Gabe shrugs. “Nevertheless, you need to talk to him. He is hurting and he is a good friend. Why are you still keeping him at a distance?”

He’s right. Subconsciously, I’ve kept a distance from Jonathan. It makes the least sense because although my mind has rewound to five years back, I can’t bring myself to become the same person I was then. And somehow that is impacting my friendship with Jonathan.

Jonathan twirls Aaliya and bends her low in his arms as the song ends. I drown my glass in a single gulp and leave it on the tall table next to me.

“Where are you going?” Gabriel asks, as I take a step away from him.

“Am getting to know your Miss Singh better. I hope you don’t mind?” I raise an eyebrow at him.

He tilts his head to the side, studying me.

“Of course not,” he says finally.

I dip my head as he salutes me with his glass.

Damien

“MIND IF I CUT IN?” I ask Jonathan, tapping his shoulder.

He looks from me to Aaliya and back at me and takes his time releasing her.

“Save a dance for me later.” He gives her a naughty grin before disappearing into the crowd.

I turn to Aaliya and give her my hand. She takes it and wraps her other hand around my shoulder.

“Hello again, Aaliya!”

“Hello, again,” she repeats after me.

I inhale and her soft fragrance envelops me as we sway to the music. It is sharp and striking, just like her.

“Congratulations on winning the bid,” I tell her.

Her dark gaze clashes with mine. “You let me win. Why?”

“I couldn’t let a beautiful woman lose.”

“Even though it was a piece of your family history?”

“I figured that if you were willing to pay an insane amount of money on a necklace, knowing it was my family heirloom, just to gain my attention, then I was willing to back off.”

She raises a sharp brow. “Perhaps I bid on it because it’s beautiful and I wanted it.”

A laugh escapes my mouth. “You and I both know that’s not true.”

She dips her head. “Well thank you very much, in any case.”

We dance in silence for a few minutes, our gazes locked on one another, heat simmering between us. Her hand on my shoulder tightens and I take the liberty to bring her closer to me. Our bodies almost touch and her mouth opens on a sigh.

We dance like this for several minutes, the heat, a blazing fire between us and I finally ask her, “Just to be clear, is there a special man in your life?”

A flicker of emotion fleetingly crosses her face. But it’s gone so soon that I think I may have mistaken the look.

“What if I say there is?” she counters.