'This is ridiculous.'

'Shhhh.'

'We could get into trouble' Miranda insisted.

'Why? You're supposed to walk the dog on Saturday. Well, it's Saturday.'

'It's Friday night.'

'It is' said Max, consulting his watch 'twenty minutes after midnight.'

Miranda rolled her eyes. They were waiting for the lift that led to Ura's third floor flat. The foyer was empty and silent.

'Do you always have to be right?'

'I prefer it' said Max and this struck Miranda as hysterically funny. She started laughing. Max put his hand over her mouth.

'Shhhh' he whispered. Miranda fumbled with her keys, found the one she needed and handed it to Max.

'Ok' said Max. 'Here is how we are going to pull this off. I'll unlock the door. You turn off the alarm. I'll grab the dog. Where do you think she'll be?'

Miranda considered this. Her brain felt foggy after the carafe of wine and after they'd left the restaurant, had reconvened to a bar to perfect Operation Ura, there had been some beer involved. She was either going to disgrace herself by throwing up or just collapse at some point.

'I don't know. When I collect her, she's usually on the sofa but I don't know where she sleeps when her human is home.'

'Well leave that to me' he said. Miranda was inclined to do just that. She hadn't been keeping score but was almost positive that he'd had less wine as her.

'Lead?' Asked Max and Miranda reached into her pocket and drew out the shoelaces that they'd pulled out of the bartender's shoes, after requesting the loan of them. Carmen had generously acquiesced but made them drink coffee first to sober them up. They liked Carmen. She was a good sport.

'Treat?'

Miranda fished in her bag for the napkin wrapped burger she had purloined from the restaurant.

'Note?'

Miranda produced a stack of napkins. And an eyeliner pen. After three drafts, they'd decided that 'Dear Inès, I was in the area and thought I'd give Ura an early walk' sounded the most plausible.

'Ready?'

Miranda nodded. Max was smiling mischievously at her. She nodded again for good measure. Max leaned forward and kissed her on the lips. So quickly she thought she'd dreamed it.

'Let's do it' he said but Miranda was too shocked by the kiss that she stood there, frozen as Max unlocked the door and the alarm started howling.

'Miranda!' He hissed. She rushed into the flat, stabbing at the alarm keypad and Ura scuttled into the living room, barking frantically before she slid to a stop on hardwood floors and started wagging her tail. Inès hurried in behind the dog, outfitted in a slinky nightie, mobile phone at the ready.

'Oh' she said, peering at the two of them. 'Max. You don't knock anymore?'

Miranda stared from Max to Inès to Ura who was trying to launch herself into Max's arms. Max was smiling at her.

'Miranda. This is my aunt. Inès, you know Miranda, ja?'

Inès glared at him.

'Of course I know Miranda' she said impatiently. 'Ura, para eso ahora!'

A chastened Ura stopped jumping and sat, her floofy tail wagging in frantic circles, her pink tongue lolling impatiently. Miranda was still frozen, glancing from each individual and trying to make sense of it but sense was not forthcoming.

'So…you know Ura?' she finally asked. Max was still smiling at her.

'I've known Ura since she was this big' he said, holding his hands in the shape of a teacup.

'And you know Max' said Inès.

'We worked in the same company' confirmed Miranda.

'Great' said Inès testily. 'So now that everyone knows everyone, can I go back to sleep?'

Max went over to her and kissed her on the forehead.

'Thanks tante, sorry we woke you' he said sweetly. Inès grumbled and said something in Spanish that Miranda didn't catch. She ruffled Ura's fur and strode off to bed. The little dog looked back at her, ears pricked, foxy snout quivering. Her tail wagged happily and she trained her gaze between Max and Miranda, moving her head like she was watching tennis. She yawned noisily.

'What did she say?' Asked Miranda faintly.

Max repeated it in Spanish. Miranda frowned at him, trying to process the words.

'Typical Brit, can't learn any language good enough' teased Max.

She jumped as Inès bellowed it in English and then slammed the door in a huff. The lady needed her beauty sleep.

'How did you…?'

Max pulled out the makeshift lead and smiled at Miranda. 'Let's go for a walk' he said. Ura jumped up and licked his ears as he tied it onto her collar. He slipped his hand in Miranda's and led them up two flights of stairs further, through his front door (how was she to know that he lived in this building?), into his bedroom where Ura jumped up on the foot of the bed and curled up sleepily while Max and Miranda lay together on top of the duvet, whispering and kissing and sometimes laughing so hard that Ura woke up and snorted testily at them, until the sun came up.

Miranda turned over Inès's words in her head.

It had taken them long enough, apparently.

She might have to agree.