Page 53 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

Suddenly he was almost at the road he needed to turn on to get to Pecan Corner. He focused on the rest of the drive, listening to the hum of the engine. Not even close to as smooth as his Turismo. At least Gold Yeller was running.

A few minutes later he pulled into the parking lot behind their apartment and business building and parked the truck. Via startled to life. “We’re home already?”

Home. Pecan Corner would never be his home. That was LA.But for now it would do. “Where do you want me to put the pumpkins?”

Yawning, she picked up the catpack off the floorboard. “Can I keep them in the bed overnight? I’ll get them in morning.”

He frowned. He thought she had been dozing on the way home, but it was obvious she’d been in a deep sleep. That made him concerned that she was overworking herself on his account. “Via, if it’s too much for you to help me in the shop—”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?” she snapped.

Where did that come from? Earlier, she got snippy with him and thought he was going to ghost her. He had to set her straight on that, and he thought they’d put it behind them. She hadn’t given any indication she was still upset. Until now.

All the warm, wonderful thoughts and feelings Via brought out in him disappeared. Constance had been like this. She was never bubbly and fun like Via. But she could be calm, even nice at times, only to turn on a dime and ground him for no reason. Or worse, give him the silent treatment. Anytime he came across someone—woman or man—who had those same tendencies, he steered clear. “I’m trying to be nice,” he said, resisting the urge to throw open the door, and instead methodically pulled on the handle and stepped out. But he couldn’t stop his next words. “You do whatever you want.”

“Leo—”

He shut the door on her and walked with measured steps back to the apartment. His hands started to fist, and he shoved them into Earl’s jacket pockets. He didn’t need this. Any of it—the stipulations, the building, the bookstore... and his attraction to Via. She was the biggest disruption of all.

Chapter 13

Via fell back against the bench seat. That was stupid. Oh so stupid. Why had she snapped at Leo like that? Again? But she knew exactly why, and it wasn’t his fault.

Octavia Bernice Dalton didn’t have romantic fantasies. Trevor had barely made a dent in her dreams. But she’d just had one about Leo, and it had felt real. So real that when she snapped awake she’d forgotten where she was for a second. In her half-sleepy and fully annoyed state, she was mad he’d spoiled her dream... about him.

Then he offered to release her of her promise to help him, and all she heard was that he didn’t want her around. Where had she heard... felt... that before?

The fluorescent light shined on Sir’s fur from the parking lot lamp overhead. He curled in a ball in her lap, purring away. Oh, to be a cat, particularly this one, and not have a care in the world.

She had to fix this. Not just gloss it over, like she had before the pumpkin patch. She’d been irrational then too. Since Leo Brewster had entered her life, she hadn’t been able to think straight. And then there were her feelings. Because even though she’d been idiotic, she was still feeling remnants from that dream. Delicious, hot remnants...

It was clear her attraction to Leo wasn’t going to go away. She had to learn how to manage it. And he didn’t deserve her flying off the handle because of her issues.

Via continued to think for a little while longer, petting Sir as she did. Finally, she came to one conclusion. Honesty. She didn’t have to tell Leo everything about her past, but she could explain herself more. She also needed to apologize.

She locked Gold Yeller and carried Sir to her apartment. “You’re on your own,” she said, unclipping his leash and putting him inside. Then she faced Leo’s. Her heart started to pound. Was she doing the right thing?I hope so.

Via knocked once. Twice. She was about to knock a third time when the door cracked open.

Half of Leo’s face appeared and looked surprised.

“Hi.” She pointed her toes inward. Doing the right thing didn’t make it any less awkward.

“I’m kind of busy right now.” He sounded strained.

“This won’t take long,” she insisted. “I promise. Can I come in?”

“Via—”

Suddenly Sir streaked past her ankles.

Oh no! She’d forgotten to shut the door all the way—

He barreled through the crack in the door. Leo stumbled back.

Via lost her breath. She’d find it later, because thanks to Sir Meow, Leo was standing in front of her clad only in a towel.Me... ow.

Leo was still annoyed with Via by the time he reached the apartment stairs, but he also started rationalizing what happened. She was tired, and he knew how crabby he got when he didn’t getenough sleep. She’d also been deep in slumber and he clearly startled her. He still didn’t know why she’d thought he was going to stand her up, but by that point he was thinking about going back downstairs to make amends. That moved his thoughts to holding her... kissing her... doing other things... and into the cold shower he went.