Chapter 179

Arni admitted that he had made a foolish decision to position himself here in the shadows on the pathway where they had met earlier, but he had long known that women appreciated such touches.And he certainly wanted her to relish his touch as much as he intended to relish touching her, he admitted, grimacing wryly at his own mental double entendre.

Where was she? The festivities would be starting soon, and he had planned to cajole her away before they did, to somewhere rather more private. The courtyard was already filled with wedding guests, their voices and laughter almost drowning out the sound of the musicians. The smell of food spiced the evening air, and children ran giddily in and out of the groups of adults, giggling with excitement.

Orla had almost reached the point on the path where she had heard him say that fateful "excuse me" when she was hailed by Nakul, Dayita’s cousin and the fourth member of their close-knit group of friends.

"Orla"—there you are. I was just coming to