Reverse Vows || AkshNav ||

Chapter 7 | Abhinav

Wrapping my hand around Akshara's much smaller one, I followed the hostess and had to pull a bit when Akshara didn't move with me. As the woman guided us through the front tables and deeper into the restaurant, I quickly glanced down at Akshara. She looked a little flushed and unsettled with that small frown plastered on her face. I was unsettled too. Hell, maybe even more than her. The only difference was that I was better at hiding my emotions. You could read everything from just looking into her face, her eyes.

Her dress, and the way she looked in the dress had blindsided me, that much was apparent. And I hadn't been able to keep my mouth shut. But that red flush on her cheeks, the widening of her eyes, the goose bumps she had tried to hide. Those little facts were really interesting.

"Are you okay?" I asked, leaning down close to her ear and giving her hand an involuntary squeeze as we took a turn to the right that led to the private area of the restaurant. Jumping a little at my words, she looked at our clasped hands then up at me and nodded.

"It's just dinner, Akshara. Relax."

Before she could even respond, we reached the round table where George and Fred were already sitting, but there was no sign of Wes Doyle, the potential client. As soon as they saw us, they stood up.

"There you are, Abhinav," Fred said, pushing his chair back and walking around the table to get to us. "There's a first time for everything. I never thought I'd see the day you were late anywhere."

"We're right on time," I commented, and watched as Fred's eyes dropped to Akshara's hand in mine. Instinctively, I gave her hand a little pull until she was plastered to my side. Akshara gave me a quick surprised look then turned back to Fred.

Fred shifted his focus to her, and his smile got bigger. At forty-five years old, Fred was the only one of the partners I could stand to spend more than an hour with. "Usually, he is the first one through the door whenever there is a meeting or work dinner," he said to Akshara. "And you must be the very unexpected but beautiful bride. Fred Witfield, pleased to meet you." He extended his hand to Akshara, and I had to let go of her. I looked down at my hand. Still feeling the warmth and shape of her hand on my skin, I flexed my fingers.

"I'm pleased to meet you, too, Mr. Witfield. Abhinav has said lovely things about you," Akshara lied.

Fred laughed and finally let go of her hand. "Oh, I highly doubt that."

I stood where I was, just a step behind her, and greeted George with a short nod while still listening in on their conversation.

"We're really sorry for being late—it is completely on me," Akshara was saying.

"We weren't late. We're right on time," I repeated as I pulled out her chair. "The client isn't even here yet."

Ignoring me, Fred pulled out the chair next to the one I had just grabbed, thinking she'd sit to my left, with me between her and Fred. Since she had her back to me, she couldn't have seen that I was waiting for her, so she accepted his offer and took a step forward. Before I could comment, Fred was introducing her to George. When everyone was done with their introductions and niceties, we all sat down. I waited until Akshara was settled and then took the seat I had originally pulled out for her. Fred sat down to her right, all his attention still on her. George, being the oldest partner, wasn't as curious about my new marriage as some others in the firm.

"So, Akshara, you have to tell us how you convinced Abhinav to marry you," George started as soon as everyone was settled. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe every damn person in the firm was curious about my marriage.