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I struggled to deal hat she was saying, and I doubted I kept that struggle out of my expression "He’s such a bad boy," I squeaked out

She chuckled "No way"

"Butbut he’s so cocky and flirty" I trailed off, that uneasiness into make sense all of a sudden

"Well, he’s spent his formative years surrounded by eously with their wives Each one of theant, overconfident bugger" She grinned "But you won’t findto their wives" Her expression turned serious "We’ve all been through a lot As has Cole Like us, he knohat’s important And he’s been deeply influenced by the men in his life Cole’s never been a fan of casual With the exception of Jessica and probably soht stands, Cole has only ever been in relationships He’s looking for the right wolimmered with deep affection "He’s also one of the best men I’ve ever, ever, ever met I love him dearly, andI only want the very best for him," she concluded pointedly

I felt awful as soon as she finished speaking Absolutely, truly awful

"I don’t respect players like you I don’t like you I don’t trust you There’s nothing behind that char real to offer me or anyone who finds herself a victim of your flirtation The difference between theh to see you for what you really areNothing"

"Forget the hilariously randoy that didn’t even make a lot of sense but totally did anyway What the hell are you talking about?"

"Cole Bad boy"

"Right"

"What?"

"Nothing I’ll let you figure this one out on your own, you bloody nuht at theonatamount of kindness "Souilt in a large glass of red wine

CHAPTER 8

O nce when I was ten I had helpedher yearly spring clean and so the brunt of the clear-out

My granddad had books everywhere I re books that were piled rando him if they were to be thrown out His response was an immediate and very adamant no I made a face and asked him why since no one else had probably even heard of the books with their very boring covers Granddad had tutted at me and told me that inside the books were the best stories he’d ever read, and that I shouldn’t judge the

I hadn’t really understood at the ti e a book by its cover

An old cliché

A cliché it otten After Hannah’s revelations about Cole’s true character, I left his party quickly I barely slept that night¸ consu Cole on what happened to be bad ret and so a little like panic

The next day at work I didn’t knoas supposed to act around Cole It seemed it was back to business as usual for hireet me when I pushed open the front door of the studio

Si a little worse for wear as he took his coffee from me "Thank fk," he muttered "I started in on the whisky after five beers last night" He took a sip of his coffee and frowned at ed, already uncoave h I told him the truth "I think I may have ot anything to do with the cold war between you two?"

I nodded "And now I don’t kno to fix it"

"Why not start with just being nice to hi that change after being such a bitch, I looked down at aze I felt ashao about trying to make amends?

I contemplated my coffee "What does Cole drink?"

Siar"

"The coffee shop is right around the corner," I rinned "I’ll rateful one ofout to the coffee shop Not even five minutes later I was back in the studio As soon as I stepped inside with Cole’s cortado, Simon winked at me and left the reception for his workroom

I looked down at Cole’s coffee and felt the butterflies in ainst nerves, I threwin the doorway of Cole’s roo with one ankle resting on the opposite knee, his sketch pad on his lap, and his head bent, as he concentrated on what he was drawing

He was really handsome I knew this I’d known this fro was back--that feeling I’d had when I was fifteen years old and I was staring up into his green eyes in absolute delight That feeling you get when you realize so attractive to downright kick-you-in-the-gut good-looking

I’d learned a lot about Cole in the last few days

He was so daht of me out of the corner of his eye, Cole lifted his head in surprise

In response to his silent question I took two steps forward and thrust the coffee at hiesture was too sexy for words

My hand trembled

Cole watched the coffee cup shake with the tremor and reached out to take it from me

Once it was in his hand I backed out of the roo at ed breath, I inwardly beratedquite possibly the most uncool person to have ever worked in a tattoo studio

Not even ten ain because he had a customer I informed him of this with a waraze on my back as he followed me out into the reception area

I buried h of relief when he returned to his workroom