Chapter 8

It was the best holiday ever. Not only did Simi find books from her favorite authors, she even found a couple of new ones. And she was set for the next five days. She ordered coffee to be brought up to the room and went back. She hadn't noticed all the decorations and lights that were arranged in the lobby earlier. She had been too cold and nervous. But now that that she was back to being herself and it was evening and with darkness gathering outside everything looked even more beautiful and eye catching inside. The resort was packed. She now saw several families, couples and youngsters dressed up for the occasion moving around. She should visit one of the restaurants the resort boasted of to be the best in the area. But not today. She was tired. And so she wanted to have her dinner in peace and quiet.

As she opened the door she realized Neil wasn't there. She walked slowly inside. And peeped in the bedroom. Nope, wasn't there either. But his laptop was placed on the couch. Maybe he was in the bathroom. And she rolled her eyes. She just didn't want to share that space with a man she didn't know. She wasn't a prude. She had friends who were male. Only she was a private person. She had stayed with roommates before when she had been doing her bachelors. Only her roommates had been girls. This was the first time she was in such close proximity with a man who wasn't a relative. As far as living conditions went. She cautiously went inside only to realize the door to the bathroom was open and it was empty. He had said he would keep out of her way. She drew in a deep breath. Then placed her precious packet on the nightstand. Then decided to change into more comfortable clothes. Taking out her warm fleece lined pajamas and a sweatshirt she went to the bathroom and changed. She tied her long hair on top of her head in a casual bun. Then picked a book and walked out into the living space again when the bell to the suite rang. She peeped through the hole in the door and then opened it. Her coffee had arrived. She had already spotted the assortment of mini pastries in the bedroom and they looked delicious. Though the champagne and the two flute glasses had made her squirm on the inside a little. Had it been her honeymoon she would have enjoyed it but since it wasn't...its presence was making her feel a little strange. It would be great to just sit by the fireside with a cup of coffee, a pastry or two and read her book. What an evening. Once the server left she quickly lit the fire in the hearth and dragged a side table next to the big wing chair placed next to the fireplace. She filled her coffee mug and stirred sugar in it then popping a pastry in her mouth settled down on the chair with her book.

She must have read a couple of pages when she heard the door to the balcony slide open. And she froze for a second before realizing that her suite was located on the top floor of the resort and had security too. She stared as Neil stepped in and shook his head to dislodge tiny flecks of snow from his hair. Then he brushed off the remaining snow from his shoulders. Simi couldn't look away. Why was he so handsome? He had no right. And she almost swallowed. She had thought he wasn't there. And that he must have gone out. Apparently she was wrong. As he looked up, she saw surprise in his gaze too. He hadn't heard her come in. Oh well, she did share the suite with him. Even if he had gone out somewhere he would have returned at some point.

"Hi," she greeted softly.

"Hey," Neil said and smiled, "I see you are back from your excursion," he said as he padded back towards the couch where his laptop was kept, "how was it?" he asked.

"Good," Simi replied as she pulled her legs away from dangling in the air and straightened her posture, "I thought you weren't here," she said.

"I was on the balcony," Neil replied as he opened the screen of his laptop, "needed to take an important call, there was a lot of disturbance inside, funny," he said and looked at something on his screen.

"Why funny?" Simi asked confused.

"Because, I should be able to hear people clearly here and not outside with the snow falling and wind starting to pick up," he told her.

"There are times when that happens," Simi agreed, "you know what is really funny, in a developed nation such as this one, it is hard to believe that there is a network problem," she said and grinned.

Neil glanced at her.

"True," he said with a smile of his own, "my father refuses to believe that though," he told her and shut the screen of his laptop, "you made coffee," he asked.

"No, I ordered it," Simi replied, "there is more if you want some," she called out as he walked towards the kitchen.

"Thanks," Neil said as he turned back towards the dining table where the kettle was kept. He poured some for himself and walked back towards the couch. Then sat down and placed his feet on the table. "Hope you don't mind," he said apologizing.

"Not at all," Simi said with a smile, "you drove a long distance as well, guess, your feet must be tired too," she told him.

"They are," he said and smiled warmly.

"Why doesn't your father believe it?" she asked suddenly.

"Believe what?" Neil asked confused.

"That there is network problem even here," Simi said reminding him of the topic of their conversation before he had gone to get coffee.

"Ah that," Neil said, "well, he doesn't reside here. He comes to visit is all, and that too is very limited, so he doesn't believe me when I tell him the same," he told her and sipped his coffee.

"You aren't a citizen?" Simi asked casually.

"I am," Neil replied, "my father isn't, and neither is my mother," he told her.

"Oh, so they live in India," Simi supplied.

"No, they don't," Neil said and gave her a half smile.

"You are Indian? Right?" Simi asked with a slight frown.

"I am partly of Indian origin," he replied again.

"You lost me," Simi said a bit bewildered. What did he mean by partly Indian origin? He had said his name was Neil Roy. Hadn't he? Then Roy's are Indians. At least as far as her knowledge of Indian surnames went. She had been born and brought up here with only a few visits to India to meet her grandparents and cousins. That was where she had met a friend of her cousins who was a Bengali with the surname Roy. Had she assumed he was an Indian? Did it matter? Not really. But she was curious.

"My mother is an Indian by birth, but she later changed her nationality to British," he said casually, "and my father was never Indian to begin with," he said and at the surprise he saw in her eyes he smiled.

"Is he British too?" she asked trying to keep her tone casual.

"Nope, not even close," Neil said and gave her a half smile. Simi saw mischief in his eyes. And she was more confused. Why had his mother changed her nationality to British if her husband wasn't? He was not even an Indian. "Well technically he is, but it would do you well to not suggest that to him if you ever meet him, he doesn't take it in stride," he told her then grinned, "he is a Scot," he said and laughed lightly when he saw her expression.

"Scot?" Simi repeated. This was the second time in a day she had done that. But she was surprised. "But you use Roy as your second name," she said with a frown.

"That is my middle name sweetheart," Neil said as he raised his cup a bit higher, "my full name is Neil Roy Mackay," he said and took a sip.

Neil Roy Mackay. It suited him. The name was not just royal it was him. The arrogance with which he had told her his full name was very much present even in the name. Now she knew where he had got those eyes from. His father was a Scottish, he must have the same eye color or someone in the family did. Wow. She couldn't have guessed that in a million years. How cool? But even though it explained a lot it still left a question in her mind.

"But then your mother should have taken the Scotland nationality," Simi said quietly, "how come she took British and this is when your father wouldn't have liked it?" she asked unable to hide her curiosity.

"Actually it is the same, Britain comprises of three countries, England, Scotland and Wales," Neil said with a gleam in his eyes, "but my father hates being referred to as English or British, he is a Scot and that is how he wants to be known and my mother loves being referred to as British, she knows how much my father hates the notion, so she does it all the more to irk him, so much so that she refuses to stay in the same city as him so she lives in London while my father lives in Brechin," he said then laughed at her incredulous expression, "it is a bit complicated maybe, someday I will sit down and explain from the beginning. For now, this should be enough," he said and rose from his seat and stretched his arms over his head, "do you want to have dinner tonight or you are good with those pastries?" he asked.

Simi had been busy looking at him and admiring him. She hadn't even heard what he had asked. Not as attentively anyway.

"What?" she asked.

"Dinner or you are full already," he repeated patiently, "after all you did finish half of that plate all on your own," he said and grinned.

"I did not," she said with indignation as she looked at the plate being mentioned. She hadn't realized but she had finished half of it. What must he think of her?

"Sure you did, I didn't even taste any," he said teasingly.

"I didn't stop you," Simi replied morosely.

"Stop looking so glum," Neil said with a smile, "you can eat all you want. I am not particularly fond of sweets anyway and pastries of any kind fall into the same category," he said and put his hands in his pockets.

"I am so sorry," Simi said looking contrite, "I didn't even realize, they were so yummy. You might have wanted to try some," she said.

"No I didn't, I checked in long before you did remember," he said, "now, how about dinner?" he asked again.

"I was thinking of ordering something in the room," Simi said hesitantly.

"Great idea," Neil said in complete agreement, "I am not in the mood to venture into a full restaurant and then have a miserable time of it," he said then picked up the menu and dropped it in her lap, "you order. After all you are the bride," he said then winked at her.

Before Simi could even utter a word he walked away to the bedroom and closed the door. She sat there with her mouth slightly open staring at the closed door. He had winked at her. He had previously called her 'sweetheart' too. And she clearly remembered how her heart had skipped a beat at that. He was a charmer for sure. That smile. That wink. With those mesmerizing eyes. Oh man, he was a bit too much to handle. She took in a deep breath. But could he be trusted? So far he hadn't done anything untoward her. But she didn't know. A part of her did trust him. But another part, with what all kept happening these days wasn't so sure. He had told her a bit about himself. But was that enough? He seemed like a nice man. Polite. Humorous. Charming. Maybe she was thinking too much. She could watch him another day and then decide. Only if she didn't lose her sanity by then. Because if he kept that charm up she was sure to do exactly that.

With that thought worrying her, Simi opened the menu.

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