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I flopped down on the couch and crossed my arms. He stood in the doorway, looking confused.

“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. This isn’t at all what you imagined it would be,” I said, gesturing at the apartment.

“Huh?”

I rolled my eyes. Men could be clueless creatures. “Whatever.”

He closed the door and perched himself on the edge of the couch. “Have you been crying?” he asked, squinting at me.

I shook my head and quickly shoved an empty box of chocolate chip cookies under a pillow. It was one thing if he’d noticed my puffy red eyes, but I didn’t need him to know I had been eating my sorrows away as well.

“Olive.” He scooted closer, then reached for my face and gently turned it toward his. “I’m so sorry about missing our meeting at Dave’s Diner. I fell asleep. Spending so much time at the clinic with Beau exhausted me. I swear all that happened was me taking a nap that lasted way too long.”

Now I felt even worse. I had been mad at him for nothing. Of course he’d be exhausted. He basically ran the clinic all by himself. I couldn’t possibly stay mad at him, except maybe for the fact that he’d called our little rendezvous “a meeting” and not a date.

I wondered whether or not I should ask him about his choice of words, but he had other questions himself.

“Is that a dog?” he asked as Rhubarb came running toward the couch, the rubber duck still in her mouth.

“Oh, yeah, but don’t tell anyone.” I threw him a pleading look. “Yesterday my landlord stopped by because Diane had blabbed to him about me having pets. I had to sing and dance before he would leave.”

Lewis’s eyes grew big. “You sang and danced for him?”

I laughed at his perplexed expression. “Not in a weird way. I wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible.”

“And you sing so off-key that he ran away?”

“Hey, watch it,” I said, slapping his arm. “There’s nothing wrong with my musical abilities.”

He smirked. “Will you dance for me if I refuse to leave later?”

“Oh, stop it.” I looked away, feeling my cheeks heat up.

“So, the dog,” he said, not pushing the whole dance issue any further. “How did he or she end up here?”

“I found her at the community garden. Her name is Rhubarb, by the way.”

He smiled. “Is she the lady you were bringing to the diner?”

“Gotcha. Would you mind giving her a checkup one of these days?”

“Of course. Bring her with you to the clinic first thing Monday morning.”

I threw him what I hoped was my most adorable look. “And perhaps she could stay at your place for a while?”

I might’ve been pushing my luck, but I was growing desperate. It was only a matter of time before Rhubarb’s barking would alert the neighbors about me secretly hiding a pet.

Lewis rubbed his unshaven jaw. “I don’t know. Archie’s used to being alone. He might act up with another dog there.”

“Isn’t there another solution we can think of? I’d hate to lose this place, but I don’t want to lose little Rhubarb either. She at least deserves a warm home.”

“Did you already put up posters? Her owner might be looking for her.”

I shrugged. “I don’t think she has one.”

“So, you haven’t even tried to find out if she does?”

He was making total sense, and I didn’t like it one bit. I preferred to believe she was wild and free, a gift to me from the dog gods.