The excitement she’d felt, the pure joy of finally having a dog, knowing she would soon have Khunda, had brightened up her whole week. She’d been able to redirect her confusion and grief about Ajay toward buying toys, a bed, water and food dishes, and securing private dog training classes.

Raj motioned for Ajay to follow her into her sitting room with its cream and mirrored furniture.

“I brought her in here,” Raj said, pointing to the plush bed she’d purchased and arranged next to the fireplace. “She seemed fine, but when I tried to leave, she started crying. I needed to use the bathroom, so I took her upstairs to my en suite with me and left her right outside the door. She’s less than three pounds, Ajay. When I came out Khunda was gone. I can’t find her anywhere. I don’t know what to do.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “We’ll find her.”

The way that he’d paused had her heart sinking. He’d given her distance now and repeatedly tugged on the sleeves of his suit jacket.

“Oh. You must think I’m . . . I panicked. You came all this way.”

She’d never felt quite this embarrassed before, as she turned toward the hallway again. He was looking at her like she had an alien head growing out of her neck. What had she been thinking? This wasn’t the type of relationship they’d agreed upon. She was being silly.

“I am so incredibly sorry for wasting your time like this. I-I don’t know what to do, but I can figure it out. Let me at least pay for the cab back—”

“Raj, you’re going to piss me off.”

Her shoulders snapped back. “I beg your pardon?”

“I think you heard me the first time.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Look, Khunda isn’t going to go anywhere. She’s going to be fine. Why don’t we look for her, then we can talk?”

Raj nodded. “I really am—”

“Raj, I’m glad you called me. I’m relieved that I was the person you came to. But we’re going to have take some time to talk about this, and you’re distracted. Come on. Show me where you put her.”

“Okay. Okay, I can do that.” She led the way back to the front of the house and up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Her bedroom was to the left through a set of French doors. Ajay had seen it the night after their date; he’d come home with her and spent a few hours in her bed. Fortunately, Kaka had come and cleaned it, considering the mess Raj had made during the week.

“Where did you leave her?”

She pointed to the bathroom and to the floor right next to the door. “She was right here.”

“And she doesn’t bark or anything when you call her name?”