Page 120 of Lawfully Yours

He had never said those three words to her. Not even once. Not when they got married. Not when they fought. Not when she left. Maybe he didn’t realise it then. Maybe he was too caught up in pride and power and past regrets.

But this time, he’d say the words.

Even if she made him earn every damn syllable of her trust. He finally stepped out of his cabin twenty minutes later. Arundhati still hadn’t arrived at the office. She would likely show up at her usual hour, unbothered, unhurried…unlike him, who’d practically raced through the morning just for a glimpse of her. Why was she always like this? Why did she bury what she felt for him?

*****************

A few minutes later

Arundhati nearly stumbled at the entrance of Verma & Associates. It wasn’t like her to be this clumsy, but maybe it was the rush to get inside, cross the lobby, take that familiar left, walk straight past the main hall, take the second right, andunlock the glass door that would reveal the one person who hadn’t left her thoughts since the moment she had returned from Dalhousie.

Kushal Nair.

She couldn’t sleep well last night. No matter how many times she turned on her side, fluffed her pillow, or tried meditative breathing, her mind wouldn’t shut up. Kushal’s handsome face, those flirtatious quips, the dark heat in his gaze, everything kept replaying in her head.

At 6 a.m., she had finally given up, lacing her sneakers and heading for a punishing workout at the gym. But even the treadmill couldn’t run him out of her head. A long shower didn’t help either. If anything, it made her miss his touch more. She had almost dressed quickly and driven to the office just to be near him, but she forced herself to slow down now. She wouldn’t be the desperate one.

And yet, here she was. As she made her way inside, her wait was over. Across the space in the pantry, Kushal was pouring himself coffee. He wore a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, collar open just enough to hint at the strong chest beneath. There was something about the way he leaned against the counter, so casually sexy, that made her heart flutter.

As if he felt her, he turned around and their eyes met.

She hadn’t planned to walk toward him, but her legs carried her across the floor without permission.

She only realised she was in the pantry, not her cabin, when he tilted his head and quirked a brow. Arundhati opened her mouth, about to offer some excuse about needing a coffee too, when suddenly his demeanour shifted. His jaw hardened, and that naughty smirk vanished.

He was no longer looking at her. But behind her. Why?

She turned around and froze, too, because Kamya Bakshi walked into the building confidently, in a sleek ivory bodycondress. Her designer heels clicked softly as she approached the pantry where she and Kushal were, her scarlet lips curved in a smug, knowing smile. Her eyes didn’t even flinch as she brushed past Arundhati without acknowledgement.

“I heard I was being missed,” Kamya said, her voice laced with delight, her gaze locked on Kushal.

Arundhati glared. That’s what Kushal had said to Noyonika in Dalhousie, hadn’t he? To tell Kamya that he, her old friend, missed her. That he wanted her to come to Verma & Associates. Now here she was! Having the audacity to say that to her husband, Kushal, before her.

As Kushal read the storm in Arundhati’s eyes, the guilt was immediate on his face.

“Oh, hi, Arundhati,” Kamya said, turning to her. “Sorry, I didn’t realise it wasyou.”

That tone. That smirk. That fake apology. Urgh!

Professionalism dictated that Arundhati respond with grace. After all, Kamya was still a client. But instead, Arundhati offered her nothing but a steely glare, and turning around, she retreated down the corridor toward her cabin.

Kamya’s smirk widened as if the mission was accomplished. The coffee cup in Kushal’s hand was long forgotten as he watched Arundhati disappear.

Kamya took a step closer to him.

“It’s nice to see you again, Kushal,” she said, her voice honeyed with familiarity. “Long time.”

His hands were in his pockets, but his shoulders stiffened just slightly.

“I wasn’t expecting you to show up this quickly,” he replied. “Didn’t think a short-notice invite would do the trick.”

“Oh, come on. How could I resist?Youwere the one who said you missed me… asked to see me. I’d to drop everything else and come here right away.”

Her fingers hovered near the crisp fabric of his shirt sleeve, her manicured nails just about to make contact when Kushal stepped back, avoiding her touch as if it burned.

“Let’s cut the games, Kamya,” he said flatly. “We both know why you’re here. So, let’s skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point. But not here. Let’s talk where we should.”

He turned on his heel without waiting for her response, striding out of the pantry with that purposeful walk of his. Kamya blinked, momentarily thrown off by the lack of charm she’d once grown used to. She followed him with a hint of irritation flickering across her face.