She tilted her head to have a good look at the unsuspecting victim; he was tall, had short dark hair the one that just fell delightfully over his forehead, a warrior’s body, hard as a rock, and the best body she’d ever seen. Pure eye candy dressed in a T–shirt that clung to an impressive chest and jeans that fit too snugly.

He was all muscle at the right places.

No wonder, he is so irresistible, she sighed.

If she would have been anyone else her mouth would have watered almost deliriously.

Then, he turned and looked at her. She dropped her eyes and pretended to be interested on the pebbles lying on the road.

"Morning," he said, "Right on time."

He thought, she was stunning. She might not be considered breath-taking but for him, she was that and more. A woman who had a complete hold over him and he could just see her perfection, there were no flaws, no blemishes, nothing; Just beauty in its pure form.

Light caught the gold in the sun, drenching her in its glow. Or was it her providing sun its beauty?

 The yellow knee length sundress she wore revealed the swell of her breasts and sent a jolt of need shooting through him. The sensation was completely unexpected—and most welcome.

“Morning, I am glad we’re travelling together. Will give us time to go over the notes,” she replied thankful of the fact that he hadn’t seen her checking him out.

Arjun walked up to her and smiled.

God! That alone took her breath away. She was sure that smile amounted for penalty in some states.

She looked at him, gave him a small smile in return and he took her luggage from her hands. At that moment, something changed. Because Radhika had the softest, most delicate touch Arjun had ever felt. And though he had kissed her, it was almost astonishing to feel something so powerful course through him at her slightest touch.

Immediately, his mind conjured up wicked, unexpected scenarios of him and her frolicking in bed…naked…with those slender fingers wrapped around his—

“Shall we?” he managed to utter out. Her yesterday’s fantastic performance in that skirt was still etched in his mind. How would he ever forget her in that?

Bloody hell… He cleared his throat, stepping back half a stride, all amusement vaporized by the blasting surge of lust that threatened to bring him to his knees. No longer touching her, he strove to regain his senses.

He clenched his hand holding the luggage into a tight fist and walked towards the car, he had to, no, needed to cool down.

They reached the parking lot, where his SUV sat alone.

 Arjun turned to face her,” So we’re running an hour ahead."

Radhika walked along with him, lost in the way his walk strutted his hips, almost arrogantly. Showcasing without any doubt, the best buns she had ever come across till now.

“Radhika?”

“Y-yeah?” she looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.

“You seem a bit preoccupied. Is everything okay?” Arjun asked opening the boot of his car and shoving her luggage inside.

Only if he knew, she thought and suppressed the urge to smile, “Yes, I am perfect. Thank you.”

He nodded. "That you’re. I feel like we might have gotten off on the wrong foot."

"And what foot was that?" she asked, her gaze fixed on his lips. Gosh, it didn't take much to conjure up the memory of those kisses they shared. Even now, she recalled how his lips had tasted, how her body had melted against his, how every fiber of her being had wanted to drag him into her house and strip off all his clothes.

"You know the entire thing,” he waved his hands, trying to make his point,” I'd hoped maybe we could maybe go for that ice-cream, I offered yesterday. "

“No. Thank you. Is your brain okay? Ice-cream, when we’re about to attend such an important meeting?” she asked. What she really wanted to ask him was about his date with some stupid, no doubt super gorgeous girl. Didn’t he have ice-cream with her yesterday? Or was she the ice-cream? Jealousy raised its green monster in her heart and suddenly, she wanted to beat the hell out of every gorgeous girl that existed in the world or maybe she could just punch the sexy man standing beside her.

Before Arjun could stir, she opened her door to sit, in a jiffy he was there beside her.

He smoothed his hand along the length of her soft arm. "My brain is functioning just fine and I know how much you love ice-cream," Arjun drew a deep breath and met her gaze, and a tiny shiver skittered down Radhika’s spine. She saw the desire in his eyes and knew it was ridiculous to continue fighting it.

Why didn’t they both just give in? Why did they both have such huge egos?

Wide brown eyes regarded him with suspicion. He fancied that her chin tilted skyward a centimeter or two. "You sure you don’t have a hidden motive?" she said stiffly. "I'm sure you would appreciate my apprehension.”

I'm sure I would appreciate peeling the clothes from your body like the skin of a ripe peach and sucking your…

"Okay, I give up." He heaved a mock sigh.

He opened the passenger door for Radhika to get in. Their arms brushed as she climbed inside.

The slight contact sent a dart of awareness through her, shocking her. For so long she'd been dead inside.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "No, we can't. I just think it would be best if—"

He hooked his thumb beneath her chin and gently turned her gaze up to his.

"Just an ice-cream," he murmured, "Nothing more. I would have strawberry, if you say yes. ”

Radhika grinned at him, the sparkle in her eyes making him want to kiss her again…urgently. She knew how much he hated being seen; in, around, within pink colour. This should be interesting.

Their eyes met.

"I just wanted to see your smile," he said in a low voice. "I want you to be happy."

"I am." She looked thoughtful a moment, before she began to smile again, hesitantly at first, then broadly, without inhibition. "I would be if you would have strawberry flavor for me."

"Good," Forcing himself to break eye contact, feeling a hit of the old memories, he turned his attention to driving his car.

……………………….

Arjun cursed.

"Dad?"

Sahil Mahna looked at his three year old daughter and smiled, "hmm?"

"That man over there with a pink ice-cream just said a bad word."

Sahil cracked open one eye,” which man?"

"Over there," Alisha said pointing towards Arjun.

Sahil rolled off his chair laughing; he could see Arjun Khanna holding a huge pink sundae with a pretty fairy tiara looming on his head.

 “Sahil?” Arjun looked at him and gave him a quick hug and a huge smile.

“It’s so good to see you,” Sahil nodded towards his tiara, "You haven’t changed at all, have you?"

Arjun cursed again and took off the offending thing from his head as he watched Radhika hug Sahil who gave her a warm smile of open male appreciation," Hey! I am a man, I can rock pink and the tiara."

Radhika secretly agreed with him on all counts. He looked yummylicious and so very cute. He was always a sport, listening and fulfilling even her wildest of demands. 

Something inside him burst. He wanted to hit Sahil. He had known Sahil since school, they were classmates and he had known about his supposedly secret crush on his Radhika.

“So you’re still keeping him on toes, I see,” Sahil said as he thumped Arjun’s back.

“Yes, you know me,” Radhika winked at Sahil as she bent over to give a hug to Alisha.

Sahil ushered them on to their table and watched as Arjun patted Alisha’s head," Friends don’t stop being friends because of a disagreement." He knew their history, their love and their break up. He would have preferred Radhika to be with him but Sahil knew, Arjun always held her heart and looking at them now, he knew he would always continue to hold it.

Arjun laughed as he scooped a spoon of his strawberry ice cream, “Some. I hope for the better. So what about you? Where is your pretty wife, Aashna?”

Sahil averted his eyes and mumbled, “Not well.”

While Radhika struggled to understand this impromptu reunion ice-cream get-together, she turned his attention to the child. "And who’s this little girl?"

"This is Alisha," Sahil said. "My daughter."

She took Alisha’s reaching fingers and gave them a gentle shake, "Nice to meet you, gorgeous girl."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Radhika. What's your name?"

"Alisha," Alisha climbed on Radhika’s lap and touched her hair, “Daddy, I like.”

Radhika smiled and was about to answer when Sahil piped in, "She is beautiful isn’t she? Should we take her home?"

The child nodded her head and clapped her hands in excitement, “Yes, yes."

Arjun smiled and took Alisha from Radhika’s lap," Do you want to catch a butterfly?”

"I've never caught a butterfly before," Alisha said.

"C'mon. I know just the place to find them,” Arjun held her preciously in his arms as he led her towards a game modeled to be a forest where one could catch butterfly stuff toys with a hand controlled by a button.

"They're everywhere!" Giggling, Alisha cupped her hands and put them across Arjun’s face, leaning her head against his shoulder.

Arjun’s breath caught in his throat. How would he like to have a home of his own, a woman who loved him, kids racing out to meet him, noise in the kitchen and someone to take care of him.

"Did you catch a lot of butterflies when you were my age?" Alisha asked him as they headed back to the table where Sahil and Radhika sat, having caught two beautiful butterflies, currently dangling from Alisha’s fingers.

"How old are you?"

"Three."

"Yes, Loads and loads of them."

"I wish you could be my friend and play with me all the time," Alisha said.

Radhika looked at them and gasped.

They looked perfect together. Wish she could just stand with them and complete that picture perfect family. The little girl's sweetness tugged at Radhika's heart. Alisha's jubilance made Radhika think perhaps she'd prefer to have a child sooner rather than later. But there was only one man with whom she wanted to settle down with and he was unavailable with a big T but right now, seeing him play with Alisha made Radhika’s heart skip a beat. He was so charming with kids.

“You’re so adorable,” Radhika blew raspberries on Alisha’s stomach as she gurgled in laughter.

“Yes, you’re,” Arjun said looking straight at Radhika.

Smiling at the crimson hue that sprang into her cheeks, he leaned across the table and tapped Alisha on the nose. "Do you see that, sweetheart? I made your aunt Radhika blush."

The child squealed in laughter.

They spent the next half an hour playing with Alisha, listening to her talks which filled their own hearts with joy and happiness.

"And if I want to get my hair cut short like a boy, you'll let me?" Alisha glanced at Arjun.

Arjun looked at Radhika for help,” eh?”

"We've been going in circles for days about cutting her hair," Sahil said.

"You know you’re such a sweetheart. I would support you in all the decisions you take.  Although I will tell you it's probably best to cut off a few inches at a time so you get used to it, that way it won't take long to grow back if you don't like it," Radhika looked at Alisha and tickled her.

"Oh, Radhika. That is a fabulous idea. No wonder you’re amazing,” Sahil replied as he touched Radhika’s hand.

Radhika gave him a smile and winked at Sahil and Alisha.

Arjun felt as though someone had sliced straight into his gut as he watched Radhika smile warmly at Sahil. She had not mentioned there being a man in her life but did she have to have anybody and everybody.

Abruptly he stood up, announcing brusquely, "We have to get going now, Alisha, but maybe we'll have more fun later."

"Can I stay with the butterflies?"

"Sure. Catch as many as you like."

Closing the gap, he took her in his arms, Alisha’s tiny hand finding his chin from her spot between them. He brushed a gentle kiss across Alisha’s forehead and then hugged her softly. With a wave and a hug Radhika and Arjun left the ice-cream parlor.

……………..

Arjun sat still in his car.

For a moment his very stillness frightened her. Then the broad, dark angles of his shoulders relaxed a little. He said, with a kind of bored insolence, "I knew you liked variety, but I wasn’t aware that every new...experience...was to be savored once."

She drew in a breath, and just stopped herself from hitting him, curling her hands instead into fists at her sides.

Tension prowled around them while she fought for control. He probably anticipated her lashing out, an explosion of temper in response to the deliberate goad. A catalyst to allow him to respond in kind, not to hit or hurt—his code of honor would never sanction that—but to overmaster her in a display of physical superiority.

“I must warn you against indulging in a flirtation with Sahil,” he continued, eyes focused in the front.

“I was not flirting with him, you idiot man,” Radhika snapped out in anger.

“He made it plain clear to you that he was attracted to you, wanted to take you home with him,” he swerved his car left almost yanking off the steering wheel.

“Trust you to throw that in my face,” Radhika tried to defend herself,” he was joking, that’s what it was, a harmless joke.”

“For your information,” Arjun interrupted her coldly, “He is married with two children. Unfortunately his marriage is going through a difficult time. Our mutual friend, Aman Saxena informed me recently. It is being said, that he is said to have an eye on pretty women and of course his wife disapproves of his behavior. “

She was trembling with rage, how he dare insinuate she would start something with another man, and a married man at that, “You can’t stop me from taking a lover, if I want to, Arjun,” she snapped.

He took hold of her wrist and turned her to look at him," I have no reason to wish to see his marriage fall apart, not on your account, I promise you that Radhika and if this happens again, I'm going to give you a spanking."

"Excuse me?" Radhika looked at him in surprise, did he say what she thought. If she did, one thing was confirmed, he was soon going to be a dead man.