When Dimple Met Rishi(64)

She glanced over, and he averted his eyes, so he was looking out at the sunset too. "It's definitely something else," he said, answering her question just a few seconds too late. "How did you find out about this place?"



       
         
       
        

"Celia." Dimple walked closer to him, and Rishi felt his heart speed up merely at the proximity of her. Idiot. He forced himself to count to three before he looked over. She paused, uncertainty passing over her face. And then, in the next moment, she'd extended her hand out. It sat there between them, fog swirling in the spaces between her fingers.

Rishi was pretty sure his mouth had fallen open, so he concentrated on forcing it closed. Was she . . . reaching for his hand? He placed it in hers, no questions asked. And waited, because it seemed like she had something to say. Rishi could tell the words were practically squirming, trying to get out.

"Um . . ." Dimple blew out a breath, and with her free hand, tucked a curl behind her ear. The breeze just blew it out again, but she didn't seem to notice. "Rishi, I'm sorry if I seemed ambivalent at the restaurant before. What you did, that gift . . ." She shook her head. Her eyes burned into his. "It's the most thoughtful thing anyone's done for me. I really liked it. I really like . . . you." Dimple dropped her gaze again. Her hand was shaking slightly in his, and Rishi covered it with his other hand. Looking back up at him, she said, "I have a hard time with all the feelings stuff sometimes. But I think-I think I want this to be a real date. If you do, I mean." Her eyes widened slightly. "I mean, I'm not even sure if you're on the same page. I said I really like you, and you didn't really respond, and now you're just kind of looking at me-"

Rishi couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips. But when he saw her face fall, he dropped her hands and cradled her face instead. She was so close he could smell that coconut jasmine shampoo. He felt the warmth of her rushing over him, through him. Her eyes were huge behind her glasses, luminous even. "Dimple Shah . . . I really like you, too." He pressed his lips lightly against hers as he kept talking. He felt her shiver again, and he smiled against her mouth. "And I would be honored if this turned into a real date."

Her lips parted against his. And then he was lost in her.




Oh my God. Or as Rishi would say, Oh my gods. They were kissing . Again. Finally. Dimple sighed in perfect bliss, and Rishi's arms wrapped around her waist in response, pulling her body snugly against his.

He wanted her. He wanted her just as much as she wanted him. It was unbelievable. Dimple had never thought her life would include a boy like Rishi. Was it kismet, like he'd said? Then she felt his tongue against hers, and all coherent thought flew out of her head.

Eventually they broke apart so they could breathe, but Rishi kept his arms circled loosely around her waist. His lips were swollen and red in the fading light. He smiled and rubbed her nose gently with his. "It's too bad we can't keep doing that indefinitely. Oxygen is so overrated." 

Dimple's arms were resting against his chest, but she moved them down to his waist too, so her arms were crossed behind his back. "So is eating."

"And going to stupid web-development classes."

"Hey." She smacked him, and accidentally whacked the top of his butt. There was something ridged and hard like a notebook in his back pocket. "Those classes are my ticket to Jenny Lindt, let's not forget."

"Oh yeah. Her. What's so great about her again?" Rishi pulled away from her, but kept one hand clasped loosely around hers, which made Dimple happier than she wanted to admit. He pulled her down to the ground, and they lay facing each other, heads propped up on their elbows, lower legs tangled with each other's.

Dimple clasped her free hand to her heart. "Are you serious? Jenny Lindt is a pundit. A beacon. A herald of the coming age of Women in Tech."

Rishi smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. That was quickly becoming her Favorite Thing. Besides kissing him, obviously. "She's your Leo Tilden, huh?" He lay down all the way and stretched out his arm under her head.

Dimple glanced at him, her heart hammering. Rishi's eyes were hopeful, but respectful. He didn't expect it. After a pause, Dimple lay down and put her head on his chest. Rishi sighed, a deep, humming thing that echoed in his chest and her ears.

Dimple smiled up at the sky. "Yeah. She's my Leo Tilden." They listened to the wind in the eucalyptus trees awhile. Somewhere below them, a dog barked. "Speaking of Leo, was that a notebook I felt in your pocket before? My hand brushed against it."