Page 2 of Knot So Romantic

I take the shell, a sense of relief washing over me. “I’m glad it wasn’t a jellyfish. Thank you for helping me.”

“Of course. I’m glad I was here,” Neel says.

I look up into Neel’s eyes, realizing how close we are, his face just inches from mine, the moon casting its gentle glow over us. Neel is practically holding me in his arms, looking at me with concern. I take a moment to process the situation.

Neel, who barely spoke to me earlier, now looks at me, his deep hazel eyes filled with worry. “Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah, just...a little shaken. I thought I was in trouble there for a moment.”

“Panic can affect even experienced swimmers.”

I lean back slightly, steadying myself with one arm, the other resting on the sand between us. The sound of his steady breathing is oddly calming. A question pops into my mind: What do I really think of Neel Menon? Was I too quick to judge him as just another aloof businessman? Tonight’s events have revealed a different side of him, a caring and protective one that caught me off guard.

“I guess the pain and fear led to panic,” I say, still aware of his nearness. “Which has never happened before. I’m usually a good swimmer.”

Neel nods, his arm still supporting me. “It can happen to anyone. The important thing is you’re safe now.”

We sit in silence for a moment, the sound of the rhythmic waves filling the air. I can’t make sense of my feelings except that I’m aware of his presence as I lean against his chest. My nose itches, probably from the salt, and I want to lift my hand and scratch my nose, but I don’t want to move and break this unexpected moment.

“Sorry for ruining your tux,” I say when I can’t take it anymore, and finally rub my nose against his tux.

Neel lets out a short, unexpected laugh. “You’re worried about my tux?”

I can’t help the way my heart flips at Neel’s amused tone. He didn’t strike me as the type to laugh so freely.

Our eyes meet. Covered in sand, with his hair tousled and clothes disheveled, there’s something endearing about his appearance. To think that he jumped in to rescue me without a care for his own safety.

Perhaps I rushed to assess him. Maybe he’s not as aloof and uptight as I imagined.

I catch myself staring at him, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. I feel the thrill of tonight’s adventure and the strangeness of it all.

My lips purse. “And I appreciate the strength of those arms. It’s reassuring to know that if I was drowning, it’d be quite handy to have you nearby.”

He looks at me for a moment, an unreadable expression flashing across his face. It’s as if a switch has been flipped. His gaze travels over my face, slowly taking me in. Heat creeps over my cheeks, a thought drifting into my mind as leisurely as the wind teasing my hair. I can’t help but wonder what the warmth of Neel’s embrace, the concern in his eyes, and the way my heart races in his presence are telling me.

And as his heartbeat echoes in my ears, a realization washes over me like a gentle wave kissing the shore.

Could it be that I have a crush on Neel Menon?

My heart flutters, somersaulting within my chest as his eyes finally land on my lips just before he swallows and looks away. Before I can process this quiet moment exchanged between us, it’s gone. His face is closed off again.

A wave of disappointment washes over me as Neel finally pulls away. He stands up and offers me his hand. “If you’re okay, I’ll walk you back to your room,” he says, his voice neutral, almost as if he’s talking to a stranger, not the woman he just rescued.

As we walk back to the resort, I can’t help but wonder about the man beside me. Who is Neel Menon, really?

The night feels vibrant, alive with possibility. Despite the warm air, a shiver runs down my spine. The day’s events swirl in my mind—Kiara’s joyful wedding, the unexpected rescue, this near-stranger walking beside me under the starlit sky.

And all of it feels so strange and unexpected. I can’t help but wonder if the universe is trying to send me a sign.

CHAPTER 1

Kavita

I freeze at the sight of a beady-eyed pigeon perched on my dress rack inside my boutique.

How on earth did it get in here?

“Ramu!” I call out to the security guard, who should be at the gate outside the building. It’s clear he left the back door open again. Ramu needs a serious talking-to, I decide. First, he takes too many tea breaks, and now he’s letting stray birds fly in.