The Singles Table (Marriage Game #3)(53)

A blur of black. An elegant hand. Jay caught the bouquet midflight and tossed it into the crowd.

“Quickly.” He grabbed Zara’s hand and pulled her off the dance floor. “Let’s get you out of here.”

Zara was more than happy to follow Jay off the dance floor. He led her through the expansive hallways and out onto a secluded balcony overlooking a manicured garden.

“I’ll have to remember to give you a call the next time my friends set up a volleyball game on the beach,” he said, barely winded.

Zara bent over, wheezing out a breath. “I didn’t mean to spike it at her head.” She stood and gripped the railing, cursing herself yet again for her impulsiveness. Why couldn’t she be more like her mother? Always cool. Always calm. Always poised no matter what the occasion. “I guess you’re the next one who’s going to get married since you actually caught it.”

He gave her an affronted stare. “You caught it first.”

“Technically, it wasn’t a catch because I didn’t hold it. I simply redirected its path.” She looked out over the gardens, where Vivek stood near a fountain, his expectant gaze on the patio where people had spilled out to dance.

“Is he waiting for you?” Jay’s voice was tight, strained.

“What?” She frowned. “Me and Vivek?”

“You spent most of the dinner talking to him.” His hand fisted on the balcony. “He’d probably think a zombie party was the most fun he’d ever had.”

Zara felt a flutter of excitement in her belly. Was he jealous? Not that jealousy was a good thing, but glaring was caring. “Can you imagine a bigger disaster? He’s like me—reckless, impulsive, accident-prone—he just hides it better. He told me he had to hire an assistant to follow him around and move things out of his way because when he’s in character and focused on his lines, he forgets where he is. He fell into the ocean on his last set.”

“So, he understands you.”

“I don’t even understand me,” she said dryly. “I can’t imagine the guy I was trying to prime for Parvati would have better insight.”

“Parvati wants him?”

“She’s hot for him, but because she had to sit with the bridal party, she asked me to be her wingwoman. I was supposed to talk her up and keep all the competition away. Honestly, between helping out Parvati, keeping the hirsute pole dancer away, checking in on you and Binita, and trying to get people talking, the evening has been utterly exhausting.”

His lips twitched, but his voice was even. “Why would you be checking in on me and Binita?”

“In case she was the one, and I could add a match to my season scorecard.” She tossed her hair, trying to show him it didn’t matter that he’d been all careless whispers and touchy palms with a stranger he barely knew. “Or . . . is it Indra? I heard you two got together.”

Part of her hoped he would say yes. They’d had their kiss and it was great, but he’d found someone else. But another part, the deep secret part of her that felt so calm and safe when he was near, hoped for a different answer, even though it scared her.

“I’m not interested in either one of them.”

Her heart skipped a beat then pounded in her chest. “Why? What’s wrong with them?”

“Not my type.”

“I thought you and Indra had dinner and talked long into the night.” She shivered from the intensity of his stare.

“I wanted to buy some artwork. Indra ordered dinner so I could take my time looking through the portfolio.”

“Oh.” Her breath left her in a rush. “Of course you did. That’s what I thought. You’re not really the type who would be into selfie-takers with palm fetishes or gallery owners who show suggestive fruits.”

“You were jealous.” Lips quivering in a smug smile, he closed the distance between them, backing her up against the brick wall.

“Don’t be silly. I just wanted to get my facts straight so I would know when to add your match to my wedding season scorecard. When I heard about your visit . . .”

He lifted an eyebrow. “How did you hear about it?”

“There are no secrets in the Patel family. Everybody knows everything. Gossip is an Olympic sport. It’s only surprising that it took two days instead of two minutes.”

“I have a secret nobody knows.” He braced one arm on the wall beside her head and she mentally engaged in unhealthy booze-fueled speculation.

They’d agreed on one kiss. What if he wanted more?





? 16 ?



Zara wasn’t listening.

Jay knew it for a fact because her eyes were slightly glazed. When she was listening, or talking, Zara stared directly at him, giving him all her focus and attention. The only time she hadn’t focused was when he’d kissed her, and since it was all he’d been thinking about since the last time he saw her, he was pretty sure she was thinking about it, too.

“What secret?” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and damned if he couldn’t take his eyes away.

“I’m good at hugs.” He traced the thin strap of her choli with his finger, and she drew in a sharp breath.

“I know.”

“I’m also good at kisses.” He followed the embroidery, his finger skimming over the crescent of her breast. It was her passion that drew him, he decided, that and her ability to make the best of every situation even if it meant putting herself out there and suffering as a result.