by Sajni Patel
“What if he just wants to date?”
“Come on, ladies. Do you really think he’s just a ‘dating’ kind of guy?”
They flicked their chocolate or swirled their glasses, but they all looked away.
My hopes dwindled into nothing as my friends finally realized that I spoke the truth. “Exactly,” I said softly.
“Go out with me,” a voice called from behind me that following Monday. It was too early in the week for this.
I would recognize that deep, throaty voice anywhere. I smirked and finished sorting through my paperwork before turning to find him at my office door.
Jay sported a deliciously dark gray suit, dapper as always, and his arms were crossed like he was tasked with preventing me from leaving.
“You’re embarrassing yourself.”
“I think you should go out with me,” he refuted.
“Why bother?” I exhaled, placing my blazer on the wall hook beside his head.
He took in every inch of my curve-hugging silk blouse and pencil skirt. “I need to see where things can go.”
“What else ya got?”
“I want you to tell me that you’re not interested after giving this a serious shot.”
I tried to move him aside, tried to squeeze between him and the doorframe, but he gently backed me against the wall, his hand carefully touching my waist, his chest grazing mine.
“Is this okay?” he whispered.
I should’ve said no instead of nodding, not because his barely there touch wasn’t okay, but because I wouldn’t be able to deny him a thing if he kept this close to me. Because if he got any closer, we might actually tear off each other’s designer clothes and find ourselves in some hot, emotional mess.
He closed the door without giving space between us, his gaze never faltering from mine. And, holy crap, my breath hitched.
“What are you doing?” I asked, out of breath and absolutely hating that he could hear it. I was literally one touch away from wanting him to devour me. He barely touched me, and yet my entire body ached for him.
“Asking you out, again and again,” his said, his voice dropping.
My stomach fluttered, and I concentrated on controlling my breathing. “You know that I have work to do.”
“There are plenty of people who volunteered to work overtime this week.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “There’s actually no room for you in the labs. You’d just get in their way.”
“I still don’t have time for you,” I said, my stare stuck to his mouth.
“Are you certain?” He placed a hand against the wall, beside my head, and tilted his face closer to mine.
I didn’t understand why my knees practically buckled, or why I wanted to feel the softness of those full lips on mine. Or, more important, why I didn’t just take control and kiss him first. But then he’d know that I was attracted to him, and that would encourage him to keep this silly notion rolling.
He ran a featherlight touch down my jaw. Did he expect me to quiver with need? Manipulate me into agreeing to his terms?
Liya Thakkar was not that weak.
I pressed against him, our eyes still locked. Gripping his jacket, I raised myself onto my tiptoes and whispered, “If you want to screw me, just say so.”
His jaw hardened into a clench so tight, his teeth might’ve broken. “Why would you say that?”
I had him figured out, and the truth definitely hurt, but what other reason was there? “Because you’re a man. Why else would you go through this trouble, knowing the gossip about me? By now, all of it has reached you and your mother, and neither one of you think marrying me is beneficial for your family. Sudden interest after I turned you down and explained that I don’t want marriage? Why else are you trying to get me? Which rumors got you thinking about how good I am in bed?”
He pulled away from my hands and walked out, all the while his nostrils flaring.
“Didn’t think I’d catch on to the truth?” I called after him.
As I stood there, my blood boiling, my lips quivered from the realization that most men saw nothing more in me than a good time. Something cracked in my chest. Maybe…I had hoped Jay would be different.
I startled when he stormed back in. His angry eyes bored into mine, which pissed me off even more.
Through gritted teeth, he said, “If I’d wanted to screw you, I would’ve said so, Liya. But the fact that you think I’m that kind of guy is insulting.”
“Don’t be mad at me for calling you out,” I spat back.
“I’ve never met a woman who gets me so worked up in a matter of seconds with that smart-ass mouth.”
“I’m sure you’ve heard of what this mouth is good at, since you’re still here.”
Smoke nearly vented from his nostrils. “You think others demean you, but you’re the worst offender. You’re better than that. And I hope by the time the next decent guy comes around, you’ll know your self-worth.”
“Don’t you ever think that you have the right to talk to me that way.”
He scoffed. “I hope you grow up.”
“You better leave.”
He held his hands up and stepped back, but his anger did not dissipate. “I don’t know what you see in yourself, Liya, but I see a lot more.”
“Don’t try to make me feel bad for calling you out, for knowing who you really are. What’d you think? That making up some story of how suddenly my team wants to work overtime and backing me against the wall would make me drop my panties?”
He shoved his hands into his pockets, his chin lifted, and his gaze blazed down at me. “I didn’t make up a thing. Your own conduct made your team step up. I sure as hell wasn’t trying to get into your panties, either. I don’t play games.”
“You mean you don’t try. Not even flowers.”
“Flowers are done. Mike sent you flowers, remember? I did get you something, and it wasn’t a cheap bouquet that’ll die in three days.”
“And where exactly is this gift? At your place, right?”
“At yours, actually.”
I opened my mouth to snap at him, but he walked out and said, “You messed this up, Liya. We would’ve been good together. We could’ve had something real.”
I clenched and unclenched my fists, drowning the need to scream or run after him.
When my rage subsided, I calmly went to the labs, only to find that Jay had spoken the truth.
The labs were filled with team players willing to work overtime to keep the company afloat. And they did so with a smile.
Which also meant that I could go home on time and defuse my anger. Except, when I approached my front door, a box awaited me, the gift from Jay. And when I opened it, my anger erupted all over again.
Chapter Seventeen
Jay
I feel as though we don’t see you anymore during the week,” Ma said from my dining table.
I hurried through cooking, having forgotten that it was my turn to host our weekday dinner. Weekends were times that our family saw one another at gatherings and mandir, but Ma missed having both of her boys together for weekday dinners. Since I’d been helping Liya, that ungrateful woman, for the past few weeks, I’d skipped out on our meals, which upset Ma.
We’d always been close. Before Dad passed, we ate breakfast and dinner together every day.
After Dad passed, we still tried to be regular in weekly family meals. We kept up the tradition after Jahn married Shilpa, seeing that they lived with Ma and took care of her. It was something I really had to stop neglecting.
I was glad to be back with my family. Family dinners were times of reprieve from daily life, from hectic work, stressful mishaps, and women who drove me insane.
“Let me help,” Shilpa insisted, grabbing plates.
“Nope. Bhabhi, you sit, put your feet up,” I insisted.
She pouted. “Everyone talks like I’m incapacitated. Sitting around and eating ‘for two’ will make me lazy and large. I have
to be active so I can push this baby out and recover faster.”
“Uh, please don’t talk to me about pushing anything out.”
She leaned a determined elbow on the counter, like she was about to throw down a daring bet. “You let me help cook or I will stand here and describe in graphic detail the glorious agony of labor.”
Jahn laughed. I hoped Ma would argue, seeing that she’d been the most concerned about Shilpa not exerting herself, but she also laughed.
“All right, geez. You play hardball.”
She smiled and took over, bumping me out of her way. “Don’t mess with a pregnant woman.”
“Oh, I won’t. Never again.”
Since Ma didn’t want Shilpa to do too much, she ended up helping, too. Jahn and I set the table, made lemonade and cha, but as we began our meal, someone rang the doorbell.
Before I pushed my chair back, the ring turned into a violent bang against the door.
Ma looked at me with concern, but I held my hand out. “It’s fine. I’m sure someone is at the wrong apartment.”
My family watched from the table as I checked the peephole. I groaned.
“Who is it?” Jahn asked, ready to jump to his feet.
“Liya.”
He grinned. “She sounds pissed.”
“You don’t know the half of it…”
I swung the door open and stepped out before she could bombard me, and my family, with more wild accusations.
She shoved a package into my arms and staggered away.
“What is this?” I took a few steps after her.
“Your so-called gift. I don’t want it,” she snapped.
“What am I supposed to do with these?”
She flicked her hand back, as if volleying my words back at me. “Return them.”
“Do you know how expensive return shipping is? Just take them. I bought them to replace your broken ones.”
Her face turned red. She was on fire.
“Damn, woman. Who the hell reacts like this to a gift?”
She seethed and said pointedly, “You don’t do flowers because they’re cheap. I guess you figured I was worth a little more. A high-priced lay?”
“You are freaking insane,” I gritted out.
“Oh, I was supposed to accept these Louboutin shoes from the kindness of your heart and not think I owe you something in exchange? It’s not like you’re the one who broke them. What kind of maniac buys a woman he barely knows fourteen-hundred-dollar shoes!”
“You need to keep your voice down, and I’m not a maniac. Unlike you. If you can’t accept them, then why didn’t you take them to work and drop them off at my office? Instead of raising all hell so my neighbors can hear?”
“And your family…” Shilpa said from the opened door, Ma and Jahn behind her.
My neck turned hot and Liya’s face looked even hotter. Embarrassment choked out whatever words we had left to throw at each other.
“Oh…I didn’t know you had family over,” Liya muttered.
Shilpa grinned. “Are you seriously mad that he bought you gorgeous shoes? I’d take them if my feet weren’t so swollen.”
Liya touched a hand to her chest. “I am so sorry for interrupting your dinner.”
“They get an apology and I don’t?” I asked.
She glared at me. “Shut. Up.”
“In front of my mother?” I asked, half offended.
Her face remained bright red as she faced Ma. “I am truly sorry. I’m going to leave.” She spun around and headed for the elevator.
“Good,” I mumbled and turned to face three angry people. “What?”
“Go get her,” Ma ordered.
“But, Ma. She’s irrational. Who reacts like that at getting a gift? She broke her favorite shoes, and I thought I’d be nice and replace them.”
“There’s obviously a misunderstanding, beta.”
“Yeah, she thinks she owes you sex?” Jahn asked, and Ma glared at him. “Sorry, Ma. But she did. Maybe some stupid guy did something like this once and he expected her to return the favor.” He shrugged. “There’s always something more to what women say.”
Ma waved me away. “Go. Hurry before she leaves.”
I groaned. “Yes, Ma.” But I did not hurry.
Jahn took the box, and everyone else, inside.
“And invite her to dinner!” Ma called as I turned the corner.
What? Our family dinners were not for anyone else. I clenched my jaw, but there was no point in denying Ma’s good heart. I found Liya tapping a foot in front of the elevator and biting her thumbnail.
“That’s not going to make the elevator come any quicker,” I said, standing beside her.
“Go away,” she snapped.
In a more level tone, I replied, “Listen. We were about to eat dinner. Do you want to join us?”
She stared at me, baffled. “Are you joking?”
“No.”
“Go away.”
The elevator dinged. “Please?”
“So you can parade me in front of your family and rile me up for amusement?”
“Well, you are easy to rile, and that’s your problem.” The doors opened. “But my family, especially Ma, insists that you come in for dinner.”
“Tell them thanks for the invitation.” She stepped into the elevator, but I stood in the doorway to prevent it from closing. “You’re going to set off the alarm.”
“I promise I will not argue. I’m not setting you up. In fact, I don’t intend to speak to you outside of work-related matters after tonight.”
An uninterested Liya replied, “I have nothing to gain by going in there.”
“Shilpa,” I reminded.
“I can see her another time.”
“She’ll be too busy with the baby soon.”
Liya took a step toward me, her arms crossed as her discerning eyes met mine. “Are you going to get yelled at if I don’t go?”
“How can you sense the truth so easily and still be hardheaded about me truly wanting to date you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Because good liars can hide well.”
“Are you coming inside or not?”
“Nope.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. I wasn’t going to force her.
“Liya?” Shilpa called from behind me.
I stepped back but held my hand out to keep the elevator doors from closing. Liya’s defensive demeanor was quickly dismantled. Her arms dropped to her sides, her sour face turned friendly.
“Come on. Dinner’s getting cold,” Shilpa said.
“Another time. You know? Without him.”
Shilpa took Liya’s hand and pulled her along anyway. “Don’t mind Jay and whatever idiotic thing he did.”
Liya quirked her brows at me in passing.
“Why am I the idiot?” I asked as I followed them into the apartment.
“Because you’re a guy,” they said in unison.
The girls sat with Ma as I pulled up another chair and Jahn grabbed an extra plate.
“What happened?” he asked quietly in the kitchen while I grabbed a cup and utensils for Liya.
“I’m nice to her, right? And I ask her out.”
He shook his head. “Rookie mistake.”
I ignored him. “And then she flips and accuses me of wanting to screw her. So when she sees the shoes I replaced, she freaks out even more, thinking that I bought those to make her owe me.”
“Another rookie mistake.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Why do you bother with her?”
“After tonight, I won’t. She’s the most maddening woman in the world.”
Jahn chuckled.
“And now look, my own mother turned against me. They just assume I’m in the wrong. I should be inconsiderate to women? Is that what they’re telling me?”
“There is no way you can win today. Give it up.” He slapped my shoulder, and we returned to the table.
I had to follow
Jahn’s advice, because when it came to women banding together, it was best to leave things alone. Ma sat at the head of the table and Shilpa sat across from Jahn and beside Liya so that Liya was across from me.
Whenever Liya glanced at me, which wasn’t often, she had daggers for stares. Her annoyance level was ridiculous. But as soon as Ma engaged her in conversation, she was someone else entirely.
They spoke kindly and fondly, like old friends. Liya, not being at all traditional, displayed genuine respect for her elders with Ma. It wasn’t fake or forced, but inherent. They chatted with Shilpa about work and pregnancy and baby stuff. So much baby stuff. Liya laughed and sank her teeth into homemade falafels. Lettuce and red sauce spilled onto her plate, but she casually swiped it up with a finger and a quick lick.
Well, hell. That tongue. It wasn’t a lascivious action, or even aimed at me. But there was something mesmerizing about watching a beautiful woman eat, lost in conversation and pointedly oblivious to me.
I’d thought Liya sitting in on our prized family dinner would interrupt our flow, our calm. But once she unwound, it was almost as if she were part of the family. We might not click on every level, but she definitely clicked with my family.
After dinner, while Jahn helped me with the cleanup, Shilpa shrieked when Liya gave her permission to open the shoebox—not that Liya had any claims on it now. She’d been clear that she didn’t want the shoes.
“These. Are. Gorgeous! Tell me that you’re going to keep them!” Shilpa said as she admired the shoes.
Liya shook her head. “I’ll buy my own pair to replace the ones that broke, which I also bought myself.”
Shilpa tsked. Ma didn’t seem to understand what the big deal was. They were pretty shoes, and if she’d heard how much I’d spent on them, then she hid it well.
Seeing that we all, with the exception of Ma, had work in the morning, the family called it a night at eight. Plenty of time to drive home safely, shower, and get whatever they needed done for the morning.
“You must come to dinner again,” Ma insisted.
“Thank you. This was very nice,” Liya responded.
“You probably have family dinners of your own?”
“No. We haven’t had a family dinner since high school. Everyone’s just so…busy,” she replied, and I wondered what “busy” really meant.