Page 36 of The Defiant Wife

Mostly.

"Get on."

Her eyebrows rise. "What?"

"I'll drop you home."

She laughs.As if I've told a joke."No thanks."

I blink. "No thanks?"

"I can manage."

"I can see how well that's going."

Her eyes narrow."I was perfectly fine."

"You were being followed."

"They weren't following me."

"They were."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

"You don't."

I remove my helmet completely before I throw it at her.Because the temptation is becoming concerning. "Get on the bike."

"No."

"Diya."

"Veeraj."

I close my eyes, count to five and open them again.

She's still standing there.

Unfortunately.

"You realize this conversation would be significantly shorter if you just listened to me."

She smiles sweetly.Dangerously sweetly."You realize I could say the same thing?"

There it is.That stubbornness.That impossible refusal to bend.Any other person would've accepted the ride by now.

Not Diya. Of course not. The woman treats basic concern like a personal attack.I lean forward slightly.

"Get on the motorcycle."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you're bossy."