Chapter 17
Ariya rolled in bed and felt the hammering in her head get worse, making her groan.
“Baby, are you okay?” Veer cuddled from behind pulling her closer.
“Veer, how many shots did I do last night?”
He let out a chuckle. “Hardly any.”
“You let me win last night, you are such a good boyfriend.” She kissed his cheek making him smile.
“Can’t let my hot girlfriend lose even if it was with me.”
She smiled, wrapping her arm around him, enjoying the warmth. “I had fun last night. I enjoyed being single with my boyfriend in the room.”
“Sicko,” he teased.
“It was such a fun party. I never had so much fun at a work event.”
“Me neither.” He smiled looking at her, his face inches away from hers.
“How did you go from taunting me for taking too long to take a shot to helping me win?”
“I was getting hot looking at your butt stuck out in front of me. All I could think of was taking you right there on that table.” He dug his fingers into her soft flesh at her waist, making her moan. “And when you were about to take the shot, I knew you would miss it… I couldn’t let that happen. If you lose to me, I get nothing, but if I help you win… I’m the hero who gets the girl.”
She laughed. “You are such a silly man, but I love every bit of the silliness.”
“I love that, too.” His voice was a low rumble.
“I liked what we did last night. We did good about keeping our personal and professional lives separate.”
“I want you to punch that Dominic guy if he annoys you too much,” Veer growled.
“My boyfriend can punch him.” She laughed.
“Yes, he can, but you don’t need your boyfriend to rescue you.” He took a bite of her bare shoulder making her yelp.
She pulled back to look at him. “Did I throw up in your car?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged.
“How many shots did you down?” she snuggled into his chest.
“I didn’t, I just watched you enjoy yourself.”
“I usually don’t drink more than one drink, but last night… I… I didn’t feel the need to watch my back.”
“Yeah?” he inquired like he wanted to hear her say more.
She nodded, smiling. “Because I had you... my hero.”
He smiled feeling the warmth inside his chest and kissed her gently. “I’m just your boyfriend… but I can be your hero, baby.”
“You can be anything you want, just not on the set,” she joked.
“You are my awesome photographer on the set. I feel bad for Melanie.”
“Melanie is nice,” she said, remembering the easy conversation she had with his co-star at the party.
“I haven’t worked with her before.”
“She seems nice and almost innocent.”
He smirked and did not say anything.
“Okay, what was that for?” She looked at him suspiciously.
“Nothing…”
“Veer, I’m not your photographer, I’m your girlfriend.”
He looked at her for a moment before responding. “Melanie is more of an actress than an animal doctor.”
“Huh?”
“The sweet innocence is the part she is playing for the reality TV show.” Veer’s voice was soft.
“No, she is genuine.”
“She. Is. A. Good. Actress.” He laughed.
“How do you know?” She felt the need to defend Melanie.
“Her role in the show is to create drama… she is paired with me for the romance factor that is required for the show.”
Ariya gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. “What?”
He nodded, smiling. “The script says she needs to be attracted to me and flirt with me, and since I refused to be part of it, she is going to be heartbroken at the end of the show.”
“What? That’s sad.” Ariya sat up in bed.
“Don’t worry, she’s got a sweet deal to be the Bachelorette for the next season.”
She smiled. “Good for her.”
“You know Andy would get a kick out of featuring us on the show… I would love to flirt with you.” He pulled her back to him.
She laughed, letting her head hit his chest. “I want this to be our secret until we finish the show. I think it’s best that way.”
“What, I don’t get to show off my girlfriend until the show is finished?”
“You can take part in the script if you want a girlfriend on the screen,” she teased.
“Nah, Melanie needs the Bachelorette more than this one. I have to let her be heartbroken.” He smiled pulling her to him. “I want my girlfriend all to myself.”
She laughed. “Your girlfriend needs clothes. Can we go to my place?”
“Sure.” He nuzzled her neck taking in a whiff of her sweetness.
*****
Later that day, Ariya was in her bedroom at her apartment, and Veer was on the phone in the living room talking to his parents while she packed clothes for the week. She heard her phone go off in her pocket and scrunched her nose when she saw a number she didn’t recognize flash on her screen.
“Hello,” she answered tentatively.
“Ariya, it’s Dominic. How are you?” He sounded enthusiastic.
She hit the speaker button and placed the phone on the chest, so she could keep packing. “Hi, Dominic.”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” he asked, politely.
“No, I can talk.” She wondered who would have given him her phone number.
“It was nice to meet you last night. It was fun.”
She smiled. “Yeah, it was.”
“Do you remember kissing me?” he asked softly.
“What? No, I did not.” She started to panic because she couldn’t remember anything.
Dominic laughed, putting her at ease. “I was kidding.”
“That’s not funny, Dominic.”
“I’m sorry.”
“What are you call me about?” She got right to the point.
“Stefan suggested I talk to you about working with Veer. He thinks I might work with Veer as well,” Dominic said, and she realized Stefan was the one who had given him her phone number.
“Okay,” she said and smiled at Veer when he walked into the bedroom and slumped into the beanbag in one corner of the room looking at his phone.
“Can you meet me for lunch or dinner today?” Dominic asked, and she kept her eyes on Veer to see if he would react. To her surprise, Veer kept looking at his phone, typing.
“I don’t work when I eat, Dominic.” She didn’t avert her eyes from Veer. She had a nasty experience with a possessive and jealous boyfriend and was convinced every man was the same. She was surprised to see Veer completely at ease and not bothered that she was talking to the man who hit on her the previous night.
“We can go out for drinks.” He sounded cheerful.
“I shouldn’t be drinking for months after last night.” She laughed.
“You are so much fun to be with,” Dominic said, his voice low.
“I had fun too, Dominic. Unfortunately, I can’t meet you today. Can we catch up before we start tomorrow?”
“Sure… I would like to take you out sometime.”
“Dominic, we can always hang out as a team.”
“No, Ariya. I want to take you out because you are interesting.” He was showering her compliments, but she kept looking at Veer for a reaction. She knew he was listening to every word of the conversation.
“Dominic, I like to keep my personal and professional life separate.” Those words made Veer look up at her.
She smiled at him and blew him a kiss.
“That’s a thing of the past, Ariya. The trend is to date people from your workplace instead of going on random dating websites.”
“Call me old-fashioned, but that’s how I’d like to keep it. I may choose to change my mind but not at this time.”
“Are you saying I’m not good enough for you to make an exception.” Dominic sounded angry.
“Listen, Dominic. I’m sorry if it came out that way but that is not my intention.”
“Will you go on a date of I quit the TV series.” Dominic was starting to sound desperate.
“Stefan told me how passionate you are about your work. Don’t let a moment like this drive your decision. I am looking forward to working with you.”
There was absolute silence for a few seconds, and she held her breath, looking into Veer’s eyes as she waited for Dominic to respond. “Thanks, Ariya. I’ll see you Monday morning.”
“See you soon. Take care.” She ended the call and walked over to where Veer sat on the low-lying beanbag. She bent down and sat in his lap, her arms winding around his neck.
“That was nice,” he whispered, gently kissing her shoulder.
“What was? Dominic asking me out?”
“No… you telling him not to be stupid and walk away from the assignment.” He smiled.
“How much of that conversation did you follow?”
“I heard all of it.”
“And?” She turned in his lap, to face him.
“And what?” He pulled her close to him.
“Are you…” Her voice trailed off when he smiled. She was surprised he didn’t show an ounce of jealousy which was not the case with her ex. She hated being the person who had to watch everything she said to another man during her old relationship.
“You were very nice to Dominic.”
“Why wouldn’t I be nice to him, he is my co-worker.”
He smiled. “Why did you make an exception for me?”
“I like you,” she said, smiling, and added, “You never told me why you wanted to be more than a co-worker.” She nuzzled his cheek.
“I like being with you… you make me feel less superficial.” His words sent tremors through her body, and she hugged him in response.