You Can't Fight a Royal Attraction Read Free Page A

added anxiety.’ He shouldn’t argue with a blitzed person but the air streaming from the open window seemed to have sobered her up somewhat because she spoke more clearly now.
    ‘It wasn’t my intention—’
    ‘Well, it wasn’t
not
your intention either.’ Was his annoyance all for her? If he were honest, no. A lot was directed at his own reaction to her…
    ‘I’m not answerable to you!’ Black eyes snapped at him like wolverine jaws.
    ‘Maybe that’s exactly what you need. Someone to keep tabs on you.’ Anger gave way to mockery.
    ‘And you’re offering yourself for the job?’
    Not a bad idea.
The thought irritated him intensely. The car gave a growl corresponding with his mood as he pressed the pedal and it sprang forward.
    ‘Oh, please…’ She touched a hand to her temple, pressing her fingers there.
    ‘Does your head hurt?’ A guilty pang smote him immediately at the telltale gesture.
    ‘A little. You needn’t bother about it.’ Her voice was slightly husky, slightly high, and it strummed across his nerves.
    He had an impulse to comfort her. To suppress it, hesaid contrarily, ‘Come morning, you’ll know there are consequences to fun.’
    ‘Not for me, there aren’t.’ She spoke tartly. ‘I don’t suffer from hangovers.’
    ‘Everyone does.’ He could remember the wild escapades he had had as a youth with his friends. Later he had to do an about turn and keep his young cousins in line.
    She shook her head. ‘Not me.’
    ‘Doesn’t mean you need to play havoc with your health. At least you shouldn’t.’ He looked at the road again. Hell, he hadn’t meant to sound that stuffy.
    The road stretched ahead with only light traffic as they entered the residential area.
    ‘You shouldn’t rely on drink to find entertainment,’ he added.
    ‘It wasn’t for entertainment. It was for… escape,’ she said too softly.
    Escape. Surely he hadn’t heard right? He found himself battling the urge to draw the car to the kerb and ask her exactly what she meant.
    What did he expect? Surely not a revelation of her virtuous nature? A sudden gust of anger tightened his gut. How could she be so insouciant about everything?
    He could act nonchalant and let it go… but somehow adrenaline shot through him, forcing him to confront her.
    ‘Don’t pretend you’re the injured party. I know your history,’ he bit out. ‘The man you married was first Vishakha
bhabhi’
s fiancé, wasn’t he? You sabotaged her happiness to build your own. But you couldn’t even sustain that. Talk about a short commitment span. Don’t pretend you’ve been any sort of innocent pawn. I know your sort.’
    He could practically feel the fiery burn of resentment flashing from dark
nagin
eyes.
    The eyes of a sinuous female serpent.
    He drove down the driveway and swept around thecurve to park, hitting the brakes sharply so that they both bounced back against the seats on stopping.
    ‘I know you,’ he said with finality, turning to face her. ‘Just remember that before asking for my signature in your sympathy club visitors’ book.’
    She turned to him, her breath quickening in anger. ‘You may know about my past but don’t make the mistake of saying you know
me
, Khehra. Dates don’t make history. And, as for the sympathy, even if I needed it, I wouldn’t make the mistake of begging from a rock.’ She got out and immediately stumbled in her hurry to get away from him. She gasped in pain.
    He jerked into action.
‘Venda wai giya ho kai!
Have you lost your mind—rushing about on those!’ He was out and having a look at her injury as she stood holding onto the car door, her lower lip caught between her teeth. The ankle already showed redness about it. He bent down before she could object and unlaced the black criss-cross bands of her high heels and, ignoring her gasp, he swung her up into his arms again.
    ‘You don’t—’
    ‘That ankle isn’t going to take your weight right now. Where is your room?’
    ‘You