Breathless in Bollywood

by Marsh, Nicola

  Jarryd nodded, his grin sheepish. “But me dating the daughter of the woman who left you at the altar might.”

  Voigt’s eyes widened. “You’re dating Desiree?”

  His father made it sound like he’d find Jarryd running barefoot from Chennai to Bangalore more believable.

  “Technically, no.” Jarryd cleared his throat, knowing how stupid his plan would sound articulated. “The hotel’s hosting a big dating agency convention, the kind of event that will significantly raise our profile. So I need a date for appearances and the general PR hoopla, and Desiree has agreed.”

  Voigt’s eyes narrowed, coolly assessing. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  He should’ve known his dad would never be satisfied with anything less than the whole truth. Having your heart broken probably did that to a guy.

  Jarryd grimaced, knowing the rest of his revelation would sound ludicrous. “I blackmailed her into being my date. She was interviewing for the design job, I said she could do it if she posed as my date.”

  To his surprise, Voigt chuckled. “You’re insane, my boy. You could have any woman you wanted and you have to blackmail an old acquaintance into dating you?”

  Jarryd shrugged, relieved his dad found the situation amusing rather than distasteful. “I needed a woman without any romantic illusions. A woman with as much at stake as I have. Seemed like a sound business decision for us both.”

  His father’s smile faded. “Have I made you so cynical? That dating is a business for you these days?”

  Appalled by his father’s switch from amused to maudlin, Jarryd leaned forward. “Dad, I just meant that Desiree would be the last woman on earth I’d ever let myself get involved with, so that’s why it’s business. It’s better this way.”

  Rather than appeasing Voigt, his father’s mouth down-turned at the corners. “Desiree is nothing like her mother.”

  Jarryd bit back his first response of ‘how do you know?’

  For all he knew, she’d targeted his hotel for a job, knowing he’d be there, maybe to start…what? An affair? Because surely she wouldn’t be that stupid to assume they could ever have anything more?

  Her mother had destroyed his father.

  He had no intention of letting history repeat.

  “I think it’s time you knew something,” Voigt said, looking every one of his sixty-five years as weariness made him slump. “I wasn’t completely unaware of Sushma’s faults when we met. I knew what the initial attraction was—”

  “She was a fame whore,” Jarryd blurted out, immediately regretting his outburst when his father slumped further.

  “You’re right, but I’d been single for so long, tired of an endless string of casual affairs that did little to ease my loneliness. I dated the most beautiful women in the world, Son. Slept with most of them too. But the emptiness in here after your mom died?” Voigt placed a hand on his chest. “Never went away. Then I met Sush.”

  Voigt shook his head. “Maybe she caught me at a weak moment, maybe I was just ready to settle down again, but there was something about her that eased the pain.” He lowered his hand. “She didn’t fawn over me like other women. She challenged me and stood up to me and made me laugh. She was…different.”

  Jarryd remained silent, glad his father was finally opening up about the woman who’d broken his heart.

  “I wasn’t an easy man to live with. Men in their late fifties who’ve been single for decades often aren’t, but she didn’t care. She stood by me, so I decided to take a chance.” He shrugged. “I’d been taking chances on actors and scripts my whole life, I figured what was one more risk?”

  Jarryd wanted to point out that taking a chance with a gold-digging floozy was very different to a script, but he held his tongue.

  The tension grooves bracketing Voigt’s mouth eased. “Before we got engaged, Desiree came to me. Warned me off her mother.”

  Shock peppered every preconception Jarryd ever had about Desiree as he struggled not to gape in disbelief.

  The corners of Voigt’s mouth twitched. “That kid was ballsy, I’ll give her that. She told me her mother was fickle and flakey and wanted fame, fortune and never-ending attention.” He chuckled. “She said I was a fool for falling for her mom, but that she cared about me and felt she owed me the truth so I could make an informed decision.”

  “Shit,” Jarryd muttered, stunned that a twenty-year-old would have that much courage to warn his dad, and wondering if he’d misjudged her.

  When Sushma had done her runaway bride act, the paparazzi had gone wild and almost every news report or magazine article had featured Desiree alongside her mother. Painting her in the same unflattering light, implying she was as erratic as her mother.

  He’d willingly believed it, had labeled their almost-kiss on the night of his father’s engagement party as a daughter targeting him the way the mother had with his father.

  But he’d been wrong.

  Voigt snapped his fingers in front of Jarryd’s face. “So don’t go misjudging that girl, okay? You treat her right.”

  Suitably chastised, even though his father didn’t know half the dastardly thoughts he’d been harboring about Desiree and her motivations, Jarryd nodded.

  “Thanks for telling me, Dad.”

  “I told you because you’ve got yourself into an odd situation, making her pose as your date to further her career.” Voigt tut-tutted. “So don’t make a bad situation untenable by assuming the worst about her, okay?”

  “I won’t,” Jarryd said, as shame swamped him, because he already had.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Desiree entered Bhavvana’s, her favorite cafe, and caught sight of Shari and Drew almost immediately. Her former boss and his girlfriend were canoodling in a corner, snuggled so close a crowbar wouldn’t pry them apart.

  A familiar twang of wistfulness made her maudlin. She’d never experienced the kind of love that made a couple stare at each other like no one else existed. Heck, she’d never even come close. Guess she could thank her mom for something.

  Sushma’s casual approach to ‘love’—translated to dating any man with a big enough wallet—ensured Desiree never wanted to emulate her mother.

  But being wary around guys came at a cost. Not letting them get too close meant her romantic life sucked. Big time.

  The only time she’d ever truly lusted after a guy with an unswerving passion was six years ago. And now that guy was her boss and had blackmailed her into being his date for a week.

  Ugh.

  Hating the surge of heat to her cheeks that the mere thought of Jarryd Baron elicited, she strode to the table in the back corner.

  “Hey, you two, get a room.” She pointed at the water jug on the table. “Or do I need to douse you with this?”

  Shari grinned and Drew’s sheepish shrug made Desiree laugh as she sat opposite the happy couple.

  “Drew only just got back to town after a quick trip to Kolkata,” Shari said, staring with open adoration at Drew. “Look at the guy. Do you blame me for not keeping my hands off him?”

  Desiree had been Drew Lansford’s PA for two years and personally, she couldn’t see the attraction. Sure, the guy was nice, rich and an English Lord, but she preferred men with a bad boy edge.

  Men like Jarryd.

  Inwardly cursing him for intruding on her thoughts again, she pointed at Drew’s lopsided grin. “Lucky for you, Shari, guys who smile like that aren’t my type.”

  Drew snorted. “Hey, not fair.” He jerked a thumb at Shari. “I’m so ga-ga over this one, I can’t help being a schmuck.”

  Desiree rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic.”

  Shari snuggled closer into Drew’s side. “I moved from New York to Mumbai to live with this guy. That’s not pathetic. That’s romantic.”

  Drew nodded, holding Shari tighter. “And I stood up to my mother to be with her, so that’s got to count for something.”

  They chuckled, and Shari gently elbowed Drew away. “Why don’t
you head back to the office and I’ll pop in when we’re done here?”

  His eyebrows rose. “Trying to get rid of me already? Whatever happened to not being able to keep your hands off me?”

  Shari sent a pointed glance at Desiree. “Because we’ve got stuff to discuss and we know how much you hate girl talk.”

  “Say no more.” Drew stood so fast his chair almost toppled. “I’m out of here.”

  He kissed Shari on the lips, and lingered so long Desiree had to look away.

  “Go,” Shari said, shoving him gently, but her flushed cheeks indicated just how much she enjoyed the kiss.

  “‘Bye, Desiree.” He touched her shoulder briefly. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for leaving me in the lurch yet.”

  Desiree sniggered. “Sindhu’s the best PA next to me, so stop your whining.”

  “She is pretty fantastic,” he said, and winced. “Though she bullies me more than you did.”

  “Get used to it, Bollywood Boy, because once I get a ring on your finger, you’ll be bullied for the rest of your life.” Shari jabbed a finger in Drew’s direction and beamed, as Desiree’s jaw dropped.

  “You’re getting married?”

  Drew smiled while Shari clapped her hands, her excitement infectious. “We’ve talked about it. Haven’t set the date yet.”

  Desiree’s head swiveled between the beaming couple. “So you’re officially engaged?”

  Drew nodded. “Though we’re not doing all that formal palaver. We’ll just invite our closest friends to a party and we’ll get married.”

  “The paparazzi will never forgive you,” Desiree said, remembering how she’d constantly fielded requests for interviews and photo ops when she’d been his PA. “Though I don’t blame you for wanting to fly under the radar for something this important.”

  Shari’s smile faded. Her friend knew of Desiree’s past and how humiliation had dogged her courtesy of her mom.

  Shari shooed Drew away. “Now go. We need to talk about you.”

  “All good things, I hope,” he said.

  “You wish.” Desiree laughed at his mock wounded expression as he waved and headed toward the door.

  The moment he was out of earshot, Desiree leaned over and hugged Shari. “I’m really happy for you both.”

  “Thanks.” Shari’s gaze never wavered from Drew until he exited the cafe. “I can’t quite believe it, to be honest.”

  “I knew you’d end up hitched when you moved here.” Desiree hummed a wedding march under her breath. “Plus I know Drew. In the years I worked for him, I never saw him lose it the way he did over you.”

  “Considering the rocky start we had, who would’ve thought, huh?”

  Desiree snickered. “Having you travel to India to pose as your friend Amrita to break off her arranged marriage, Drew outing you, then following you back to New York, where you have a fling that culminates with you moving here permanently? Yeah, who would’ve thought?”

  Shari chuckled as she gestured at a waiter. “Guess it was fate.”

  Desiree snorted. “Don’t believe in that crap.”

  “You should, if what you told me over the phone is anything to go by.” Shari’s eyebrow quirked. “You’re working for Jarryd Baron, the only guy you’ve ever crushed on?” Shari snapped her fingers. “That’s fate at work, girlfriend.”

  The waiter appearing saved Desiree from responding, and as Shari placed their usual order, Desiree wondered for the umpteenth time since she’d walked out of the Baron Hotel two days ago if building her business was worth this.

  Dating Jarryd. Pretending to be his girlfriend. Faking it.

  When deep down, she still wondered what it would be like to be with him for real.

  Not that she’d ever find out. Courtesy of her mom, and what Sushma had done to his dad, Jarryd despised her. Probably thought she was the same: an irresponsible, giddy user.

  As the waiter left, Shari pointed at her face. “Yikes. What’s with the foul expression?”

  “Thinking of Mom.”

  Shari grimaced. “Don’t. Tell me about your new job instead.”

  Desiree hesitated. While she’d called Shari yesterday to tell her the news, she hadn’t divulged the whole truth. They’d become good friends in the six months since Shari had moved to Mumbai but would Shari judge her for being blackmailed into dating a guy in exchange for a prized job?

  Then again, considering Shari’s hare-brained scheme in posing as her BFF to ditch a fiancé, she doubted it.

  “My new job is…complicated.”

  Curiosity lit Shari’s eyes. “Define complicated.”

  “Well…” Desiree blew out a breath. “I told you how my mom ditched Jarryd’s dad at the altar.”

  Shari nodded. “That scandal even hit the entertainment channels in New York.”

  “He hates me for it.”

  “Hate’s a strong word, considering you two had a bit of thing going on before that happened?”

  Desiree wrinkled her nose. “We flirted a little. Almost kissed at Mom’s engagement party. That’s about it.”

  “So why are you in such a tizz now, six years later, working for the guy?”

  Desiree sighed. “Because I’m not just working for him. I’ll be dating him.”

  “What?” Shari shrieked so loudly that several nearby patrons shot her filthy glares and muttered disapproval in Hindi. “No way. Tell me everything!”

  “Not much to tell. He ended up interviewing me for the interior design position, said I could have the job if I posed as his girlfriend for a week.”

  “But why? I’ve checked out the guy online. He’s gorgeous.” Shari’s eyes narrowed in speculation. “So why blackmail you into being his girlfriend?” Shari wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “When he could have you more than happily fulfilling the role?”

  Desiree scowled, hating the hint of truth behind her friend’s teasing. “His hotel’s hosting some mega dating agency shindig and he wants this to be an uncomplicated business arrangement between us.”

  Shari’s brow furrowed. “Still doesn’t make any sense. He’d have a little black book filled to overflowing with women he could ask.” Her frown cleared. “Unless he’s still got the hots for you and is using this as an excuse to cozy up to you?”

  “Yeah, right.” Desiree rolled her eyes, not liking the tiny flare of interest that Shari’s proclamation elicited.

  What if Jarryd did like her? Would she be foolish enough to recognize it for anything other than a rich, powerful guy wanting something he shouldn’t?

  “You said it.” Desiree jabbed a finger in Shari’s direction. “He could have any woman he wants, the dumbass. Why would he go to all this trouble when he knows I don’t like him?”

  “Liar,” Shari murmured, as the waiter bore down on them and deposited two thalis in front of them.

  Grateful for the appearance of the steel trays covered in rice, papad, aloo ghobi, brinjal pickle, curd and green mango chutney, Desiree couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do if Jarryd set his sights on obtaining the unobtainable.

  Her.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Jarryd paced the penthouse suite, glancing at his watch for the umpteenth time.

  Inviting Desiree to dinner to discuss their dating deal had seemed like a sound business decision at the time: a chance to get their stories straight and not be seen in public together until the dating convention launch.

  But with her arrival imminent, he wondered if they’d have been better off meeting on neutral ground. Somewhere less…intimate.

  Because while the Baron Hotel’s spacious penthouse suite had plenty of room, it reminded him of the last time they’d been together in a hotel room similar to this.

  The city of Mumbai spread before him many stories below, like glittering diamonds cast against an ebony cape. Champagne chilling in an ice bucket. Soft jazz filtering through discreet speakers.

  Back then, it had been a different city. New Delhi. Where Sushma had insisted they
hold the engagement party at the newest, hippest hotel. His father could’ve had the party here, at his own hotel in Mumbai, but what Sushma wanted Voigt delivered and a star-studded entourage had made the trip to northern India.

  That night, Desiree had convinced him to help her place a few novelties in their parents’ suite, risqué gags to make the couple laugh when they returned to their room at the conclusion of the party. Unfortunately, the joke had been on him, when he’d been unable to keep his hands off her and they’d almost kissed before he’d come to his senses.

  He hadn’t liked Sushma, so he had no right taking advantage of her daughter.

  Now, six years later, he couldn’t ignore the niggle in his gut that he was doing just that.

  When he’d initially given her that outlandish ultimatum— she could do the interior of the Baron’s old wing in exchange for being his fake girlfriend for a week—he’d convinced himself it was the easiest option for him, with no chance of emotional complications.

  But deep down he’d known the real reason: he’d wanted to punish her, in a way he hadn’t been able to punish her mother for hurting his father.

  Now that he knew the truth, that she’d had reservations too and warned Voigt off her mother, he felt like a bastard for misjudging her so badly.

  Not that it would change how he approached this week, with cool, calculated precision in order to maintain their façade, but he’d make sure he eased up on the disdain.

  The elevator door slid open with quiet efficiency and he turned to see Desiree exit it, her expression that of a caged animal seeking escape.

  She looked incredible, her hair twisted into a chic chignon, her make-up flawless, her demure navy knee-length skirt and fitted jacket doing little to hide the tempting curves beneath. Interestingly, she’d dressed for a business meeting rather than dinner. Probably just as keen to keep their dealings platonic.

  He should’ve been glad. Instead, he couldn’t ignore the tiny sliver of disappointment that lodged in his gut. Did she still feel the attraction that had arced between them six years earlier? Mentally, he might’ve distanced himself from her since then but his body was having a hard time keeping up with the program. A very hard time.