Free Busted in Bollywood by Nicola Marsh Page B

made my stomach churn, sickening me more than any accusations Drew could hurl my way.
    “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
    “But you do, Miss Jones.”
    “Keep your voice down.”
    The brazen bastard had the audacity to chuckle at my panic in possibly causing Rita irrefutable shame and condemnation from the Indian community across two continents.
    “You’re in no position to tell me what to do.” He lowered his voice as several bare-chested actors in baggy pants helped themselves to samosas and iced tea before moving away. “Listen up. Rakesh is a good friend as well as my business partner. His family is revered around here and I won’t let you make a laughingstock out of him. He’s engaged to Amrita Muthu and you aren’t her. So why don’t you tell me exactly what game you’re playing?”
    The more he pushed for answers, the more I’d clam up. I hated being told what to do. Didn’t take a genius to figure out why. Tate had controlled our relationship and when I’d wised up, I took back the power. I liked being in charge and had no intention of kowtowing to anyone, especially some guy who thought he ruled the world along with a movie studio.
    “No game.” That much was true. Impersonating Rita might have started out as a way to escape my problems back home, but the minute I’d met Rakesh and he’d divulged how this plan could affect Rita if it went awry, I knew I had to protect her.
    “Then why are you doing this?”
    “I don’t owe you any explanations.” I tilted my chin up for good measure, trying to stare him down.
    Bad move. Boring hazel eyes locked on dazzling blue—and the hazels lost. “I’ll tell Rakesh.”
    I laughed. “ I’ll tell Rakesh ,” I imitated, enjoying his open-mouthed shock. “ Na-na-na-na-nah. I’m going to tell on you . Jeez, what are you? A first-grader?”
    Emotions warred in his eyes, amusement with anger, frustration with curiosity, and I watched them all, enjoying the show. His high and mighty attitude irked, his supreme confidence rankled, and he was way too good-looking for comfort. But right then I came close to liking this guy for sticking up for his friend, even if he had my motivation all wrong.
    I waggled my finger under his nose. “Stay out of my business. This has nothing to do with you.”
    “This is insane.” He backed away from me as if I’d developed a case of leprosy. “Rakesh is one of this country’s top businessmen and is known for his intelligence. Why can’t he see past you?”
    “Because love is blind.” I gave a little shrug, grateful when an actress in a stunning chartreuse sari edged between us for a cup, mumbling an apology.
    This couldn’t go on for much longer. I couldn’t keep from laughing at his absolute outrage. He acted like some stuck-up English lord with nothing better to do than harass his poor serfs. I couldn’t wait to see his expression when he learned the truth.
    The actress moved away, casting us a curious glance, and we waited until she’d rejoined a group at the far end of the marquee before resuming our conversation. I’d been so caught up in our private drama I hadn’t noticed the swarming mass moving around the marquee: makeup artists, costume changers, techies, and hangers-on. I’d love to chat to them, get the lowdown on moviemaking Bollywood-style, if I didn’t have to deal with an uptight, nosy, know-it-all.
    “Love?” He raised an eyebrow in a classic scoff. “You’ve only just met the guy. How could you possibly love him?”
    Biting my inner cheek to keep from laughing, I clasped my hands to my heart. “Don’t you believe in love at first sight?”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.”
    “Just because it hasn’t happened to you doesn’t mean it’s not real.”
    “This isn’t a movie.”
    On the contrary, this charade I was perpetuating on behalf of Rita and Rakesh was fast turning into a movie for me. Who would’ve thought I’d star in my very own rom-com? Sadly, circumstances were heavy on