Page 24 of Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

“Sure.” She stood outside the door, called herself a hundred names and then walked back in. When she was absolutely certain that he was done showing off his glorious body.

He was stretched out on the bed, a sheaf of papers all around him. A pair of glasses with bifocal lenses rested on his nose. He was wearing a worn-out T-shirt with a comic print on it and sweatpants. And his big feet were bare. He had nice, long toes and square nails.

Even the man’s feet were cute and sexy.

He looked up. “Sit down please.”

She sat at the edge of the bed on the opposite side from him. As far away as possible, with one butt cheek hanging off. The whir of the plane’s engines filled the background and she scooted up so she didn’t fall off.

“I’ll allow you a certain amount of leeway for today since this was all very sudden.” It was as if he’d amassed patience from the entire world and filled his words with it. “Remember that you’re here as my assistant. To be at my beck and call. Not for a vacation or to stir up gossip and definitely not to socialize.”

“I was only being friendly,” she said hotly, knowing that his lecture had more to do with her chatting to Ajay than any of his other points. “Any gossip in there, you started it. You’re the one that looked at me as if you...”

Those beautiful brown eyes trapped hers. “As if I what, Ms. Menon?”

“As if I was the most interesting thing you’ve ever seen. Now you’ve got them all riled up with unnecessary curiosity.”

“Ahh...yes, that was my fault. You reminded me of someone for a moment.” His gaze swept over her—from her hair in a professional-looking bun on top of her head to her knees folded primly and tucked against the bed. Heat licked through her even though it wasn’t an invasive perusal. Raising his arms, he laced them behind his head. A casual grace filled his every movement.

“Of someone so interesting that even after nearly a fortnight, I’m still thinking of her. But after a few moments, it became clear that you’re not her. Not even remotely like her.”

God, the man was a genius at baiting her.

Naina looked up at him, a hot declaration dancing on the tip of her tongue.

It was me you kissed as if you couldn’t get enough.

This was a cat-and-mouse game they were playing. A game she was insisting on. He knew she’d been the woman that night. She suddenly knew that he knew. Without a doubt.

Whatever lies she’d told herself not an hour ago didn’t hold up now when the truth was shining in his eyes. When it was clear from the challenge in the tilt of his square jaw. When the air charged up every time they looked into each other’s eyes.

So why had he hired her then?

To make sure she didn’t sell her story to the media?

Or because he’d taken pity on her situation after she’d practically begged him to give her a job because she was so desperately in need of funds?

It had to be one or the other. And, more importantly, she had to be okay with either of those reasons. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream for a second that I could hold your interest for even that long, Mr. Raawal. Now, shall we get on with the list of tasks still waiting for you?”

CHAPTER SIX

VIKRAMKNEWHE’Dbeen very thoroughly and very politely steered toward work. Which should make him elated. One of them, at least, needed to keep their cool and focus on the job in hand. Needed to remember that there was no future in whatever this was between them.

But the hunger with which she’d watched his body, as if he were her favorite ice cream...the woman had no idea how obvious her expressions were. How artless she was in her desire.

He’d never particularly cared one way or the other that he had, as everyone stated, “stunning” looks. It had been an accident of a genetics pool contributed to by two of the most self-absorbed, destructive people he’d ever known. Yes, it had come in handy in his career. But it had only been one tool in a whole arsenal he’d been given to save his family from the huge hole his father had dug them into.

To save the prestigious Raawal name from becoming synonymous with scandal and shame.

But for the first time in his life, he found he was more than fond of his symmetrical features. More than happy to go through the rigorous exercise regimen his trainer had created.

Just because this woman looked at him as if she wanted to lick him up.

He pushed his fingers through his hair, a smile curving his mouth. He felt like a teenager, waiting to pass a note to the girl he liked. But without the burden of being the family’s last saving grace.

For the first time in his life, he found a distinct pleasure in this chase. This attraction that was more than a simple need to slake his lust or scratch an itch. For the first time ever, he felt as if there was more to him too.

He was still smiling when she looked up from her notepad. Again, those eyes stayed on his mouth for a few seconds too long before they finally met his. “Why are you smiling?”

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