She shrugged. “I’m not really a pet person.”
Dhillon stared at her. “You know I’m a veterinarian.”
“I do. That’s fine. I just can’t have pets of any kind in the house. They’re messy, and they’re a lot of work. Just not my thing.” She sipped her wine. “Do you see your sister often? Seems like you’re pretty close to her.”
Dhillon was still reeling from the fact that she did not like pets. It was fine, right? Lots of people didn’t like pets. “I live at home.”
She paused with her glass halfway to her mouth. “As in, with your mom and sister?”
Dhillon nodded, a smile on his face. “My dad died when I was in high school, and I’m still there.”
“Pretty traditional that way, huh?” She sipped again.
“No. Not like that. I just like to be there for them. How about you? What made you agree to shaadi.com?” He wasn’t going to continue defending his living arrangements to someone who didn’t like animals.
“Agree? It was my idea. Listen, I’m, like, twenty-eight right now. If I want to have kids by thirty-four, and I do, I need to find someone and get married in the next few years. I’d like to have some time being a newlywed before I’m a mom.”
“You’ve got it all planned out.”
There had been a time when he’d had his life planned out. He’d been almost engaged to a woman he thought he was in love with, he’d just bought the practice, and he’d been looking at houses to buy. Then she’d left. When he’d found himself whirling from relief as opposed to devastation, he realized that maybe it was for the best. Since then, he’d been drifting.
Until Riya had come back. Who was he kidding? Riya had never really left.
“So tell me.” He picked up his wineglass. “How do you feel about karaoke?”
“Ugh. Never. Not in a million years.” She pursed her lips. “I mean, I can sing—don’t get me wrong. But in a bar?” Her raised eyebrow spoke volumes about how she felt. “Please, no. How about you?”
Dhillon shrugged. “It’s fun.”
Next thing you know, Sonia will order fruit for dessert because she hates chocolate.What the fuck was his problem? Sonia was a perfectly lovely, intelligent woman. But when he looked at her—nothing. He was indifferent to her.
When he thought about Riya, his first reaction was anger. Then attraction. Then concern. Then he invariably found himself smiling. She was not easy, by any means. She was the one who knew how to get him out of his comfort zone and take risks and live life. She loved deeply and gave her whole self. Which was why he still loved her, no matter what she was doing with her life. No matter that she did not love him back.
The waiter arrived with a sample tray of desserts, his judgmental eyebrow raised.
Dhillon nodded at Sonia. “Go ahead. You pick.”
twenty-three
RIYA
It was early, barely ten thirty, when she pulled into the driveway. Dhillon’s car was not there, so he was still on his date. Great. He was probably having a fabulous time. Good for him. Maybe he’d be out all night. That Sonia was probably as perfect as her résumé. Riya was happy for him. Right?
Her date had started out fine. Akash was just the right amount of nerdy, not absorbed in explaining the details of his job to Riya, content to give her a general overview so her eyes didn’t glaze over.
He pulled out chairs, opened doors and didn’t order food for her. (One guy had done that, and it had been everything Riya could do to not punch him, then get up and leave.) He was handsome and funny and filled out his shirt nicely.
Riya could do nothing but think about what Dhillon was doing.
She had gone to the bathroom, given herself a stern but silent talking-to and returned to the table prepared to focus on Akash rather than pine over someone who did not want her. Between her self-lecture and the wine, she had relaxed and enjoyed herself. Akash was not at all threatened by her being a firefighter. Nor did he think her job was too dangerous for her to do, likesomepeople she knew.
They enjoyed a lovely Italian meal and had just ordered the house tiramisu when it happened.
She’d heard some of the guys at the firehouse talk aboutbadge bunnies, women who were attracted to the badge. Many of them wanted to be able to say they’d slept with a firefighter. Some of the guys didn’t mind, but plenty of them did. No one really wanted to be treated like a conquest.
“You must be very strong.” Akash had placed his hand on hers.
“I mean, I need to be properly fit to do my job.” She removed her hand. Something about his touch was...unappealing.
