Page 7 of Autumn at the Cat Cafe

“Decently?” He sighed. “Months ago.” His stomach suddenly growled.

“Have you had breakfast?”

“I don’t do breakfast.”

“Did you at least do supper last night?”

“No,” he said, his voice low. “I was in a hurry.”

She strode to the kitchen. “Don’t tell me you drove from California in one shot.”

“All right. I won’t tell you. What are you doing?”

“Making you something to eat.”

“You don’t have to—”

“I don’t want you passing out again.” She opened the fridge and took out a carton of milk, then shut it and opened one of the cabinets to get a box of cereal. She needed to make a grocery run after work today. But for now, this would have to do. She fixed the cereal and handed the bowl to him, along with another glass of water. “Hope you like Cocoa Puffs.”

He peered inside. “I don’t have time for—”

“Bennett’s office is a three-minute walk from here. Your meeting is in half an hour. You’ve got time for Cocoa Puffs.”

He drained the water in one gulp, then started eating. “Not bad,” he said around a mouthful. Then he started eating with gusto. “Thanks... Octavia.”

“Everyone calls me Via.”

“You’re being rather nice, Via, considering you were ready to have the cops haul me to jail.”

“I still might.” She sank into the papasan again and crossed her legs. “But I’m not heartless. If you’re going to the slammer, you’ll need sustenance.”

Leo stopped mid-chew. “You’re joking. Right?”

“For now.” She leaned forward. “I’m still not sure about you being Earl’s nephew. But you do have a key, even though you don’t have the same last name.”

“From what I’ve gathered, he was my mother’s brother.”

“I thought you said you were estranged. Now you sound like you’ve never met.”

Leo scraped the bowl. “It’s complicated.”

Tilting her head, she studied him. “You drove halfway across the country in a Corvette—”

“Gran Turismo,” he said, looking slightly offended. “It doesn’t even resemble a Corvette.”

“Fine. Grand Tursmo.”

“Gran. Turismo.”

Talk about picky. “Can I continue my analysis?”

A tiny smile played on his lips. “Proceed.”

Kind of hard to do with his slight smirk making her toes curl inside her yellow-and-maroon striped socks, but she pressed on. “You drove over halfway across the country while wearing a suit, presumably for your meeting with Bennett. If you’re telling me the truth.”

Leo set the empty bowl on the table. “I thought you were going to call him and verify?”

“I was sidetracked by a trespasser.”