Page 48 of Pillow Talk
Shona was just about to thank Sen when his door opened and his father came in, reading a file as he walked.
‘Senthil, can you be my second pair of eyes on this Carey plea agreement?’
He looked up and stopped.
‘Oh, I didn’t know you were in a meeting. My apologies,’ MrAiyer said, looking at Shona.
‘It’s okay, Dad. You can leave the file here.’
Sen stood up and came around the desk.
‘Dad, this is Shona Shah,’ he said.
His father clicked his tongue.
‘Of course, I know Shona Shah,’ he replied.
Shona smiled. ‘Hello, MrAiyer.’
His father eyed Sen and then patted his son’s back. ‘I’ll leave you to it, then.’
He turned to Shona. ‘It was lovely to see you again. I must rush off. I have very important phone calls to make to my father and wife.’
He winked at Sen and rushed out of the office, closing the door behind him.
Suddenly the silence was awkward.
Sen pushed his hands into his pockets.
Finally, Shona spoke.
‘Thank you, Sen. I really should get going. It’s getting late.’ She stood up and picked up her bag.
Sen stepped forward. ‘Shona, about that payment…’
Her ears grew hot. ‘Oh gosh, Sen! I completely forgot. How much do I owe you?’
He was suddenly in front of her.
‘A kiss. I want a kiss. Not a kiss that’s leading to anything more. Just a simple kiss,’ he said.
He was now looking down at her lips.
Shona nodded yet made no attempt to move.
This felt different. They’d kissed numerous times, so why did this feel like it was going to be a first kiss?
Sen brought his thumb to her bottom lip and gently stroked it. Shona leaned into his hand.
In one motion he bent his head and his lips were on hers. There was no urgency to rip their clothes off. There was no demand. It was a kiss of a promise. A promise of what? Shona didn’t know.
Sen slowed the kiss and pulled back just enough to look at hereyes, his gaze gentle.
‘I should go,’ she whispered.
‘We should go. I’ll give you a ride.’
Shona was too affected by the kiss to respond. Instead, she watched him pack his things, make copies of the file his father had brought and put on his jacket.
