Page 13 of Driven By Desire
“Problem?” Chirag’s sleepy voice had him glancing over at the door. Wearing grey track pants that hung loosely from his waist and nothing else, he yawned loudly and scrubbed a hand through his hair. Sauntering in, he grabbed Krish’s mug from his hand and came to stand next to him.
“Why would there be a problem?”
“Well, you’re staring soulfully at Max and sighing.” Taking a huge gulp from the mug, Chirag cradled it possessively to his bare chest. Just in case, his brother had any thoughts of reclaiming it.
That was enough to have Krish tear his gaze from Max and look at his brother. “Staring soulfully?”
The incredulous question had Chirag grinning sheepishly. ‘I once went out with this chick who writes poetry.”
Lips twitching, Krish waited for the punchline. Chirag didn’t disappoint.
“She talks in verse.” After a brief pause, he added, “All the time.”
The burst of laughter drew Max’s gaze up to the window.
Her eyes briefly skimmed Chirag’s bare chest before landing on Krish.
In boxers, a frayed grey t-shirt and a fairly intense case of bedhead, he looked sleepy, rumpled and ridiculously appealing.
What a picture the two of them made. If someone could bottle the appeal of the three Mehra brothers, they’d be laughing all the way to the bank.
Glancing back at Chirag, she smiled faintly in acknowledgement of his wave before bending back to her work.
She’d been aware of Krish’s gaze following her like a searing brand from the moment he’d stepped up to the window.
Probably because she’d found herself stealing glances at his bedroom window in the hope of seeing him all morning.
Like a lovesick puppy. Disgusted with herself for still yearning for a man who didn’t want her, she grabbed her phone and dialed a number she’d been avoiding for a while.
Pressing the phone to her ear, she turned her back on the two of them and finalized her plan for the night.
She was just ending the call when the two of them sauntered out of the back door and towards her.
Chirag had pulled on a t-shirt whether out of deference to her presence or the cold, she didn’t know.
From whatever little she’d gotten to know him, she was sure it was the cold.
“Good morning. Come to check on the progress?”
“God, no.” Giving her a casual side hug, Chirag said, “Just came by to say hi.”
Wanting to keep things professional, Max said, “You’re not big on cars either?”
“Love them. Love how sexy I’m going to look when I drive this beauty but it’s not what I want to discuss first thing on a Saturday morning.”
Persisting, Max kept her eyes carefully averted from Krish’s silent figure as she said, “Since the two of you are here, let me just quickly update on you all the work that’s been done.”
Running through the full body mock-up, dismantling and check of parts that she’d completed, she said, “As I told you earlier, we need to source another electrical fuel pump. Also, I’ve called my contact for the upholstery work.
He’ll come by on Wednesday to give us an estimate on the work involved. ”
Meeting Krish’s shuttered gaze for the first time that morning, she added, “I’ll bid on the pump using my credit card and expense it to you later.”
“Sure.” He nodded. Checking his watch, he said, “I have to go get ready for work. Chirag, are you home today?”
“Yes. Normal people like me don’t work over the weekends.”
Rolling his eyes at the not-so-veiled sarcasm, Krish asked, “Can you take care of Pooja today?”
“Sure. I had brunch plans which I can shift to tomorrow. Is Adi going to take tomorrow?”
“He has plans with friends. I think they’re going to the Kuntala waterfalls for a picnic. I’ll work from home tomorrow so I can take care of Pooja.”
“Cool. See you in the evening then.” Pushing Max’s tools to one side, Chirag parked his butt on the wrought iron table.
Acknowledging his cue to leave, Krish hesitated for a minute and looked over at Max’s bent head. He waited for a second but she didn’t look up from her work.
“Max.”
Stiffening at the sound of her name, she looked up slowly. Wary eyes met his over the metal contraption she was currently working on. “If you’re free tonight, maybe we could meet for a bit. We still need to talk.”
Pretending not to see the speculative look Chirag was leveling at them, Max answered. “I’m sorry but I’m not. I have plans.”
“What plans?”
“Plans that don’t concern you,” she answered, shortly, refusing to give an inch.
“Hiding something?” He failed miserably at keeping the edge out of his voice.
“I wasn’t aware you were entitled to an accounting of what I do on my personal time.”
“It’s a simple question,” he shot back. “Why the secrecy?”
“I have a date,” she ground out. “Happy now?”
Happy? No, he was far from happy. The idea of her with another man had his fists clenching.
A thunderous roar filled his ears as he imagined her laughing with this phantom, holding his hand, kissing him.
If not for the interested presence of his brother, he was fairly sure he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from hauling her back where she belonged. In his arms.
Stepping back instead, he turned with a clipped nod to his now rabidly curious brother and walked away. Just like he should have from the beginning. Something told him he’d left it too late.