He was a total flirt. Unexpected. And actually? Completely delightful. “I have a feeling you and I are going to get along very well,” Kamila said. “Let me introduce you to some friends.”

He looked around. “I think I already know some. Rohan, of course.”

“How well do you two know each other?” She’d never heard Rohan mention Anil until recently.

“We did our undergraduate degrees together. My wife—well, soon-to-be ex-wife—was in his program. She was closer to him than I was.”

Ah. That explains why Rohan asked about her.

“And,” Anil said, “looking around, I see someone else I know. Jana Suleiman. I’ve known her professionally for years.”

Jana was here? That was probably who was at the door when Rohan answered it. Who invited her?

“Yes, she mentioned she saw you in Washington recently,” Kamila said.

“Yes, and in Tajikistan, too.”

Kamila raised a brow. That, she didn’t know. Why wouldn’t Jana have mentioned it? “Really?”

“I wasn’t there long, just visiting an old friend.” He glanced toward Jana. “My friend was going through a rough time—his marriage was ending. I swung by on my way back from England. Since I had recent experience with that particular hardship.”

“Tajikistan isn’t on the way from England.”

He laughed. “Details, details. Anyway, my friend was Jana’s boss, so I saw her a few times.”

“Interesting.” Kamila wondered if Anil knew the reason why Jana had left her post early.

“Tell me.” He leaned closer to Kamila. “How well do you know Jana? Are you close?”

Kamila forced an elegant chuckle instead of a snort. “No. I mean, I’ve known her all my life. She’s an old family friend. But…” She glanced over to Jana, who was talking to Tim and Jerome and looking as detached and distant as always. “We’ve never been close.”

“She has never struck me as the type of person to have a lot of close friends,” Anil said. “She’s a hard nut to crack.”

Kamila laughed, relieved Anil was on her wavelength. “Yes, that’s it exactly. She’s so reserved!”

“She was popular enough in Central Asia,” Anil said. “Although, I’d say she left her glow behind when she came here. She looks…tired.”

“No, that I will not accept. Jana may not be the warmest person, but her skin is luminous.” Even scowling, Jana was incandescent.

“All the same, I should say hello…I mean, it’s only polite, right?” He grinned back at Kamila, flashing those gleaming white teeth. “But then, I want to hear more about your work at the animal shelter. And I want to hear what’s in this chutney.” After another charming grin, Anil went to Jana. Kamila smiled to herself, so pleased at how well this was going.

“What are you smirking about?” Rohan said, joining her.