Desiree entered Bhavvana’s, her favorite cafe, and caught sight of Shari and Drew almost immediately. Her former boss and his girlfriend were canoodling in a corner, snuggled so close a crowbar wouldn’t pry them apart.
A familiar twang of wistfulness made her maudlin. She’d never experienced the kind of love that made a couple stare at each other like no one else existed. Heck, she’d never even come close. Guess she could thank her mom for something.
Sushma’s casual approach to ‘love’—translated to dating any man with a big enough wallet—ensured Desiree never wanted to emulate her mother.
But being wary around guys came at a cost. Not letting them get too close meant her romantic life sucked. Big time.
The only time she’d ever truly lusted after a guy with an unswerving passion was six years ago. And now that guy was her boss and had blackmailed her into being his date for a week.
Ugh.
Hating the surge of heat to her cheeks that the mere thought of Jarryd Baron elicited, she strode to the table in the back corner.
“Hey, you two, get a room.” She pointed at the water jug on the table. “Or do I need to douse you with this?”
Shari grinned and Drew’s sheepish shrug made Desiree laugh as she sat opposite the happy couple.
“Drew only just got back to town after a quick trip to Kolkata,” Shari said, staring with open adoration at Drew. “Look at the guy. Do you blame me for not keeping my hands off him?”
Desiree had been Drew Lansford’s PA for two years and personally, she couldn’t see the attraction. Sure, the guy was nice, rich and an English Lord, but she preferred men with a bad boy edge.
Men like Jarryd.
Inwardly cursing him for intruding on her thoughts again, she pointed at Drew’s lopsided grin. “Lucky for you, Shari, guys who smile like that aren’t my type.”
Drew snorted. “Hey, not fair.” He jerked a thumb at Shari. “I’m so ga-ga over this one, I can’t help being a schmuck.”
Desiree rolled her eyes. “You two are pathetic.”
Shari snuggled closer into Drew’s side. “I moved from New York to Mumbai to live with this guy. That’s not pathetic. That’s romantic.”
Drew nodded, holding Shari tighter. “And I stood up to my mother to be with her, so that’s got to count for something.”
They chuckled, and Shari gently elbowed Drew away. “Why don’t you head back to the office and I’ll pop in when we’re done here?”
His eyebrows rose. “Trying to get rid of me already? Whatever happened to not being able to keep your hands off me?”
Shari sent a pointed glance at Desiree. “Because we’ve got stuff to discuss and we know how much you hate girl talk.”
“Say no more.” Drew stood so fast his chair almost toppled. “I’m out of here.”
He kissed Shari on the lips, and lingered so long Desiree had to look away.
“Go,” Shari said, shoving him gently, but her flushed cheeks indicated just how much she enjoyed the kiss.
“‘Bye, Desiree.” He touched her shoulder briefly. “Don’t think I’ve forgiven you for leaving me in the lurch yet.”
Desiree sniggered. “Sindhu’s the best PA next to me, so stop your whining.”
“She is pretty fantastic,” he said, and winced. “Though she bullies me more than you did.”
“Get used to it, Bollywood Boy, because once I get a ring on your finger, you’ll be bullied for the rest of your life.” Shari jabbed a finger in Drew’s direction and beamed, as Desiree’s jaw dropped.
“You’re getting married?”
Drew smiled while Shari clapped her hands, her excitement infectious. “We’ve talked about it. Haven’t set the date yet.”
Desiree’s head swiveled between the beaming couple. “So you’re officially engaged?”
Drew nodded. “Though we’re not doing all that formal palaver. We’ll just invite our closest friends to a party and we’ll get married.”
“The paparazzi will never forgive you,” Desiree said, remembering how she’d constantly fielded requests for interviews and photo ops when she’d been his PA. “Though I don’t blame you for wanting to fly under the radar for something this important.”
Shari’s smile faded. Her friend knew of Desiree’s past and how humiliation had dogged her courtesy of her mom.
Shari shooed Drew away. “Now go. We need to talk about you.”
“All good things, I hope,” he said.
“You wish.” Desiree laughed at his mock wounded expression as he waved and headed toward the door.
The moment he was out of earshot, Desiree leaned over and hugged Shari. “I’m really happy for you both.”
“Thanks.” Shari’s gaze never wavered from Drew until he exited the cafe. “I can’t quite believe it, to be honest.”
“I knew you’d end up hitched when you moved here.” Desiree hummed a wedding march under her breath. “Plus I know Drew. In the years I worked for him, I never saw him lose it the way he did over you.”
“Considering the rocky start we had, who would’ve thought, huh?”
Desiree snickered. “Having you travel to India to pose as your friend Amrita to break off her arranged marriage, Drew outing you, then following you back to New York, where you have a fling that culminates with you moving here permanently? Yeah, who would’ve thought?”
Shari chuckled as she gestured at a waiter. “Guess it was fate.”
Desiree snorted. “Don’t believe in that crap.”
“You should, if what you told me over the phone is anything to go by.” Shari’s eyebrow quirked. “You’re working for Jarryd Baron, the only guy you’ve ever crushed on?” Shari snapped her fingers. “That’s fate at work, girlfriend.”
The waiter appearing saved Desiree from responding, and as Shari placed their usual order, Desiree wondered for the umpteenth time since she’d walked out of the Baron Hotel two days ago if building her business was worth this.
Dating Jarryd. Pretending to be his girlfriend. Faking it.
When deep down, she still wondered what it would be like to be with him for real.
Not that she’d ever find out. Courtesy of her mom, and what Sushma had done to his dad, Jarryd despised her. Probably thought she was the same: an irresponsible, giddy user.
As the waiter left, Shari pointed at her face. “Yikes. What’s with the foul expression?”
“Thinking of Mom.”
Shari grimaced. “Don’t. Tell me about your new job instead.”
Desiree hesitated. While she’d called Shari yesterday to tell her the news, she hadn’t divulged the whole truth. They’d become good friends in the six months since Shari had moved to Mumbai but would Shari judge her for being blackmailed into dating a guy in exchange for a prized job?
Then again, considering Shari’s hare-brained scheme in posing as her BFF to ditch a fiancé, she doubted it.
“My new job is…complicated.”
Curiosity lit Shari’s eyes. “Define complicated.”
“Well…” Desiree blew out a breath. “I told you how my mom ditched Jarryd’s dad at the altar.”
Shari nodded. “That scandal even hit the entertainment channels in New York.”
“He hates me for it.”
“Hate’s a strong word, considering you two had a bit of thing going on before that happened?”
Desiree wrinkled her nose. “We flirted a little. Almost kissed at Mom’s engagement party. That’s about it.”
“So why are you in such a tizz now, six years later, working for the guy?”
Desiree sighed. “Because I’m not just working for him. I’ll be dating him.”
“What?” Shari shrieked so loudly that several nearby patrons shot her filthy glares and muttered disapproval in Hindi. “No way. Tell me everything!”
“Not much to tell. He ended up interviewing me for the interior design position, said I could have the job if I posed as his girlfriend for a week.”
“But why? I’ve checked out the guy online. He’s gorgeous.” Shari’s eyes narrowed in speculation. “So why blackmail you into being his girlfriend?” Shari wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “When he could have you more than happily fulfilling the role?”
Desiree scowled, hating the hint of truth behind her friend’s teasing. “His hotel’s hosting some mega dating agency shindig and he wants this to be an uncomplicated business arrangement between us.”
Shari’s brow furrowed. “Still doesn’t make any sense. He’d have a little black book filled to overflowing with women he could ask.” Her frown cleared. “Unless he’s still got the hots for you and is using this as an excuse to cozy up to you?”
“Yeah, right.” Desiree rolled her eyes, not liking the tiny flare of interest that Shari’s proclamation elicited.
What if Jarryd did like her? Would she be foolish enough to recognize it for anything other than a rich, powerful guy wanting something he shouldn’t?
“You said it.” Desiree jabbed a finger in Shari’s direction. “He could have any woman he wants, the dumbass. Why would he go to all this trouble when he knows I don’t like him?”
“Liar,” Shari murmured, as the waiter bore down on them and deposited two thalis in front of them.
Grateful for the appearance of the steel trays covered in rice, papad, aloo ghobi, brinjal pickle, curd and green mango chutney, Desiree couldn’t help but wonder what she’d do if Jarryd set his sights on obtaining the unobtainable.
Her.