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Because her sisters would expect her to sigh with exasperation, Callie did. No need to give them any details about her own recent experiences.
She also didn’t intend to voice her concerns about their mother, even though the idea that Eleanor was serious enough about a man to go away with him for the weekend made the whole situation even worse. If Eleanor did take a weekend trip with her new man, Rory would probably send their mother off with a box of neon-colored condoms, and Aria would give her scented aphrodisiac candles. Callie, on the other hand, would struggle not to run a background check on whoever the guy was.
The bell over the front door rang. Aria started toward the door separating the Cat Lounge from the café area. As she opened the door, shooing the cats back into the lounge, Callie caught sight of the customer.
Tall, dark, and movie-star handsome, holding a camera.
Her heart stuttered. If Jake saw her here, their cover was blown. No way could she keep her feelings for him a secret. Especially from her sisters.
Getting to her feet, she glanced at the back door. If she made a run for it, her sisters would ask questions later, too. But maybe that would be preferable to—
“All of the cats are up-to-date on their vaccinations and have been cleared by our local veterinarian.” Aria swept back into the Cat Lounge and spread her hand out toward the feline menagerie.
Jake stopped in the doorway, his gaze colliding with Callie’s through his disguise glasses. She smiled stiffly and tried to send him a“we don’t know each other”telepathic message. Apparently he received it because he nodded politely at her and Rory.
“This is Gunter.” Aria plunked a large calico into Jake’s arms. “He’s really sweet and even-tempered, but he’s close to becoming a member of the Lonely Hearts’ Club, so he’s getting a bit desperate for a forever home.”
A puzzled look crossed Jake’s face, if she were speaking another language, but he set his camera down and closed his arms around the placid cat.
“She means that Gunter has been up for adoption for a while now,” Callie explained. “Are you looking for a cat…uh, sir?”
“Unfortunately not…uh, miss.” He scratched Gunter behind the ears and lowered the cat to the floor.
“Haven’t you come into Sugar Joy a few times?” Rory asked.
“Not sure.” Jake scratched his head. “Where is that?”
“It’s a bakery on Dandelion Street.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “I swear I’ve seen you there before.”
Callie stepped between Rory and Jake. Aside from wanting to keep him a secret, her sisters would give her a hard time for disapproving of their mother dating when Callie was having her own covert fling. She wouldn’t blame them for snarking at her, either. She was already snarking at herself for being something of a hypocrite.
Jake suddenly sneezed. He grabbed a napkin from a table dispenser to wipe his nose.
“Gesundheit.” Callie tried to position herself to block him from her sisters’ line of sight.
“Must be allergies.” Jake backed toward the door. “Sorry about this, but I should probably get away from the cats. Great place you have here, though.”
He flashed them all a smile and quickly left the café.
“I need to get going.” Callie picked up her purse and hurried toward the door. “I’ll see you both later.”
As she left the Cat Lounge, she heard Rory mutter, “Speaking of banging…”
Callie flushed with embarrassment. She hurried to catch up with Jake outside. He turned a corner, and she quickened her pace. Veering around the corner, she collided right into his wall-like body. He grabbed her arms to steady her.
“Oh, sorry.” She skidded to a halt.
“I’m not.” He bent to press a swift kiss against her lips. “But I didn’t mean to make things weird for you in there. I’ve been taking pictures of Mariposa Street, and everyone was talking about the cat café that I wanted to see what it was all about. Didn’t know you were there.”
“It’s okay. I had some things to hash out with my sisters.”
A slight frown creased his forehead. “You look kind of down about it.”
“No, I’m fine.” She sighed and waved a dismissive hand. “We just have issues, as all families do at some point, I guess. Sometimes my sisters drive me crazy, but then I’m always upset when we’re apart. Like when Aria left a couple of months after Dad died, or when Rory moved to the Bay Area. It feels like something is missing.”
“Come on.” Jake threaded his fingers through hers. “You need a good dinner and some better loving.”
She smiled. “Delicious as both of those things sound, I need to work on my proposal.”
