Chapter Twenty-Three
Zoya emerged from the room, spotted Mita leaning against the wall, fanning her flushed cheeks, and blushed. There wasn't time to issue a warning"cover your eyes...or not, yeah, probably not"before Asad came up behind Zoya wearing only a towel. He pushed something into her pocket.
"Your phone," he said, and nipped her earlobe. "As my girlfriend, it's your duty"no, your honor"to send me hourly"half-hourly"reports about your day. I'll be waiting. And yes, I just labeled you."
Tingles pricked the back of her neck. "It's only a label if I accept it. And are you sure you want to know about the joys of scrubbing toilets?"
"More than anything. I'll prepare to be riveted."
Pulling away from him might have been the toughest thing she'd ever done, but she managed it.
"I want one of those," Mita said as Zoya closed the door, ensuring Asad wouldn't overhear the rest. "I moved to the city for a few years and got married, but we divorced after only six months. If there's a trick to keeping a guy like that, you have to tell me."
"There's no trick." She hooked her arm through Mita's and led her down the hall. "If being yourself isn't enough, the guy isn't worth your time." As Mita's shoulders slumped with disappointment, Zoya said, "You're amazing. Never let anyone convince you otherwise. Now. Do you have a particular guy in mind?"
A blush stained Mita's cheeks.
"You do! Who is it?"
The girl pressed her lips together in a firm line.
"You can trust me, you know," Zoya said. "I'm not going to use the information against you. I've learned my lesson about treating people that way, and I would honestly rather die than telling anyone."
Mita took a deep breath before admitting softly, "Vineet Malhotra."
"He's a good choice, though I happen to know he's a bit commitment-shy. But who knows? You could be the girl to win him over, and he is currently single." Khushi had moved on, Priya said.
"He's also here," Mita whispered with a dreamy sigh. "He came in about half an hour ago to rent a room...and requested your service."
"Why don't you do the cleaning?"
"I would, but he paid extra for you," the girl grumbled.
No way she'd go in there alone, leaving Mita to fear the worst. "Well, I'll definitely need your help."
Mita licked her lips, nodded reluctantly. They found a cleaning cart and pushed it to room twenty-five. A tremor rocked the girl as Zoya reached up and knocked.
"Remember, just be yourself," Zoya whispered. "You are a treasure, and you deserve to be treated that way."
Vineet pulled open the door a few seconds later, looking gorgeous in a black shirt and a faded pair of jeans. He was totally bad-boy hot, and Mita certainly noticed, her tremors intensifying.
"We're here to clean your already-clean room," Zoya said with sass, and he moved back, allowing them to step inside.
He hadn't brought a bag, and he hadn't hung a single piece of clothing in the closet or disrupted the sheets or even used one of the towels in the bathroom.
"Wh-where would you like us to start, Mr. Malhotra?" Mita's voice was low and sweet and layered with nerves."
"I'd like to speak with Zoya, if you don't mind. In private."
"Of course." Mita hung her head and padded toward the door, but Zoya grabbed hold of her wrist and held her in place.
She'd just garnered the slightest bit of Mita's trust. Being alone with Vineet would jeopardize such a fragile bond.
"Whatever you say to me," she said, "I'll just repeat to my partner, so save me the trouble and talk while we work."
Vineet sat at the desk while Zoya messed up his perfectly made bed in order to remake it. She claimed one side and Mita, who wouldn't pull her gaze from the sheets, claimed the other.
"Last chance to hear what I've got to say without an audience," Vineet said.
"Talk," Zoya replied.
He gave a clipped nod. "Since Khushi was hanging around the three new guys so much, I had a few contacts look into them. Samar went to prison for manslaughter, Rehaan did a few stints in rehab and Asad has a juvenile record. He fought. A lot."
I know. He told me. "Almost everyone in town knows about Samar. He served his time, and he's a good guy. As for Rehaan and Asad..."
Zoya walked to Vineet's chair, placed her hands on the arms and leaned into his face.
"If you're about to kiss me in thanks," he said, "don't. I like you as a friend. That's why I'm here."
Warm pleasure spread through her. Look at me. I bagged another friend. At this rate, I'll have the town in the palm of my hand by Winter Carnival.
"One, I'm into Asad. Two, Asad would never hurt me. If you start spreading rumors to the contrary, I might have to serve a little time in prison myself"for premeditated murder. I wouldn't like hurting you. We're friends, you just said so, but I'd do it nonetheless."
"Vineet studied her for a long while before nodding his understanding.
"Thank you." She stared at him before turning to Mita, who was wide-eyed with surprise. "Finish up here, will you?"
"Y-yes."
In the hall, she texted Asad, the need to reach out to him"to torment him"too strong to deny.
What R U wearing??
His reply came a few seconds later.
Now that I'm talking 2 U? A smile.
Wish U were wearing ME??
Only more than anything ever.
GOOD! U can wish but U can't touch. Bet U'll B the 1st 2 cave.
Really?? We will see!
Grinning, she skipped to the next room. As she cleaned, she mentally checked out, operating on autopilot"dust, scrub, vacuum, make bed. Rinse/repeat with the next set of rooms.
When she knocked on the door of her final room, she realized she'd worked twelve hours straight. A first for her, and it felt good. Look how far she'd come. From impoverished and down on her luck to making a living without help from anyone. She now had two jobs, one an outlet for her art, her greatest passion. Well, maybe not her greatest. Not any longer. She had Asad...for the moment, at least.
Mahek opened the door and glared all kinds of hatred at her. Akram "her cousin"stood behind her, grinning a big bad wolf grin.
You've got to be kidding me. "I just came to tell you I'm done for the day. Your room will have to wait."
"Ha! You're done when we say you're done." Mahek eyed her up and down and sneered. "When Akram called and told me you were here, well, I rushed right over and managed to snag the last room. I expect to get my money's worth."
Or, you know, revenge. "You expect to punish me for dating Asad." There was no way Zoya would allow these two to critique and complain about everything she did.
"He's not yours, bitch." Mahek drew back her hand. To slap Zoya across the face?
Akram caught his cousin by the elbow, stopping her.
"Let Zoya make the first move. Tara will be forced to fire her."
"Bitch," Mahek snapped again. "Asad will get tired of you soon enough."
"Maybe, but we both know he's already tired of you." Zoya retreated a step, intending to go.
Akram released his cousin to grab Zoya's wrist, keeping her in place.
"Let me go," Zoya demanded. "Now."
"Let her go, or die." Asad's voice growled from down the hall.
Gasping, she spun. He strode toward her with Mita at his side. Worry clouded the girl's face. Rage darkened Asad's. Akram let her go as if she'd just caught fire.
"Asad," Mahek said, fluffing her hair. "It's wonderful to see you."
"I cleaned this room earlier," Mita said.
"Yeah, but my cousin paid for"" Akram began.
" I just reimbursed her." Asad threw a wad of cash at the twosome before claiming Zoya's hand and focusing on Akram. "My girlfriend's shift is officially over. I suggest you leave. If you're still here in the morning, I'll take that to mean you'd love to continue our previous chat."
Mahek he simply ignored, and the girl withered before Zoya's gaze.
Almost feel sorry for her.
Almost.
As Asad tugged Zoya away, taking her the way he'd just come, she sought Mita with her gaze. "Thank you," she mouthed.
The girl offered a hesitant but genuine smile.
"You okay?" Asad asked.
"I'm fine, really, but thanks for the white-knight rescue."
"Just one of the many services I offer in my boyfriend package." He released a heavy breath. "Akram is lucky I've learned the value of restraint."
"Yeah," she said. "So lucky."
He stopped and faced her, his lips quirking at the corners. "You mocking me, baby?"
"Me? Never." The old-fashioned ambience of the place framed him"everything surrounded by pink-and-yellow-striped wallpaper. He was a male made even more masculine around beautiful, feminine things, his strength all the more evident, and keeping her hands off him required major effort. "You're worked into a foaming-at-the-mouth man-frenzy, and I love it."
"I bet you'll love this, too." He backed her into the wall. Only a whisper away, she breathed his breath as he breathed hers, the knowledge causing her to inhale and exhale harder and faster, her heart drumming frantically.
"I'm waiting," she said, arching her hips to rub against him. "Make your move so I can turn you down."
His nostrils flared. "You're already on the verge of begging for more."
"So are you."
"I am. So, if you want to go on that date, we have to leave now. Otherwise I'm going to carry you to our room."
Her knees almost buckled. "I... I want to go on our date," she forced herself to say. No matter the aches in her body, dating him was important to her.
A moment passed before he gave a stiff nod. "Very well." He backed away from her, extended his hand. "Where have you been staying? We'll grab your things."
Oh...crap. A flare of panic hit her as she twined their fingers. "That's not important right now."
Immediate suspicion crossed his features. "Where?" he insisted.
She didn't want to answer and wouldn't lie. Besides, the stubborn man wouldn't quit until he knew the truth. "First on Mr. Kapoor's land, then behind the community center," she admitted on a sigh. "In a tent."
He massaged his temples. "Priya hinted as much. I didn't want to believe her."
His eyes closed, his face suddenly ravaged with pain.
"I never should have kicked you out and forced you back into a tent. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forgive myself."
She touched his face, making him look at her. "We both made mistakes."
"You merely reacted to mine, but I vow to you here and now, you'll never have to spend another night in a tent ever again. I've set up a trust for you."
"A trust? Are you kidding me?"
"No. And you're going to take the money and like it."
"I most certainly will."
He waited for her to finish the sentence, to add "not." But she didn't, and he realized she had, in fact, accepted. "Okay, then. Glad we got that settled."
"If you want to spend your money on me, I'll let you," she said. Pride wasn't going to stand in the way of her future any longer.
He laughed and muttered, "I will never understand you, will I?" then kicked into motion, dragging her with him. "You're staying with me if I have to tie you down."
"Kinky, but there's no way I'm letting you do that."
"I look forward to your attempts to stop me."
"Zoya knew her hard limits and knew if she and Asad wrestled, she'd be the one to cave. "Fine. I'll stay in your hotel room."
"With me."
"Alone."
Brow arched, he cast her a glance. "Are you not confident in your ability to resist me?"
No! Even now she burned for him. To distract them both, she said, "If we go on a date tonight""
"If?"
"We have to actually go out," she continued. "To dinner, at the very least. And you have to pay for everything."
"Pay for everything?" He said making a sad face.
"Everything," she said smilingly."
"Fine. I'll pay for everything. Do you see how accommodating I can be?" He released a heavy sigh. "If only you were as easygoing as I am, willing to compromise about the room."
She swallowed a grin. "Very well. You can stay in the room with me, but you'll have to sleep on the floor."
"Certainly. After we have the most amazing sex of your life."
Incorrigible male. "I don't put out on first dates."
Instead of stopping at the very room under discussion, he dragged her out of the inn. The sun was in the process of setting, the big ball of fire turning the sky into a canvas lit up with different shades of pink, purple and gold.
As they strolled down the sidewalk, realization hit. "Wait," Zoya said. "Where are we going?"
"On our date, of course."
She dug in her heels. "We can't go on our date right now. I'm wearing scrubs."
"It's not my problem you decided to dress down for the occasion."
Note to self: when Asad goes to war, he fights dirty. "As I'm sure you know, a girl is more likely to fall for a man's seduction if she's feeling sexy."
"Since you've already decided not to put out, that hardly matters in your case." He paused in front of Bake n Shake, peering down at her with sizzling hunger he couldn't quite contain. Voice low and husky, he said, "Have I told you yet how sexy you are right now?"
"Incorrigible," she muttered.
"Just desperate for you." He lowered his head, feeding her the kiss every girl dreamed of receiving, deep and intense, as if he'd never tasted anything so sweet and he had no intention of ever stopping. But just as she reached for him"so weak, not even trying to resist"he pulled away to lead her inside, leaving her panting, reeling.
"Table for two in back. Preferably a shadowed corner so no one will be able to see us."
The waitress kept staring at him.
Zoya tapped the girl on the shoulder.
The girl withered with disappointment. "This way, y'all."
Several of the customers noticed Asad and waved him over. He pretended not to notice.
The hostess motioned to a small round booth in the corner. Zoya slid to the center, and Asad moved in close beside her; they accepted their menus. Though Zoya had lived in Ratibad Valley all her life, she'd eaten here only once, with Priya and the girls. She remembered nothing about the food.
Asad's heavy arm wound around her shoulders. "I'm sure you're dying to know how my dates usually go and lucky for you, I'm going to tell you. I order for both of us, I ask questions about your past, and then we go back to your place or mine."
"Mostly your place I guess," she grumbled.
"But that isn't how this date will go down."
Insulted, she gasped out, "Well, why not? And just so you know, this date is now shaping up to be the opposite of awesome and I will share my review with all the women in town."
The waitress was close in age to the hostess and arrived with an overbright smile, doing her best to keep her distance while still being heard. "What can I get you guys to drink?" It was clear she'd pulled down the collar of her shirt and pushed up her boobs to accentuate her massive cleavage.
Asad's attention went straight to her eyes. "We'll start with your best wine. We'll have today's special, whatever it is, and other than the delivery of each item, assume we're fine and stay away."
The girl appeared relieved as she ambled off.
Zoya couldn't believe Asad had been so rude to a female. He hadn't even laced his words with innuendo.
Did he have a fever?
"I thought you weren't ordering for me," Zoya said.
Asad cupped the back of her neck, a possessive action she loved, toying with her hair. "Here's how this evening is going to go. I'm placing my balls in your court, and yes, I hope you take that several ways. You can question me about my past, and I will answer truthfully, no matter how personal you get. You may continue until the end of the meal, when I will take over."
Unrestricted access to his past? Even for a limited time? Yes, please. "I agree to your terms.
But you only get to ask me one question a day." That way, he would have something new to look forward to"other than sex.
"Two questions."
"Zero."
His lips quirked at the corners. "All right. One question a day."
Excitement and anticipation built to a crescendo as the waitress rushed back over with the wine. Zoya confiscated the bottle and shooed her away. As soon as she and Asad were alone, she let the red gush into the glasses and decided to start with easy questions to warm him up a bit.
"What's your favorite color?"
He kissed the top of her eyelid. "Since meeting you? Ocean-water blue."
I may be putting out, after all. "Favorite food."
"You."
Heat spilled over her cheeks. "Asad."
"What? I said I'd be honest."
"Then you should have gone with pie."
"Baby, you're sweeter than pie, and that's a fact."
Moving on, before she took his mouth with her own. "What's your favorite memory?"
"Meeting you." He swirled his wine before tossing it back.
"Asad," she said, and tsk-tsked. That's not the kind of info she was looking for. "Worst memory. And if you say losing me, I will probably kiss you, and then I will definitely slap you."
"A warning like that is also known as encouragement," he said with a wink. But he set his glass aside and drained hers.
"The memory's that bad, huh?"
When his fingers laced with hers, she felt a tremor flow through him.
"Asad," she said. "Whatever it is, I won't judge you, I promise."
His lips lifted in a humorless smile. He leaned into her, saying quietly, "I'm sure you heard the rumors about Samar. He went to prison for beating a guy to death when we were eighteen...but here's what you don't know. I was with him when it happened. I was part of it."
The pronouncement didn't exactly shock her, but it did give her pause. Sweet, flirtatious, helpful Asad had beaten a guy to death? "Why? I mean I heard Samar defended a girl's honor."
"He did. We all did. We had a friend. Nisha. Samar and I loved her like a sister. Rehaan loved her. One night she went to a party, and a guy assaulted her."
Zoya's scars began to ache in sympathy. "I'm so sorry."
"We went after the guy, beat him and just didn't stop. He died from his injuries. Samar took full responsibility. Nine years behind bars. I could have come forward at any time to alleviate his burden, but never did."
"Why?"
"The three of us, we've always lived by a code"do whatever's asked by the others, no questions. For the longest time, we had no one to rely on but each other. We each knew loss and regret and needed someone we could count on no matter what."
Her Ammi had been the one she counted on, supporting her through the worst of times. She understood the need.
"You suffered your own punishment, I'm sure. Violence of any kind leaves a mark, whether on the skin or in the soul."
Asad squeezed her hand, almost hard enough to bruise. "What you endured hurts me in a way I never imagined possible. You did not deserve what was done to you."
The waitress arrived with their dinner, piping-hot bowls of chicken and dumplings. Delightful scents combined with perfect harmony: bread yeast, sweet vegetables and the cream in the sauce.
"Is what I did a deal breaker?" Asad asked as soon as the girl was out of earshot.
Was it? He'd committed the crime as a teenager. Eighteen, old enough to know better. But what if he held her crimes against her? She hadn't killed anyone physically, but she'd certainly killed a few spirits.
"No," she said and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Eat, Zoya. Please." He caressed her cheek. "You've lost weight."
Weight she couldn't afford to lose. She took a bite, then another, then paused as she recalled the clock on their conversation. "You still wrestle with guilt over the crime," she said, a statement, not a question. "And over Samar. Right?"
"Yes."
Learning about his past was helping her connect the dots to his present"and his future. Maybe he didn't think he deserved a happily-ever-after.
"Do you"" He pushed her bowl closer to her, and she took another bite before finishing her question. "Do you think you'll ever get married?"
"There was a time I would have said no. Now? I won't rule out the possibility."
It was progress. More than she'd dreamed, considering he hoped to protect a fragile heart that had been battered and bruised countless times as he was taken from foster homes he'd come to love. As Samar was taken from him, and he couldn't allow himself to help.
"Do you want kids?" When she'd imagined herself married to Prince Charming, she'd also imagined kids.
But if she didn't end up with the right man, that dream family would simply fall apart, wouldn't it?
"I never wanted kids with a one-night stand, but again, I won't rule out the possibility any longer." He arched a brow. "Deal breaker?"
"No." As much has she loved him, she wasn't sure anything would be a deal breaker.
He smiled at her.
She swallowed the last bite of her meal and opened her mouth to ask her next question.
"Sorry, baby, but it's too late. You're done eating. It's my turn now."
Well, crap. She should have eaten slower. "Ask your one question," she said.
"For the information I crave, we need to be alone." He leaned into her and nibbled on her earlobe. "Let's go back to the inn."
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