Page 52 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“Not quite.” For the next half hour they pored over the pumpkins and finally found all she needed. He pushed the cart for her to the checkout stand. Small pumpkins and gourds were in bushel baskets close by. She grabbed a few and added it to her purchase. They made their way to Gold Yeller and stopped behind the truck.

“I got this.” Leo opened the gate and easily picked up two extra-large pumpkins as if they weighed the same as cotton balls and loaded them on the truck bed.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She took it out and saw Dora’s text.

Dora:I’m riding back with Charlie and Phoenix. That okay?

Her brow shot up. How had she forgotten about Dora? She looked at Leo again, knowing exactly how.

Via:Of course.

Dora:Charlie said he’d look at Leo’s car. Can’t wait to, actually.

Via:I’ll let him know.

Dora:Have fun.

Via:We’re going home and going to bed.

At least she was. After a long, relaxing bath. Tonight she needed one.

Dora:Together??????

Quickly she typed:

Via:No!!!!! Get your mind out of the gutter.

“All done.” Leo shut the back gate and moved to stand next to her.

Via shoved her phone in her pocket. He didn’t need to accidentally see that conversation. She took off the catpack, set it down, and took out the leash from its compartment. “I need to walk Sir for a few minutes before we go.” She lifted him out, but he immediatelyjumped to Leo. With a sigh she said, “Can you hold him while I put on the leash?”

He nodded, but when Via reached out for Sir, Leo took the leash from her and set him on the ground. “Where does he need to go?”

She set the catpack in the bed of the truck, and together they walked over to a grassy area away from the parking lot so Sir could do his business.

“I didn’t know you could train a cat like that,” Leo said.

“Cats have minds of their own. But Sir likes being outside. He loves his field trips and walks, and I like taking him. We have an understanding.”

Sir pranced through the grass and they turned to walk through the parking lot again. The sun was setting, and the sky was a mix of amber and coral with hints of blue-lavender. Beautiful. Leo had his hand in his pocket and the other one held the leash, seemingly in no hurry to get back to the truck. She wasn’t either.

But it was a short walk to Gold Yeller, and Via started to take the pack out of the truck bed.

“Leave it.” Leo picked up Sir and handed him to Via. “He’ll be fine in the cab.”

“You sure?”

“My truck. My rules.” He gave her that dimpled half smile again and unlocked the passenger door. Opening it, he gestured for her to climb inside.

She did and settled Sir in her lap and unclipped the leash as Leo got inside the truck. Their first bucket list experience had been wonderful—more than she’d ever expected. And they still had most of the list left to finish. She had no business enjoying it as much as she did. But she couldn’t help it either.

Leo had always been good with directions, so he knew his way back without GPS or Via’s instructions. It was simple—just a few back roads, a hop on I-90, and then take the Chagrin Falls exit to downtown Pecan Corner. Sir was sleeping in her lap. He was glad the cat was free. He’d hate to be penned up like that, even though Via insisted Sir didn’t mind.

He glanced at her in the dusky light of the cab. It was past sundown, but he could see that her eyes were closed. Sitting so close to her on the ride to Pumpkin Paradise had been sweet torture. She smelled like cool fall and warm sunshine, and he was sure that wasn’t perfume. Just her. He wanted to put his arm around her and pull her close, even closer than they’d been behind the Pumpkinheads.

Pure instinct had compelled him to put his arm around her waist when they were getting their picture taken, and he didn’t want to let go. He’d also grabbed the picture on impulse. He’d told her the truth—he liked it. She looked surprised... and beautiful. Everything about her was gorgeous. Her curves, her mile-long legs, a derriere that didn’t quit—

He almost groaned out loud. What was he going to do about his fascination with her?