Home for Chirappu (7 page)

He found him in the living room with Nandini and Swopna.

“Can I steal Nik for a few minutes?” he asked.

“Of course,” Nandini said, pulling Swopna onto her lap.

“What’s up?” Nik asked.

“Take a walk with me?”

Nik lifted his eyebrows but followed Trent outside. Trent slipped his hand into Nik’s as they walked deeper into the garden. The coconut and banana trees provided a modicum of privacy in the deepening twilight, not that Trent expected anyone to spy on them from the house. Still, he didn’t want an audience.

“This may be my favorite place in the world,” Nik said as they walked. “Every time I smell jasmine, I’m right back here.”

Trent smiled. He’d made the right choice, bringing Nik outside.

“I had a good time at the party this afternoon. I didn’t expect to, and it was overwhelming at times with all the people, but I enjoyed myself,” Trent said.

“I did too. Muthassan likes you.”

“I like him too,” Trent said. “I like your whole family. I was worried what they’d think of me.”

“They love you. Muthassi already asked when I was bringing you back to visit,” Nik said. “Think you’d want to come again?”

“Anytime you come,” Trent said. “I, um, I wanted to ask you something.”

“What?”

Trent’s pulse picked up as he reached for Nik’s hand. “This is probably presumptuous of me, but….”

“What, Trent? You know you can ask me anything.”

He took a deep breath and dove in. “Will you marry me?”

Nik blinked once, and then again. “You want to…. Really? My crazy family comes with the package.”

The butterflies in Trent’s stomach exploded. “Really. I know it’s sudden, but I love it here. I love your family. I love you. And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

Nik pulled Trent into an embrace, kissing him wildly. Trent took that as acceptance and kissed Nik back, all his nerves dissolving at the touch. Nik wanted him too. He kissed Nik again and then threw his head back to shout with joy.

Nik shushed him. “They’ll come out to see what’s wrong if they hear you shouting.”

“I wasn’t planning on keeping it a secret from them.”

“Me either, but I’d rather kiss you some more before we go tell them.”

Trent grinned and lowered his head to kiss Nik again. He took his time now that his nerves had faded. Nik’s lips moved beneath his, parting in silent invitation. Trent licked his way into Nik’s mouth and pulled Nik against him so their body heat mingled in the balmy air.

The boom of fireworks over the temple interrupted them.

“I thought Chirappu was over,” Trent said.

“It is, but it’s Christmas Eve. Our neighbors are celebrating tonight, so we celebrate with them.”

“Shall we give your family one more reason to celebrate tonight?”

Nik grinned. “Yes, but after that, you’re all mine for the rest of the night.”

“I’m all yours anytime you want me,” Trent promised.

They walked back inside, hands still clasped.

“Is everything all right?” Leelavati asked. “I thought I heard shouting in the garden.”

“Everything is fine, Amma,” Nik said. “We were celebrating.”

“That’s right. It’s Christmas Eve. Trent, we didn’t even ask if you wanted to go to Midnight Mass.”

“That isn’t what we were celebrating,” Trent said.

“Oh?”

Nik squeezed Trent’s hand more tightly. “Trent and I are getting married.”

Nandini’s excited shriek drowned out whatever Leelavati said in response, but she hugged Nik and then turned to Trent and embraced him as well. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you, aunty.”

She quirked her lips disapprovingly. “If you’re marrying my son, you’ll call me Amma like all my children do. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Amma.”

“And you realize you’ll have to come back next year so we can have a reception for you here. I know the wedding will have to be in Chicago, but the family will want to celebrate with you.”

“We will come back as often as you can stand for us to visit,” Trent promised.

“Oh, kutta, if that were the case, you’d never leave.”

“This calls for drinks,” Shankar announced. “Nareshkumar, you know where the brandy is.” Nareshkumar fetched the bottle and some glasses. When everyone was served, Shankar lifted the glass in Trent and Nik’s direction. “Welcome to the family.”

“Welcome to the family!” everyone echoed.

Trent could drink to that.

Chettan – older brother; used as a term for respect for all older male relatives of the same generation

Chechi – older sister; used as a term of respect for all older female relatives of the same generation

Kutta – son; used as term of affection for younger males

Muthassan – grandfather

Muthassi – grandmother

Churidar – Malayalam name for salwar kameez, a tunic and loose pants worn by Indian women, particularly of Muslim descent or of a younger generation

Puja – Hindu prayers

Pottu – Malayalam word for bindi, the decoration Indian women put on their forehead

Get the entire package of 31 stories at

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

A
RIEL
T
ACHNA
lives outside of Houston with her husband, her daughter and son, and their cat. Before moving there, she traveled all over the world, having fallen in love with both France, where she found her husband, and India, where she dreams of retiring some day. She’s bilingual with snippets of four other languages to her credit, and is as in love with languages as she is with writing.

Visit Ariel at her website http://www.arieltachna.com or on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ArielTachna, or e-mail her at [email protected].

B
Y
A
RIEL
T
ACHNA

All for One (with Nicki Bennett)

Best Ideas

Château d’Eternité

Checkmate (with Nicki Bennett)

Fallout

Her Two Dads

Highland Lover

Home for Chirappu

In Search of Fireworks

The Inventor’s Companion

The Matelot

Music of the Heart

Once in a Lifetime

Out of the Fire

Overdrive

The Path

Rediscovery

Revelations in the Dark

Riding Double (Dreamspinner Anthology)

Rose Among the Ruins

Seducing C.C.

Stolen Moments

A Summer Place

Sutcliffe Cove (with Madeleine Urban)

Testament to Love

Under the Skin (with Nicki Bennett)

Why Nileas Loved the Sea

T
HE
E
XPLORING
L
IMITS
S
ERIES
(
WITH
N
ICKI
B
ENNETT
)

Exploring Limits
•
Stretching Limits • Refining Limits

Breaking Limits • Transcending Limits • No Limits

G
AMES
L
OVERS
P
LAY

Amorous Liaison
•
Best Behavior
•
Ride ’em Cowboy

H
OT
C
ARGO

Healing in His Wings

Hot Cargo (with Nicki Bennett)
•
Something About Harry (with Nicki Bennett)

L
ANG
D
OWNS

Inherit the Sky
•
Chase the Stars
•
Outlast the Night
•
Conquer the Flames

P
ARTNERSHIP
IN
B
LOOD

Alliance in Blood
•
Covenant in Blood
•
Conflict in Blood
•
Reparation in Blood

Perilous Partnership
•
Reluctant Partnerships
•
Lycan Partnership
•
Partnership Reborn

A
VAILABLE
AT
D
REAMSPINNER
P
RESS

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

The Path

By Ariel Tachna

All his life Benicio Quispe has dreamed of being a guide on the Inca Trail. He gets his chance when the top travel agency in Cusco, Peru hires him. Alberto Salazar, his assigned mentor, fits Benicio’s idea of a perfect guide, but he’s also everything Benicio never dared to dream of in a boyfriend.

Alberto learned a long time ago to be discreet about his sexuality. It’s a necessary sacrifice to keep the respect of the guides and porters whose help is critical in a successful hike. So he pushes aside his attraction to his new junior guide and goes on as usual. But when a group of old friends arrives to hike the trail again, they convince him a relationship with Benicio is worth pursuing. His newfound resolve is enough to get them on a first date, but no amount of courage can change the attitudes of their family and friends. The risks on the trail are easy compared to finding a path through the challenges keeping them apart.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Tomoki Yonemura, vocalist with popular British rock band Traction Yen, is celebrating New Year’s Eve in Japan during their tenth anniversary tour when he pulls a fortune at a temple. He thinks nothing of its promises for love in the new year—until back home in London, he meets Alex MacKinzey, a gruff auto mechanic who helps him out of a tight spot.

Neither expects the strength of love that develops throughout the year, but it will be put to the test as Tomoki’s fame clashes with Alex’s insecurities. Fortune brought them together, but will it also tear them apart?

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

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