Once inside the dimly lit reception hall, he scanned the room for Annika. Naya’s words sat lightly on his heart. If all went well, she’d be family soon. He felt for the ring in his pocket and relaxed at the solidity of it.

He and Annika really hadn’t had any time together today, and maybe someone else’s wedding wasn’t the best place to propose, but he’d waited long enough. Tonight, after all the wedding hoopla, he’d ask her to marry him.

He scanned the crowd again but saw no sign of her.

“Hey, there.” A gentle slap on his shoulder, and Daniel turned to face Nilay and Anil-uncle.

Warmth flooded over Daniel as he caught Nilay in a hug. “Hey, yourself. Do you really still need those crutches?”

Nilay grinned. “There are some advantages.” Daniel followed his gaze to a group of teenage girls clustered together on the dance floor.

Daniel chuckled and turned to extend his hand to Anil-uncle. “Sir. Good to see you.”

Anil-uncle took his hand in a firm handshake, a smile playing at the edge of his mouth. He pulled Daniel in and clapped him on the shoulder. “You can drop the sir bit. You asked for and got my blessing—sir may be too formal for us, don’t you think?”

Nilay rolled his eyes. “He didn’t ask her yet.”

“How do you know?” Daniel raised an eyebrow at the young man. He hadn’t, but how could Nilay know?

“Because if you’d asked her, Mummy would be taking notes and already have your wedding half planned.”

Anil-uncle and Nilay chuckled, but Daniel had no idea what was so funny, because right then he caught sight of her. She had changed outfits but kept the color the same. The sari she’d had on earlier was conservative for the ceremony. But now her skirt was slung low on her gorgeous hips and trailed lightly on the floor. She had donned a dupatta across a very short beaded blouse, allowing it to hang loosely by her hip, but it was so sheer it hardly did anything to hide the delicious curve of her waist. His fingers tingled in anticipation of running them along that soft skin. She’d let her hair down from the complicated style she’d piled on her head earlier, allowing her curls to flow down her back and frame her face. Either way, she was easily the most beautiful woman in the room. His heart thudded in his chest, and everything else faded away.