Harlequin Desire January 2021--Box Set 1 of 2 Maisey Yates (sad books to read .txt) 📖

that had pulsed through her as the audience appreciated her singing. She’d never felt that kind of power surge through her body. A crowd like the one at Madison Square Garden right now would be addictive.

Tina Roy’s performance was amazing, but she wasn’t a fan of the main act when he came onstage. “Do you mind if we leave?”

Ethan smirked. “This guy is no Tina Roy. Let’s get out of here.”

Ethan asked the taxi driver to take them back to the hotel. Divya laid her head back on the seat. Her heart raced. Life is too short not to live it on your terms. After Sameer had gotten out of the hospital, she’d spent all her free time working on her music. But as time went on, she’d slipped back into her mother’s society life and the family business.

She looked out the window. “Can you pull up to the curb?” she asked the taxi driver. They were at Fifth Avenue and East Seventy-Second Street. Central Park stretched out on the right-hand side of the cab. “Can we go for a walk?”

Ethan paid the driver and exited behind her. They walked in silence, her hand tucked into his arm. Even at that time of night, the city was bustling. Birds chirped in trees, joggers pounded the trail, dogs walked with their owners, occasionally stopping to sniff something interesting.

“When I was growing up, my dad fulfilled my every wish. At the age of eight, I wanted a horse. I’d just read about Jhansi ki Rani, who’s like the Indian equivalent of Joan of Arc, and I thought I would be great at horseback riding because I could feel the spirit of Jhansi ki Rani. My mother, who is always the realist in the house, told my father that it was a fad and not to go overboard. But of course, he didn’t listen to her. He bought me a magnificent horse and hired a professional trainer to teach me how to ride. He even began renovating the ancient stables on our property. At first, I loved riding, but then as the lessons wore on, it wasn’t fun anymore. It became a matter of working hard to learn how to ride. Each lesson left me sore and aching.”

They walked toward the lake, which shimmered darkly against the soft lights of the street lamps on the trail. Her hand remained tucked in the crook of his arm.

“I continued with the lessons for years because I wanted to prove to my mother that I could do it. I never became a good rider. When my horse was too old to ride and retired, I was so happy. My father offered to buy me a new horse, and my mother simply turned to me and said, ‘Tell him.’”

They walked alongside the lake. The night was rapidly cooling. Ethan put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She didn’t resist, grateful for the warmth and the feel of his solid body against hers.

“My mom knew all along that I hated riding, but she didn’t say a word for ten years.” She stopped walking and turned to stare at the lake. There was just enough light to see the reflection of the trees. Ethan remained quiet beside her.

“It’s a lesson I’ll never forget. There’s a word in Hindi, ghamand. It doesn’t have an English equivalent. It means pride, arrogance, vanity. It’s being so stubborn that you cut your nose to spite your face.”

Ethan turned to face her, and her heart raced. He kept a hand on her arm and stood so close that all she had to do was stand on tiptoe and she could kiss him. His hand moved up and down her arm and she felt the goose bumps, but her body was far from cold.

“Divya, I can’t even begin to tell you how many times people discouraged me from moving forward with Deal Catcher. Amazon already existed and the market was flooded with apps. You have to believe in yourself. You can easily be Tina Roy one day.”

She put a finger on his lips and felt him suck in a breath. Then she brushed her finger across his lips before retracting her hand.

“I’m not giving up on my singing. I loved being onstage. But that’s precisely why I don’t want to ruin it for me. I don’t want to be like Tina Roy. I remember listening to some of her early works and they were nothing like what she performed today. I don’t want to write songs that appeal onstage and end up hating music.”

“It doesn’t have to be that way—”

“Ethan! I have a law degree, a career, a family. I have a lot going for me. Music will remain my hobby, something I enjoy.”

“But you’re so talented you can do anything you want.”

Was it her imagination or had he stepped closer to her? She could almost feel the rise and fall of his chest. She put her arms around him and he closed the distance between their lips.

This time, he didn’t hold back when he kissed her. He pulled her close and she gave as good as she got. Their lips were in perfect harmony as they explored and tasted each other. She pressed her body to his and fire licked deep in her core. She molded herself to him, and felt his attraction, hard against her belly.

He stepped back from her, his breath heavy.

“There is one thing I really want to do that I’m not sure I can.”

His lips twitched. “What’s that?”

“I want to seduce you.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

Do not kiss her again. Ethan wanted to tell the inner voice ringing alarm bells in his head to shut up. She lifted her chin, her eyes challenging him to take another taste of her wet lips. He could handle an affair with her, couldn’t he? He knew where she stood on the topic of marriage; there’d be no expectations between them, just a physical relationship. He looked into her eyes and his heart jolted.

“It’s