When You Were Mine [Second Chances 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (6 page)

When Patty finished showing him the space, he said, “I’ll take it assuming the landlord guarantees the pot smell will be gone once the carpet is done.”

“He’s going to get the air ducts cleaned too. There are other professional offices close by and the smell bleeds over. From what he says, the dentist next door threw a fit because he was losing clients.”

“Yeah, I can totally see why. I don’t know if I’d trust a dentist that reeked of pot either,” Jamie laughed.

Patty giggled and then asked, “You sure you don’t wanna go look at the other ones?”

He shook his head and said, “The price is right, the space is perfect. I love the location. I’ve got a great feeling about this building.”

“Me too,” she said, grinning.

When he turned to look at her, she said, “It had everything that you wanted. I’ve got several other clients in the complex that I’ve placed. They’re all really happy with their spaces.”

“Let’s head back to your office and do the paperwork then.”

Forty minutes later, he was in Patty’s Culver City office, signing his name on the dotted line. He’d come prepared with checks, so less than an hour later, he had space rented.

“Well,” he said, as he took the keys from Patty. “I guess I need to go paint shopping.”

“I can already see you’ve got plans for the place,” Patty said with a grin. “Don’t get so wrapped up that you don’t get to know your neighbors. There’s a lot of opportunity there, I think.”

He nodded his head and said, “Definitely. I can give some sort of friendly neighbor discount.”

“Smart thinking,” Patty said. “I’m sorry to rush you out, but I’ve got a lunch meeting.”

Jamie smirked and said, “Donnie?”

Patty flushed slightly and said, “Maybe…”

“Well, I’ll let you get to that. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

“Same goes, buddy.”

He gave her a quick salute and then walked out of the office and back through the main lobby. Keys in hand, he mentally went over the list of things he had wanted to accomplish today. Paint, furniture, cleaning supplies.

The first stop he made was through a drive-thru. He’d woken up late and skipped breakfast this morning. As he navigated through traffic back toward his new office, he ate and tried to figure out where the closest home improvement store was.

A few hours later, he drove back to his office, his car loaded with paint supplies. He had already spoken to the landlord, who was excited to get a legitimate business in the unit. He would paint tomorrow and Thursday, then the landlord would come in over the weekend and have the carpet replaced.

He’d have to edge up the paint when he was through but the landlord had been in full support of getting rid of the mint green. So much so that he was willing to knock some money off next month’s rent in order to make it happen.

When he pulled into the parking lot with his cans of paint and roller brushes, he dialed Evan. After a few rings, he picked up and Jamie said, “Remember how I helped you paint your store? Four coats of cream colored paint to cover that awful, awful blue? It’s payback time, buddy.”

“Oh Christ, what color is it?” Evan muttered over the line.

“Mint green. It’s awful. Not as bad as the blue though.”

“Well,” Evan said. “I guess that means you found a place?”

“I did. It’s in Los Feliz, off Hillhurst,” Jamie said.

There was a pause in conversation. A moment later Evan asked, “The big complex near the organic market?”

“You know it?” Jamie asked.

“Yep. I helped Cora paint her office. I’m pretty sure you’re in the same office complex as her,” Evan said as he chuckled.

Jamie squeezed his eyes closed and leaned his head on the steering wheel. That was why Patty had been acting so strangely this morning. God dammit.

“Shit,” he said, completely inelegantly. “Tell me you’re lying, Ev.”

Evan laughed again and said, “Wish I could.”

“Fucking Patty. Why would she do that? Go out of her way to make shit even more awkward? Cora is gonna think I’m stalking her. Clearly, I have to tell her, right? Before someone else does?”

“Hell yeah, you do. This makes you look creepy,”

“Fucking Patty,” he said again, his voice laced with frustration.

“So, mint green, huh?”

“Yeah. Really mint green. And fair warning, they’re tearing out the carpet to replace it. The last people in here were some medicinal marijuana folks and apparently they also used it for recreational purposes because it reeks.”

“No need for beer, then. We can just have pizza and get a contact high,” Evan joked. “When do you need me?”

“Tomorrow,” Jamie said. “Maybe Thursday evening too. You free?”

“Both days are fine. Taryn will be happy to get me out of her hair. Can I bring CJ with me or will my kid seriously go home with a buzz?” Evan asked.

“I think it’s safe. It just stinks like shitty incense and pot. I don’t think anyone will actually get a contact high,” Jamie assured him.

“I’ll be over around six tomorrow, then. I’ll bring CJ. We can con him into painting baseboards.”

“I like the way you think, Ev. I’m gonna go text Cora now. Talk to you soon.” Jamie gathered the paint cans and supplies, then moved toward the entrance. As he walked through the main lobby he thought about how he was going to tell Cora. Even more, he thought about the conversation he was going to have with Patty.

He hit the button and waited. When the elevator doors slid open, he was facing one highly surprised Cora. Shit, he thought. This had not gone according to plan.

“Jamie?”

He winced, felt the flush creep up his neck and then said, “So you’re never going to believe this incredibly awkward coincidence.”

A cautious look in her eye, she stepped out of the elevator, took in his painting supplies and said, “Try me.”

“Patty. She rented me a vacant office on the second floor. I didn’t realize you were here until I called Evan to ask about painting. This isn’t nearly as stalker-ish as it seems. I swear to god.”

Cora considered him for a moment and then said, “It’s entirely plausible.”

Jamie made a move to lift a hand, paint can and all, and said, “Scouts honor. My decision to rent an office here has nothing to do with you. I was going to drop these off and then text you to warn you. When I talked to Evan about painting, he figured it out. I love ‘em, but my family can sometimes be a real pain in the ass.”

“Agreed,” she responded. “But...you weren’t a boy scout, were you?”

“Nope. I still had no idea, though. I’m sorry.”

“This has Patty written all over it, Jamie. It’s fine,” Cora said, letting him off the hook.

He gave a small sigh of relief, then asked, “Wanna come take a look? Keep in mind, I’m doing some redecorating.”

Cora looked down at her watch and said, “Sure. Let me go drop off this package and I’ll be right back.”

Jamie leaned against the bank of elevators, paint bucket and supplies in hand, as he waited for Cora to finish in the mailroom. He shook his head again, still unable to believe Patty. He really couldn’t wait to have a conversation with her. At least Cora hadn’t freaked out on him.

When he saw her approaching, he pressed the button for the elevator again. After she stepped inside, he moved into the space with her.

As he hit the second floor, she said, “Oh! I bet you’re in the office where the holistic doctor was.”

“Yeah, the landlord said it was a doctor’s office that left,” Jamie said, a smile pulling at his lips.

He walked down the hallway, and stopped in front of his new office. He set the paint bucket down and dug for his keys. When he unlocked the door, a waft of stale incense and pot met them.

Cora did a slow turn as they stepped inside, then she wrinkled her nose and said, “Seems like maybe they were more into herbal healing. Unless you’ve picked up a new hobby that I don’t know about?”

She turned to face him, her laughter echoing in the empty space around them. In that moment, her hair draped over her shoulder, eyes shining, all traces of sadness were gone. She was absolutely stunning.

He itched to pull her to him, bury his hands in her hair, and press his mouth against hers. He suspected that wouldn’t go over well, so instead, he buried his hands in his pocket and grinned.

After a pause, he said, “That hasn’t been my thing since college. Nothing to disclose, Dr. Blanchard. What about you?”

“Never tried it. Apparently all I needed to do was come down the hall,” she said with a snort as she wandered into the conference room.

“Yeah. The landlord is tearing out the carpet over the weekend and putting in hardwood. That’ll probably get rid of the smell. Plus, I’m going to air it out in here when I paint,” he said.

“Oh, don’t tell me you’re replacing this beautiful green paint,” Cora said, a smirk pulling at her lips.

His face deadpan, he said, “Don’t worry. Just retouching it.”

Her eyes widened as she said, “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“Completely kidding,” he said with a grin. He reached into his back pocket and grabbed the paint sample out, holding it up for her inspection.

Cora visibly relaxed and said, “Warm beige. I can see that. And you said you found cherrywood furniture?”

“I may go with something lighter. I haven’t entirely decided.”

“Hardwood? Nice. By the way, in light of recent events, did you just want to order in lunch tomorrow? That way you can get started early tomorrow.”

“Would you mind?” he asked. Cora had always been thoughtful. It was one of the things that he had liked so much about her. She thought about other people in a way that most people didn’t.

“It was my idea, Jamie,” she said, drily. “I remember how exciting putting together my office was.”

“What time did you want to plan for? I’ll call in the order.”

He watched her glance down at her watch, saw her eyes widen and heard her mutter, “Crap, crap, crap. I’m gonna be late. I’ll check my schedule and text you later. Congrats on the new office!”

Before he could speak, she gave him a quick hug and scurried out of the office past him.

“Bye,” he said to her retreating figure.

He heard her disembodied farewell as she stepped into the hallway.

Pulling out his phone, he immediately dialed Patty.

On the fourth ring it went to voice mail.

“Are you freaking serious, Patty? You didn’t think it would be weird if I just moved my office in to the same building she works in? Did you not think that was pertinent to mention to me before I signed the papers? Not cool.”

He hung up the phone, sighed, then shoved the phone back into his pocket.

It took another trip to get the remaining painting and cleaning supplies out of the car, but it would be more than worth it to see the end of the filth and green paint. He moved to the window in his office and cracked it to get some fresh air inside, then settled in to work.

By the time it got dark, the office smelled a whole hell of a lot better and he had managed to clean the kitchenette and the bathroom. He shuddered to think about what he’d found in the back of the produce drawer of the refrigerator.

As he headed to his car, his cell phone rang. He considered ignoring it, but checked the caller ID anyway. Patty.

On the third ring, he said, “Just who I wanted to talk to.”

“How’s the new place working out?”

“Had a totally awkward run-in with Cora. Thanks for giving me the heads up. Seriously, Patty? Please don’t meddle.”

He heard a deep sigh and then, “Jamie, I saw the way you were looking at her the other night. Maybe putting yourself in her way more often will help. I know you wouldn’t have gone for it if I’d told you, so I didn’t. I’m sorry you had an awkward run-in, but I’m sure you pinned it all on me.”

“Yes, I did pin it on you. Totally your idea. That was so embarrassing, Patty. She probably thought I was freaking stalking her.”

“My ass, Jamie. She looked at you the exact same way you looked at her. I did it for both of you. You’re welcome.”

Jamie paused, sighed, then said, “Thank you. But seriously. No more meddling, please. If it’s going to work out, we’re going to have to work it out on our own.”

“So you’re liking the new place?”

“Loving it. I opened the windows all afternoon and the smell is almost gone. I think tearing out the carpet will work out just fine. I talked to my new neighbor, the dentist. He’s excited that I won’t be doing any drugs in my unit. I told him he had low expectations.”

Patty snickered. Then, after a pause, said, “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. I didn’t think it would be that bad. I can call her and apologize if you want.”

“It’s fine. She didn’t seem too freaked out after I explained. Listen, I’m wiped. I’m gonna let you go. Thanks for your help today.”

“No problem. Love you.”

Jamie grumbled, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Love you too, Patty. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Apparently he hadn’t been that subtle, he realized. He would really need to adjust to the idea of being just friends with Cora. As much as that pained him.