“Really? It wasn’t personal.” She walked to her makeup table and yanked open a drawer. She pulled out a rolled-up magazine and tossed it at him. He caught it by reflex. “Then how do you explain this?”
He unrolled the magazine. The headline read Dev and Shreya: Together at Last! and promised pictures of their rekindled romance. “Where did you get this?”
“In America. I had found an Indian grocery market and went in there to get snacks. I found that instead.” She picked up the hairbrush from the table and threw it savagely into the suitcase. “Those pictures are not of two colleagues at work. That was in front of our home during the night.”
“I did not have an affair with her. I have never had sex with Shreya and I have no interest in her. I was faithful to you.” But the pictures were damning. He wasn’t sure when they had been taken. Shreya had used one of the guest rooms on one occasion as they worked together on their roles. “You got this in America?”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Yes, why?”
“That’s why you came home.” Would she have returned if she’d thought he had been pining away for her? Would she have felt the need for one final confrontation if she hadn’t seen this tabloid?
He threw the magazine on the floor and approached her. She took a step back and bumped against the wall. Dev grabbed her wrists and held her arms above her head. “Not because I was worried sick about you. Not because your family missed you. It’s because of those lies!”
“I’m just supposed to believe you?” Tina thrust out her chin as her eyes glittered with defiance. “Shreya wants you.”
“No, she doesn’t. Shreya is secretly dating a married director.” Dev had to wonder if Shreya had encouraged the stories about a possible love affair to keep the reporters off the scent of the real story.
“You tried to hide the fact that she was your leading lady,” Tina pointed out. “Anything else you’re not telling me?”
“No,” he said as he leaned into her. His muscles clenched as her soft body cradled him. “Shreya is no threat to this marriage. I have nothing to hide. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“Nothing to hide? Then tell me, was Shreya your first pick as a wife?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then you met me and got me pregnant,” she said harshly. “I put an end to those plans. Or at least a temporary hold.”
And marrying her had been the best thing that had ever happened to him. “So you’re going to walk now? Sabotage your future because you believe a tabloid story over your husband’s words?”
“It took me by surprise.” Her voice rose. “I’m not jealous or anything.”
Dev hadn’t seen her like this. She had dealt with overly familiar starlets at parties and zealous fans who wanted to sleep with him. His wife had always handled these situations with a sophisticated ease. Tina must know he was under her sensual spell. He didn’t want anyone but her and he thought he had proved it every day.
“Fine, Dev. You win,” she said in a growl. “I will stay for the remaining six weeks, but I have a few demands.”
He slowly let go of her wrists and watched her intently. What was she up to now? “You are in no position to make demands.”