Cole & Jamie

Chapter 3

Cole held Destiny's body so her head didn't hit the floor. I settled down on the floor next to them, placing a gentle hand on her neck. Her pulse was steady so she wasn't dying. I couldn't say the same for Melody though. She stood on the other side of the room looking like she was a few seconds from hitting the floor herself.

"Melody, what happened?" I asked hoping if I could get her talking that I wouldn't have two employees on the ground.

With a ragged breath, she launched into a long-winded explanation. "We were working on the new sandal display when she spotted him across the room. She whispered to me that she thought it was Cole Walters. I told her it couldn't be because you said he wasn't coming here. And it didn't even look like him with his hat on, but then he came up to us and asked where you were and it was him! It all happened so fast, we were standing there and then the next thing I know she was on the ground."

Not my fault, my ass. 

I sighed. Okay, so she just went into shock. I could handle shock, but concussions and brain injuries were way above my level of expertise. "Melody go grab an ice pack and a bottle of water out of my office, please."I turned to Cole. "Help me take her into the dressing room."

"Yes, Ma'am," they answered at once. 

Melody disappeared into the back to grab the supplies while I directed Cole into the dressing rooms. I caught a glimpse of us in one of the small mirrors--what a shit show.

"You make a habit of making girls faint?"

He rested Destiny on the small bench, so her head laid in my lap. I brushed her long braids back from her face. She was going to be so embarrassed when she woke up.

"Would you believe me if I said this was the first time?" He stepped back shoving his hands in his pockets.

"Not even a little bit." Cole has always been handsome, to me at least, but age and money have really taken that to a whole new level. His tall frame was now wrapped with an impressive layer of lean muscle. While his carefully trimmed facial hair added a layer of softness to his otherwise sharp facial features. And his eyes, those were the same, soft, honest, greener than they had the right to be. The combination of all those things were enough to make my own palms sweat.

I placed a hand on Destiny's forehead. Where was Melody with that ice pack? "What brings you in today? A sparkly crop top. Or maybe a mini skirt."

"It may be hard to believe but I'm more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy," he replied, fixing the brim of his baseball cap.

"Nothing about that surprises me." I eyed his simple black t-shirt and dark wash blue jeans. To someone who didn't know better, they would think it's your standard Express/ J.Crew combo, but I know quality when I see it and Cole's simple jeans and t-shirt screamed luxury. He could pretend like he was simple but his t-shirt probably cost over five hundred dollars and I don't even want to know how much the watch on his wrist cost.

"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by and see the place for myself. See if it lives up to all the rave reviews."

"Well, do we live up to the hype?" I asked as if I don't monitor our reviews closely. 

"Surpasses it," he compliments. "This is amazing, Jamie."

His compliment sends a warmth through my chest. I don't cry but the pressure behind my eyes is there as I blink the tears away. "Thank you. I'm glad you like it." Cole's opinion shouldn't mean much to me, but somehow hearing his praise feels better than reading any five star review.

Melody finally reappeared with the ice pack and a frosty bottle of water. "Here you go."

"Thanks." I placed the towel wrapped compress to the back of Destiny's neck. I felt the back of her head for any strange lumps, there were none, Cole must have caught her before she could hit the floor. "She'll be fine. She just went into shock."