Page 41 of Right Where I Belong

He chuckled, and then his forehead creased. “Wait, so you’re telling me you don’t taste the seafood you cook?”

“I don’t.”

“And it still comes out delicious?”

“What can I say, Mr. Wahi. I am that good.”

“I’ve had a taste of how good you are,” he said, voice dipping low. “And I’m dying to indulge myself again. Once wasn’t enough.”

Her breath hitched. A shiver ran through her.

“You can’t say things like that…” Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears.

“Why not? It’s the truth. You taste del?—”

She slapped a hand over his mouth, shaking her head. He kissed her palm, his tongue swirling around her skin. Her heart fluttered. Goose bumps erupted on her skin.

Moving her hand away, she said, “You’re impossible. You really shouldn’t talk like this.”

“I’m glad I affect you, Sabrina. It means you feel this too, whatever this is that is happening between us two.”

She gulped. “Your turn…”

“I like your attempt to change the subject!” He gave her a cocky smile. “Your flushed cheeks are proof enough for me, though.”

She clucked her tongue.

He raised a hand. “Okay, my turn. I once lost a multimillion-dollar deal because I overslept after a wild night of partying with Rithwik, I hate champagne, and I broke my arm while on a trek.”

She observed him carefully. “Overslept after a wild night of partying with Rithwik, that I can believe. But losing a multimillion-dollar deal, no. You’re too passionate about your work to do that. So that’s clearly a lie.”

Surprise flickered in his eyes. “How do you know I’m passionate about my work?”

“Our friends like to talk about you.”

He smirked. “Which meansyoulike listening when it’s about me, to remember such a detail.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “It means I pay attention.”

“Sure,” he grinned, “Let’s go with that.”

Of course, she’d always paid attention when someone spoke about him. Except for the time he was with Kanika, she’d made it a point to listen carefully whenever he was mentioned in any conversation. She’d always noticed him... even when she hadn’t wanted to. And when he’d been with Kanika, with news of him wanting to settle down… She’d stopped listening then.

She said, “So losing the deal is a lie. Now, about that champagne. I don’t think you hate it. I can imagine you popping champagne bottles after every successful deal. So that is also a lie. Which means, you actually did break your arm on a trek. Am I right?”

He grinned. “Bingo. In college, I went on a trek with Rithwik, the same one where I met Keya and Raashi. I broke my arm on the last day. The girls were a huge support. We’d only just connected during the trek, but they wouldn’t leave my side. They were so kind and compassionate. That’s what endeared them to me for life. We’ve been friends since.”

“That’s an amazing story. I didn’t know that.”

He gave her a naughty smile. “It’s never come up in all those conversations with our friends? You know the ones where you pay extra attention, listening to anything spoken about me?”

Her lips twitched. “No, it hasn’t.”

This man had such an easy way of breaking through her walls. The car slowed, and she realized they were pulling up to the restaurant. She exhaled, trying to steady herself, trying to summon back the defenses she’d come armed with tonight. Aditya stepped out, came around, and opened her door. His hand extended to help her out, and the moment their fingers touched, a current zinged through her. His eyes leapt to hers. She looked away quickly, refusing to acknowledge that sudden burst of energy that had flared between them.

This was just dinner, she reminded herself. A date. One evening before she said no to anything he had to offer, and then she’d walk away from him forever. It was going to be simple. Wasn’t it?

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