Chapter Fifteen
Fifteen
“That was the only time you rode with me,” Ethan said, running a hand through his hair.
“You left soon after,” Priya replied, fiddling with a dried twig on the floor of the freight car. “Brooke was on my case after that night at camp. Everyone thought there was something going on between us.”
“Imagine if they could see you now, practically ripping my shirt to shreds,” Ethan teased as he slipped it back over his shoulders.
“At least your shirt is still a shirt. You murdered my top.”
“A heroic sacrifice on the altar of passion,” Ethan said. “We should perform the last rites right away. Bury it in the field before we head back.”
Priya squealed as he tried to pry it off her again.
Ethan laughed, then pulled her close, their playful energy dissolving into something softer as they lay side by side. Sliding his fingers between hers, Ethan lifted their intertwined hands and gazed at them.
“What are you looking at?” Priya asked, acutely aware of the way her hand rested within his, the sheen of his watch, the contrast between their skin tones.
“Just enjoying the way your hand feels in mine.”
The moment was cut short by the intrusive ring of his phone. Ethan sighed and sat up.
“Yes, Zach?” He paused before glancing at his watch. “Damn. Is that today? No, it’s fine. Tell them I’m running a little late.”
“Everything okay?” Priya asked when he hung up.
“That was my assistant reminding me that Sienna and I have a conference call with the PR team. I’m afraid I have to run.” Rising to his feet, he helped Priya up.
The light had shifted, casting long shadows across the field. “Can’t believe how quickly the afternoon slipped away,” Priya said, not quite ready to leave.
“I know.” Ethan smiled, brushing a leaf off her shoulder. “But I’ll be quick—I promise.”
As they grabbed their things, a shaft of hazy sunlight broke through the clouds.
Hopping off the freight car, they trudged through the field toward Moksha, the ground still giving a little squelch here and there.
Ethan carried the picnic bundle up the stairs and walked her to the door of the apartment.
“You, me, and no interruptions. As soon as I’m done,” he said, his voice low and full of intent. “Be at the coach house in two hours.” He leaned in to nuzzle her neck, but his phone buzzed again.
“Hey, Sienna,” he answered. “Yeah, go ahead and start without me. I’ll join you in a minute.” He chuckled at something she said. “Well, they did warn us we’d be doing plenty of those together.”
As he continued chatting, Priya waved him off and shut the door.
She pressed her forehead against the cool wood, listening to Ethan’s voice fade as he descended the stairs.
After a moment, Priya heard the muffled thud of the door downstairs.
She took a deep breath, letting herself get used to the silence.
She was rehearsing for a day she knew was coming.
Priya stepped into the shower and let the water wash over her. This was no ordinary shower. It was the prelude to getting naked with someone. And not just anyone—Ethan Knight. That made it, arguably, the most important shower she’d ever taken.
She squeezed a ridiculous amount of body wash onto her loofah.
This wasn’t your standard-issue Solanki family soap.
None of that bargain-basement stuff for her today.
This was the fancy kind that had come as a freebie with another purchase because no one in their right mind would pay full price for it.
Working the loofah into a creamy lather, she took her time, letting the suds glide over her skin.
If she was going all out, she might as well enjoy it.
By the time her hair was washed and conditioned, Priya was ready for the big leagues.
Her bikini line. It had been way too long since she’d gone to this much effort.
Even before she and Manoj split, their bedroom had been a snooze-fest. They were perfect on paper, and they worked well together, but the spark?
Nonexistent. Priya had known that from the start, so she had no one to blame but herself.
Manoj had been the safe choice, and back then, safe was exactly what she’d needed.
But Ethan? Ethan was dangerous in a way that stole the air from her lungs.
When he looked at her, it was like gravity shifted, and she had to fight to keep her balance. And that’s exactly what she needed now.
Priya did a quick armpit check before proceeding.
Still good, thank god.
Picking up her razor, she cursed her genes for her dark, stubborn hair.
Meanwhile, Sienna Deville probably had a hairless bikini line, or at the very least, a team of professionals on speed dial.
Armed with a mirror, Priya twisted herself into Olympic-level contortions as she groomed herself.
The result was a landing strip that veered off with a noticeable slant.
Priya decided it would have to do, as long as Ethan landed somewhere in the vicinity.
Just as Priya shut off the shower, the lights gave an ominous flicker and went out.
“You have got to be kidding me!” Priya groaned out loud.
Luckily, the blackout was short-lived, and the power came back on a moment later.
Still, it felt like Moksha was messing with her—as if it knew she had a hot date with Ethan and was doing its best to sabotage her plans.
She stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped snugly around her.
Time to hustle, Priya. No telling how long these lights will hold.
After drying off, she secured her damp locks in a towel. With Act One of the Most Important Shower of Her Life completed, it was time for Act Two.
Lotion.
Lots and lots of lotion.
As she smoothed it over her legs, she felt a little buzz of excitement, imagining Ethan’s hands running over her skin.
Priya spritzed her favorite perfume into the air and walked through it.
She wanted Ethan to catch a few teasing notes, as if she naturally smelled that way.
Then it was time for the all-important decision.
Underwear.
Priya stared at her drawer and sighed. She wanted something bold and sexy, but nothing matched up to the electric potential of the night. She slid the drawer shut with a sly smile. Nope, no underwear tonight—she was going commando.
She slipped into a slouchy sweater and a pair of wide-legged trousers that fell gracefully around her legs.
Setting her hair in rollers, she leaned into the mirror and layered on the mascara.
Bring on the eye contact, she thought, adding a touch of blush and lip gloss.
There was something undeniably hot about meeting someone’s eyes in those moments.
Stepping back, she took in her reflection. She was glowing in a way that had nothing to do with her makeup—it was from the spark Ethan lit inside her.
As she started to shake out her hair, her phone rang. Her sister’s name flashed on the screen, and Priya answered instantly.
“Megs!” she exclaimed, thrilled to finally connect with her middle sister. “I can never get through to you.”
“Sorry, Pri,” Meghna replied. “There’s no network where I am. I have to trek to the nearest town to get in touch.”
“Did you call Mumma and Puppa?” Priya asked. “They’ve been worried.” Ever since Meghna had accepted a job in a remote part of India, their parents’ anxiety had reached new levels.
“I just spoke with them. I’m making all the calls while I can.” Meghna let out a short laugh.
“What’s it like teaching so far from home?”
“Let’s just say I’ll never take the internet for granted again.
And having no phone service is way more isolating than I imagined.
It’s been one thing after another, but I’m managing.
” Meghna paused, then her tone brightened.
“Hey, Dee just told me that Ethan Knight is at Moksha…” Meghna let her words hang in the air. “Pri, that is wild!”
“I know. And Dee wants nothing more than to be here,” Priya said, not wanting to say too much. She wasn’t about to spill her steamy plans with Ethan. This was her decision, her moment, and she didn’t want anyone else weighing in.
“And you?” Meghna pressed. “The divorce, moving back home, hosting Ethan Knight at Moksha—how are you dealing with all of it?”
“I’m…uh…I’m hanging in there.” Priya’s mind flashed back to her top hanging inside out around her neck while Ethan tried to pry it off. “But enough about me. I’m dying to hear how things are going with you.”
Meghna launched into an update about her new life in rural India—about how things hadn’t gone quite as planned, and she was in a new spot now. “Oh, and one more thing,” she said before hanging up. “When I spoke to Puppa, he asked me to remind you to find his address book.”
“Oh, right!” In all the excitement, Priya had nearly forgotten. “I’ll look after it right away.” There’s no way I’m letting my parents’ knack for ill-timed calls derail my evening with Ethan.
Priya slipped into a pair of flats and put on a necklace. As she reached for the door, she paused, then went back to her room to remove it. The last thing she wanted was for Ethan to think she was trying too hard. Ironically, looking effortlessly casual took a lot of effort.
Locking the door behind her, Priya skipped down the stairs, excitement buzzing through her.
She had a hot date with Ethan and could barely think straight.
Letting herself into Moksha, she headed straight for the basement and stepped into her father’s office.
The familiar hum of the dehumidifier filled the space, droning on like it always did to keep the records safe from mold and mildew.
Priya searched Puppa’s desk for his address book, riffling through the drawers.
She finally spotted it under a ledger just as the lights gave a flicker.
Snatching it up, she shut the drawer and headed for the door—but before she could reach it, the lights went out entirely, plunging the basement into darkness.