“As long as you can show that you have a stable family life.” The deal he had offered her suddenly made sense. “Kind of hard to do that with a missing wife. My sudden appearance has made things very easy for you.”
Dev reached out and curled his finger under her chin. Her skin tingled as he guided her to look directly at him. Dev was close—too close—as he leaned forward. His gaze dipped to her mouth and her lips stung with awareness.
“Whatever you’re planning,” he said softly. His gaze was focused on her mouth. “Don’t.”
She pursed her lips. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Remember the agreement,” he said as he dragged his thumb along the curve of her lip. “I want—I expect—a devoted wife.”
Tina frowned. Did he think she had the power to hurt him? That was laughable.
Dev’s harsh features darkened and he abruptly dropped his hand. “I have several meetings and I’m late. I will see you at home tonight. Be good.”
Maybe she was reading the signs incorrectly, Tina thought as she watched him walk away. She could have sworn she had seen the longing in his eyes and felt the tremor in his hand. Dev didn’t really want her as a wife, but he still desired her.
And after everything that had happened between them, Tina was ashamed that she still yearned for his touch. She hoped he would never figure that out. If that happened, she would be powerless against him.
* * *
“Dev? What are you doing here?”
Dev glanced up from his computer and saw Nikhil standing in the doorway to his office. He had just noticed that it was dark outside and the office suite was quiet. Everyone had gone home. “What are you talking about? This is my office now.”
He glanced around. He had always associated his father with this room. It was ostentatious with the oversize glass desk and the expensive gold conference table. The garish movie posters were splotches of color on the white walls.
“Tina returned home,” his friend reminded him as he stepped into the office. “You should be with her.”
Dev gestured at his computer screen. “I have work to do.” It was where he wanted to be. He was in charge. He knew what he was doing. This was the only place where he felt in control.
He was fighting back some very elemental feelings when he was with Tina. He couldn’t stop staring at her, remembering how she tasted and how she felt in his arms. He wanted to drag her to their bed and claim her in the most basic way.
But Tina didn’t want him. Didn’t want him anywhere near her. He had failed her and their baby and she didn’t want to be his wife anymore.
He felt his friend’s gaze on him. “What?” Dev asked sharply.
Nikhil hesitated for a moment before he strode to the desk. “I don’t know what happened between you and Tina.”
Dev tensed. If Nikhil noticed the cracks in his marriage, then the problems were so strong that he couldn’t hide it any longer. He was a fool to think he could salvage this marriage, but he wasn’t going to give up. Not yet.
“Nothing happened.” Dev gave a warning look but Nikhil ignored it.
“That’s not true. You’ve lost a baby. Your father. And pretty soon you’re going to lose a wife.”
Dev slowly rose from his seat. Nikhil was his friend but he had crossed a line. “You have no right—”
Nikhil crossed his arms. “Where did you and Tina go for your honeymoon?”
Dev frowned from the sudden change of topic. “We didn’t. I had to work on a movie.” It didn’t matter that they didn’t take time off to go on a honeymoon. When they were together, their surroundings had faded into the background.
“And where were you when Tina miscarried?” Nikhil asked.
Dev closed his eyes as the guilt swelled inside him. Tina had been alone and she hadn’t been able to reach him. She had tried to put on a brave face when he’d finally reached the hospital, but he had seen the tracks of tears on her cheeks and the despair in her eyes. “On the set.”
“Of another movie,” his friend added. “And where were you when Tina was recuperating?”
In another country. Dev slapped his hands on the desk and leaned forward. “She doesn’t need me hovering over her. She’s told me that.”
“And you agreed? That’s not like you, Dev.”
It wasn’t. Before they got married, he’d wanted to help her in every way he could. She had declined, obviously uncomfortable with his offers. Now he wondered if it had anything to do with him. Tina wasn’t used to having someone there for her. Someone who wanted to give without expecting anything in return.