabs? This?”
He withdrew his hand from hers, feeling the loss of her touch in every last inch of his shadowed soul.
“You’re getting married at Il Cuore,” he said, attempting to change the subject and remind her of all that stood between them. “You got one of your two things.”
Her face tightened as if he’d slapped her. “I did,” she agreed. “Aren’t I lucky?”
She put the first aid kit back in its place before standing and walking to the door, not looking back at him. His eyes followed her like a ship caught in a storm would follow the beam of a lighthouse. She was almost to the door when he spoke.
“Are you happy, Bug?”
She stiffened, her hand on the doorknob, fingers clenched around it. Then she glanced over her shoulder at him, deep pools of pain shadowing her eyes.
“Are you happy, Kabs?”
“I’m happy if you’re happy,” he murmured, his throat clogged with emotion he dare not let loose.
She smiled sadly. “Then how can I not be happy?”
She opened the door, allowing the light of the corridor to stream through, her lean frame silhouetted against it.
“Kabs?” Her voice was soft but steely.
“Hmm?” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her.
“I know two things,” she said, her words a painful echo of the past.
Kabir swallowed hard before asking, huskily, “Just two?”
“I will get married at Il Cuore. And,” she continued, “You’re the biggest fucking coward I’ve ever known.”
CHAPTER 6
TANISHA
“Tani!”Yash Mamu called out the minute she reached the pool. “Come sit with me. We haven’t had a moment to catch up.”
Tani smiled, burying her aching heart and its myriad regrets, and plastering a smile on her face. She grabbed a bottle of water and sat down beside him and Maya Masi.
“So tell me your plans. Karam mentioned you were planning to start your own business.”
Right. Tani’s cheeks flamed at the thought of how recklessly she’d thrown away the chance to get her business off the ground.
“Yes, she is.” Aakash strolled over, a huge sausage speared on a fork in one hand. “She’s going to be working with me.”
Tani sneaked a look at her father’s grim face and decided deflection was urgently needed. “Umm yeah. I’m going to focus on that once the wedding is done.”
“But what is the business plan?” Yash pressed.
“Yash!” Maya laughed. “Give the girl a break. She’s getting married in a month. Tani, tell us more about Jay. Yash and Iwere travelling the last time you brought him home and missed out on getting to know him.”
