Page 129 of Every Move You Make
She swallowed through the emotions pressing in on her.
He tipped her chin up, looking into her eyes, but before he could say anything, there was a tap on his shoulder.
Akash moved, keeping his arm around her waist as VJ brought a good-looking man forward.
“Hey, guys,” VJ said. “Meet my cousin, Zorawar Randhawa, the Prince of Devangarh. His mother, Sanchali Devi, is my dad’s sister.”
The man, Zorawar, held his hand out to Akash. “Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness,” Akash responded warmly.
“Please, call me Zorawar. All my friends do.” He took Shauna’s hand next. “Congratulations to both of you, and thank you for inviting me to your wedding.”
Shauna smiled. “Thank you for taking the time to be here with us.”
“It was my pleasure. I wanted to personally thank you for returning my family’s lost necklace. I cannot tell you how happy my mother is to have it back in the family.”
“Some things carry too much history to be lost,” Akash replied. “And I’m glad we could right the wrongs done in the past.”
Zorawar nodded. “You’re right. My mother says the necklace has seen four generations. Now, thanks to you, it will see a fifth.” He gave them a warm smile. “I won’t keep you from your guests. But truly, this means more than I can say. And my mother has specially invited you both to come visit our family’s estate. VJ speaks very highly of you all. Perhaps, in time, our association could become... more.”
“Thank you. We’d like that,” Akash replied. “And we’ll definitely visit soon.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Zorawar said with a light chuckle before stepping away into the crowd with VJ.
Shauna turned to Akash, and suddenly a sharp tap of someone testing a mic cut through the room.
“Good evening, everyone,” her grandfather’s voice rang out, bright and clear as he came to stand in the center of the room, a little distance away from Akash and Shauna.
The chatter in the hall slowly quieted around him.
“I’m sorry to interrupt this way,” he said into the mic, his tone warm. “But I only need a few minutes of your time.”
Shauna’s brows knit slightly as she glanced at Akash. He looked just as confused.
“Do you know what’s going on?” he murmured.
She shook her head, her attention already shifting back to the front as her grandfather began to speak.
“I’m so happy,” her grandfather said. “Today, my dearest Shauna got married to one of the finest men I know. One of my favorites...”
A fond smile tugged at her grandfather’s lips as he looked at Akash.
“Not fair,” Rishi called out, pretending to be offended. “I’m your favorite. Everyone knows that.”
“Favorite grandchild,” Akash said aloud. “I’m his favorite. Full stop.”
Laughter rippled around them. Shauna chuckled, remembering this very same conversation she’d had with Akash all those weeks ago in her grandfather’s office, back when things had been so stilted between them.
Oh, what a long way they had come.
“I’m so glad they found their way to each other,” Janak said. “But let me tell you, it wasn’t easy. Because, of course, Akash and Shauna were never going to make it easy for anyone. Least of all themselves. They’re both incredibly stubborn, as we all know.”
More laughter moved through the crowd.
“They didn’t see eye to eye for years,” Janak continued, “but I knew from the very beginning that they belonged together.”
“What is he talking about?” Shauna whispered, leaning closer to Akash as her grandfather’s words sank in.
