Page 21 of The Rules of Their Red-Hot Reunion

Priya and Oscar stood just inside the door of the restaurant, looking exactly what they were: a hugely successful, beautiful couple living their best life. After Aisha received a hug from Oscar, Priya took both her hands and danced on the spot. ‘Isn’t this place fantastic? I can’t believe we managed to book it.’

Aisha looked over her shoulder into the busy bar and lounge area and lifted her eyebrows on seeing an A-list Hollywood celebrity sitting at one of the tables. Binta was vibey and sophisticated and, judging from the laughter and buzz of conversation, looked like a fun place.

Maybe when her family got too much she could hide out down here and order one of Binta’s world-famous cocktails. Something citrusy and wonderful and strong with alcohol. She’d need it, of that she had no doubt.

‘Everyone is upstairs. We’re just waiting on a couple of guests and then we’ll join you upstairs.’ Priya saw her wince and quickly added, ‘Or you can wait downstairs with us.’

‘I’ll wait.’

Priya squeezed her hand again before turning away to greet a couple she’d never met before. Aisha stepped back, leaned against the wall, and watched as people, mostly dressed in designer clothes, streamed past them to enter the downstairs bar area. She liked the way the doors folded back, leading onto the patio area, separated from the road by huge arches. The room was also filled with luscious plants that provided the tables with some privacy but didn’t impede the view of the beach and the setting sun. It looked like what it was reputed to be: a world-class, vibey joint that was the place to see and be seen.

‘Oscar and Priya, I presume?’

Pasco?What the hell?

Aisha blinked, then blinked again, but it was definitely Pasco standing in front of her, dressed in a Prussian blue suit over an open-necked white shirt, brown leather belt, and shoes.

Priya placed her hand in his and smiled. ‘Pasco, how nice to meet you at last. This is my husband, Oscar.’

Pasco shook Oscar’s hand before tuning to Aisha. ‘Hey, Aish, you look lovely.’

Aisha started to tell him he looked lovely too, but quickly shut down that thought. ‘Why are you here?’ she demanded.

Pasco looked around and shrugged. ‘I show up here every few weeks just to keep an eye on the place.’

‘Why would you do that?’ Aisha demanded.

Pasco looked from her to Priya, and her sister rolled her eyes. ‘When you told me you were working with Pasco again, I called Pasco up, introduced myself as his ex-sister-in-law, and asked for recommendations on where to hold Oscar’s fiftieth. He suggested Binta and designed a special menu for us,’ Priya explained.

Her sister had never been shy about putting herself forward. Aisha looked at Pasco and pulled a face. His slow, heat-filled smile caused her stomach to flip inside out. ‘Sorry,’ she mouthed and saw his tiny shrug.

The pieces started to fall into place. ‘You own this too?’ she asked him as Priya and Oscar turned to greet more guests.

‘With a partner,’ Pasco told her. He gave her a long up-and-down look and silently whistled. ‘You do look great, Aisha.’

She fought the urge to swish her skirts as a four-year-old would. Seeing the admiration and lust in his eyes made her feel warm and squishy and rather wonderful.

Then she remembered he’d spent the last week ignoring her again. ‘You’ve been avoiding me,’ she accused. ‘Why?’

Pasco placed a hand on her back and led her to the stairs. ‘Honestly?’

‘Yes, of course,’ Aisha replied, thinking how wonderful his big, warm hand felt on her lower back.

‘Because every time I’m within six feet of you, I have to fight the urge to kiss you senseless...everywhere,’ he said as they climbed the stairs.

What did he mean...? Oh, right. Well...um...

‘I’m not sure what to say to that,’ Aisha admitted after a long silence.

At the top of the stairs, Pasco stopped and looked down at her, his smile rueful. ‘It’ll be a bloody miracle if we manage to get this restaurant up and running, I admit that.’ He gestured to the door down the hall. ‘That’s where you want to go.’

No, she didn’t. Aisha stared at the half-open door and grimaced. ‘I’ll just wait for Priya and Oscar here.’

‘But your family is through there. You look a lot like your mum, by the way,’ Pasco said.

Aisha pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. ‘Do they know you are here?’

He shook his head. ‘No, I don’t make a point of introducing myself to guests.’ He frowned and pushed back his jacket to slide his hands into the pockets of his trousers. ‘Are they still pissed about us marrying?’

---