Page 23 of Driven By Desire
Running through the full body mock-up, dismantling and check of parts that she’d completed, she said, “As I told you earlier, weneed to source another electrical fuel pump. Also, I’ve called my contact for the upholstery work. He’ll come by on Wednesday to give us an estimate on the work involved.”
Meeting Krish’s shuttered gaze for the first time that morning, she added, “I’ll bid on the pump using my credit card and expense it to you later.”
“Sure.” He nodded. Checking his watch, he said, “I have to go get ready for work. Chirag, are you home today?”
“Yes. Normal people like me don’t work over the weekends.”
Rolling his eyes at the not-so-veiled sarcasm, Krish asked, “Can you take care of Pooja today?”
“Sure. I had brunch plans which I can shift to tomorrow. Is Adi going to take tomorrow?”
“He has plans with friends. I think they’re going to the Kuntala waterfalls for a picnic. I’ll work from home tomorrow so I can take care of Pooja.”
“Cool. See you in the evening then.” Pushing Max’s tools to one side, Chirag parked his butt on the wrought iron table.
Acknowledging his cue to leave, Krish hesitated for a minute and looked over at Max’s bent head. He waited for a second but she didn’t look up from her work.
“Max.”
Stiffening at the sound of her name, she looked up slowly. Wary eyes met his over the metal contraption she was currently working on. “If you’re free tonight, maybe we could meet for a bit. We still need to talk.”
Pretending not to see the speculative look Chirag was leveling at them, Max answered. “I’m sorry but I’m not. I have plans.”
“What plans?”
“Plans that don’t concern you,” she answered, shortly, refusing to give an inch.
“Hiding something?” He failed miserably at keeping the edge out of his voice.
“I wasn’t aware you were entitled to an accounting of what I do on my personal time.”
“It’s a simple question,” he shot back. “Why the secrecy?”
“I have a date,” she ground out. “Happy now?”
Happy? No, he was far from happy. The idea of her with another man had his fists clenching. A thunderous roar filled his ears as he imagined her laughing with this phantom, holding his hand, kissing him. If not for the interested presence of his brother, he was fairly sure he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from hauling her back where she belonged. In his arms.
Stepping back instead, he turned with a clipped nod to his now rabidly curious brother and walked away. Just like he should have from the beginning. Something told him he’d left it too late.
CHAPTER 10
Krish came home at seven that evening to find Chirag sprawled on the couch with a cloth draped over his eyes.
Lips twitching, he took in the pained exhaustion in his pose. “Rough day?”
The cloth shifted enough for one plaintive eye to peep out. “I need alcohol.”
“I’ll finish my shower and pour us both a glass. Where’s Pooj?”
“Retired hurt from the arena and sulking in her bedroom.”
Grinning, Krish made his way to his bedroom. Dumping his laptop on the bed, he yanked his tie off and loosened his shirt cuffs. Walking out again, he made his way over to Pooja’s room, which was on the same level as his, and knocked.
“Go away.” The surly response satisfying him as to the normalcy of the day, he went back to his room and turned the geyser on. He was just loosening his shirt buttons when Chirag walked in.
“How do you feel about going out? All three of us. It’s been a while and it’s Saturday night.”
Freezing in the middle of pulling his shirt off, Krish raised an eyebrow, “What about Pooja?”
