and forced me to wonder how Dev’s warm body would feel up against mine. I couldn’t help but recall the dream , but it seemed a poor replacement for reality. I had never felt so sensual or womanly in my life, but thinking about this man—ironically, my best friend’s jerky older brother—awakened my senses in ways I didn’t know existed.
Why was he here? To see me? I wondered. Could he really be dating this other girl? Would he kiss me? As I combed out my long hair, I pondered the consequences of our unique situation. Alone together. Was I foolish to be so excited about it?
I pulled on my favorite jeans and a soft, baby blue sweater.
“Something blue.”
I got lost in the moment and let my imagination go crazy. I wondered if we might get married one day. Then I would really be a part of this family. My heart swelled at the thought of being Mrs. Bashir’s daughter-in-law. Of course they would accept me…even though I’m an outsider. They know me. They love me. We would find a way to make it work.
And then I remembered Shyra and I talked myself down from the ledge. I was being stupid letting my mind run like that.
Too many unanswered questions.
I heard Dev’s SUV pull up outside. Through my bedroom window I watched him come inside the house. I decided to meet him downstairs.
He held a bag from the bakery down the street and two steaming to-go cups. His face lit up when he saw me. I wasn’t used to that. See him in person, friendly and kind, was so different.
“Merry Christmas, Scarlett.”
“Merry Christmas, Dev—hey, wait a minute, you don’t celebrate Christmas.”
“I think I’m still allowed to say Merry Christmas.” His smile was charming…and infectious. I couldn’t repress one in return.
Has he always been this handsome?
“Did you find what you were looking for at the hotel?”
His smile was quickly gone and his eyes suddenly seemed haunted, distressed.
“I did. Let’s not talk about it.”
“Everything okay?”
He paused before answering. “It will be. It’s nothing that you need to worry about right now.”
As quickly as he had gone away to some dark place, he was back, smiling.
When I followed him into the family room near the kitchen, my eyes immediately found the small Christmas tree lit up the corner. Under it sat one solitary gift in red and silver wrapping.
He did this?
“Where did the tree come from?”
“I thought it would be nice to have a proper Christmas. Even though I don’t celebrate it,” he added, with an uncharacteristic wink. He held offered me one of his cups, the irresistible aroma of hot coffee filled my nose.
We sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee and devouring the pastries he had brought. I had so many questions but I didn’t want to interrogate him. I eased into it.
“Thanks for breakfast.” I finished off the last bite of my blueberry scone.
“Anytime,” he answered.
“So you left London early?”
“I did.”
“To work at the hotel?”
“That and some other things.”
“Oh.”
This was new for us. Talking. In person. We had gained such an easy rapport over the phone, but we were breaking new ground face to face.
He looked uneasy as he searched for his next words.
“I’m curious, Scarlett. Why have you been ignoring my calls for the past two weeks? Did I say something?” There was a vulnerability in his eyes. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.
“My phone has been on the fritz lately,” I lied.
“Oh. Okay then.”
The silence felt suffocating. I decided to ask him what I was dying to know.
“I heard Shyra was there…at the wedding. That’s too bad you missed her.”
“I see her enough in New York,” he glibly replied.
“That must be nice. Your mother is so excited for you two.” Was my voiced strained? I tried to act casual. He looked confused for a second and then smiled.
“Oh, my mother is excited for us, huh? She’s wanted me to marry Shyra since we were babies. If we were in India, it would be
Why was he here? To see me? I wondered. Could he really be dating this other girl? Would he kiss me? As I combed out my long hair, I pondered the consequences of our unique situation. Alone together. Was I foolish to be so excited about it?
I pulled on my favorite jeans and a soft, baby blue sweater.
“Something blue.”
I got lost in the moment and let my imagination go crazy. I wondered if we might get married one day. Then I would really be a part of this family. My heart swelled at the thought of being Mrs. Bashir’s daughter-in-law. Of course they would accept me…even though I’m an outsider. They know me. They love me. We would find a way to make it work.
And then I remembered Shyra and I talked myself down from the ledge. I was being stupid letting my mind run like that.
Too many unanswered questions.
I heard Dev’s SUV pull up outside. Through my bedroom window I watched him come inside the house. I decided to meet him downstairs.
He held a bag from the bakery down the street and two steaming to-go cups. His face lit up when he saw me. I wasn’t used to that. See him in person, friendly and kind, was so different.
“Merry Christmas, Scarlett.”
“Merry Christmas, Dev—hey, wait a minute, you don’t celebrate Christmas.”
“I think I’m still allowed to say Merry Christmas.” His smile was charming…and infectious. I couldn’t repress one in return.
Has he always been this handsome?
“Did you find what you were looking for at the hotel?”
His smile was quickly gone and his eyes suddenly seemed haunted, distressed.
“I did. Let’s not talk about it.”
“Everything okay?”
He paused before answering. “It will be. It’s nothing that you need to worry about right now.”
As quickly as he had gone away to some dark place, he was back, smiling.
When I followed him into the family room near the kitchen, my eyes immediately found the small Christmas tree lit up the corner. Under it sat one solitary gift in red and silver wrapping.
He did this?
“Where did the tree come from?”
“I thought it would be nice to have a proper Christmas. Even though I don’t celebrate it,” he added, with an uncharacteristic wink. He held offered me one of his cups, the irresistible aroma of hot coffee filled my nose.
We sat at the kitchen table sipping coffee and devouring the pastries he had brought. I had so many questions but I didn’t want to interrogate him. I eased into it.
“Thanks for breakfast.” I finished off the last bite of my blueberry scone.
“Anytime,” he answered.
“So you left London early?”
“I did.”
“To work at the hotel?”
“That and some other things.”
“Oh.”
This was new for us. Talking. In person. We had gained such an easy rapport over the phone, but we were breaking new ground face to face.
He looked uneasy as he searched for his next words.
“I’m curious, Scarlett. Why have you been ignoring my calls for the past two weeks? Did I say something?” There was a vulnerability in his eyes. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer.
“My phone has been on the fritz lately,” I lied.
“Oh. Okay then.”
The silence felt suffocating. I decided to ask him what I was dying to know.
“I heard Shyra was there…at the wedding. That’s too bad you missed her.”
“I see her enough in New York,” he glibly replied.
“That must be nice. Your mother is so excited for you two.” Was my voiced strained? I tried to act casual. He looked confused for a second and then smiled.
“Oh, my mother is excited for us, huh? She’s wanted me to marry Shyra since we were babies. If we were in India, it would be
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