Page 26 of Strictly Solo
“I promise, Neil. I won’t trouble your mom. She’s safe with me,” he assured.
Satisfied with this promise, Neil smiled brightly and hurried back downstairs, leaving Naina and Ruhaan alone on the terrace.
As the sound of Neil’s footsteps faded, Naina was suddenly struck by the familiarity of their surroundings. This was the very spot where she and Ruhaan had shared their first kiss on the night of their engagement. Desperate to escape the onslaught of emotions, she turned abruptly, intending to flee.
But before she could take a step, Ruhaan’s hand closed around her wrist, halting her retreat.
“Naina, please,” he pleaded. “Stop running from me like this.”
She remained facing away from him. “Leave my hand, Ruhaan. I have no interest in talking to you. Let me go.”
In response, Ruhaan spun her around and pulled her towards him with a sudden, strong movement. As she collided with his chest, his arm circled her waist. Their faces were mere inches apart, his warm breath fanning across her cheeks as he spoke.
“You can’t leave until we clear this out.”
She gasped, her eyes wide as they met his intense gaze.
“And before we begin the talk... let me tell you, Naina... you look breathtakingly gorgeous tonight. How do you manage to make me feel like this every time you walk around me?”
The compliment, delivered with such raw sincerity, caught her off guard. She felt a blush creep up her neck, thankful for the dim lighting that hopefully concealed it. For a moment, she allowed herself to be lost in Ruhaan’s gaze, but then reality crashed back in. The years of separation, the pain, the misunderstandings…they all came flooding back, steeling her resolve.
She placed her hands on Ruhaan’s chest, pushing against him even as her body yearned to lean in closer.
“Flattery won’t work, Ruhaan,” she said, fighting to keep her voice steady. “Whatever game you’re playing, I want no part of it. We’re not the same people we were seven years ago. Too much has happened; too much has changed.”
His grip on her waist loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go entirely. “That’s exactly why we need to talk,” he insisted. “And whatever I said just now is not flattery. You know, Neil said you’re innocent. And he’s right. You are. But you’re also strong, determined, and so incredibly beautiful that it takes my breath away.”
She closed her eyes briefly, torn between the desire to hear him out and the fear of opening old wounds.
“Naina, please hear me out.” Ruhaan pleaded.
“Fine,” she conceded. “You have five minutes. After that, I’m walking away, and you’ll respect my decision. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” he said softly, finally releasing his hold on her waist but not stepping back. “Can we just pick up where we left off.”
Her breath hitched. Pick up where they left off? What the hell was he talking about?
Chapter 7
Ruhaan took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving her face as he explained.
“Last night, the kiss... it wasn’t a mistake. At least, not for me.”
Naina wanted to look away, to flee from the intensity of his gaze and the implications of his words, but something in his sincere expression kept her rooted to the spot.
Still, gathering her composure, she decided to push back, determined not to let Ruhaan gain any upper hand or harbor any misunderstandings about where their impulsive kiss might lead them.
“For me, it was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” she retorted. “Kissing a man like that without having any feelings for him is not my style, Mr. Ruhaan Singh.”
A flicker of hurt passed across Ruhaan’s face, quickly replaced by a knowing grin. He stepped closer, his voice taking on a teasing tone.
“The woman I know you are, you would never kiss anyone without having feelings. So, I don’t buy that. Besides, we are two mature individuals capable of handling this and not letting it come between our friendship, can’t we?”
Naina couldn’t help but let out a mocking chuckle. “Friendship? What in the world got you thinking that I am your friend?”
His expression hardened, frustration evident in the set of his jaw. He took another step towards her, causing Naina to instinctively back away, feeling suddenly intimidated by his proximity.
“Stop being so difficult, Naina,” he said. “Why can’t we be friends?”
