Oh, heck no.

I knew from Rae that Jessica hadn’t let up on Cole. She’d turned up at his flat last Thursday, and while I was with him on Friday night at the bar she had texted him a dozen or so times. Even if Rae hadn’t told me, I could see for myself that Jessica’s behavior was really starting to stress Cole out.

I’d heard of girls like her, girls who just couldn’t take no for an answer, but I’d never met one in real life. She was beginning to piss me off. Cole had had to deal with my craziness when I first arrived here only for Jessica to jump on the crazy train when I jumped off.

Well, I thought determinedly, I can make up for my craziness by getting rid of Jessica once and for all.

Utilizing my often-underused, rapid-fire typing skills, I logged on to the Internet and looked up the info I thought might be useful in taking her down. Once I had it I glanced up to see the crazy girl had decided she was coming into the studio.

I immediately hopped off my chair and hurried across the studio to Cole, hearing the bells over the door jingle just as I reached him. I practically elbowed his customer out of the way and hissed, “Everything I do next, just go with it.”

His eyebrows had just begun to rise in surprise when I lunged at him, causing his whole face to slacken with shock. On tiptoes, and having to crush my chest against him to reach him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and yanked his head down. My mouth hit his and for a few seconds he tensed in my grasp.

I pressed my lips harder against his, my legs trembling as I had to stay on tiptoe to reach his mouth.

Just like that, Cole relaxed into me, his hands coming to a gentle rest on my hips, his mouth now moving against mine.

Oh boy.

He had good lips.

Good, good lips.

And he smelled wonderful.

I had no idea a kiss without tongue could still curl your toes.

Um . . . Shannon . . .

Forcing myself to remember why I was doing this, I pulled back from him and stumbled a little as I dropped my arms and returned my feet flat to the floor.

Cole’s fingers pressed into my hips as he steadied me. “What—”

“Jessica,” I whispered. “Smile, like we’re together.”

“Excuse me,” the bewildered customer said in annoyance behind me, but he was cut off by a screeched “What the hell is going on?”

I turned around and Cole’s hands dropped from my hips. Jessica was standing by the reception desk, eyes round with horror.

“Jessica,” Cole began impatiently, but I cut him off.

“Stop stalking my boyfriend,” I said with as much menace as I could muster. I didn’t really do menacing, but I think I pulled off angry redhead well enough.

Cole grew still at my back.

Jessica, however, gasped, her hurt gaze flying to him. “Boyfriend? But . . .”

I’d so lost my patience with her crap. “How many times do you have to be told that it’s over?” I took a few steps toward her, but she didn’t back away from me like I’d hoped. “Or is this your game? You think you can bug the crap out of a guy until he gives in just to get you to stop? Well, not my guy.”

She made a huff of disbelief. “I don’t—”

“I’m not finished,” I snapped.

Her mouth clamped shut and that hurt puppy dog look was back.

My expression turned mean with calculation. “I take it you’re counting on graduating from Edinburgh College of Art?”

Confused, she nodded.

“I happen to be Professor Kris Lowery’s goddaughter. You’ll have heard of Kris, right, seeing as she’s the principal of the college?”

Jessica’s whole demeanor changed. Now she took a wary step backward.

“See, I don’t know if you’re stupid, selfish, or crazy, but I do know that harassment is beyond stressful, horrible, and downright criminal. I also know for a fact that Kris will not be happy to hear that one of her students has a report filed against her with the police for harassment. In fact, I’m thinking Kris will not like that at all.”

Jessica’s anxious gaze drifted over my head to Cole and then back to me.

I sighed, pouring every ounce of pissed-off impatience into the effect. “That look in your eyes tells me at least you’re not stupid. Just selfish, then.”

“I really like him.” She shrugged pathetically.

“Well, he’s a little preoccupied liking me, so from now on don’t call, don’t write, don’t turn up at his home, his work, or try to contact him in any way, because I’m a jealous girlfriend with a very doting godmother who will do just about anything for me. Understood?”

Flushing, Jessica nodded quickly.

“That’s your cue to leave.”

It was almost tragically comical how fast she flew out of the studio, slipping on the marble floor tiles. She had to grab on to the door to right herself, before yanking it open and fleeing the building. If she hadn’t put Cole through the ringer these last few weeks, I would almost have felt sorry for her.

I turned to face my boss and laughed at the twin looks of shock on his and his customer’s faces. “You’re welcome.”

“Is it always like this in here?” the customer said to Cole.

Eyes still on me Cole nodded. “Lately it feels like it.”

*   *   *

The customer left fifteen minutes later (after having booked an appointment, so we couldn’t have scared him too badly), and Cole waited until the door closed behind him before turning the full force of his inquisitive green gaze on me. “Thank you, Shannon.”

There was a question in there somewhere, but there was also warmth that pleased me beyond measure. “You’re very welcome.”

“Professor Kris Lowery? You knew that how?”

“I looked her up. Good bluff, though, eh?”

“Fantastic,” he agreed. “But why?”

“Her constant harassment was stressing you out. I felt bad for you.”

Cole leaned on the counter, creating a deeper intimacy in our proximity and thus our conversation. “About that kiss . . .”

Not wanting him to think I was expecting anything, I hurried to reassure him. “I was just trying to help you out. I don’t have a lot of friends here, Cole, and apparently you’re a good one to have. I was trying to help out a potential friend.”

His smile was kind, but there was something troubled in his eyes. “I can be your friend, Shannon. I know when you first came here I was too forward with you, with the flirting and what have you, but that was then. It won’t happen again.”

“It won’t?” I blurted out before I could control myself.

“I find you attractive,” he said carefully. “I think we both know that, but you and me . . . we’re different. We’re better as friends.”

I knew I should accept his words and move on, but I was feeling a little put out. “Different?”

“We didn’t get off to the best start because of that difference . . .”

It dawned on me what he was talking about. “Me being overly judgmental.” I deflated when I saw on his face that I’d grasped what he was trying to say.

Cole grimaced. “I don’t operate like that, and being in a relationship with someone who does would drive me nuts, and as gorgeous as you are, I don’t do casual. So friends it is.”

To my horror and surprise I felt more than a little winded by his declaration. I wanted to tell him that he’d gotten me wrong, that I had a reason for the way I treated him and that I wasn’t usually like that. However, the words got stuck in my throat when my pride kicked in.

I was not going to beg for his attention like Jessica had done.

Instead I gave him a nod of agreement. “Sure. Friends.”

“Great.” He gave me that boyish grin again, and it made my stomach twist with lust and regret. “In fact, we have the same days off, so we should do something sometime.”

“Sure,” I repeated, not actually sure I meant it at all. Did I really want to spend time with Cole outside of work when he didn’t know who I really was?