He stood, scraping his chair back with a loud, defining screech, leaned over the table, and pressed his mouth against hers. He could feel her surprise and her shock, and used her lowered guard ruthlessly to his advantage by slipping his tongue between her parted lips.

She tasted like sin and redemption, both twining through his body, tightening in his gut, and fogging his brain. He took the kiss deeper, pulling a small sound of pleasure from her throat.

Her hands came up and her fingers stroked his cheeks through his beard. He felt her respond now, her lips softening, sipping from his mouth as if she was also hooked on the same drug he’d discovered in her. Her teeth nipped at his bottom lip, and he groaned in pleasure.

Raj was a treasure, and he’d barely opened the box to discover all of her. Even as his fingers dove into her tidy hair, urging her mouth closer, the sound of someone clearing their throat cut through his lust-fogged brain.

He slowly pulled back, registering the confusion in Raj’s eyes, before he sat in his chair and turned to the older Punjabi uncle. The uncle looked more irritated at them than embarrassed as he held a tray overflowing with food in his hands, tapping one foot impatiently.

“Sorry,” Ajay said, as if he was being scolded like a child.

Smooth, Singh. Your conditioning to apologize is surely going to win over the lady now.

Raj’s mask was fully in place as she adjusted her hair in that calm, classy way that she had, and looked anywhere but at Ajay and the man who placed their food in front of them.

“So,” Ajay said when they were alone again. “That’s becoming a habit that I’m enjoying. I hope you don’t mind.”

Raj adjusted her puffed bature in front of her and leaned down to smell the dark brown chole topped with shredded ginger and parsley.

“You’re a brave soul if you want to kiss me again after this much onion and garlic, Singh.”

The corner of her perfect mouth curved, and he couldn’t help but smile in response. “You’re worth the sacrifice.”

Chapter Twelve
Rajneet

MONDAY

AJAY: We never talked about business.

RAJ: That’s because you were either feeding me or screwing me.

AJAY: You can’t blame me for that. You’re irresistible.

AJAY: Tomorrow night?

RAJ: Late meeting. Wednesday is good.

AJAY: Have a conflict. I’m dealing with our Europe properties. It’ll go on forever. Thursday after eight?

RAJ: I’ll get back to you.

TUESDAY

RAJ: Thursday is a no-go.

AJAY: I can clear my schedule for Friday?

RAJ: No, I have an off-site.

AJAY: This weekend?

RAJ: . . . Maybe.

AJAY: What? What is it?

RAJ: I’m supposed to go look at a puppy on Saturday.

AJAY: At the shelter you volunteer at? Is this the puppy that the woman who you work with called about?