Rebel Hard (Hard Play #2)(59)

It would be another kind of pressure.

Nayna knew his deepest hurts, and it would go against every part of her nature to scar him any further. Her heart was too soft, her ability to be loyal too powerful. But even worse than Nayna flying away from him would be a Nayna who stayed only because of a sense of obligation and friendship.

So he would tell her of his love only in the midnight hours, when she slept in his arms. He’d help her fly… and hope she’d choose to fly to him.





31





Wedding Bells Ringing





Raj drove Nayna home.

He’d left his truck parked at the airport, and after they landed in Auckland around eight at night, he dumped both their bags in the back seat, then opened the passenger door for her. But before she could get in, he gripped her jaw and initiated a deeply demanding kiss that held all the need he couldn’t show her, all the hopes he had to keep under lock and key.

“Now,” he said afterward, “let’s go pretend we spent the time talking.”

She cradled his jaw in one hand, his stubble now more into scruff territory. “I’m so glad you’re mine,” she whispered and made the knot of tension inside him unravel a fraction.

Just enough that he could smile and say, “Me and my abs?”

“Well, duh.” Laughing, she pushed playfully at his chest before getting up into the passenger seat.

Raj closed the door and jogged around to get into the driver’s seat—and tried not to imagine what it might be like to do things like this with her every day. Shared rides, casual errands, quick trips. Sweet domesticity was his dream, not Nayna’s.

“Rock music okay?” he asked when his usual station came on after he started the engine.

She pretended to play air-guitar before launching into the rock ballad currently playing. Grinning, Raj joined in, and the two of them treated the truck as their own private karaoke studio until he turned into the street on which the Sharmas had their home.

Suddenly Nayna’s song cut off. She hugged her arms around herself. “How am I going to do this?” she whispered. “It’ll break their hearts.”

Raj ran the back of his hand over her cheek. “We’ll do it together.”

A rub of her cheek against his knuckles. “It’s not going to be pretty.”

“I can handle not-pretty.” Though he’d have to keep a handle on his temper if her family got close to crossing a line. “Visitors?” He nodded at the small red car parked behind the garage.

“Madhuri.” Nayna blew out a trembling breath. “I guess she might as well be here for this too.”

Raj turned into the drive.

It was time.



* * *



Nerves jangling, Nayna got out of the truck and waited for Raj to grab her bag from the back before the two of them walked around the side of the house to enter through the back door. That door led into the kitchen, where she was sure to find her mother or grandmother at this time of night. Maybe Madhuri and her father too.

The kitchen was the absolute heart of the Sharma home.

The door opened before she reached it, her mother bursting out. “My Ninu, you’re home!” A crushing hug scented with a familiar floral perfume before her mother pulled back and said, “I’m so glad you’re here.” Her smile dazzled as she turned to hug and kiss Raj on the cheek too. “And Raj beta, you too. You would’ve both missed the excitement otherwise.”

Belatedly realizing that Shilpa Sharma’s enthusiasm had only a little to do with her return from the South Island, Nayna frowned. “What’s happened? And why are you wearing your newest salwar kameez?” A vivid aqua with pink accents, it had been meant for an upcoming sixtieth party.

“Madhuri is engaged!” Her mother clapped her hands in front of her, her eyes literally twinkling.

Nayna’s mouth fell open. “No!”

“Yes!” Her mother danced on the spot.

Mind snapping to the surfer boy whose photo she’d seen on Madhuri’s phone, Nayna said, “Anyone we know?” She wasn’t about to accidentally bust her sister if the groom wasn’t to be Boytoy Bailey.

“Oh, it’s Dr. Sandesh Patel,” her mother said. “You know, the one who has his own clinic. Never been married, and he wants Madhuri!”

Nayna’s head spun. “Where is she?” She needed to talk to her sister and find out what the hell was going on. From having fun with a surfer boy to getting engaged to one of the most respected men in their community? A man who had always struck Nayna as coldly unbending. Not the kind of husband who’d have patience with Madhuri’s quixotic ways.

“She’s getting ready in her old room,” Shilpa Sharma said happily. “Sandesh is coming over in the next five, ten minutes so we can make it all official—your timing was wonderful!” Her mother tucked Nayna’s hair behind her ears with maternal affection. “I mean, Sandesh really should’ve talked to your father first, but with Madhuri having already been married, and him being older, well… It’s all fine. Your father is very happy. Imagine! A doctor in the family too!”

Nayna glanced at Raj. No way could she do what she’d planned, tell her family about her decision on a day so joyous for Madhuri.