Ayesha grimaced. “I was blasting my music kind of loud.”
Dev came to a seated position. The sand was firmer than it looked. “That was an impressive throw.”
“Fun fact, Ayesha’s a black belt.” Jia’s smile was small and apologetic. “It’s a bad idea to startle her.”
“What is happening down here?” An older couple came into view and Dev mentally groaned. So not only had he startled Jia’s sister bad enough that she’d karate tossed him, now he had to meet her parents sprawled on the ground with his clothes all sandy.
Dev came to his feet and dusted off his pants. “You must be Dr. and Dr. Ahmed. I’m Dev Dixit. I apologize for not being here when you arrived.”
“Hmmm.” Her father regarded him with a disapproving frown. “You came home and decided to come play in the sand instead of greeting us?”
“He wasn’t playing in the sand. I accidentally tripped him,” Ayesha said in a rush.
Their mother’s eyes widened. “Ayesha. How could you do that?”
Mischief danced in Jia’s eyes. “Yeah, Ayesha. How couldyou do that?”
“I startled—” Dev started to explain, but Ayesha cut him off.
“I am very clumsy.”
Mohammad shook his head. His clothes were similar to Dev’s, slacks and a button-down shirt, sans sand. “Apologies on behalf of our daughter, Dev.”
“It was my fault,” he assured them hastily, extending his hand. Then he saw it had sand on it, so he pulled it back and tried to wipe it surreptitiously on his thigh.
“What a gentleman you are,” Farzana crooned as she looked him up and down. He’d been on the receiving end of that calculating look from aunties before, so it didn’t faze him too much. This time, actually, he welcomed it. Her parents liking him would make this all easier on Jia.
“Shall we go inside?” he suggested. “We can relax in the living room until dinner.”
“That would be nice.”
They walked to the house, Jia at his side. So much for talking to her first. He let his pinkie brush against hers, hoping to convey some comfort.
“I understand you parent your niece, Dev,” Mohammad said, and Dev tucked his hand close to his side guiltily. “We would love to meet her and your uncle, as well.”
“I do, yes.” They entered the back door, which led directly into the spacious living room. He gestured to the seats. “Please make yourselves at home. I’ll go fetch them.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jia said, her tone bright.
Her mother frowned and opened her mouth, presumablyto stop the two of them from going off alone, but Ayesha spoke up. “Mom, is that a Picasso?”
“Where?”
Ayesha winked at Jia and led their parents to the wall, and Dev smiled. He’d forgive his future sister-in-law for tossing him into the sand if she could keep running interference like this.
Chapter Twenty-One
JIA RELEASEDthe breath of anxiety she’d been holding as she walked next to Dev. When she’d first come across him lying on the sand at Ayesha’s feet, she’d met his dark gaze for one pregnant moment. She’d never been able to speak with someone in a look like she did with Ayesha, but it was so easy with him.
Are you okay?his look asked, though he was the one vanquished on the ground.
As well as can be.
Don’t worry.
I’ll try.
She stopped walking, and he turned to look at her. She stared at him for a long moment, then launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck and inhaled. Dev’s hands smoothed down her back, so his fingertips rested on the curve of her butt.
