Page 25 of The Ex Factor

“I didn’t think we would end up finishing so much of it,” he said as he refilled our glasses.

“Why, just because I’m a slender woman, you thought I was a salad-munching girl? That’s such a tired cliché.”

He looked at me from over the rim of his glasses—my stomach did a silly flip—as he returned the bottle to the table. “Aarti, not everything I say comes with the premise that I’m talking to a woman. I was merely making an observation.”

I nodded, suddenly embarrassed of my defensiveness. “Sorry,” I said. “It comes with the territory. I’ve been operating in a man’s world for too long.”

“I know,” he said, and it conveyed everything he’d not said.

I blinked rapidly. “Are you thinking of filing a patent for Elugu?” I asked for lack of another distraction.

“I don’t know, but it gives me an idea for a language-based software that can help students in countries without proper schooling systems. You are brilliant! Thank you.”

Apologizing for the interruption, he pulled out his phone and typed something fast and quick.

“You’re not joking!” I cried, partly amused.

“I never joke about software.”

I stared at him with a serious face.

He smiled. “That was a joke.”

I shook my head and basked in his presence.

AARTI

All through dinner and on our ride back, I kept thinking of polite ways to invite him back to my room. Given the tenuous nature of our association, there was scant chance we would share a carefree evening like this anytime soon. Sure, we’d meet to discuss places for his new venture, but what was the probability that it would turn into a relaxed and fun dinner date?

I had thrown caution to the wind all evening, so why stop now?

When he came around to open the door for me, I brashly offered, “Come up with me.”

His hand stilled as I stepped out of the car.

“Come up for a nightcap,” I said with a smile.

He conferred with the driver, and I saw him drive off.

“How will you go back?” I asked.

“Cab. I might be late, and I don’t want him waiting into the night.”

“Into the night?” I teased with an expression of faux horror. “Whatever gave you that idea?”

“Not that way, Aarti,” he protested, my name creating a perfect sound in his mouth. Of course, my stomach did its thing, dropping and tumbling like it had no other business.

How about trying to digest the food I’d just had, stomach? Why don’t you focus on that instead of making me hyperaware of Sujit’s presence beside me?

“What way then?” I teased with a straight face. “I don’t know what a man would be doing in a strange woman’s hotel room into the night.”

“Alright, smarty-pants,” he said and bumped his shoulder with mine. “And you aren’t a stranger. Not anymore.”

And there it was again. That strong tumble in my stomach and the steep dip in my heart like it had taken a plunge straight down a tall cliff.

“Why is it that you always have to have the last word?” I complained.

“Hey, I told you, I don’t like to lose.”

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