Chapter 5

Five

E than focussed on the tour guide as he droned on about Hawa Mahal, the Palace of the Winds. Structurally, the place dazzled, like a giant candy floss beehive with tiers of windows staggered in red and pink sandstone.

Architecture usually fascinated him—he personally oversaw every restaurant he purchased around the world for position as well as aesthetics—but while the guide pointed out the white borders and motifs of Jaipur’s multi-layered palace, he snuck glances at the woman standing next to him, apparently engrossed in what the guy had to say.

As the train had wound its way from New Delhi to the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur overnight, he’d been awake, hands clasped behind his head, staring at the ceiling for hours. Long, endless hours, replaying that brief comforting kiss and cursing himself for being a fool.

He’d rushed things. The result? Tam’s barriers had slammed up, shutting him out, obliterating what little ground he’d made since she’d forgiven him for crashing her trip.

What a moron.

Ever since he boarded the train he’d been edgy, unfocussed, displaced; and he hated feeling like that, like he had no control.

Everyone labelled him a control freak and he didn’t mind. Control gave him power, impenetrability, and confidence things would work out exactly as he planned; at total odds with his childhood, where no amount of forethought could give him the security he’d so desperately craved.

When he first landed in this intriguing, cosmopolitan, jam-packed country, he’d had a clear goal: to seduce Tam.

He wanted her, had always wanted her, but had stayed away for business reasons. Richard had been the best chef in Australia and Ethan had needed him to cement Ambrosia’s reputation. Nothing got in Ethan’s way when his most prized possession was at stake, not even a beautiful, intelligent woman. He hadn’t needed the distraction at the time, had been hellbent on making Ambrosia Melbourne’s premier dining experience. He’d succeeded, thanks to Richard’s flamboyance in the kitchen and a healthy dose of business acumen on his part.

But a small part of him always regretted that Tam may have been the one that got away.

His attraction to her from the start had been strong but he’d subdued it, focussing on business and little else, gritting his teeth as he watched Richard charm his way into her good graces with ease. It had been painful, watching their relationship unfold before his eyes, having a front row seat to their fairytale romance.

But the more he got to know Richard, the more he suspected Tam had got more than she bargained for with the egotistical narcissist she married, and he hadn’t been sorry when he died.

Now, nothing stood in his way with Tam. Discounting his stupid over-eagerness, that is.

He snuck another sideways glance at Tam, wondering if her intent focus on the tour guide was genuine or another way to give him the cold shoulder.

She wasn’t like other women he’d dated. Everything, from her reluctance to respond to his flirting to the lingering sadness in her eyes, told him she wouldn’t take kindly to being wooed.

He hoped to change all that.

“This palace is some structure, huh?”

She finally turned towards him, her expression cool, her eyes wary. “Yeah, it’s impressive.”

She pointed at one of the windows. “Don’t you think it’s amazing that all the royal women of the palace used to sit behind those windows and watch the ceremonial processions without being seen?”

He squinted, saw a pink window like a hundred others, and shook his head. “Sad, more like it. Having to stay behind closed doors while the kings got to strut their stuff. I don’t think many women would tolerate that these days.”

She stiffened, her smile fading, hurt flickering in the rich green depths of her eyes. “Maybe some women find it easier to give in to the whims of their husbands than live with callous indifference every day.”

Realisation dawned and he thrust his hands in his pockets to stop from slapping himself upside the head.

Had she inadvertently given him a glimpse into her marriage to Richard, confirming his suspicions that Richard behaved differently behind closed doors?

He’d seen Richard like that at work. All smiles and jovial conviviality, but if things didn’t go his way or someone dared have a different opinion to King Dick, he’d freeze them out better than his Bombe Alaska.

Would he have treated his wife the same way?

Hell.

Ethan hated thinking this warm, vibrant woman had been subjected to that, had possibly tiptoed around in order to stay on Richard’s good side, had put a happy face on a marriage that would’ve been trying at best.

She didn’t deserve that, no woman did, and the least he could do now was distract her long enough so she forgot his unintentional faux pas and enjoyed the rest of their day in Jaipur.

“I’ve seen enough palaces for one day. How about you and I hit some of those handicraft shops the guide mentioned earlier?”

He leaned towards her ear, aiming for an exaggerated conspiratorial whisper. “By your footwear over the last few months, I’d say you collect boots on a weekly basis so I’m sure the odd bargain or two wouldn’t go astray.”

She flashed him a haughty glare while her lips twitched. “I’ll have you know I only buy a few pairs of boots a year. Melbourne’s winters can be killer on a girl’s feet.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” He smiled, thrilled his distraction had worked. “So, are you up for some shopping?”

“I’m up for anything.”

Their gazes locked, and for a long, loaded moment he could’ve sworn he saw a flicker of something other than her usual reticence.

“Come on then, let’s go.”

As she walked beside him, he mulled her revelation. He had no idea what sort of a marriage Richard and Tam shared. Once they got hitched, he’d preferred to make himself scarce whenever she appeared. He’d cited interstate or overseas business whenever she hosted a party, and avoided all contact if she dropped into Ambrosia to see Richard. In reality, his blinding need to avoid her at all costs meant he preferred not to see them interact and had distanced himself deliberately.

Maybe he’d read too much into her comment about tolerant wives and their private battle to keep the peace? Probably a passing comment, nothing more. Then why the persistent nagging that there could be more behind her fragility than ongoing grief for a dead husband?

Jamming his hands into his pockets, he picked up the pace. The sooner they hit the shops, the sooner she’d be totally distracted and the sooner he’d lose the urge to bundle her in his arms, cradle her close, and murmur soothing words.

He shouldn’t get involved. Her marriage was her business and the less he thought about it, the better. Remembering she once loved another man enough to marry him didn’t sit well considering how much he wanted her.

Besides, it would be dangerous for Tam to become emotionally attached to him and that’s exactly what would happen if he started delving into issues that didn’t concern him and offering comfort.

He didn’t do emotions. Hated the wild, careening, out of control feeling they produced, which is why he dated widely, frequently, and never got involved.

Better off sticking to what he knew best: work. He understood work. He could control work. He could become the man he’d always wanted to be through work. That suited him fine.

As for Tam, he’d concentrate on keeping things light and sticking to his original plan.

These days, what Ethan wanted he got, and he had his sights firmly fixed on Tam.