Page 43 of Claiming His Bollywood Cinderella

“Naina,beta, what in the world are you talking about?” Mrs. Sharma interrupted, her gaze swinging between her and Vikram.

Naina searched for something to say. “I think I will go thank Ms. Khan again. She was kind enough to lend me this dress and the necklace.”

“I can’t believe Ms. Khan let you borrow an expensive diamond necklace like that,” Mrs. Sharma piped up, envy in her tone. “Be careful with it,beta.”

“Oh, these are not real diamonds. They’re...”

Mr. Sharma peered at her neck. “My dear girl, I would say those are one hundred percent real diamonds. And exquisite ones too. I should know. I was a jeweler’s apprentice in another life.”

Naina could have kissed Mr. Sharma’s cheek for dropping that tidbit and pulling the team’s attention away from her for a moment. Because she was sure her shock was written on her face.

Why would Zara let her borrow real diamonds? And now that she thought about it, why would she even own a dress that fit Naina’s petite form when she was tall and statuesque? Why would...

She jerked her gaze to Vikram. One look at those falsely innocent eyes and the truth hit her. He hadsent the dress and the diamonds to her!

A designer dress and real diamonds... What was he thinking? And why?

Anger diluted the stupid hope building in her chest. Hope was dangerous, hope made her weak.

She wanted to grab his arm and drag him through the curious spectators to demand what his game was. She wanted to tell the entire world and all the beautiful women that had made eyes at him that he was hers. She wanted to tell him, in front of this whole crowd, that she knew the real man, that she loved him for who he was beneath the mask of the Bollywood star, that she...

She loved him. So much that it stole her breath.

“Naina, what is it? You look...pale,” he said, a sudden seriousness to his tone. All manner of formality was gone, all the false charm and teasing buried beneath genuine concern.

Naina heard Mrs. Sharma agree through the sudden pounding in her head.

She stared at him anew, her breath seesawing through her. Big and broad, he filled her entire vision and yet, she had no need to see or hear the rest of the world. In his beautiful eyes that saw so much and betrayed so little, in that sensual mouth that smiled far too infrequently, in the sharp nose that quivered to betray him when he wanted to remain serious with her, her entire world was in this man.

She was in love with Vikram.

A half sob, half laugh erupted from her mouth.

Scowl deepening, he took her arm and dragged her away from the avidly watching team members, his gaze not wavering from her. “I’ll take you back to the resort. If you still don’t feel better, we can call Dr. Mehta—”

“I’m not unwell.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being looked over.”

His hand around her elbow, he walked her to the front of the bungalow and stuffed her into his car.

“You can’t just ditch Ms. Khan.” Something about the resolute set of his jaw made Naina look back. “I’m enjoying the party. I don’t want to leave.”

“Enough, Naina. You’ve already proved that you can stick it to me.”

“You’ve made your decision, Mr. Raawal,” she said, stubbornly. “You need to stop hovering around me as if you were my...keeper.”

“Yes, I have made a decision.”

Even without that statement, Naina got it. He had made a decision. It had been in his eyes when he’d complimented her. Because he didn’t do anything without forethought. Without weighing everything.

Her pulse raced as she wondered what it was. If she could bear to be sane when she heard it.

“I don’t think we should be alone right now,” Naina protested, when they arrived at the resort. It felt as if the entire world had fallen quiet so that the only sound to be heard far and wide was the thudding of her heart.

His mouth flinched, his fingers tight on the steering wheel. “You sound as if you’re terrified of me.”

“I am.” When he jerked his gaze to her, his mouth a flat line, she amended her answer. She could wound this man, she was realizing. “Not of you, exactly.”

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