Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(53)

When he peered over the stair railing and first saw the group of people in the basement, he realized he would’ve been less surprised at an orgy.

A large poker table covered in black felt sat in the middle of a group of six men and two women. Most of the men were ripped and covered in tattoos. The other woman in the group looked like she was a rockabilly model. Then there was Kareena. His sexy librarian/lawyer with her black sweater vest, her black framed glasses, and her hair in a ponytail. She was also wearing a large red cape.

“I can’t believe my witch died!” she shouted.

There was a mix of groans and laughs from the group.

“Hey, Kareena?” Su-jin called from the base of the stairs.

Kareena turned around, her mouth dropping when she saw Prem. “What in the world are you doing here?”

He answered in Hindi. “Your sister told me you were at a strange man’s house. I texted you a dozen times and you didn’t answer.”

“Uh, excuse me,” a desi dude said from the spot next to her. “Even though I can understand Hindi, not everyone here does. That’s super rude.”

Prem was ready to snap back when Kareena rested a hand on the dude’s arm.

What the hell? Knots twisted in the pit of his stomach.

“It’s okay. Prem, sorry, I got caught up in the game.”

“I was . . . worried.”

Prem hated that so many people were staring at him, judging him for wanting to make sure that Kareena was safe. How was he supposed to know that she wasn’t in trouble? It’s not like she was answering her phone. He crossed his arms over his chest, ready to take all of them on. Even the one who looked like he was in the HBO vampire show.

“Are you ready to go home?” he asked, turning back to Kareena.

She looked at the game board and then back at him with a raised brow. He shook his head in response. He did not want to stay, and he had every intention of driving her ass all the way back to Edison where it belonged.

“Yeah, I should be heading home now,” she said out loud.

The group protested with various degrees of sadness. “How are you going to learn what happens if you leave now?” the movie star doppelganger said from the other side of the table. “I’m only in Jersey for twenty-four hours before I have to head back to L.A. Last chance.”

“Hey, I swear you look like the guy from—”

“Time to go!” Kareena interjected. “Joe, you’re brilliant, and I hope I’ll have another opportunity to play Dungeons with you soon. Frankie, thanks for letting me come to your home. And, Gina? I’m going to come and visit you for Mexican pizzas!”

“Don’t forget,” the guy Kareena called Frankie said. “We’re playing again in a few weeks. Do you have our number?”

“I do,” she said. She motioned to the Indian dude next to her. “Rahul texted it to me earlier.”

“Do you want me to walk you out?” Rahul said. “I mean, this was a date.”

Kareena snorted. “Your character is about to take control! Stay. But let’s go to your sister’s restaurant for pancakes soon.”

“You got it.”

They hugged, and Prem had to hold himself back from lunging across the room and tearing them apart. Before he could make a move, Kareena took off her cape and tossed it over her recently vacated chair.

“This was awesome.”

“Glad you had fun,” Rahul said. The dude turned to Prem and glared.

What the hell was that about?

Prem stepped aside and let Kareena pass him. He brushed his fingers against hers, and they tangled for a moment before she moved by. The room had already turned back to their game. “Now that our witch is gone, who’s going to be brave enough to open the chest?”

He thanked Su-jin again when he reached the kitchen, petted Luke, the Pomeranian, and left with Kareena at his side. They got into his Audi, and he punched in her address.

“I can’t believe you drove here because you thought I was in trouble,” she said after they got onto the main road. “I mean, I know you’re not that far, but still. Also, you don’t have to drive me all the way home. That’s forty-five minutes each way at this time of night.”

Prem just grunted at her as he followed the directions on the screen. He watched out of the corner of his eye as she pulled her phone out of her bag and scrolled through text messages in the dark console of his car. She let out a laugh. “With the way you were panicking, it’s like you think I found my soul mate already. I know getting the money means a lot to you, but I promise you I’ll give you the heads-up before I get that far.”

He couldn’t blame her for automatically thinking that his only vested interest was the money, but it still hurt. “Kareena, that guy wanted to go down to brown-town.”

“Go down to . . . oh my god. Prem, Rahul was into Dungeons and Dragons. I was intrigued. He asked me to play with him and his friends. And just because we—”

She bit her lip, cutting off the rest of her sentence.

Prem shifted in his seat. “No, I think you need to finish that thought,” he said evenly. “Just because we what?”

Kareena waved a hand in dismissal. “Rahul hates eggs, North Indian food, and has a pumpkin spice latte obsession. We’re better off as friends, Prem.”