She came forward and gave him and Rishi both a hug and then Keya walked up to them and did the same. Finally, he turned his head to see Raashi stepping out of the back seat of the car, walking slowly towards them, watching him closely. He looked back at her with a wry look and his lips curved. She turned her face, dismissing him entirely as she walked towards his brother.
Sameer saw his brother grin as he saw Raashi.
“Oh! Awesome. You’re here as well, Raashi. I thought it was just Keya and Sheena,” Rishi said enveloping her in a huge bear hug and then he held her for a second more and said softly, “Where have you been? I haven’t seen you around in a long time. Is everything okay?”
“I’m fine, Rishi. What’s happening?”
“Sameer’s had a hard night. So right now we were just letting loose, racing on this beauty.” Rishi pointed to his prized possession.
“Wait a minute, Sameer was racing your bike?” Sheena asked, her eyes as wide as saucers.
Sameer pursed his lips.
“Yes, Sheena. I was riding the bike and yes I was speeding on it as well. Just because I don’t usually race bikes, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to.”
“But that’s so not you,” Sheena continued, “you’re too straitlaced for fun stuff!”
Rishi hooted in the background and Keya laughed as well. Scowling, he turned to look at Raashi, who was unsuccessfully trying to smother a grin.
He gave Sheena a glaring look, but as usual it had no effect on her whatsoever. Agreed, Rishi was the dare devil in the family, not him. Still, why did Sheena have to make a big fuss about him racing Rishi’s bike? It wasn’t a big deal at all.
“Cut it out, Sheena!” Sameer snapped when she continued to twitter and make fun of him.
She narrowed her eyes and made a face at him.
Sheena had been at war with him ever since his one-night stand with Raashi and she used every opportunity she got to infuriate him. But right now what irked him the most was the fact that Raashi hadn’t acknowledged him again. She was snubbing him for the second time in the same week. Well, he wasn’t going to ignore her for sure.
“Hi, Raashi,” Sameer said and before she could even react, he pulled her in his arms and hugged her tight.
Surprised by his behavior and not wanting to create a scene in front of the others, Raashi let him hug her and hold her too close than was necessary. She stood stiffly in his arms, tryingnot to show any sort of reaction to him even though her heart rumbled inside her chest.
Sameer stood back from her, still holding her arms and appraised her from top to toe. Her hair was tied into a high ponytail on top of her head. Slight strands of hair had escaped and were falling on the sides of her face. Her beautiful brown-green eyes were storming with angry heat and her luscious pink mouth was set in a straight line. She was dressed in blue denims and a fitted, bright red vee neck tee shirt that molded her curves.
Sameer turned his gaze back onto her face and looked right into her eyes. “You’re ignoring me. I’m hurt.”
“Like hell you are!” Raashi said, annoyed with him.
She tried to move free of him, but he held on tight and whispered softly, “Try harder, beautiful! I won’t be ignored that easily.”
He let go of her and took a step back. Raashi gave him a slithering look and moved to stand next to Keya.
Sameer felt a strong tug on his arm and turned to see Sheena give him a silent warning. He shook himself off her and turned to follow the others as they headed inside the hotel.
They were all seated around a table in The Marquis’ coffee shop, sipping from the beverages of their choice, when Sameer asked Raashi, “Did you recently start working at AquaNox?”
Raashi sucked in a sharp breath.
The past half an hour had passed smoothly and he had said exactly nothing, contributed naught to the conversation all around. He only made her feel uncomfortable with his presence. He had been staring at her as if she was some delicious morsel on a dessert platter. And she, fool that she was, hadn’t been able to stop looking at him either. Tonight, he was dressed smartly in dark jeans and a dark shirt, sleeves rolled up. Why did he have to be so good looking? She was so lost in her own contemplation that she didn’t answer him.
The conversation around them suddenly stopped and everyone looked at her, waiting for her to reply. Didn’t he know she owned AquaNox? Thinking of it, he had never paid any attention to her personal life in all the time he had been after her. His main intention had been to get her into his bed and once that was done, he was done with her.
She looked from Keya to Sheena before facing him.
“Since it opened,” she replied, keeping her tone casual.
“I quite liked the place,” Sameer commented.
“Did you? Considering the circumstances of your departure, I didn’t expect you to recommend it ever.”
