surreptitiously on his thigh.
“What a gentleman you are,” Farzana crooned as she looked him up and down. He’d been on the receiving end of that calculating look from aunties before, so it didn’t faze him too much. This time, actually, he welcomed it. Her parents liking him would make this all easier on Jia.
“Shall we go inside?” he suggested. “We can relax in the living room until dinner.”
“That would be nice.”
They walked to the house, Jia at his side. So much for talking to her first. He let his pinkie brush against hers, hoping to convey some comfort.
“I understand you parent your niece, Dev,” Mohammad said, and Dev tucked his hand close to his side guiltily. “We would love to meet her and your uncle, as well.”
“I do, yes.” They entered the back door, which led directly into the spacious living room. He gestured to the seats. “Please make yourselves at home. I’ll go fetch them.”
“I’ll come with you,” Jia said, her tone bright.
Her mother frowned and opened her mouth, presumably to stop the two of them from going off alone, but Ayesha spoke up. “Mom, is that a Picasso?”
“Where?”
Ayesha winked at Jia and led their parents to the wall, and Dev smiled. He’d forgive his future sister-in-law for tossing him into the sand if she could keep running interference like this.
Chapter Twenty-One
JIA RELEASED the breath of anxiety she’d been holding as she walked next to Dev. When she’d first come across him lying on the sand at Ayesha’s feet, she’d met his dark gaze for one pregnant moment. She’d never been able to speak with someone in a look like she did with Ayesha, but it was so easy with him.
Are you okay? his look asked, though he was the one vanquished on the ground.
As well as can be.
Don’t worry.
I’ll try.
She stopped walking, and he turned to look at her. She stared at him for a long moment, then launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his neck and inhaled. Dev’s hands smoothed down her back, so his fingertips rested on the curve of her butt.
She wanted him to go lower, and just the fact that that thought popped into her head was enough to have her pulling back. They stared at each other, and Dev finally smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too.” Oof . . . this was getting sappy, and she loved every second of it.
“How are you holding up?”
“Remarkably well.” This was stressful, but it had become ten times less so when he showed up.
“Good.” He held out his hand. It was an odd thrill to hold his hand, one she hadn’t really experienced with another man. She felt secure and happy, having him in her grip.
“Come, let’s find Adil Uncle, and then we can track down Luna. It would be good for you to see her one-on-one before she meets everyone.”
Because she was going to parent the girl when they got married. Phew.
If you get married.
Jia snuck a look at Dev’s elegant profile. It was weird how their marriage had become far more certain in her head as time went on.
They entered the gourmet kitchen to find both members of Dev’s household. Adil was tossing gummy bears at Luna, who was catching them with her mouth.
Jia straightened, trying to calm her sudden renewed nerves. In one sense, it was easier to face a Bollywood legend over the man and child who lived with her new fiancé. It seemed the stakes were higher with these two, as far as them liking her went.
“How many times have I told you two not to play this game? You could choke,” Dev said, in greeting.
“I’m not going to choke,” Luna said to Dev, but then she caught sight of Jia, and her eyes widened. “Uh, hi.”
Jia gave her brightest smile. She’s nervous, too. She’d raised hundreds of thousands of young women via the internet. Surely, she could win this one over. “Hello, Luna. It’s good to see you again. And you, Uncle.”
Dev’s uncle gave her a bright smile. He was dressed in a stained apron, which surprised her a little. She’d assumed Shweta Dixit would travel with a gourmet chef to tend to her, but except for Pinky and a silent man who had moved their car for them, Jia hadn’t seen any servants. “Hello, Jia. I am glad we could meet again, especially under such good circumstances. You look lovely, MashAllah.”
Dev shifted. “Jia’s family is in the living