One Direction star Payne, 19, was rumoured to have to gone out on two dates with Lewis, 27, and his recent compliments about her made the buzz stronger, reported Daily Mail online.
"I do have a crush on Leona, she's hot! I have met her. She's hot. I haven't eaten dinner with her though," Payne said on a radio show.
The One Direction member recently split from dancer Danielle Peazer. The couple were unable to spend enough time with each other and hence ended their two-year-old relationship.