Dating Dr. Dil (If Shakespeare was an Auntie #1)(81)

“Wh-what?” Her eyes widened as she held on to him, legs in the air, on the cusp of an orgasm. “Wh-what?”

“Say yes!” he demanded. “You know what!” his voice was hoarse, desperate for her.

He leaned in close, pressing his lips to hers, savaging her mouth the way that she’d savaged his life.

She tensed, her mouth open wide in a silent scream as the orgasm tore through her. “Y-yes!” she whispered.

“What was that?” he demanded, as he pushed into her so hard that the bed frame pounded against the wall. “Tell me, damn it.”

“Yes!” she screamed. “Yes!”

Prem came harder than he’d ever come before. When he let go in that moment, releasing inside of her, he’d gripped her hips and held her flush against his, saying her name like a prayer before collapsing on top of her.

She’d said yes.



Later, whether it was minutes or hours, he wasn’t sure, Prem rolled to the side, then pulled a blanket over both of them. Kareena’s skin was starting to feel cool from the air-conditioning, and he didn’t want her to be uncomfortable.

When she rolled over to look at him, eyes sleepy, she said, “I hope I didn’t answer the wrong question.”

“Do you want to make this a real thing?” He swallowed hard, hoping that her answer remained the same.

The hazy look in her eyes cleared. “Yeah. I guess I did answer the right question.”

“Does your answer still stand?” he asked. He’d already begun envisioning their future together. Working together. Traveling together. Long nights where they talked until the sun set and made love until sunrise. He may not be able to give her the words that she needed, but he’d stay committed to her if she were willing to make this real. If she was as invested in a . . . a partnership as he was.

She looked pensive for a moment, and he could swear he saw a glimmer of regret in her eyes.

Regret?

“Yes,” she said in a rush. “Yes, let’s do this.”

“Okay,” he whispered and pulled her close. “Rina?”

“Yeah?”

“Just to be clear, I want more than a fake engagement with you,” he whispered.

She lay eyes closed, her lips quivering. “Okay.”

They lay like that, lost in their individual thoughts. He was happy. Truly happy.

He looked down at her face with that one line of tension between her brows and ran a thumb over it.

“Rina, honey?”

“Hmm?” she said, her eyes remaining closed.

And because he couldn’t think of what he was supposed to say to find out why she didn’t sound as content, as happy as he did, he said the only thing that came to mind.

“I don’t deserve you, but I’m going to try every day to be someone who does. Is that enough?”

The line between her brows smoothed out, and for the first time since she walked in his door, a smile curved her full mouth. She pressed a hand against his cheek.

“Okay,” she whispered in response.





Chapter Twenty-Seven

Prem




Prem: I feel like I need to give you a real proposal. You know, before we announce it at your sister’s engagement party that we’re together.

Kareena: Uh, sure. I mean, I don’t need one, but okay?

Prem: Really? For such a romantic, I thought you’d like the idea. You know. Rings and things.

Kareena: Well, if you’re interested in proposing, just for you and me, I’d prefer if it was a surprise. You know, because texting me that we’re announcing an engagement is not really something that sparks romance.

Prem: Ahh. Yeah, okay. That makes sense. Hey Rina, honey?

Prem: Are you happy?

Kareena: ??





Gregory LTD Financial: Hey Prem, do you have time for a quick meeting in NYC tomorrow? I saw your last few shows. Your producer sent me the tapes and a pretty compelling note. I’m reconsidering my investment into your community center.

Prem: That’s great! I’d be happy to meet you tomorrow. I have patients, but I’ll see what I can do to move my nonurgent appointments. I’ll keep you posted on my availability.

Gregory LTD Financial: Great. I let my assistant know you’ll be putting time on my calendar. Talk to you soon.





Prem walked into the chrome and glass building on Park Avenue and checked in at the wide security desk. After they took his picture, verified his ID, and called up to the top floor, he took the designated elevator up to floors twenty-five through thirty-five.

The thirty-fifth floor had sweeping views of the river, with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

“Dr. Verma?” a woman said. Her perfectly styled black hair was coiled on top of her head. She held a tablet in one hand.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Deepak is waiting for you. Please follow me.”

Prem trailed behind the woman, keeping up with her clipped pace down wide corridors with large glass offices along the walls and spacious open desks. In the center of the floor were couches, espresso machines, and gathering tables.

The woman stopped in front of the corner office and motioned through the open door. “Right this way, please.”

Prem stepped inside, and the last thing he expected to see was a familiar face seated across from Deepak with her feet propped up on the adjoining seat, or his best friend in his office chair casually trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube, as if the woman’s presence was completely normal.