Sajan nodded. “Yes, Uncle, he does.” Sajan met Daniel’s eyes again, but this time with sadness. “But I’m sure he’ll be fine. I’m sure Annika will see to that.” He turned his gaze to her.

She looked him in the eye. “Sajan, I meant to—”

“Don’t.” He smiled sadly again, raking his eyes over her hand on Daniel’s arm, over the scant distance between them. “Not necessary. We were never even dating.” He turned toward Mr. Mehta. “Come, Uncle, I’ll walk you to your car.”

Annika’s father pressed his lips together and shook his head in disappointment at Annika before turning and following Sajan.

Daniel watched the two men retreat, his body tense. Annika had just chosen him over Sajan in front of her dad. She squeezed his arm.

“I picked you long before today. Don’t be so surprised.”

He looked down at her. Was she reading his mind?

She smiled. “And don’t worry.” She tilted her head toward the building. “I’m sure there will come a time when you will be able to go in there. It’s just not today.” She shrugged. “And that’s okay.”

He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t imagine what he had done to deserve this incredible woman. “Can we get out of here?”

“Sure,” she said as she got onto his bike and grabbed his helmet. “Anywhere you want to go.”

DESPITE ALL THE DRAMA, Ravi and Naya were back together. Having dinner together was Annika’s idea, and Ravi had instantly agreed, inviting the three of them to his place. She figured that once Naya got to know Daniel, she would understand that he was not the rebound guy. Daniel himself was not so sure. He also suspected Annika wanted Naya to like him so she’d have another ally in the family.

“Relax. It’ll be fine,” Annika reassured a fidgety Daniel as they rode the elevator up to Ravi’s apartment. “It’s Naya and Ravi, not my dad.”

“Honestly, I like my chances with your dad better. Naya is scary.”

Annika waved a hand. “She’s all bark. No real bite.”

The building was one of the nicest in the city. Apparently, Ravi worked for a successful firm and did quite well for himself. Daniel took a deep breath when Annika knocked on the door. She squeezed his hand and he relaxed a bit.

Naya answered the door, giving her cousin a huge hug. She nodded at Daniel, acknowledging his existence with a simple hello.

Okay, so it was going to be one of those kinds of evenings.

“Something smells amazing!” Daniel said by way of greeting. Ugh. Mental face palm. Clearly he wasn’t going to win anyone over with his conversational ability.