Page 59 of Arranging Ayra
“Okay now. Go inside, Ayra. Wait for me inside. It’s going to get dark soon and you shouldn’t be out on the street by yourself. You’re likely to get stabbed... or worse. You never know these days.”
“Okay. I’ll be looking out for you.”
I ended the call and walked inside, standing there like a dunce who didn’t know where to go. It seemed like an eternity as I watched cars pass by, sometimes stop to let someone off, or get someone on. But no Keely.
A Range Rover pulled up and stopped. No one got on or off. It was a beautiful vehicle, copper color, but...
The driver slowly got out and stood there looking toward the door of the mega store. After a moment, he came to the door and peered inside.
Jai? What was he doing there?
And why did he look so dapper, nothing like the country gentleman I’d come to know. Wearing a black blazer, white shirt and black jeans, he looked ready for a night on the town.
No. He looked more like a model ready for a shoot. And the women who passed by seemed to agree. As I walked out of Harrods to go see him, I noticed how the women eyed him, smiled at him and one even stopped to chat with him.
Darn. Am I going to be the third wheel once again? I halted my approach a moment.
“That’s very flattering,” Jai was telling the pretty young lady. “But I’m already accompanied this evening.”
He turned to me, and I came to them. The young woman smiled, clearly disappointed.
“Lucky you,” she whispered as she walked away.
“I didn’t know you were...” I began.
“You expected Keely.”
I nodded.
“You know how her days are. Even with everyone taking time off, she was hard at work all day.” He shrugged. “I was nearby when you called her and... since I was coming into town anyway... I thought we could both enjoy our day off together.”
Smiling, I just looked at him. I didn’t know what to say. I was blown away by how great he looked.
“I can see you’re disappointed,” he said with a playful grin.
I burst out laughing and lightly slapped his chest. “No, I’m not. Not in the least.”
“Yes, you are.” He pointed to my eyes. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re devastated.”
“The truth is, I’m just floored by how fantastic you look.”
“I clean up good, as you Americans say.”
Still laughing, I nodded. “You clean uprealgood.”
His playful smile suddenly turned shy, making him even more adorable.
“Where were you heading to?”
“Huh?” he let out.
“You said you were coming into town anyway. Where to?”
“Oh, yeah. Right. I occasionally come into town to meet up with friends. Sometimes we meet up at this dance club. Back in my Tech sector days we’d head down there after work.”
“You have friends in town?” I said, openly surprised.
He cocked a brow and grinned. “I do have a life outside Moon Manor, you know.”
