RAGNA SS :MY DESIRES FOR YOU-part16-pg:124 updated 15/5 - Page 51

Kalpana arrived in the United States feeling like a new woman. The unexpected all expense paid trip to see her family had been like a miracle, and having both Raghav and Kaira with her made the visit even more special. And to top it off she'd found resolution to that part of her life that had haunted her for so long. Prem was not and had never been the man for her. Now she had closure.

She soon settled into her old routine with Kaira, reviewing letters and numbers and reading stories in the morning then spending the afternoons at play on the lawn, swimming in the pool or working in the garden. She'd been nanny to the little one two months now and she almost saw her as her own daughter. At times her mind would fast forward to the day when she would have to go, return to her life as a student, leaving behind a child who had become so special to her. And Raghav. To think that there would come a day when she would never see him again. It did not bear thinking about.

She still remembered his kiss that day by the stream. She'd

relived it so many times in her mind. She hadn't wanted that moment to end. But it did. And it was a good thing, too, because she was losing her heart and soul to Raghav Singhania .

What was she going to do? She'd just overcome one hurdle by expunging Prem and now she'd gone and created another problem? The man was her Employer which was bad enough but on top of that he was involved.Or was he?Pakhi had been over several times since their return but most times

it was when Raghav wasn't around. Each time she'd come she'd made

it clear that she was dying for both her and Kaira to disappear. She

continued to hint at a longstanding relationship with Raghav but then

Kalpi hardly saw them together. Was their relationship a secret? Was

Raghav engaging in love trysts at her house rather than his, seeing

that she and Kaira were there? It made her heart ache just thinking about it.

There was something Kalpi had to do, something that was against her nature but totally necessary under the circumstances. She was going to have to meddle in somebody else's business.

That night after she'd put Kaira to bed she went downstairs to find Raghav. He was lounging in the comfy couch in that room he called his man cave'. Fitted out with a huge television that covered half of one wall it had surround sound that made the room sound like a movie theatre when the TV was on.

Tonight he didn't have it on. Instead he lay in the semi-dark room, seeming to be lost in thought.

"Raghav," she said as she stood in the doorway, "can we talk?"

He jumped, clearly startled at the sound of her voice. Then he propped himself on one elbow and looked over at her. "Sure, come on in," he said.

She stepped into the room but she didn't go near the couch where he lay. It would not do to get so close to a man who looked so sexy in an A-shirt and faded jeans that hung low on his hips. She went to perch on the edge of an easy chair and folded her hands in her lap. She was deliberately trying to look subdued. What she was about to say was something that might rile Raghav up so she didn't want to come across as aggressive in any way.

"I want to talk to you about Kaira," she said quietly.

Raghav frowned and sat up. He planted his bare feet on the floor and

rested his elbows on his knees. He trained his chocolate brown-eyed

gaze on her. "What is it?"

Kalpi took a breath. How to begin? She decided to plunge right in. "I'm concerned about Kaira. What's going to happen to her when I leave in the fall?"

Raghav expelled his breath and a look of relief passed over his face. "I thought you were going to tell me something was wrong with her."

"No, not at all," she replied quickly. "I'm sorry I scared you and I really don't mean to pry but...I just need to know what plans you have for Kaira after I'm gone."

His eyebrows lifted. He seemed taken aback by her question and for a moment there was silence. Had she upset him with her question? She held her breath. She knew she'd taken a risk in digging into his personal business but she had a very good reason for asking.

"I've been giving it some thought," he said finally then he shook his head, "but to tell the truth, I haven't made a final decision."

"Do you have any ideas, any plans?" Her voice came out breathless with relief.

He was actually having a conversation with her about the matter. Thank goodness he hadn't slammed her for being nosy.

"I've had a few suggestions thrown my way," he said with a thoughtful look. "A distant relative to come in, a matronly lady who can be like a mother to her, boarding school-."

"What did you say?" Kalpi's words shot out in a vehement whisper. " How could you even consider it?"

"What? The caretaker or the-"

"The boarding school." She cut him off before he could even finish the sentence.

"Raghav, you are not sending that little girl to a boarding school."

"I never said-"

Kalpi hopped to her feet, unable to sit still a moment longer. "Yes, you did. You said you were considering it."

"Will you calm down?" Raghav straightened his back and glared up at her. "Sit down so we can have a sensible discussion."

Kalpi sucked in her breath. Was he ordering her around?

"Please," he said, his tone softer, almost apologetic. But not quite. "Have a seat so we can talk."

She sat back down on the chair and waited for him to speak. She'd better get control of her emotions or else she'd be out of Kaira's life even earlier than scheduled. She couldn't afford for that to happen. She would cling to her little charge as long as she could.

"Now," Raghav began, his tone firm, "I said I got suggestions but that doesn't mean I was planning to implement any of them. I need to evaluate all the options and then I'll decide what's best for Kaira."

"And when are you going to decide?" Kalpi shot back.

"Soon," he said, frowning again.

Kalpi didn't know if it was out of annoyance at her questions or simply because he was thinking. She decided to assume he was thinking. Now would be the best time to air her major concern. "I know who made those suggestions. It was Pakhi, wasn't it?"

He nodded.

"And did you ever stop to think that she might have an ulterior motive?"

Raghav cocked an eyebrow and stared back at her. He said nothing. He was obviously waiting on her to explain herself.

"Pakhi has made it very clear that she doesn't want Kylie...or me...around."

She shook her head as the anger rose in her. "I don't care what she thinks about me but how could she dislike Kaira?"

Raghav frowned. "What makes you think that?"

Men were so dense. How could he not know what the woman was really like?

"Raghav, haven't you noticed how cool her interaction is with Kaira? It was only after the death of Kaira 's mother that she acted with any kind of warmth... if you can call giving a few stuffed toys being warm."

Kalpi got up, unable to stay seated any longer. She needed to express herself and she needed her hands, her whole body in order to do that. She was wound too tight sit still. And she had to make him understand.

She wrung her hands together then she blurted it out, that thing that had been worrying her all this time. "What's going to happen to Kaira when you and Pakhi get married? How is she going to live with a woman like that?"

"What?" Raghav looked at her as if she'd gone mad. "What are you talking about?"

"You and Pakhi," Raghav said exasperated. Why was he pretending? "She said you've been seeing each other for years and that it was only because of your business and frequent travels that you decided to delay marriage." When Raghav still looked dumbstruck she waved her hand in an expression of frustration. "Think about it. Now that there's a child in your home there's no reason to delay the marriage. In fact, it's a very good reason to settle down. But then who's going to protect Kaira from... her?"

Her voice cracked and she felt the sting of a tear in the corner of her eye. She turned away. The last thing she wanted was for him to see how this was affecting her. Let him think this was only about Kaira because Kaira was, in truth, her greatest concern. But deep down inside she had to admit it was about her, too. How could she bear the pain of knowing that she didn't have a chance in this world of being with the man who had stolen her heart?

Raghav burst out laughing.

Kalpi whirled round to face him. What in the world did he find so funny?

Before she could move he was on his feet and walking toward her. Then he was close enough that she breathed in the fragrance of what must have been the bath gel he showered with. It was a fresh, masculine scent that had her reeling.

He put his hand on her shoulder. "Rest assured, Pakhi and I are not getting married."

She looked up into his eyes, her heart pounding loudly in her ears. "You're not?"

"No," he said, "we're not." He let his hand slid from her shoulder but he did not

step away. Instead, he took her hands in his. "I've known Pakhi for many years. I met her through her husband Samar Raizada-my best friend ." When Kalpi frowned he smiled. "He went to solve some hurdles in our New Zealand office " Then he shook his head. "Trust me, whatever Pakhi led you to believe, there is nothing going on between us. We're just friends and Sammy -pakhi love each other."

"Then why would she..." Kalpi's voice trailed away.

"Who knows? Maybe she just enjoyed leading you astray." Raghav shrugged.

"Maybe she thinks you're a threat to me ."

Now Kalpi was really confused. "Me? How? I'm just the Babysitter."

"Oh, but a very beautiful, extremely seductive Babysitter."

Kalpi's heart lurched at his words. She looked up quickly, her eyes searching his. Was he toying with her? But no, his eyes had clouded over with a passion that could not be mistaken.

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