His hand came up, but it stopped before cupping her cheek. “What’s wrong? What did I say?” he asked. Or his eyes asked, because she wasn’t sure she heard his voice.

Everything inside her leaned into the impending touch. He pulled away as though realizing just how bad of an idea touching her right now was.

How badly she wanted him to touch her terrified her.

How could she explain what was wrong when nothing made sense anymore? She had worked hard to keep her life organized, her thoughts in order. Questioning how she felt about food; missing the feel of a ball in her hand, obsessing over her mother’s intentions and words, these musings about what her life would have been like if this or that had happened were self-indulgences she had no time for.

When she didn’t answer, he backed away again. Their new dance. “Were you serious about that ride?”

If she had even a whit of sense, she should refuse, but there was something in his eyes, a deep eagerness. She had to find out what it was.

It didn’t help that Shobi was at home, waiting for her, suddenly inexplicably patient. Last week, Shobi had even started to come into the restaurant. She’d sensed Ashna’s discomfort with having her in the kitchen and chosen to help at the register. Given how busy they both were, they had barely seen each other at home. But in the few moments they did get, they’d fallen into a pattern of eating varan bhaat and trying out one of Ashna’s chai blends. Any time Shobi brought up the past, everything inside Ashna shut down. Shobi seemed to sense that and with her usual strategic determination avoided it.

Rico had the same strategic determination in his eyes as he waited for Ashna to answer. What was he up to?

“Of course, I’ll give you a ride. Wait here, I’ll bring the car to the front.”

That made him laugh. “I’m not in pain, Ashna. Trisha’s meds are working well.”

“Fine.” Hiking her bag up her shoulder, she started walking to the car without waiting for him to follow her.

They walked silently across the parking lot to the Employee of the Month spot, exchanging glances when they saw the sign. She opened the passenger door for him, but held back from helping him in.

When she got in next to him, he gave her another one of those looks. The one that made her wonder what he was up to and made her want to bounce in her seat like a child.

“I’m not going to the hotel. You don’t mind, do you?”

It was ridiculous to have to suppress a smile with all the things she was feeling. “Where are we going?”

“Washington Square.”

That was just a couple of miles away, which was unnecessarily disappointing.