Page 20 of Knot So Romantic

She shakes her head, smiling playfully. “Not at all. I loved designing as a girl, using Mom’s scraps. But it wasn’t until my cousin’s wedding dress emergency that I found my calling.”

“A dress emergency?” I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. Our eyes meet as she measures my inseam, her body brushing against mine.

“Her blouse tore before the ceremony,” Kavita explains, her voice low. “I not only fixed it and even made some improvements. She broke down in happy tears when she saw it.”

I swallow hard as she kneels in front of me. “That’s when you knew bridal was your thing?”

“Exactly.” Her fingers brush my inner thigh, sending a shiver through me. “Creating dream dresses for a bride’s big day,” she says, eyes bright, “There’s nothing better.”

Kavita stands slowly, her hand lingering. Our eyes lock, tension thick in the air as she rolls up the tape.

“It’s amazing how you found your calling,” I say roughly, captivated by her slender fingers.

My gaze moves to her lashes and flushed cheeks as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “It was meant to be,” she says.

Despite trying to stay composed, my heart pounds. A soft sound escapes my throat. “Yeah,” I whisper.

In the warm chandelier light, her eyes sparkle. She puts away the tape and stands before me again. “Seeing you on the beach that night felt meant to be, too. I don’t think I fully told you how grateful I was for your rescue. It meant everything. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

I feel my breath catch in my throat. “I’m just glad I was there at the right time,” I manage to say, my voice low and honest. “I wouldn’t have wanted anything to happen to you.”

She pauses, bringing her hand up to lightly brush my shoulder, taking her time as she picks off an invisible piece of lint from my shirt. Her eyes look deeply into mine, and I can’t help but be drawn to her full lips as her tongue quickly wets them.

It’s an incredibly tense moment, and the urge to run my fingers through her silky hair, grab the back of her head, and pull her into a deep kiss is almost too much. But I clench my fists, trying to keep my emotions in check. I don’t want to mess up whatever this is between us.

Time seems to freeze as my heart pounds loudly in my ears. Her eyes are half-closed as she leans just a tiny bit closer. Just then, the front door bursts open, and a flustered man rushes inside.

Kavita blinks rapidly, flushing as she takes a step back. “Ramu! What’s going on?” she asks, the flush still lingering on her cheeks.

“Sorry, ma’am,” the man replies, slightly out of breath. “I promise not to leave the gate unattended again.”

“It’s...it’s okay, Ramu,” she stutters, her gaze lingering on me for a charged moment before shifting back to him. “I have a customer here.”

“Oh!” Ramu glances between us. “Sorry, I’ll be right outside then. I’ll lock up afterward.”

He gives a respectful nod before backing out, leaving Kavita and me alone once more. An awkward silence stretches between us as the intense moment from before still hangs palpably in the air, thick with unspoken tension.

Finally, Kavita breaks the silence with a soft laugh, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. “Well, thanks for coming in today, Neel. I really can’t wait for you to see the whole collection once your kurta and pants are ready.”

“Yeah, of course...” I mumble as I head for the door. “Looking forward to it.”

Our eyes meet and hold for a loaded moment. There’s a quick look in Kavita’s eyes I can’t quite decipher before she gives me a warm goodbye smile. “Have a good evening.”

“You too.” The words come out forced, and my voice is rough with restraint.

As I open the door, I look back at Kavita. Her eyes are still on me.

The walls I’ve carefully built over the years seem to crack. The feelings and desires I thought were long gone stir back to life as if to tease me.

From the moment I saw her, I told myself that this was just a harmless attraction that would pass. Yet, I felt a pull I couldn’t resist. A magnetic attraction I couldn’t ignore. And it’s still there.

While I try to push away my feelings, a voice in the back of my mind whispers: You like Kavita.

I shake my head as though it will make the crazy thought go away.

Later, when Mom asks me about Elena’s shopping bag, I remember that I forgot all about it and left it behind. And for once, I’m at a loss to explain why.

CHAPTER 8