She gave a reluctant nod. “Okay.”
Taking her by the hand, he led her off the porch. Once he’d gotten her in the car, he went around and slid into the driver’s seat. When Pesh cranked up the car, Megan gasped in horror. “What?” he asked.
She motioned to the clock on the dash. “Oh my God, we’re going to be late. Can I make a worse first impression?”
Pesh laughed. “Maybe I should tell you a few things, etiquette wise, so tonight will go a little easier.”
“What does that have to do with us being late?”
“Because it’s considered good form to arrive thirty minutes late.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Huh, I didn’t know that.”
“Well, how could you?”
“I tried doing a little research. I even watched Monsoon Wedding,” she said.
Pesh laughed. “Did you now?”
“Yeah, it was pretty good. I kinda hated there weren’t more dance numbers and songs.”
“Megan, I’m pretty sure none of my family is going to break out into song like in a Bollywood movie tonight,” he said, with amusement ringing in his voice.
She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t expect them to, smart-ass.”
He tsked at her. “So testy tonight.”
After exhaling a long breath, she gave him an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry I’m so bitchy.”
“You’re not bitchy.”
“And you’re lying.”
“Regardless of your out-of-control emotions, I know that my family is going to love you just as much as I do.”
The moment the words left his lips he grimaced. There was the Big L word. They hadn’t actually exchanged it yet, and now he’d managed to screw up and say it before he could find the right time.
“Oh God, did you have to say that now? Like I’m not nervous enough!”
“I’m sorry,” he murmured.
Burying her head in her hands, she groaned. “This is...you are…I…”
“Look, you don’t—”
“I love you, too!” she shouted from behind her hands.
His hands jerked on the wheel, and he sent the car careening onto the emergency lane. When he recovered and got the car back into the right lane, he dared himself to look over at her. She peeked at him through her fingers. “I love you, Pesh. I really fucking do.”
“Oh Megan,” he whispered.
Pulling her hands away from her face, she gave him a genuine smile. “I love you more than any man I’ve ever known.”
“I love you more—” Suddenly he found himself unable to continue. Did he love her more than he had Jade? He had spent years with Jade and had only months with Megan. If he did love Megan more, what did that say about his relationship with Jade?
She reached over and took one of his hands in hers. “Hey, you don’t have to say what I said. Our situations are completely different.”
He clenched and unclenched his jaw. “No woman wants half a man’s heart,” he argued.
“But I know it isn’t half your heart. And I wouldn’t want you to stop loving me just because I died, so why would I expect you to do the same with Jade?”
“It’s not fair to you,” he croaked.
“Life’s not fair, baby. You have to get used to that one.” She squeezed his hand. “Besides, I know what I feel when I feel your love. There’s no half about it. You love me with all your heart and soul.”
“I do. I honestly do.”
Unfastening her seat belt, she lunged over to kiss him. When she started to deepen the kiss, he had to pull away. “Hey now, you gotta stop that or we’re not going to make it to my parents.”
She giggled and then eased back down into her seat. She managed to behave herself the remaining five minutes. When he pulled into his parents drive, he saw it was already crowded with cars. The sight of so many people set Megan off, and she began tapping her fingers nervously on her leg.
“Ready?” he asked, as he turned to her.
“As I’ll ever be,” she muttered.
He shook his head as he got out of the car. Like always, he opened her car door and helped her out. As they started up the sidewalk, Megan was a flurry of movement. She smoothed down her hair and then she adjusted her top. Then she fiddled with her purse on her shoulder.
“Quit fidgeting,” Pesh whispered, as he rang the doorbell.
“I can’t help it. I’m nervous.”
He grinned down at her. “Megan, they’re going to love you. I promise.”
She shook her head. “They’re going to hate me because I’m not a submissive Indian woman. Wait until they hear I had a child out of wedlock. They’ll be ready to disown you then.”
The door flew open, cutting off the rest of their conversation. “Brother, it’s so good to see you!” his brother-in-law, Sanjay, cried. After he hugged Pesh, his gaze went to Megan. His eyes widened, and he gasped in surprise. “Uh, hello.”
“Hi,” Megan said.
Sanjay gave Pesh a curious look. “You didn’t tell me you were bringing company.”
“This is Megan.” With a self-assured tone, he added, “She’s my girlfriend.”
“Really? Well, what about that?” Sanjay gave Megan a welcoming smile. “We’re so glad to have you.”
“Thank you,” Megan replied.
As Sanjay turned to go into the living room, Megan smacked Pesh’s arm. “You didn’t tell them you were bringing me?”
He shook his head. “No, I like the element of surprise when it comes to my love life.”
“S-Seriously?” she sputtered.
“It’s better this way. Trust me.”
Before she could say anything else, Pesh started taking off his shoes. Wide-eyed, Megan watched him. Quickly, she stepped out of her heels and put them in the pile next to his. “More etiquette you forgot to tell me?” she hissed.
He patted the small of her back. “You’re fine.”
As they came into the living room, Pesh felt Megan tense at his side. He supposed that it was overwhelming coming into a room packed full of strangers. His sister, Shveta, came forward first. “Hello brother. You’re looking well this evening.”
“Thank you. So are you.” He hugged her tight. As he pulled away, he glanced down at her swollen belly. “And how is the future prince doing?”
Shveta smiled and brought her hand to her abdomen. “He’s busy kicking me at the moment.” When she spied Megan behind him, she gasped. “And who is this?”
He drew in a breath and gazed around his family. “Before I go through this with each and every one of you, I might as well get it out of the way. I want to introduce you to someone very special, my girlfriend, Megan.”
Deafening silence reverberated around the room after his statement. His mother and father exchanged a glance before staring back at Pesh. Megan tucked herself even closer to his side. Although public displays of affection between men and women were frowned upon in his culture, he wrapped his arm around her waist. “Well, say something,” he commanded.
“We’re sorry, son. It’s just you caught us off guard,” his mother said.
His father’s bushy brows rose. “So you’re really dating, eh?”
“Yes, I am.”
At his declaration, his father clapped his hands and grinned. “That is most wonderful to hear!” He came forward to embrace Megan. “You are very welcome here.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“I’m Charlie,” his father introduced.
“Megan,” she replied, with a small smile.
Pesh peered past his father where his mother stood chewing her lip. He could tell she wasn’t entirely happy that another blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman was standing beside her son. While Shveta and Arjan had both sought out Indian partners to marry, he and Dev were somewhat the black sheep since they hadn’t chosen to settle down with women within their culture.