‘OK,’ I said, slightly unnerved by the fact that this was the second time a man I hardly knew seemed to have the ability to read my mind. I squashed the thought from my brain. Lucky guess, I told myself. ‘If I were to pick a dog for you, it wouldn’t have been the tiniest one in the window, so to speak.’

Lorcan shrugged his broad shoulders, the movement causing Bod to look up at him momentarily, assess the situation and then go back to people-watching.

‘I guess that’s a fair comment, and you’re not the first one to have made that observation. But not everything can be planned. You fall in love with who you fall in love with.’

‘I like his name. It suits him.’

Lorcan looked down, tilted his head so that he could see the dog’s face more, at which point Bod looked up and bopped his nose against his owner’s face, making him laugh, and I watched as once again that transformation spread across him. ‘It does,’ he agreed.

I waited for more. When nothing else was said I prompted him. ‘So?’

‘So what?’

‘How did you end up with Bod?’

‘Ah, I was seeing a girl who works at Battersea dogs home. Bod’s mum was found wandering the streets, heavily pregnant and in a bad way. My girlfriend-at-the-time had volunteered to do a shift watching her. The vet was concerned about how she would cope with the pregnancy and whether the puppies would even survive, bearing in mind she’d clearly been living on the streets. She was just this tiny little thing. Anyway, we had plans, which she obviously had to cancel, so I offered to go along on her shift with my girlfriend. Bod’s mum went into labour about two hours after we got there and there were these two tiny, weenie bundles of fluff. I guess it was love at first sight.’

I reached over and scratched under Bod’s chin. When I stopped he nudged my hand to continue, making me laugh.

‘I can see how easy that would be.’ I looked up and met Lorcan’s warm blue gaze.

‘Yep. You don’t know it’s happening till it’s happened. And there you are, totally and utterly in love.’ He gave a smile, not the usual mischievous one with a hint of sarcasm. This was genuine, soft and way too attractive. ‘And why are you looking me like that now?’ The smile was still there but this time there was humour in his eyes.

‘Like what?’ I asked, dropping my gaze immediately and fiddling with Bod’s ears as he stood up on his master’s lap and put his tiny paws on one solid thigh, stretching his head towards me for more fussing.