The One She Was Warned About Read Online Free PDF Page B

than my colleagues do.’
    ‘Nothing wrong with working hard,’ he said. ‘It’s just that you don’t seem to take any time out to have fun .’
    He stretched out the word a little, and it was quite evident what kind of fun he had in mind. Despite herself, Shweta felt her cheeks growing warm.
    ‘Don’t make assumptions,’ she snapped. ‘I have enough fun, thank you very much. I needed to reply to this e-mail as soon as it comes in—that’s why I’m worried.’
    Nikhil got up and came to stand behind her. ‘Do you want to go back?’ he asked. ‘We can if it’s really urgent.’
    For a second Shweta almost said yes. Not because the e-mail was all that urgent, but because Nikhil’s proximity was throwing her nicely ordered world into turmoil. Then the ridiculousness of it all struck her and she shook her head.
    ‘I’ll phone him,’ she said. ‘It’s just that this particular client is a bit picky—he calls up my boss for the smallest thing.’
    As it turned out, though, the client was on a camping trip in Alibagh and had completely forgotten to send the e-mail before he left. He even had the grace to apologise for the delay.
    ‘So that’s OK, then,’ she said after she rang off. ‘I hate having work stuff hanging over me like that.’
    ‘Stop thinking about work now,’ Nikhil said, putting his hands on her shoulders.
    Shweta went completely still as he started massaging her neck and shoulders gently. She could feel the tension seep out, but it was replaced by a set of entirely different sensations. She was acutely conscious of the strength in his lean hands. The temptation to turn into his arms was intense, and she felt positively bereft when he removed his hands after a few minutes.
    ‘Why were you asking me about Siddhant?’
    There was a little pause, then Nikhil said, ‘I have a theory about the two of you. Look, I’m sorry—it’s none of my business really.’
    Of course as soon as he said that she had to know more.
    ‘A theory about us?’ she asked, trying to sound casual and unconcerned. Somehow, she had a feeling she wasn’t fooling Nikhil one bit.
    ‘You don’t give a damn for him,’ Nikhil said bluntly. ‘But for some reason you’ve led him on to think that you’re interested.’
    Shweta flushed. Nikhil was only saying something Priya had been telling her for months, and there was no earthly reason she should feel the need to justify herself. She still found herself explaining, though.
    ‘We’ve been dating for a while,’ she said. ‘I was planning to say yes if he asked me to marry him. It’s only for the last month or so that I’ve not been so sure.’
    ‘Why not?’ he asked, his voice quiet.
    Shweta felt that a lot depended on her answer. ‘He’s a little...’ She’d been about to say judgemental , but it felt disloyal to be talking about Siddhant with Nikhil. ‘I don’t know what it is, really, but I don’t think we’d suit.’
    ‘You wouldn’t.’
    Her eyes widened at the bald statement. ‘You hardly know either of us!’ she said, and continued hastily when he raised his eyebrows, ‘You knew me a long while ago. I was just a kid then. I’ve changed!’
    ‘I’m sure you have,’ Nikhil said. ‘But you used to be a very straightforward person, and people don’t change fundamentally. So what I find difficult to understand is why you’d even contemplate marrying a man you don’t care two hoots about.’
    Shweta glared at him. ‘You just said it isn’t any of your business, and I wholeheartedly agree,’ she said. ‘Why are you so bothered about me and Siddhant, anyway?’
    ‘Because I don’t want to feel guilty when I do this,’ Nikhil said, bringing his head down to hers and kissing her mouth very, very gently.
    Shweta stood stock-still, frozen in shock. A kiss was the last thing she’d been expecting, but the sensation was incredible, his lips warm and teasing against hers. Her hands came up involuntarily to clasp him around the neck. Oh,