She’d have to look at his ripped shoulders instead.
Or his tight, bitable butt.
“Jiya,” she berated her reflection again. “You’re a menace.”
Frantically searching her room for a distraction from her unacceptable thoughts, her attention landed on the envelope sitting in a place of honor atop her jewelry box.
Flying lessons.
When everything seemed confusing, the future uncertain, she remembered her parents had surprised her with flying lessons. At least, she thought it was her parents. The envelope had mysteriously appeared in a batch of their mail and they refused to fess up to being the gift givers. But they’d known about her obsession with flying for decades—and she had an inkling they wanted to soften the blow of their sudden scheduling of dates with suitors on Jiya’s behalf.
Throat tight, she picked up the envelope and turned it over in her hands.
As far back as childhood, she’d been fascinated by the small Cessnas that droned like metal bees over the shores of Long Beach. What would it be like to pilot one? To see all that blue stretched out in front of her and decide the destination? She had to press a hand to her stomach to still the butterflies.
Thursday was her first lesson. First of five.
What would happen beyond that? She didn’t know. There were so many uncertainties in her life right now, but the changes and possibilities were preferable to staying in the same routine she’d been locked into for years. Shaking the puzzle pieces and letting them fall into a new pattern came at the cost of her dreams of being with Andrew. But what choice did she have if the object was to move forward?
There was a gentle knock on Jiya’s door and she winced, hoping it was her father. He wouldn’t be thrilled about her abbreviated attire, either, but he’d just act uncomfortable and refrain from commenting. Whereas her mother—
“Jiya?” Her mother entered with her arms already crossed, making Jiya wonder if she’d opened the door with some kind of spell or incantation. It didn’t seem that far-fetched, considering the woman moved as if levitated. “Oh.” She arched a dark eyebrow. “Well. Cha cha cha.”
Twisting her lips to hide a smile, Jiya waved the envelope at her mother. “When are you going to admit you booked these lessons for me? Don’t you want credit?”
“Credit for what? A hobby that will add no value to your future? My only child plummeting out of the sky into the Atlantic?” She sniffed. “No thank you.”
“The lady doth protest too much,” I murmur knowingly, putting the envelope back in place. “Tonight is Jamie’s bachelor party.”
“So I gathered, based on the amount of bottled beer being transported from their cars to the house.”
“Nothing wrong with a little fun during a special occasion. They’re responsible the rest of the time.”
“Don’t worry. I would never speak a bad word against your men.”
Jiya’s heart skipped a little over that. God knew she loved the Prince men more than life itself. The taciturn crack of lightning that was Rory. Deep thinker Jamie.
Tribe leader and unshakeable decision maker Andrew. The glue. The boss.
Her best friend—and yet, somehow, the one who remained the biggest mystery.
“Are you coming to the wedding tomorrow?”
“Yes.” Her mother inclined her head. “Your father and I will be there.”
Jiya passed her mother a grateful smile. Her parents were traditional, but their own love story was complicated, having come from two different backgrounds. As the daughter of a lieutenant in the Indian Army, her mother had been born into influence, while her father had been the son of a food shopkeeper. They’d come to America where no one knew them or the families who’d turned their backs on a relationship that wasn’t considered suitable.
That bittersweet experience had not only made Jiya’s parents open minded and accepting about love, but had contented them with her finding love in her own time, on her own terms. They’d taken a backseat—which wasn’t to say her mother didn’t prod her frequently about getting out there—hoping she’d meet someone, ideally someone who shared the values of their culture. But as Jiya approached thirty, she’d agreed to let her parents take a more active role. They wanted to see her settled down. They wanted grandchildren someday and loud, boisterous holidays. Since she wanted that, too, she didn’t see the harm in letting them plan some dates. Who had better intentions for Jiya than her parents?
“Next Saturday, we are having some friends over,” her mother said haltingly. “We know them from temple and they’re bringing their son. Please make sure you’re here.”
Jiya swallowed hard and nodded, knowing full well it would be a chaperoned date. “I will.”
Something troubled passed through her mother’s eyes, but it was hidden by an abrupt smile. “Be sensible tonight, Jiya.”
She thought of how she’d removed her shirt last night, knowing Andrew was watching and felt a flush creep up her neck. “I always am.”