When a business proposal
turns very personal…
Rule #1: Don’t fall for the client.
Because he’ll rock your world…
Rule #1: Don’t fall for the client.
Because he’ll rock your world…
Architect Rani Gupta will never let a man compromise her career or freedom again. Which is a problem now that her newest client is irresistible hotelier Arjun Singh—aka the sexiest bachelor in India. A little fling with this gorgeous man would be scandal enough. But a fake engagement might just be more trouble than they bargained for—especially if Arjun has a prior arrangement!
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A message from the author Sophia Singh Sasson
Dear Reader,
This story is very personal to me for many
reasons. The characters are from my home country of India and they struggle
with something that is familiar to me: how to reconcile traditional cultural
values with modern beliefs. Rani, my heroine, was raised in America by
traditional Indian parents. She was taught that marriage is forever but found
herself needing to divorce her husband. Her struggle to trust in love is the
heart of this story. Arjun is the eldest son of a dynastic family. How can he
love someone who is wrong for his family? This is a story about understanding
your true self, and I hope it gives you joy and romance and reminds you to be
courageous for love.
Through this book, I am sharing some of my
Indian heritage with you and a love story that will resonate with people of all
cultures.
To get free book extras, fun music playlists
and recipes from the foods in this book, visit my website at sophiasasson.com.
I love hearing from readers, so please find me on Twitter (@sophiasasson) or
Facebook (sophiasassonauthor) or email me at Readers@SophiaSasson.com
I would also appreciate your honest review of
this book. I will read your reviews and strive to be a better author with your
feedback.
Enjoy, and thank you for reading.
Sophia
***
Excerpt,
MARRIAGE BY ARRANGEMENT by Sophia Singh Sasson
***
“Are
you okay?” Rani asked.
The
changing stage lights threw seductive shadows across her face, and he felt
himself gazing into her dark eyes. He’d always thought she was beautiful but
tonight she looked spectacular. He knew she wasn’t wearing a designer dress,
and if he had to guess, she probably hadn’t spent all day at the beauty salon
getting her hair and makeup done. Yet she looked more stunning than any woman
he’d ever met. Those heels that she clearly hated showed off her long, shapely
legs and the way her hair framed her face made him want to weave his fingers
into it. She was looking at him with such intensity, it seemed she could see
into his soul.
“Just
family drama,” he said, surprising himself. He pulled his hand away from hers
before he was tempted to take things further. Last night when he’d said
good-bye in the car, he’d felt such an urgent need to kiss her that he’d almost
canceled their plans tonight. He prided himself on always being in control.
He
took a sip of the neat whiskey he’d ordered, hop-ing the raw burn down his
throat would bring him back to his senses and shake loose an idea on how to
deal with his family.
“Tell
me about it.” Rani leaned in close to him, and he caught a whiff of her vanilla
scent.
Where
do I start? With Divya or Hema? Hema was a not a problem to solve. She was an
obligation he had to come to terms with. “My sister Divya has been offered a
job in Jaipur and wants to take it, but that’s not done in our family.”
“Why
not?”
He
shifted in his chair.
“What
I mean is, what is your parents’ specific concern beyond the fact that it’s not
the tradition? The parampara?”
He
looked at her in surprise. She gets it.
“I
think they fear that if she’s financially independent, she won’t follow the
house rules.” Even as he said the words, he realized how horrible it sounded.
“You have to understand that my parents are doing what they think is best for
her.”
“They’re
trying to control her.”
“They
are trying to protect her.”
“I
don’t think we’ll agree on that point. So what do you plan to do?”
“I’m
thinking of secretly increasing her allowance. That way she can buy what she
wants without having to ask my parents’ permission. That’s how this whole job
thing started. She wanted to buy a car for herself and they questioned her
spending.”
Rani
shook her head. “You’re not understanding her.” He frowned. While he wanted
Rani’s perspective, she didn’t know Divya. Arjun talked to Divya almost every
day. How could Rani be so confident in saying he didn’t understand his sister?
“Divya
doesn’t want to work just to buy things. She wants to work to have a sense of
purpose, of independence. To do something meaningful with her life. I don’t
think you can appreciate what it’s like for an intelligent person to sit at
home all day with nothing to do. It’s maddening.”
“She
has lots of things to do. There is staff to man-age, social events to plan,
charity work. My mother is always complaining about how busy she is.”
“But
those aren’t things that satisfy a young, educated woman who doesn’t want to be
a socialite. She wants do something that is uniquely hers, and have control
over some aspect of her life.”
It
seems you’re speaking from personal experience.” She nodded. “My ex-husband’s
family didn’t have your kind of wealth but they were comfortable. My in-laws
asked me to quit my job, which I foolishly did. My days were filled with
shopping and social events that I couldn’t care less about. I’m guessing your
sister lives a similar life. Working is not about the money, it’s about
independence. Of the many things I lost during my marriage, the one I lament
the most is my career. I was almost at the point of making senior architect at
RKS when I left. After the divorce, I had to start at the bottom of the junior
level because I’d been out of the game so long. Divya doesn’t want to become
obsolete.”
Arjun
spread his hands. “So what do you suggest I do? My mother will not agree to let
her get a job. I’ve already tried to convince her and she is firm on this point.”
“What
is Divya qualified to do?”
“She
studied law.”
Rani
chewed her lip, and he found himself staring at her. “Your business is big
enough that you surely need lawyers.”
He
nodded. “Of course. I have a couple in every city that we have a hotel.”
“So
hire her for your legal team in the Jaipur office.” “Jaipur is an hour away
from our home.”
“Do
you do the commute?”
He
rubbed his neck. It could work. “We have a trusted driver who could take her
every day.”
It
was a nice idea. His brother, Sameer, had no interest in working for the family
business, and Arjun could use a trusted person to take on some of the
responsibilities of the company while he was in Vegas. He was tired of having
to wake up in the middle of the night to get on the phone with someone in
India.
“It’s
a potential solution. Thank you, Rani.”
The
crowd became louder as the warm-up act wrapped up and introduced Russell
Peters. Rani started laughing at one of the jokes. Arjun hadn’t heard it. All
he could focus on was the way her mouth crinkled, and the happy sound of her
giggles and laughter. He’d been with a fair number of women in the last several
years; all of them had been socialites who clearly understood that he wasn’t
looking for an emotional attachment. His relationships were always physical.
None of them had made him want to connect emotionally like this.
“Am
I really more amusing than the comedian?” Rani turned to him, grinning.
He
smiled sheepishly. “You certainly are more beautiful.”
Her
eyes widened and her mouth opened slightly. He took a breath to keep from
leaning over and kissing her irresistible lips. As if reading his mind, she
suddenly snapped her head back towards the stage. He took a long slug from his
glass of whiskey.
So
what if we work together? The project would be over in less than six months and
he’d be returning to India to a lifetime of obligation. If she was attracted to
him too, what was wrong with a brief affair? He knew how to be discreet; he
would protect Rani, and make sure there would be no fallout for her at RKS.
After all, what happened in Vegas could stay in Vegas.
***
Author bio:
Sophia puts her childhood habit of daydreaming to good
use by writing stories that will give you hope, make you laugh, cry and
possibly snort tea from your nose. She was born in Mumbai, India, and has lived
in the Canary Islands, Spain and Toronto, Canada. Currently she calls the
madness of Washington, DC, home. She loves to read, travel to exotic locations,
bake, scuba dive and watch Bollywood movies. Contact her through http://SophiaSasson.com.
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