Echoes of Scotland Street (On Dublin Street 5)

I buried my head in my work, sighing a huge sigh of relief when he returned to his workroom.

An hour later, my mind still mostly on the recent turn of events, I was more than taken aback when the front doorbell rang, signaling a customer, only for me to look up and be faced with Cole’s recent ex, Jessica.

She strode to the desk with her usual exuberance. “Hi, Shannon. Is Cole free?”

Confused, I shook my head. “He’s got a client.”

“I’ll just wait.”

“Um . . . okay . . .”

She smiled and planted her bottom on one of the leather couches and made the impression of someone who was settling in.

Cole had broken up with her . . . right?

For the next forty minutes I attempted to put my head into my work, but every now and then my eyes would lift to check on whether the young blonde was still there.

She was.

As I studied her I decided she was definitely all wrong for Cole. Too young, too bubbly and in your face, and much, much too blond.

Not that I was biased or anything.

Hearing Cole’s voice approaching, I waited curiously to see how this scene would unfold. Appearing in the main studio, Cole was too busy discussing aftercare with his customer to notice Jessica in the waiting area. He brought the guy over to me and while I smiled, I subtly nodded in Jessica’s direction.

Cole flicked his eyes over and was about to return them to me before he did a double take. His eyebrows immediately drew together.

Handing Cole’s customer his card back, I bade him good-bye, as did Cole, and waited for the gentleman to leave.

“She’s been waiting for you for the past forty minutes,” I told him under my breath.

Cole appeared frustrated. Exhaling, he wandered over to her, not even halfway to reaching her before she jumped up off the couch and dashed toward him. She threw her arms around him like a little girl and Cole staggered back, immediately gripping her elbows to gently push her away. “Jessica, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“We need to talk,” she said, batting her pretty eyes at him.

She was good. I’d give her that.

Apparently not good enough. “Jessica, we said all we had to say.”

“But I miss you.” She went into instant begging mode that raised my hackles. “I can do better, I promise.”

It took everything within me not to scream, “Have some self-respect!”

I was beginning to think that maybe, perhaps, more than possibly, Jessica was indeed every bit the cling-on Cole had accused her of being.

“Jessica, you don’t have to do anything.” Cole continued being nice, which I thought was decent of him considering most guys would have bounced her arse out of the door by now. “We’re just not right for each other, sweetheart.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “We are. I love you.”

My mouth fell open.

Yup. Total cling-on.

A red warning sign began blinking in my mind’s eye.

Cole seemed as stunned as I felt. “Jessica . . .”

The urge to rescue him overtook me. “Cole,” I called out. “Simon needs you in the back.”

His startled gaze flew to mine, relief in them. “Right, of course.” He turned to Jessica. “Look, this is a really bad time. I’m sorry if you got the wrong impression, but we’re just not . . . going to happen.”

When she continued to stare at him incredulously, I found myself slinking out from behind the desk and hurrying over to the front entrance. The bells tinkled as I yanked it open, drawing Jessica’s attention.

She caught my look, and her jaw hardened at the silent point I was making. With an overdone sniffle she hurried out of the studio, clutching her bag to her chest as though we’d just killed her puppy and refused to apologize.

I shut the door behind her and mouthed, Wow, at Cole before heading back behind my desk.

Cole cautiously approached me, his expression filled with suspicion. I returned his stare with an innocent one of my own.

“Thank you,” he said with not a tiny amount of wariness.

“You’re welcome,” I said, my tone kind.

He blinked rapidly and it was clear his suspicion had only increased.

Cole stared at me for a few seconds longer, but I managed to maintain perfect politeness.

Backing away slowly, Cole held my stare, silently questioning me with every step he took. He turned around, but then just before he stepped into the hallway he looked back at me, confused.

I gave him nothing and he disappeared into the hall. I broke out into a massive, amused grin, a grin I quickly hid when Cole’s head popped back around the door. The hilarious sight of his seemingly floating head was made only more entertaining by the distrust in his narrowed eyes. Schooling my features into innocent politeness, I endured a short staring match with Cole’s head before he gave up.

His head disappeared and I began to shake with silent laughter.

*   *   *

“You’re freaking me out a little bit,” Cole said the next morning as he took the coffee I offered him.

Although I quite enjoyed the fact that I had him feeling off balance, I gave him the speech I’d prepared for the moment he called me out on my unusual behavior. “I’ve decided you’re right. I’m sick of acting like a brat. I’m sorry for what I said. I don’t know you. It was uncalled for and unprofessional of me.”

Cole didn’t even try to hide his surprise, and I liked that about him. I was beginning to realize that Cole was pretty transparent. He didn’t play games like most people. He wore his mood on his sleeve for everyone to see, and most of the time his thoughts were out there too. “Wow. Did not see that coming.”