Page 24 of Sinner's Binding
I chuckled. “I do, and he can offer you security system installations, home system monitoring, and bodyguards, too, if you need them.”
“Wow, an all-around helpful guy. A good friend to have. So, you can see that I’m still among the living. Before you ask, yes, I ache and sometimes hurt, but it’s manageable with medication and rest. The bruises have already started to fade to interesting colors. I’m taking this coming week off, but should be back the following one.”
“Don’t push yourself. Take the time you need,” I cautioned.
“I won’t push, but I get bored if I stay home doing nothing,” Anastasia explained.
“Oh, I know how that is. Believe me. I wish my brother would catch that tendency,” I muttered without thinking.
“Rowan up to his usual? Or has he gone extra special?”
It was seamless to tell her at least the work aspect of Rowan’s drama. We’d both spoken about our families during my treatment sessions enough that it felt as if we knew each of them.
“Reign, you’re joking! Please tell me he’s not actually that obtuse,” Anastasia exclaimed after I finished telling her about the office drama.
“Anastasia, I wish I could say it was a joke. He doesn’t get it. He came to my place last night, spoiling for a fight about it. He wanted me to fire his superior as if she did anything wrong,” I huffed.
“Lord, my family makes me crazy, but they do work hard. But I bet your brother wouldn’t try to force you to get married to someone he approved of.”
“No, he seems astonished that I would settle down and have a family. But if I do, he feels it’s still his right as my blood to get the bulk of everything I have.”
She and I talked about work and families for another five minutes or so before she turned us back to the reason I was there.
“I love hearing about someone else’s crazy family, but now, why don’t you tell me what was so urgent you had to see me tonight?” Her steady gaze told me it was time to stop dancing around the subject.
“Okay, but I need to ask you something first. It’s rather personal, but I’ve got to know,” I put out there first.
“Alright, go for it. Ask away.”
“I know you’re dating Sam. He came to the hospital the day I was there to see you. He made it clear that you and he are more than friends. Are you seriously involved with each other? Is he your boyfriend?”
Her mouth opened, closed, then she waited a couple of moments before answering. My heart almost beat out of my chest waiting.
“Sam and I met at a family dinner a month ago. I told you he works with my brother Arish and is a lawyer. I admit they invited him because he was an acceptable man for me to date. They’ve been doing it for years, trying to push me to settle down with a man they approve of, with the same thoughts on what’s acceptable for me as a woman and what they think is a traditional Indian female. I’ve always resisted.
“In Sam’s case, he was nice, funny, and didn’t act as the men in my family do, so when he asked me out for coffee, I went. We’ve been out a handful of times, and we’ve enjoyed ourselves. Why do you ask?”
My gut clenched, but I ignored it. “One more thing, do you see yourself falling for him? Is he the man you want to marry one day?”
“Reign, why are you asking me this?”
Giving up on the evasions, I went for it. I stared into her eyes as I answered her.
“I’m asking because I see you as more than my chiropractor, Anastasia. I’m interested in you in the way a manis interested in a woman. I want to ask you out on a date. I want a chance to prove to you that we make more sense than you and Sam. Do you think you might develop feelings for me over time? Or has he already gotten your heart?”
A gasp escaped her as her eyes widened to an impossible size. I held myself in check, waiting for her answer.
Anastasia: Chapter 7
I knew I was staring at Reign like an idiot. I was trying to convince myself I hadn’t heard him the way I thought I had. My inner desire had manifested into an auditory hallucination. He hadn’t said he wanted to date and develop feelings, whatever that meant. Had he?
“W-what did you say?” I rasped out.
“I asked you whether Sam has your heart already. If not, will you give me a chance to win it?”
He sounded and looked serious. He watched me intently.
“You want to go out on a date with me?”
