Knowing she didn’t have to impress him, she suppressed a smile and followed him to the small kitchen. Even though it was the same size as hers, it looked very functional and well-used. Things were arranged neatly, and surprisingly, there was no mess.
“I’m Tanvi Shetty, by the way,” she introduced herself belatedly.
“I already know that, princess. I’ve known it the first day I met you.”
Her cheeks heated in annoyance that despite knowing her name, he continued to call her princess.
“I’m Arjun,” he added with a smirk. “Not arrogant ass like you always mutter when you pass by me.”
Her cheeks heated all the more. “Arjun what?” she snapped, asking his last name
His smirk grew. “Does it matter?”
Actually it didn’t. She still didn’t like him and thought he was an arrogant ass. But she had to tolerate him, at least until she could finish speaking to Sameer.
Arjun served the aromatic rice and pieces of chicken into a plate.
Tall, broad and muscular, he looked too big for the tiny kitchen. But his movements were smooth and efficient. Her cheeks heated when her eyes fell on his muscular arms dusted with dark, masculine hair as he held out her plate. His eyes met hers and remained on her face.
Even though there was at least three feet of distance between them, she felt the buzzing heat and awareness.
Ugh. I hate him. Then why do I keep feeling this way!
“Too hot?” he asked.
She nearly choked at his question. “What?”
He smirked. “I was asking if you were feeling hot. You look flushed, princess.”
Embarrassed at being caught ogling him, she glared at him. “I’m fine,” she snapped ungraciously. “And stop calling me princess!”
He looked amused. “So, why are you actually here, princess?” he asked, ignoring her order to stop calling her by that name. “You look like you are scheming something.”
“I’m not scheming!” she snapped even though she was there as a part of a plan.
He smirked. “Oh yeah? I can literally hear you scheme.”
She gritted her teeth. “No, you can’t.”
“I can. You have that same look when you are in your zone.”
“What zone?” she demanded, annoyed that he was able to read her body language so easily.
“That fighting, determined go-getter mode. The one which makes you lead protests and wreak havoc on some hapless people.”
“I don’t target helpless people,” she snapped. “And why is fighting, determined go-getter mode a bad thing?”
His amused smirk grew. “I didn’t say it was. You are the one being defensive when I said you are scheming.”
“That’s because I’m not scheming!” she snapped out the lie.
She was scheming. But she wasn’t going to let the arrogant man think he could read her easily.
“All right...” he said.
Ignoring him, she went into the living room. She put on a wide smile as she sat on the couch next to Sameer.
Sameer looked happy to see her. “I’m glad you joined, Tanvi. Arjun is an excellent cook. But I guess you already know that since he invited you for dinner before.”