Ajay had returned to the kitchen where he was pouring two glasses of wine. “Yes, I had Rafael set it up earlier today. I wanted to make sure you were comfortable, and that probably wouldn’t happen if your dog wasn’t comfortable, too. Why don’t you put her in there? See how she likes it.”

“I have a feeling she will,” Raj said after swallowing the lump in her throat. She gave Khunda a minute to inspect it before she put her inside. The Chihuahua immediately began sniffing the carpet, then the pee pad, and finally she lapped at the water in the small bowl. Raj expected her to want to come out, but she plopped down and began gnawing on the dental chew.

“Looks like the pen is a success,” Ajay said, and passed Raj a glass filled with a bright yellow wine. “This is a new blend from our Saffron Fields vineyard. Let me know what you think.”

She smelled her wine, then swirled the liquid before taking a taste. It was rich, crisp, and deliciously fruity. “This is perfect.”

He ran a hand up and down her back. “I’m glad. Want to come keep me company in the kitchen? Tell me about your day.”

Raj looked down at the beautiful dog pen and her happy puppy, then at the wine in her hand. She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that she was making the right decision.

“Raj?”

“I spoke with my brother, Guru. He’s still in town.”

Ajay’s eyebrows V’d. “What did he want?”

“I’m not exactly sure. That’s what I’m trying to figure out. There has to be something more than his interest in wanting me to go back to see my mother.”

“Do you think it has something to do with money? Or your business?” Ajay pushed a tray of samosas forward along with a small dish of green chutney. “Don’t get too excited. My mother made these.”

“And here I thought you’d slaved away, stuffing samosas for me,” she said, plucking one off the end of the tray. “But to answer your question, I have no idea. I was thinking that maybe you’d help me to problem solve.”

Ajay grabbed her free hand and pressed a smacking kiss on her knuckles. “That is one of the sexiest things you’ve said to me recently.”

“Well, there’s more where that came from. I can go into workforce analytics, but that might be too hot.”

Ajay groaned. “Let’s save the human resources conversation for dessert. I may not be able to contain myself, and I’ll have to bend you over the table.”

Her pulse jumped. And wasn’t that exactly what she wanted him to do right that second? “Why not now?”

“Raj, you should know that there are only two things that have a chance at rivaling sex. Good whiskey and—”