Page 170 of Lawfully Yours

Raj’s smile faltered as he became a bit emotional, but Arundhati wasn’t done yet.

“And last night,” she added quietly, “after you left… things between us started mending too. Slowly, but surely. That’s why I said you are lucky for us.”

Raj’s brows lifted in surprise, his heart thudding with hope for the two of them. “Really?” he asked, leaning forward, eager. “What exactly happened?”

That was when the door knocked, and Kushal walked in.

Even after a long, exhausting day at court, he carried that devastating aura with him. Even the faint shadow of fatigue was unable to dim his sharp features. His eyes immediately sought her, catching her in one brief, wordless glance that lingered long enough to make her insides flip. A faint smile tugged at hismouth, but he quickly turned toward Raj, slipping back into his serious tone.

“We won the Mittal case,” he announced proudly as he pushed the thick court file onto the desk. “The decision was in our favour.”

Raj’s face lit up. He shot up from his chair, beaming, and embraced Kushal warmly. “Congratulations, Kushal. I knew you’d get it. You always do.”

Arundhati too looked at him with the same pride. “Congratulations, Kushal.”

For a beat, their eyes met again. The heat in his gaze was unmissable, like he wanted more from her than just a polite word. Like he wanted her to say it differently. To say it with the same intimacy they had between us the last night.

Raj noticed the charged silence between them, the way they were staring as though no one else in the world existed. He cleared his throat loudly, but neither Kushal nor Arundhati flinched.

Thankfully for him, the shrill ring of his extension phone broke the moment. He answered, frowned slightly, and then said, “A client’s waiting for me in the conference room.”

He gave the two of them one last knowing look before excusing himself and leaving the cabin.

And just like that, they were alone.

Kushal finally turned to her. “You didn’t wish me.”

“I did.”

He stepped closer, before his hand slid around her wrist, tugging her toward him until there was barely an inch between their bodies. “That’s not how wives congratulate their husbands. If we’re working on this marriage, Aru… we need to upgrade our ways of celebration too.”

Her brows lifted, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. She knew exactly what he meant. Her eyes glinted as she leaned forwardon her toes and pressed her lips against his cheek. It was a soft, wet, lingering kiss. She made sure to take her time, letting her lips graze and linger deliberately before pulling away with maddening slowness.

He liked it, but damn her, she had kissed his cheek. His cheek? When what he wanted, what he burned for, was her lips on his? But this was their game. Torturing each other, testing who would bend first.

Still holding his gaze, she murmured, teasingly. “Congratulations, Kushal. You had to win. I never doubted your intelligence or your capabilities.”

He smirked darkly. “But you doubted my love.”

Her brows drew together in mock confusion.

“Did I?” she countered. “I don’t remember you ever telling me youlovedme. Did you already do that? Please remind me when—”

The challenge in her voice stabbed straight through him. And she wasn’t wrong. They had never said it. Never spoken those three words the way they should have, and it was high time now!

He released her abruptly, stepping back. For a moment, she worried she had pushed too far. But then she caught the flicker of mischief in his eyes, that dangerous curve of his mouth, and relief rushed through her veins.

“Time to make some serious amends then,” he said.

“Absolutely,” she replied instantly, matching his tone, her eyes sparking. “We need to go in order. Date first. Then comes the proposal. Kiss. And then…” Her smile curved wickedly as she let the rest hang in the air.

He narrowed his eyes. “You think we are going to wait that long?”

She shrugged, cocking her head like the innocent temptress she was. “Iwould. But I can’t say the same aboutyou. Either way, we are going to do this order-wise this time.”

His hot and intense gaze locked onto hers before he accepted her challenge. “Then let’s start with a dinner date. Tonight. Let’s see who breaks the order first.”

She arched a brow, agreeing to his challenge. “Any dress code?”