Page 54 of Driven By Desire
They were at the door when her voice piped up. “I love you too, Bhai.” Embarrassment coloured the proclamation but didn’t in any way take away from the sweetness of it. His prickly little cactus was starting to shed her thorns.
“I know baby.” The huskiness in his voice had Chirag clapping him on his shoulder in support. Clearing his throat, he strove to bring back the previously lighthearted mood in the room and lighten the blush in her cheeks. “Although I suspect, you just want to be on my team tomorrow.”
Embarrassment faded as she laughed at his retort even as Chirag asked, “You don’t love me?”
“Oh please!” She snorted. “Nobody wants to be on your team, butterfingers.”
They were still squealing and throwing clothes at each other when Krish left them to it and went down to start dinner. Life was good and with Max joining them tomorrow, it was edging towards perfect.
---***---
Haversack slung over her shoulder, denim capris, white tank top, red sneakers and a cap jammed on her head through which she’d pulled the tail of her ponytail, Max was ready to picnic. Unfortunately, the Mehra household didn’t seem quite as ready.Chaos reigned supreme as they ran around like drunken rabbits on speed.
“I told the lot of you to be ready by six!” Krish roared. Standing at the top of the stairs in denim cut offs and an old grey t-shirt that hugged his body like a dream, he made Max itch to jump him. Keeping a respectable distance from his ridiculously tempting body and his intimidating frown, Max went into the kitchen to get herself something to drink. A quarter of an hour later she was joined by a disgruntled, hungover hobo.
“Big night?”
An incoherent mumble was the only reply she got as Adi slumped next to her at the kitchen table
A minute later, the rest of the family trooped in looking like the Brady Bunch. Fighting a smile, Max replied to their greetings only to jump with fright when Chirag clanged two plates together near Adi’s head. Moaning, he clutched the aforementioned head and mumbled some more.
“Water.” The succinct comment was all the sympathy he seemed to be getting from Krish. Minutes later, laden down with luggage, food and paraphernalia that would have served an army marching to war, they piled into two cars and set off. They reached the farmhouse an uneventful hour and forty five minutes later.
Well maintained, mango orchards lined the driveway to the sprawling house that came into view. A combination of brick and stone were used to give it a rustic charm that had it blending into the surroundings. Ducks and geese waddled around them like winged sentries even as staff came pouring out from the line of rooms behind the house.
Leaving Krish to supervise the unpacking of the cars, Max stepped away to explore. Walking a little distance away, she found herself in the middle of a gorgeous herb and vegetable garden. Crouching, she trailed her fingers over a juicy red tomato that sat next to a plant sprouting the longest green chilies she’d ever seen.
“My God.” Scanning the horizon, she realized she couldn’t see the fencing. Acres and acres of land spread off into the distance with no sign of a boundary wall.
A low chuckle had her glancing over her shoulder to see Krish standing behind her. “My God what?”
“You’re rich.” Dazed and suddenly uncomfortable, Max straightened from her crouch. “Seriously rich.”
“I’m rich because I have a tiny vegetable patch?” Smile fading when she took a step back from him, he said, “Careful. Another step and you’ll squash the tomatoes.”
Sighing when those wary doe eyes continued to look at him like he was an alien, Krish asked, “Is this a problem?”
“I’m not sure. I knew you were this big deal business tycoon but I don’t think I completely comprehended it until this.”
Since she was waving a hand at the tomatoes again, Krish pulled her forward before she decapitated them.
“Max, I’m still the same person.” When she frowned at him, he grinned, “Most women would be thrilled that their boyfriend was rich.”
“I’m not most women and you’re not my boyfriend.”
“I’m not.” Eyebrows raised, he watched her wave her arms around distractedly as she said, “You’re hardly a boy and the term makes me think of teenagers holding hands at a coffee shop.”
“So we’re lovers then?” Enjoying the ridiculous conversation, Krish steered her slowly away from the poor, endangered tomatoes.
“Too seedy.” Earlier discomfort forgotten, Max looped an arm through his. “You’re my relationship person.”
Cracking up, Krish wrapped his arm around her and tucked her in closer. “I like being your relationship person.”
Standing on tip-toe, she rubbed her nose affectionately against his. “I like it too.”
“We should go back to the mob.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, he pulled back but kept her hand firmly clasped in his. “I hope you remembered to pack your swimsuit.”
Rolling her eyes at him in a perfect imitation of Pooja, she mumbled, “As if I could forget with the constant lists and reminders you kept sending me all week.”
