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“I know. That’s why I went to talk to Addy, and you know what? Justin’s publicist shared the news with the world hours before it accidentally slipped out of my mouth. So, yeah, I shouldn’t have done that, but the news spreading wasn’t technically my fault.”

“Oh.”

“Yes,oh.”

A lady with a dog in her arms approached our table, putting down a stack of dollar bills. Olive took one of her card decks and started doing her magic while I was left feeling as confused as a cat in a dog costume.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Olive

Why did Lewis have to show up at my table dressed in a suit that made him look smoking hot? Someone needed to crack open a window already, or I’d faint.

I tried to concentrate on the tarot card reading I was doing for Elena and her dog Fluffer, but with Lewis glancing at me the whole time, it proved difficult. I’m sure he thought I didn’t notice. Think again, Doctor Grant.

Part of me wanted to grab him by his tie and kiss him, and part of me wanted to slap him in the face. The past week had been one awkward ordeal. I had tried to avoid him as much as possible while he tried to talk to me. What about? I had no clue. He’d made it very clear that he doubted my professional abilities, and that he only wanted to date me if I didn’t work at Pine Paw Prints.

Elena and Fluffer left after their session, leaving Lewis and me alone again. The community center was starting to fill up with enthusiastic people who all wanted to partake in the activities, and Milly opened the silent auction.

I did my best to look straight ahead so I didn’t have to make eye contact with Lewis. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him loosening his tie a bit. Now, I definitely wouldn’t be able to look at his sexy appearance without fanning myself. Ugh.

“How long are you going to stay mad at me for?” he asked while scooting his chair closer.

I shrugged. “I’m not mad. I’m disappointed.”

He let out a puff of air. “Fine. I see what you’re doing.”

I swiveled my head toward him, looking straight into his dreamy eyes. “What do you mean?”

“You’re trying to make me pay for what I did and said, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

What a lie. I just wanted him to feel as bad as he had made me feel the last time we were here at the community center.

“Lewis,” a girl shouted excitedly, marking the end of our conversation.

I rolled my eyes. I’d recognize that cackle anywhere.

“Oh, hi, Melissa,” Lewis said.

I busied myself lining up my cards so I wouldn’t have to talk to her. That didn’t mean I couldn’t eavesdrop on their conversation, though.

“I just wanted to let you know I made a generous bid to win a date with you. I’m one hundred percent certain I’ll be the highest bidder. Have you thought about where you want to take me?”

My eyes rolled as if it were an automatic reaction to hearing Melissa talk. “Someone else might win, you know,” I muttered under my breath.

“Excuse me, did you say something?” she asked.

“It’s not important.”

She put her hand on her hip and leveled me with a stare. “If you have something to say, you can say it to my face.”

I held my hands up. “I just said someone else might win. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch and all that.”

“Do I sense some jealousy here?” she asked with a laugh.

Lewis fiddled with his tie again. “Ladies, there’s no need to start bickering.”