Page 31 of Wicked Trap

Maybe because he’s so damn hot and handsome.

She clenched her jaw at her mind’s unwanted thought. She didn’t want to notice how good-looking the man was. His annoying behavior should have killed the awareness. But her mind somehow always registered his good looks.

Shaking her head again, she left the building.

***

It was late evening when she got back to her apartment building.

She stepped out of the lift at her floor and was walking towards her flat when she could hear loud giggles. A big group of giggling girls was heading her way.

“Oh, hi, Tanvi.”

She smiled at them. “Were you looking for me?”

They giggled even more while shaking their heads with dreamy looks as though it was a synchronized dance.

“We just had dinner at Arjun’s place. He makes the best biryani! We had to leave early since our exams are starting tomorrow.”

Tanvi had forgotten about her prank from two days ago. Her arrogant neighbor must have bought one day’s time to arrange for dinner. Suppressing a grin, she put on a friendly smile. “Oh, that’s great. I’m glad you girls took up the offer.”

They nodded, some of them blushing.

Bidding the girls goodnight and wishing them all the best for their exams, Tanvi broke into a grin while walking towards her flat. She was pulling out her keys to her door when she heard a deep drawl.

“Well, since you asked me to make dinner for a lot of guests, there’s still plenty of food left. Want to join me for dinner?”

She looked up from her purse. For a change, he was wearing a shirt. The dark blue collared t-shirt made him look even hotter. Irritated that she noticed his looks once again, she opened her mouth to refuse his offer as usual. But she paused when she saw who was inside his house.

“Oh hi, Tanvi,” Sameer greeted from the sofa. He was having dinner as well.

She recalled her plan of asking Sameer to help her get a job at Prism Corporation. Instead of meeting him at his apartment or hers, which he could misinterpret as her interest in him, she could talk to him in a neutral setting—which unfortunately was her arrogant neighbor’s apartment.

The delicious smell that filled the air was way too tempting to refuse as well.

“Yes, I’ll join you for dinner. Thanks for asking.”

Surprise flared in the arrogant man’s eyes before he slowly grinned, flashing his dimples. “Well, then come on in, princess,” he drawled.

Her stomach fluttered strangely. Pushing away the awareness and attraction towards him, she was determined to accomplish what she needed to and leave the place. She followed him inside.

The small flat was surprisingly clean after nearly a dozen girls had dinner.

“Where did they all sit?” she asked curiously.

“They didn’t sit,” he replied drily. “They chose to swarm around me while I slaved in the kitchen.”

She suppressed a grin. But he must have seen the amusement in her eyes.

“I’m going to get back at you for this, princess,” he promised.

“What did I do?” She tried to put on an innocent look.

He didn’t buy it. “Oh really?” he drawled. “I was repeatedly and clearly told since yesterday that Tanvi told them about my open-dinner invitation.”

Her cheeks heated at being caught. “They must have misunderstood.”

He didn’t buy that explanation either.