“Yeah.”
“Great. Go to bed,” Roshan said.
She flushed. Roshan’s eyes never left her face. His tone was less than friendly. Nimita was certain that if Vishal had been feeling better, he would have caught on early.
Vishal got up. “I’ll take some of this to Karan. So you two can talk.”
“Great idea.” Roshan wasn’t even trying to have a conversation with his friend.
Once Vishal was out of sight, Nimita found her wineglass full. They were seated outside, the crescent moon still visible over the water, the light from the restaurant dim. She sipped her wine and looked at Dave.
Why had she started calling him Dave? It was a silly name, it literally came from roll call, when a substitute teacher had read it as Dave, not Duv-ay.
Dave switched his focus to the ocean, his profile to her. Damn but the man was attractive. Chiseled jaw, slight scruff, thick hair mussed from the day.
His phone lit up, a mystical-sounding melody playing out. He grinned at her, and though she couldn’t really see his flush, she heard it in his voice. “That’s my sister. She keeps changing the ringtone for her in my phone.”
“I like her already.” Nimita froze. “Not that I needed to like her… I mean she seems cool…like…” She pressed her lips together. “Take your phone call while I sit here and not talk.”
Roshan stood, and now in the light she had a full view of his smirk as well as the amusement in his eyes. Her heart thudded. He tapped his phone and raised it to his ear as he brushed past her. He drew his finger along her shoulder as he walked, sending a current through her body.
She chugged her wine. She turned to look at him. He was far enough away that she couldn’t hear him, but she definitely noticed how his body relaxed and his face lit up as he talked to his sister.
She was glad she’d finally learned the truth. Finally forgiven him. Maybe…just maybe she had judged him too harshly.
* * *
“Hey, little sister.” Roshan couldn’t fight the grin on his face. He had just had the best day with, of all people, Nimita Chaudhary.
“What are you smiling about?” Malini’s glee could be heard through the phone.
“How do you know I’m smiling?”
“Bhaiya. I can tell. Did you meet a girl?”
Kind of. Not really. “I just had a great day—with the guys. You know I never have enough time with them.” The lie rolled off his tongue. It wasn’t the first time he’d had to lie to her.No, giving marrow is not painful. No, I don’t need to be present to accept my award, let’s play cards in the hospital.Besides, just because he had one good day with a woman didn’t mean anything.
Except that it hadn’t been agoodday, it had been a fabulous day.
“I finished reading the book,” he singsonged into the phone.
“What? You have never finished this fast.” The shock in her voice was worth it.
“It was engaging, and I couldn’t put it down. Did you finish?”
“Duh.” He could envision her eye roll.
They discussed the book for a few minutes.
“What’s the next book?” he asked.
She named another romantasy title. “But technically, it’s your turn—”
“No. That’s okay. I’ll just have to get it at home—”
“No. It’s really popular. The hotel should have it.”
Would they have two copies? The thought popped into his head. Oh no. This was dangerous.
