Page 46 of Glass Jawed
“My girl,” he growls low.
I laugh, rising on my tiptoes to press a quick kiss to Lucian’s lips. He doesn’t let me go right away—gripping my waist, deepening it just a few seconds longer than necessary—before pulling back with that stupidly content, cocky smile of his.
“There’s the birthday boy,” I say as I throw my arms around Liam in a friendly hug. “How’s thirty-four treating you?”
“Painfully,” Liam groans. “My back made a weird sound when I sneezed this morning.”
Kashvi strolls over then, eyes flicking between the three of us.
Liam freezes the moment he sees her.
“Jesus, Aarohi! Is that your Vancouver friend?” Liam whispers, straightening his blazer. His entire demeanor does a weird shift—like someone just hit the dimmer switch on his sarcasm and turned it tocharm.
“Hi. Liam Winters. Birthday boy. I’ve heard great things about you, Kash.” He’s eyeing her up and down—a flirty gleam in his gaze.
Poor guy.
“KashviMehra,” she corrects him and raises a brow, arms folded. “And not interested in men younger than me.”
There’s a second of stunned silence. Then Liam chokes. “Excuse me?”
Lucian immediately snorts. I’m biting my lip, trying not to laugh. Liam does look like he’s super young. Is that why he wears suits all the time?
Kash deadpans, sipping her iced latte. “I assume you are, like, what—twenty-four. Maybe twenty-five? That beard is doing a lot of the heavy lifting.”
Liam sputters. “I’mthirty-four. Just turned. Literally. Today.”
“Cool. Happy birthday.” Kash shrugs, totally unbothered. Then she turns to Lucian, looking at him like she’s got her target locked in. “The infamous Lucian Vale.”
Shit. Here we go.
She holds out her hand to him and Lucian looks about ready to run. And I’m thoroughly enjoying this.
He clears his throat and clasps her outstretched hand in his. “Uh...Kashvi. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard admirable things.”
She narrows her eyes at him. “Can’t say the same. But cook me thatkadhai paneerthat Rohi raves about—and maybe I’ll call off my hitman.”
I choke on my damn saliva and admonish her while barely containing my laugh. “Kash!”
Lucian looks at me briefly—an amused twitch on his lips. Then back to her. “Consider it done.”
Liam leans into my ear and mutters a little too loudly, “Your friend is terrifying. I like her.”
I grin at him and suddenly Lucian’s grip on my waist has tightened.
“I’m standing right here,” Kash snaps at Liam.
Liam, undeterred, leans slightly closer to Kash. “I’m having a birthday get-together tonight. Just a few friends. Will you come, Kashvi?”
That’s not an invitation. It sounds more like a plea.
Kash blinks and then glances at me, half-amused, half-uncertain. “You’re definitely going then?”
I nod. “Yep. Lucian and I wouldn’t miss it.”
Lucian kisses my temple and steals my oat latte. “Youwouldn’t miss it,” he corrects. “I’m just in it for the beer.”
Liam still hasn’t looked away from Kash. “So? Don’t break my heart—say you’ll come.”
