Chapter 2
“Should we call an ambulance?” Via looked at Birdie, who had helped her move Leo from the hallway to the couch.
“Nah. His pulse is fine. He’s just sound asleep.”
She’d panicked when Leo fainted in front of her, and at first she thought she’d killed him. The notion lasted less than a
second, but it scared her. She checked his breathing, even putting her ear to his mouth. Thank God he was still alive. He
still smelled delicious too.
Then she came to her senses and called downstairs. Birdie was a retired nurse and EMT. She’d know what to do. She arrived
in minutes, and Leo had come to for a split second while they were dragging him to the couch. Then he passed out again.
Luna perched on the blue-and-white granny square afghan draped over the back of the couch. With the main door shut downstairs,
there was nowhere else to go.
Birdie peered over him. Her ensemble was totally turquoise—kerchief, sweatshirt, and sweatpants. Her tennis shoes even had
two turquoise stripes along the side. Unlike Via, Birdie liked to match. “Handsome fella, isn’t he?”
“I hadn’t noticed.” He seemed peaceful in repose, quietly snoring. Was that a good sign? Must be, since Birdie wasn’t concerned.
“When he wakes up, give him a glass of water.” Birdie slung Luna over her shoulder and headed for the door.
“You think he’s dehydrated?”
“Possibly. Always good to have fluids at hand. If he starts acting weird, I’ll come back up.”
“What do you mean, weird?”
“You’ll know.”
Birdie left with Luna in tow, and Via filled a glass with cold water from the pitcher in the fridge, set it on the coffee
table, then sank into the papasan chair across from her purple plaid couch. The owner of the thrift store in Mentor thought
she was crazy for buying it, but he was also glad to get it off his hands. To no one’s surprise, the market for purple plaid
sofas was microscopic.
She continued to observe Leo. Did he have a concussion? She couldn’t see any lumps on his forehead, and she didn’t have any
idea where she’d actually hit him with the lamp. Maybe the bump was hidden in his hair.
Kneeling beside him, she carefully brushed back a few locks. She’d lied big-time to Birdie. Of course she noticed Leo was
handsome. Gorgeous was a better descriptor. His hair was soft against her fingertips as she lightly felt around for a possible bump. For his
safety only. The fact that she was enjoying touching him a little too much didn’t matter. Her fingers moved deeper, deeper—
His hypnotic green eyes flew open and locked on hers.
She didn’t move. She could hear him breathing. Feel his pulse hammering. Or was she hearing her own quick, soft breaths and
sensing her pulsing heartbeat?
Then he blinked. Twice. The second time his eyes narrowed, much like they had when they first met. “What are you doing?”
She jumped back. “You passed out. I wanted to make sure you didn’t have a bump . . .”
He arched a questioning brow, then glanced down at his prone body. “How did I get here?”
“Birdie helped me.”
“Who?” He started to sit up, then grimaced. “Never mind. My head is killing me.”
“So I did give you a concussion.”
“I doubt it.” He moved to sit up again, this time more slowly.
“How do you know?”
“The lampshade hit my shoulder.” When he was upright he added, “I barely felt it.”
“Oh.” Well, that was a good thing. She’d been certain she bashed him in the head. Relieved, she handed him the glass of water.
“Here. Have a drink.”
He finished half of it in one gulp. “Got any aspirin?”
She nodded and went to the kitchen, pulling open one of two junk drawers where she kept the medicine, then gave him the bottle.
As he opened the top, she noticed his nice hands, with long, slender fingers and clean, well-shaped nails. Everything about
him was so put together. Almost like he’d walked straight off a magazine cover.
“Thanks.” He gulped down the pills with the rest of the water and handed her the glass and bottle.
“Do you need some more?”
“I need to go to Uncle Earl’s.” He started to rise, only to sway a little and fall back against the couch. He muttered a curse
under his breath, then glanced up. “Sorry.”
She peered down at him. “When was the last time you slept?”
“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.”
“I wasn’t given an apartment number, just told it was upstairs. In my defense, your door was unlocked.”
“I’ve never had anybody waltz in uninvited.” She tapped her chin in thought. “But I forgive you.”
“Thanks—”
“If you’re being honest.”
His smirk disappeared. “There’s no reason for me to break into your apartment, if that’s what you’re getting at.” He glanced
around, his gaze returning to her. “There’s nothing here that I want.”
Well, that was a little insulting. And possibly a deflection. “I’m going with you to Bennett’s,” she announced. “Then we can
settle this once and for all.”
“I don’t think so—”
The door flew open and Dora burst inside. “Birdie said you have a hot guy passed out on your couch—” She came to a halt. Looked
at Leo. Then at Via. Then at Leo again . . . with interest.
“I’m fine,” he said, sounding annoyed.
“You sure are.” She winked at Via.
Via cringed inside. It wasn’t like Dora to be so obvious. Then again, it wasn’t every day a gorgeous guy fainted in her apartment.
Even if that guy was being a donkey’s behind. Kind of, she had to add. He wasn’t being one now.
If Leo heard Dora’s compliment or saw the wink, he didn’t acknowledge either.
Dora tilted her head toward him. Picking up on it, Via said reluctantly, “This is my sister, Theodora. Dora, this is Mr. Brewster.”
“Octavia and Theodora. Interesting names.”
She couldn’t tell if he was being disparaging or not. “Leo isn’t exactly common anymore,” Via pointed out. “What’s it short for? Leonard?”
“Add an o and you got it.”
“Leonardo.” Dora nodded. “Like the turtle.”
With a roll of his eyes, he said, “Yes, like the turtle.” His eyes shifted between the two of them. “Are you twins? You look
a lot alike.”
“Dora’s a year younger.”
“And Via has a birthmark where I don’t. It’s right on her—”
“Theodora!” Via’s face flushed.
“But it’s cute,” Dora said, clearly enjoying the teasing. “It’s heart shaped and everything.”
“Meow! Meow! Meow!”
Oh, thank the good Lord for Sir Meow.
“How did he get up here?” Dora said as he padded into the living room. “I closed the café door behind me.”
Via held out her arms for her companion, but he went straight to the couch . . . and Leo’s lap, making himself comfortable.
“Hey!” Leo exclaimed, clearly uncomfortable.
“Sir!” Via clapped her hands at him. “Get off him!”
But Sir simply leaned his body against Leo’s dark blue jacket. Via could hear his purring from across the room.
Leo sneezed. Then sneezed again.
“Allergic?” Dora asked.
“Yes.” He tried to shove Sir away, but the cat moved closer.
Via rose from her chair. “I don’t know why he’s acting so weird. He doesn’t usually get attached to strangers.”
Leo unceremoniously set him on the floor. Via winced when she saw the patches of light brown fur Sir left behind on his expensive
jacket.
He brushed off the hair with indignant strokes.
“It’s not that bad,” Via said. The guy was overreacting to a little cat fur. “Sir doesn’t shed that much.”
“Are you serious?” He gestured to the jacket, then glared at Sir, who was staring up at him with kitty adoration. “Do you
have any idea how expensive this is?”
“Really? It looks off the rack.” Via bit her bottom lip. Leo’s jacket was definitely high-end.
He glowered at her. Obviously her insult hit home.
“I think I’ll head downstairs.” Dora backed away toward the door. “Do you want me to take Sir?”
“No,” Via said.