“Listen. Let’s get this project started and you’ll get your confidence back. I promise. Maybe we’ll see someone. Someone who can help you.”

“I’m not crazy. You think I’m crazy.”

“Let’s not use that word. You’ve just had a rough time recently and there is help to be had. If you need it. Never mind. One step at a time. Let’s focus on this. You remember what I told you, we’re going to see my friend Naina. You’re still okay with telling her your situation?”

Hari nodded, a clear “yes” nod. “She won’t tell Yash?”

“She won’t. But she needs to know because we need her for the project.”

“You think she’ll help us?”

Vansh channeled Hari’s noncommittal nod. “Not a clue, my friend. But we’re going to find out. You ready for this? Don’t answer that. I’m ready. Let’s go!”

The smile Hari gave him was still a little too lost, but at least he didn’t look despondent, and that was a start.

AS VANSH AND Hari made their way to the Omnivore building, the absurd mix of terror and excitement Vansh had been pushing away since he’d left Naina’s apartment intensified. Maybe showing up in her office unannounced right now wasn’t the best idea.

He could text her. But what would he say?

How are you?

She’d had an orgasm, not a concussion. Although it might be argued that the strength of the orgasm was pretty darned concussion worthy.

I’m coming over.

She would simply tell him not to. Also, he wasn’t about to use the word coming with her right now.

Leaving her alone was not an option. He had no choice because Jiggy had texted him again telling him to hurry and “iron things out” with Naina. If by ironing things out the man meant getting into her creases . . . Okay. Stop it. She was going to be mortified enough to kill him, and he was in too much trouble to be making dirty jokes.

In his last burst of texts, Jiggy had also given Vansh a week to present the project in his office with all the i’s dotted and all the t’s crossed. Because he wanted to make a splashy announcement at the company’s annual kickoff meeting.

So, yeah, staying out of Naina’s way the way she’d obviously want him to was not an option.

Whoever said the first step was the hardest had never met Naina Kohli. The first step into her office brought him face-to-face with her receptionist, who shot Vansh a long-suffering glare worthy of someone trapped in the middle of a mortal war.

“She’s asked me to tell you that she’s too busy for casual visits,” Mariel whispered, then cleared her throat. “I mean she’s . . . um . . . she’s . . . what did you do?”