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“Ugh! I’m so glad I didn’t marry you all those years ago.”
The sudden stillness and the look on his face made her want to run away. He spoke in a low yet vicious tone. “And I have been cursing you, hell and back ever since.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath. “This is not going to work, Aarav. There is no way we can stay together on the cruise for the next twelve days.”
“It will work if you follow my damn instructions and stop arguing with me every damn minute.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but closed it again. “Bossy jerk,” she muttered, just to have the last word.
He shook his head and got up. “Why don’t you wash up in the shower area and we can go for lunch. Or do you want to go to our suite to change?”
“No! I’ll wash up here.” She would finally get some moments alone without him messing up her mind in confusion. Going back to the cabin suite would mean him hovering in her space.
“Fifteen minutes.”
She glared at his order. But knowing the bossy jerk was capable of barging into even the women’s section, she quickly grabbed her towel and tote bag before going towards the women’s shower area.
The place was spacious and clean with only a faint smell of chlorine under the floral fragrance of an expensive room freshener. She went into one of the shower stalls and washed the chlorine off her hair and body. She used the shampoo and liquid body wash given by the cruise. It had the pleasant smell of coconut and jasmine, reminding her yet again that she was on vacation.
She rinsed thoroughly and dried herself with the towel before slipping into the pink and dark green tropical print dress she carried. When she stepped out to comb her hair, she saw a somewhat familiar woman near the mirror section.
“You guys must be newlyweds,” the woman remarked.
Sitara looked at her and recalled seeing the woman earlier with the pretentious guy who was shouting at the waiter. “Yes, we got married recently,” she said, not wanting to prolong or complicate the conversation.
“Oh! You must have had a love marriage then.”
Sitara frowned, not quite understanding. “Yes.”
The woman beamed a wide smile. “Sohel and I had an arranged marriage. He was my Papa’s choice, but he is so perfect. We never argue or fight. He is the wind beneath my wings. He always allows me to do what I want.”
“That’s… nice.” Sitara wasn’t too impressed by the woman’s husband.
Although she had only caught a few moments of the interaction, she recognized entitled snobbish men like him who were pretentious and treated people with less privilege badly.
“I’m Roopa Motiani. My father owns the Motiani industries. My husband works with my father.”
“I’m Sitara.” She didn’t mention her last name because she wasn’t sure whether Aarav would be okay revealing their identity. “Nice chatting with you, Roopa,” she said politely. “I need to go. My husband is waiting for me.”
“Oh. Sure.”
Sitara walked out of the shower area. Aarav was waiting at a distance speaking to someone on the phone. Although she couldn’t see his eyes due to sunglasses, she knew he noticed her.
His body stilled and all of his attention was on her as she joined him.
She could sense the slow sweep of his eyes over her body. The long, tropical print dress had a plunging neckline. It wasn’t what she normally wore, but it was perfect for a cruise vacation.
Her stomach began fluttering once again at his gaze.
Dammit!
“Stop staring!” she snapped.
His mouth twisted in amusement, but he didn’t deny looking.
“What do you want to have for lunch?” he asked instead.
She had worked up quite an appetite after swimming and she wanted to indulge in some greasy food.
