AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His eyebrow rose. “Looks like you haven’t changed much in the past seven years,” he drawled.
Her face heated in embarrassment at her immature act.
Aarav Rathod brought out the worst in her. It took less than twenty-four hours of meeting him, for her to change from a calm, dignified and noted scientist to an angry, tantrum-throwing woman.
“Fourteen minutes,” he ordered and stepped out of the bedroom.
With great difficulty she once again controlled the urge to throw another pillow.
***
Exactly twenty-five minutes later, they were at one of the restaurants located on the topmost floor, but on the other side of the cruise ship.
“Welcome to La Bistro,” the hostess greeted with a smile.
Sitara barely had time to get ready properly because the bossy jerk had more or less barged into the bedroom after the given fourteen minutes and ordered her out.
She was still wearing the cream-colored pantsuit she had worn during travel that morning. In the fifteen minutes she was given, she had only managed to wash her face and freshen up her lipstick in the bathroom. But the jerk had managed to change out of his pilot uniform and shower in the living room bathroom. His hair was still slightly damp.
“Would you like the indoor or outdoor seating?” the hostess asked.
“Outdoor seating,” he replied.
“Perfect choice, sir,” the hostess replied with a bright smile.
The hostess found them a table outside at the back that was slightly away from the rest of the seating.
“This is our best table at the restaurant, reserved for the owners’ suite guests,” the hostess announced. “I hope you enjoy it.”
The hostess poured bottled water into their glasses and took their lunch orders.
“Excellent choices!” the hostess remarked. “You will love the freshly caught seafood special.”
Sitara noticed that the woman’s eyes lingered over Aarav quite a bit. While the other men at the restaurant wore formal wear or expensive cotton slacks with polo shirts, Aarav was in a t-shirt and shorts. His tall, broad and muscular form was well displayed. She couldn’t make out if he noticed the waitress checking him out because he wore sunglasses.
“I’ll be back with your orders shortly,” said the hostess with a slightly huskier voice.
Sitara felt a small flicker of annoyance. Women always found him attractive. It used to annoy her before, but now she was annoyed because she shouldn’t care or notice if other women checked him out. He was no one to her.
As soon as the hostess left, Sitara glared. She realized he wouldn’t notice her glare since she wore sunglasses as well.
“I prefer the indoor seating,” she said.
“Until I get a sense of what kind of danger you are in, we’ll remain away from the crowd.”
“Don’t try to make this about my safety! You are simply a bully who wants to get his way. But don’t think you can get away with whatever you want.”
“And what do you think I want?” he drawled.
To torture me. To take revenge for dumping you and marrying someone else.
She didn’t say those words out aloud because it would start a conversation about their breakup. And she wasn’t ready to talk about their past. She didn’t think she would ever be ready.
She gritted her teeth to stop from snapping at him. She was there to enjoy her vacation. She was not going to let him ruin it.
She looked away from the maddening man. Sucking in a breath, she looked at the stunning view of endless bright blue sea glittering under the sunlight. The cool ocean breeze blew over her and in she breathed in the clean air. There was enough shade over the seating that didn’t require her to put on sunglasses. But she kept them on to hide her eyes.
“Tell me about Eureka.”
