AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Tiya, please—”
“—no, Vihaan,” she cut him off. “That wasn’t the only thing he said. If you want to know more then you have to meet me. We need to talk, and not only about this. About us too.”
“Don’t forget that you and I aren’t real,” Vihaan shot back, “There is nous.”
Her temper flared. “I don’t remember you being so opposed to the idea when my mouth was moving over yours last night.”
“No red-blooded man in his right mind would ever oppose to you kissing him. That still doesn’t mean there is anus.”
“Stop being a jerk, Vihaan. You declared there was an us, the minute you stepped inside the party last night. And you did so because you want to buy my dad’s company. Or am I wrong about that too?”
A heavy silence followed her outburst.
“Who told you that I want to buy your dad’s company?” he asked, his tone dead serious.
“So, it is true. And here I thought, you were helping me from the goodness of your heart.”
“I don’t have a good heart, nor am I a good person. You should remember that.”
She looked heavenward. The man could challenge the patience of a saint.
“Vihaan, my life is on the line here too. You disappearing last night did not help me in the least; in fact it only raised a lot of eyebrows. My parents are skeptical about your place in my life. If we are indeed doing this, then we need to talk.”
“…and set rules,” he added.
She squinted. “Yes, those too.”
“Fine. I’m working atKomobay. Come over.”
“I’ll be there in a short while.” She grinned. She’d gotten exactly what she’d wanted from him. Now she had to meet him, set down some rules and ensure he followed them.
Easy.
8
Vihaan tossed the drink mixer up in the air and caught it with his other hand. Shaking the mixer, he unscrewed the top, poured its contents into a frosted glass and handed it to the lady standing by the bar. The woman smiled at him, deliberately caressing his fingers as she accepted the glass from him. She’d been eyeing him ever since she’d spotted him behind the bar counter atKomobay Beach Bar.
She was a stunning blonde from Germany, on vacation in Dubai with her friends and obviously looking for a good time. She’d told him all about herself while he’d been fixing her a drink.
Giving her a quick smile, he wiped his hands with a napkin and headed over to the next customer. Monday nights atKomobayweren’t as busy as the others, but it was crowded. Weekends were their busiest days. On those days, their patrons came in early and spent the whole day at the bar, especially when the weather was good.
He inhaled the salty smell of the sea breeze that wafted to his nostrils. The sea waves crashed in the distance, the sky was a dark midnight blue and the moon was a large silver orb in the sky.
It was a beautiful night. The crowd in the beach bar was a fashionable mix of people from all countries. The whole place had a chilled vibe. Women were dressed in beach clothes, bikinis, swimsuits or flowing dresses while the men lounged about in casual Bermuda shorts and tees.
The place was split into an outdoor area and an indoor area that was enclosed by massive glass walls. While the indoors boasted of a formal seating area, the ethos was the same. The beige and emerald green colors reigned supreme, and all the furniture was rattan and wood. Beige beach umbrellas and rattan loungers with beige cushions dotted the sand. Here and there, green bean bags were sprawled around tiny tables. Rattan chairs and tables dotted the other side of the beach where people could sit and have proper meals. Peppy music spilled from the speakers and people were swaying to it.
Vihaan loved it all and he was proud to have built this gorgeous space along with his family.
He continued to work behind the bar, catering to the needs of the growing crowd. Several women had approached him this evening. They chatted with him, even flirted, while he mixed their drinks, but none of them held any appeal. Tonight, his mind had been focused on only one particular girl. His hellcat, with the smart mouth.
Tiya.
And that was before he’d read her cryptic message about Dev. Try as he might, he hadn’t been able to forget the way her mouth had moved over his. He’d felt a spark for her the first time he’d laid eyes on her right here atKomobay, when she’d visited a few months ago with Myra, and that spark had only flamed brighter since.
For months, he’d tried to forget her. He’d even convinced himself that the attraction he’d felt for her had been fleeting, nothing special. But he’d been so wrong about that. It had taken one look at her for his heart to have woken up, as if from a deep slumber. Unfortunately, his hands were tied and he couldn’t do anything about his growing feelings for her.
He felt awful for being tough with her on the phone. But it had to be done. He wouldn’t lead her down a road not meant for her. The chemistry between them was already red hot. Vihaan had no doubt that it would grow only hotter if he led her down that path. But he couldn’t allow that to happen. Tiya deserved someone better than him. Someone free of the emotional scars and baggage that weighed him down till date. She had to believe that they couldn’t be together. He wouldn’t allow her to hope for more from him when there wasn’t much he could give her.
