Page 10 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“I figured he was just picky.”

Via wished she had been pickier.

“What about you?” Dora asked.

“I’m perfectly content being single and running Pawsitive Vibes.” She shifted Sir Meow in her lap. “Besides, who needs a man when I have this handsome fella?”

Sir went limp with excitement.

But Dora wasn’t smiling. “Are you ever going to move on from Trevor?”

“I did. The day before the wedding that never happened, when I found out about his cheating.” She must have been blind not to see it sooner, but she thought she was in love with Trevor. When it came to him, she’d had too many blind spots.

“Not all guys are trash like Trevor,” Dora said.

“And not all guys are as great as Charlie,” Via pointed out.

“But Leo—”

“Mr. Brewster.”

“There were sparks.”

“No sparks.” Via held up Sir’s paw for emphasis. “Dora, you don’t have to play cupid with me. Mr. Brewster is off-limits. So off-limits.” She got up from the couch and handed her the cat.

Dora took him. “Where are you going?”

“Bennett’s office, to find out what’s going on with Earl’s estate.”

“Didn’t he tell you it was in probate?”

“Yes, but he was vague.” He had a right to be, considering she didn’t have any claim to his inheritance, despite her discussionwith Earl. And she never mentioned their conversation about their businesses to anyone else. “Whatever happens to Second Chapter and Earl’s apartment directly affects me and my business.”

“True. Do you think Leo’s lying?”

“I don’t trust him. And before you tell me that I need to start trusting again... don’t.”

Her sister sighed and stood, still holding Sir Meow, who was quite comfortable in her arms. “Don’t let what happened with Trevor get in the way of a possible relationship.”

“Dora—”

“I know what I saw when I walked in here. And even if Leo isn’t the one—”

“He’s not.”

“—then you need to consider someone else. I can set you up at the Meow and Mingle next week.”

Via scoffed. “I’m fine with you holding the event at the café, but I refuse to participate in”—she shuddered—“speed dating.”

“Don’t knock it till you try it.” Dora walked to the door and grinned. “Good luck with your meeting... and with Leo.”

Rolling her eyes, Via shooed her and Sir out, then grabbed her purse. Dora was wrong, so wrong. Sparks. With Leo Brewster. Yeah, right.

She glanced at her watch. Ten minutes to get to Pipkin’s office. Plenty of time, but she wouldn’t mind arriving early. Maybe Leo was already there. Or he might be waiting in his Gran Turros, or whatever he called it. She didn’t care. All she wanted was confirmation he was Earl’s nephew. And if that was true...

A sudden quiver of doubt appeared in her stomach. If Earl had kept a secret this huge from her, then they weren’t as close as she’d thought.

Leo walked out of Earl’s apartment, then paused at the sight of Via entering the hall at the same time. After getting his bearings and escaping Via’s overly affectionate cat, he was ready to head to Pipkin’s. He shut the door and looked at her annoyed expression. He was pretty annoyed with her too.