“Noted.” She wrapped her hands around her own mug and leaned forward. “I thought Hardeep was a family friend, but it sounds like you didn’t like him much.” Her words were light, but her eyes were sharp.
Andrés sniffed. “His grandfather started this farm with my father. It didn’t last long. The man was young and wasn’t cut out for hard labor, he returned to India. The Aroras established their roots there in jewelry.”
“I see. You kept in touch with the family.”
“My dad was sentimental. He forgave his old partner quickly and they exchanged letters for years. Hardeep visited here with his grandfather from the time he was a child. He continued to drop in as an adult occasionally.” Andrés’s nostrils flared. “His flashy lifestyle might have been attractive to some people, I suppose, but I’ve never been impressed by money. We didn’t have much for a long time.”
Oh, come on. This revisionist history was ridiculous. “You live in a massive home and have for the last thirty years,” Jas said bluntly.
“And before that, our family lived here, for almost seventy years. My parents built this house,” Andrés explained to Katrina. “Nikka ghar, we call it now. Our little house.”
“I noticed the photos on the stairs. What history.”
His grandfather’s eyes brightened. “You like history?”
“I love history.” Katrina rose. “How about some peach cobbler? It’s cool now. That’s a fruit, so it’s good for you.”
Jas shook his head. “He’s not supposed to be eating—”
Andrés growled. “I’m not a toddler, to have my food monitored.”
“You’re certainly not.” Katrina moved to the windowsill and brought the cobbler to the table. She took a small amount and placed it on Andrés’s plate. “Try that and tell me what you think.”
His grandfather drained his tea first and then took a bite. He closed his eyes and sat in silence for a second, then opened them, eyes a little wet. “My wife used to make something like this. It’s got a little spiciness to it.”
Katrina indicated the living room. “I found an old cookbook on the bookshelf. Perhaps it’s the same recipe she used.”
Andrés sniffed and took another bite.
“It sounds like you objected to Hardeep’s lifestyle more than to him,” Katrina said softly. “He was a good man, and I loved him.”
Jas shifted, impressed, though Katrina’s diplomacy and brains had never been something he’d questioned. She’d disarmed his grandfather and sweetly and firmly stated her defense of her late husband, via a nice cobbler. “He was a good man,” Jas agreed.
Andrés was silent while he finished the rest of his dessert in a few bites. “You will come to dinner at the big house. We will go over now,” Andrés announced.
“That’s not possible. Katrina needs to stay tucked away, for security reasons,” Jas lied, giving her a complete and total out.
Not to mention giving himself an out. Dinner with his grandfather was only moderately bearable. His grandpa spent the entire night lobbing pointed remarks, and he responded in kind.
His grandfather shot him a frown. “Did I raise you to let a woman speak for herself or not? Besides, there will be no threat to her at our house.”
“That’s not the—”
“It’s okay,” Katrina interjected. “Jas hasn’t told anyone much about me, I suppose. He’s excellent at security. Very tight-lipped.”
There was extra emphasis on his job title. He flinched. That kiss. She was putting him in his place, no doubt.
“It’s difficult for me to go to new places. Sometimes I have panic attacks, and I get nervous about having them in unfamiliar locations,” she continued.
Andrés scowled. “There is nothing bad at my house,” he said gruffly.
“It doesn’t have to be something frightening, to trigger it. I’m happy to try to come to your home for dinner, but it’s possible I could have one. If I feel uncomfortable, I’ll leave, and it may be abrupt.”
Jas stared at Katrina. Never had he heard her summarize and speak so frankly about her panic disorder to someone new like this.
Whatever toughness Andrés had previously shown toward Katrina had been dissolved by the cookies and cobbler. He clumsily patted Katrina’s shoulder with a big hand. “I understand. No big deal if you must leave. Please come.”
“Very well.” She shot Jas an unreadable look. “It would be nice to have the company.”
