No Safe Zone
Page 16
‘It’s perfect, Kabir!’ She clapped her hands in glee. That window seat is to die for. This is where I see myself spending warm, sunshiny, sparkling times with you.’
‘Yeah, sweetheart. Just like you. The colours of my Qiara.’
Her heart felt like it would burst with love. She lifted her face for his kiss. He planted a quick kiss before ushering her on to the next room.
The décor in the room was more muted but the cool lime green walls and serene blue-and-yellow furnishings were soothing. A love seat occupied pride of place. One wall was lined with bookshelves; a TV was tucked away amidst the books and bric-a-brac. On the facing wall, hung a huge black and white photograph of a woman, her face looking away from the camera. Short hair shaded the features of her face, adding mystery and a touch-me-not quality.
‘When did you take this picture of me?’ she asked.
‘At the Polo Club,’ he smiled.
‘Hmm…so what does this room represent?’
‘It’s for those times when you have me tearing my hair out and I need to remind myself why I love you.’
She leaned into him and said, ‘And why’s that?’
‘For being you!’ He bent down and lifted her in his arms. ‘My voluptuous, volatile, utterly irrestible woman.’
She snuggled in and complied with a bit a protest. ‘Volatile? Me? Totally not!’
The rumble of his deep chuckle reverberated through her.
He carried her to another room and set her down on her feet.
Soft light suffused the room. A large bed with overnight stands and lamps on each side were the key features. Her eyes were drawn to the burning candles in their beautiful earthenware holders that made a zig-zag trail across the polished marble towards a low table. On it sat a circle of votives. She picked up the first card.
You are the light of my life.
She grabbed the second.
You are the one who makes everything worthwhile.
And then, the third card.
You set me free. To be me. To love you and cherish you.
Her eyes were filling with tears of happiness as she took up the fourth card.
But most of all…you are my safe haven.
She lifted the final card and her heart flipped. Tucked under it was a small jewellery box.
He flipped the box open and took out an exquisite infinity ring.
I love you, Qiara. Marry me.
She raised her face, her eyes sparkling with the love she saw reflected in his. Choked with emotion, she whispered, ‘Yes! I love you, Kabir.’
He slipped the ring on to her finger and sealed his vows with a kiss – she knew she was finally home, where she belonged.
About the Book
London-based activist Qiara Rana is devastated when investigations begin against Sameera Khan, her upright mentor at Girls Rock!, a small but reputed not-for-profit organization. She will do anything to save them from ruin. Even if it means visiting the city that still makes her heart bleed. But within a few hours of landing in New Delhi, she is being chased by a gunman and is a suspect in the murder of a high-profile businessman. The only person she can turn to for help is the man who stood her up ten years ago.
On a mission to bust an international women’s trafficking ring, Intelligence Bureau officer Kabir Shorey runs slam bang into the girl who has tormented his dreams. He is determined to protect her, but can he save himself from the all-consuming passion that flares up between them all over again?
As the past and present collide, old secrets are ripped away. Treading the fine lines between safety and danger, truth and lies, love and betrayal, Qiara and Kabir discover that in life there is no safe zone.
About the Author
Adite Banerjie discovered the wonderful world of books at an early age which sparked her interest in writing. After a fulfilling and exciting career as a business journalist she turned her attention to fiction. She has penned two books for Mills & Boon (The Indian Tycoon’s Marriage Deal and Trouble Has a New Name) and written several screenplays. When she is not grappling with her current work-in-progress, she enjoys spending time with her husband, spoiling their Irish Setter silly and watching back-to-back movies. She loves to connect with her readers at her website www.aditebanerjie.com and on Facebook at https://facebook.com/AditeBanerjieWriter. You can also find her on Twitter at @adite.
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First published in India in 2016 by Harlequin
An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
Copyright © Adite Banerjie 2016
P-ISBN: 978-93-5177-775-5
Epub Edition © May 2016 ISBN: 978-93-5177-830-1
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Adite Banerjie asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
This is a work of fiction and all characters and incidents described in this book are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under The Copyright Act, 1957. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this ebook on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins Publishers India.
Cover design: Hasnain Waris
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