Page 33 of Driven By Desire

Tightening her grip on the wrench, Max eyed him warily. “What are you doing here?”

Running his tongue along his teeth to see if any of them were rattling loose, Krish answered, “I wanted to talk to you about something. If you-”

“I was planning to return the money,” she blurted out before he could finish.

Stumbling to a perplexed halt, Krish asked, “What money?”

“You paid in total for the car restoration. It’s not finished.”

“It’s not?”

“Don’t be dense,” Max snapped. “Of course it isn’t. Unless you think a fully restored car is always in bits and pieces.”

Complete silence met that pronouncement. Disbelief cracked her voice as she asked, “You haven’t even lifted the cover of the car, have you?”

“I’ve been busy,” Krish answered, defensively.

“Of course. How can I forget? The Great Krish Mehra doesn’t have time for pesky little details like that. Let’s just throw around some of the money that I spend all hours of the day making.”

Bemused, Krish watched as she waved the wrench wildly and started to pace like a little tornado.

“Max.”

No effect. Her rant had devolved into incomprehensible mutters. In moments of clarity, he caught arrogant, self-important and prig. When it didn’t look like she was going to wind down, Krish caught the windmilling arm while managing to avoid the wrench.

“Max.” When she glared at him, he said simply, “Shut up.”

Her mouth fell open in shock. A snicker from behind him had her eyes shooting to the source.

“Pooja.” The delighted exclamation had him releasing her so she could rush to hug the girl.

Keeping one arm around Pooja, she straightened from her crouch to hug Chirag and Adi as well.

When the whole lot of them continued to chatter like magpies without a break in conversation, he asked loudly, “Will you listen to me now?”

Eyes going wary, she stepped away from his family to face him.

“No,” she said simply, crossing her hands defensively across her chest.

“Please?” Pooja whispered, tugging at Max’s arm.

Max squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath and nodded. “Talk.”

It was short, curt, and angry. But it was an opening. It was more than he deserved.

“I was wrong. Colossally, monumentally wrong. Forgive me.” The sight of her standing there in her faded overalls, big eyes staring at him with so much remembered hurt in them had his words clogging his throat.

His carefully rehearsed apology scattered like feathers in a strong gust of wind.

So he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“I had a girlfriend. Before my parents died.” The entire garage fell silent like everyone was holding their collective breath.

“We’d just started dating and everything was new and bright and shiny.

It was mom and dad’s date night and I was on babysitting duty.

I didn’t like the idea that I wouldn’t be able to see her that night so I asked dad if I could borrow the car and take her out earlier in the evening.

I promised to be back before it was time for them to leave. I was. God help me, I was.”

“Don’t. You don’t have to do this.” The anguish in his voice had Max taking a reflexive step forward to comfort him but Krish held out a hand to stop her.

“I do. I really do. I came back on time but I’d drained the fuel tank and I didn’t think it was important to fill it again.

I thought dad would take care of it. Like he took care of everything.

He was mad at me. Not terribly angry but irritated because now he had to go out of his way to fill fuel before heading to the restaurant they had reservations at.

I asked him what the big deal was. The fuel pump wasn’t more than ten minutes out of his way.

He told me the big deal was responsibility.

He said, ‘When are you going to start being responsible, Krish? What will you do when I’m not around to take care of everything?

’ Then he left and he never came back. The lorry hit the car as they exited the fuel pump with a full tank of gas. ”

A single tear slipped through Max’s lashes and slid down her cheek.

Wiping it away with exquisite gentleness, Krish murmured, “Don’t cry.

Please. I’m just getting to the good part.

That night in the hospital, I was wrong.

Stupid and wrong. As I was recently informed, I’m not God and I can’t control everything that happens in life.

Accidents happen. Mistakes happen. All I can do is my best and my best no longer has to be an individual effort.

” Gesturing to his siblings, he added, “I have a team. An army.”

Stepping away, he said, “We have something to ask you.” Even as she watched, they lined up in order of age from Krish right down to Pooja and the entire family went down on one knee.

“Maxine Sheridan, will you marry us?” The tempest of emotion in their eyes that stared back at her had tears overflowing from her eyes.

Through the shimmer of tears, through the emotion that stole her breath, she held his gaze and the promise in it.

“You’re the laughter, the joy, the music, the fun in our lives.

The rainbow that makes me want to follow it to the ends of the earth in search of a pot of gold.

Yours is the face I want to see first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

I can’t imagine a world or a life without you smiling at me.

Say yes, Max, and I promise to spend the rest of my life making up for all the ways I’ve hurt you. I love you, Max.”

“Me too.” The sweet interruption had Max crying harder even as she looked over at Pooja. “I love you too Max.”

“Me too, Max.” Chirag’s low drawl had watery laughter escaping her even as Adi added, “I’ve loved you the longest since I’ve known you longer than the rest of them.”

Chirag’s muttered ‘It’s not a bloody competition’ had Max dissolving into giggles.

“I love you too.” Ferociously scrubbing the tears from her cheeks, she added, “All of you. How can I possibly say no to that proposal?”

In less than a second, Krish had her in his arms. Resting her cheek against his heartbeat, Max shut her eyes and soaked in the moment. Slipping a tiny box out of his pocket, Krish opened it. A beautiful square shaped solitaire winked out at her.

“It was my mother’s. I hope you don’t mind.” Slipping it on to her finger, he said, “I can have it changed to a pendant. I know in your line of work, wearing a ring is a hazard.”

“It’s perfect.” Reaching up, she poured her heart into a kiss that had him groaning against her mouth. Resting her forehead against his, she added, “You’re perfect.”

Turning in the cradle of his arms, she watched as her new family hooted and catcalled. Her father had come to stand by them and was beaming at her. Blowing him a kiss, she watched as Pooja clamoured for his attention.

Peace stealing over her, she tilted her head back and asked Krish, “What happened to the girlfriend?”

“She decided she didn’t want to be saddled with a readymade family.”

Outrage coloured her voice as she reached up to kiss him again with a muttered, “Dumb bitch.”

“Is it okay to use that word now that Max has used it again in front of everyone?” The interested question had Max groaning and burying her face in Krish’s shaking chest. Laughter rumbled through him and surrounded them, dragging a reluctant smile from her.

“You can deal with that situation now.” Kissing her forehead, Krish grinned. “I like this teamwork idea. Welcome aboard, partner.”

Partner. Sounded perfect.