First Comes Like (Modern Love #3) - Alisha Rai Page 0,54

now apparently, she couldn’t be trusted to look at his front. Neck up from now on, that was all. “Hi,” she said weakly.

“Hello. I’m sorry I kept you waiting. You’re early.”

“I am?” Jia glanced at her phone. “Only ten minutes. Occasionally I’m early to things. Don’t get used to it.”

“I wouldn’t dare. You’ve met my uncle, I see.”

“I have.” Jia smiled at Adil. “He was kind enough to give me a snack.”

“Next time, I’ll make you a proper meal,” Adil promised.

Jia wasn’t sure what to say to that. Was there going to be another time that Jia would be at this home to see Adil again? She settled for a polite smile, and picked up the rest of her roti to finish it off.

“What time will you be home?” Luna had slipped into the kitchen so quietly Jia had barely noticed her. She’d carefully directed her question to her uncle.

“Not too late, I don’t think,” Dev responded, and looked at Jia.

Jia shook her head. “Not late at all. The event should be over in a couple of hours.”

Luna looked back and forth between the two of them. “Okay. I hope you two enjoy your . . .”

“Meeting,” Dev said, at the same time Jia said, “Cultural event.”

They both paused and looked at each other. “Uh,” Jia said. “We will, thanks.”

“Luna and I have at least four of our shows to catch up on,” Adil said cheerfully, back to work rolling out rotis. “Take your time while you’re out. We’ll probably both be asleep by the time you get home.”

Dev nodded. “Luna, when you’re done eating, make sure you finish your homework before you join Adil Uncle for any television.”

“I will. I’m not a kid.”

Jia would have taken Dev for a strict parent, but the fond patience he regarded his niece with at her sharp rebuke told her that was unlikely. Patience and a little bit of flexibility was good, as far as she was concerned. She’d had strict parents, and all it had made her want to do was rebel.

He didn’t kiss or hug Luna, but did lightly pat her shoulder as they passed her. “Of course not. Good night. Good night, Uncle.”

“Your family’s sweet,” Jia said in a low voice as they walked to the door. They both put their shoes on, and Dev grabbed a jacket and a baseball cap from the hall closet. She’d barely exchanged any words with Luna, of course, but the girl had seemed quiet and well-mannered.

“They are, thank you.” He put the jacket on, blessedly covering up those arms she was not looking at.

If only he could do the same with his long legs. That she was not looking at.

They left the apartment and Jia fidgeted with her purse. She was not going to be able to enjoy any part of the evening if she didn’t ask. “So, your uncle mentioned that he knew about the catfishing.”

Dev grimaced. “Yes. He caught me right after I found out. I promise, he would never think less of you for it.”

“I didn’t think he would. But . . . you didn’t tell your uncle about our agreement, did you?”

He glanced at Jia as they entered the elevator. “I would never. He thinks I’m simply trying to make my family’s bad behavior up to you.”

“Okay.” That wasn’t so bad. She nodded at his hat. “Ready to disguise yourself?”

“I am, yes. Though, to be honest, I was surprised anyone wanted to photograph me here to begin with. I was never as much of a target as the others in my family. Until my grandfather and brother were gone, people were usually happy to forget I exist.”

She looked all the way up at his profile. “That seems like it would be hard to do,” she said without thinking.

Dev glanced down at her, and suddenly the elevator seemed a bit too small. She cleared her throat and edged away a little. “I mean, you’re so big.”

He stilled.

“Tall,” she clarified, her cheeks heating up. “Hard to miss.”

“I see,” he murmured. He placed the dark cap over his head. It obscured his face enough that they should slide by without detection. “Hopefully I can make it through this show undetected. It’s an art show we are going to, correct?”

“Yes.” She smiled up at him. “You’ll love it.”

THIS WAS THE oddest art show Dev had ever been to. There was . . . art, yes, though he wouldn’t have thought to call it that. Modern art, as far as he could tell. Sculptures