Page 111 of A King's Oath

I need my iPad in case of changes.

SAMARTH

Bring it.

AVANTIKA

Where?

SAMARTH

My car will be outside in 10.

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She didn’t even know what part of Paris this was, except it was one of the banks of the Seine. The river was alive with the sun spreading brilliant rays over its flow, while Parisians weremilling about, some already seated with their legs dangling over the quay.

Avantika frowned, holding her iPad and bag close to her chest as she got out of the car.

“Are you sure he said here?”

“Oui, madame,” the driver tipped his head.

“Where is he?” She pulled out her phone distractedly, aiming to call him up. But her thumb automatically went to her emails. Was it approved yet?

“All work no play makes Ava a very dull girl.”

She whirled. And there he was. 6 foot 1 inch of male supremacy, his grin glowing the brightest even as his ‘natural’ biceps flexed and stole her attention. They made a rare appearance from under his fitted polo shirt. Unlike his usual whites and blues, he was in jet black today. All black. And…

“Is that a picnic basket?” She stepped back from him, eyeing the basket on his arm that did not make him look even a little bit domestic. If anything, it made him look… more manly.

“I did invite you to dinner,” he held it up. It was a wicker basket. She half expected him to produce a red-and-white chequered blanket, glasses of wine and a charcuterie board from inside it.

“And then you came late,” she cocked her hip out.

“I did not,” he grinned, nodding at his driver. As if his duty was done, he sat back in the car and drove away into the traffic.

“You have become smooth.”

One dark brow shot up, along with the side of his mouth. “Who used to bring blankets to our spot? Who went to cafes and caught the cleanest tables? Who…”

“Oh shut it. That’s not smooth.”

“You found it smooth then.”

“Yeah, well, I grew up now.”

“That you did,” he stepped back, his hand rising. Her breath caught, but he only patted the top of her head — “Except this.”

Her hand rose to throttle his neck but he jumped back, ducking away to walk down the promenade.

“Samarth!” She followed him. “Where are we going?”

“Follow me.”

“Not smooth.”

“Still follow me.”

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