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“What do you mean getting him to fall in love with me? Cole does not love me. I’m just a good time. A loose end from college he wants to tie up.” I move my hands to cup my face, concerned as to why she would say that.
Her laugh is light. “Oh sweet, sweet girl. That man loves you hard. You may be a good time”—she wags her brows suggestively—“but you’re someone he wants to spend the rest of his time with. As for the loose end, sure, he wants to knot it right up so you don’t go anywhere. He’s mad for you.”
I just eye her. The anguish slowly spreading through my body is hard to ignore.
“Now here is where I must be honest with you, dear.” Her expression goes serious. I’m not sure I want to hear this, but she carries on. “I knew you and Cole were a match right away. But your refusal to let me match you left me with no other choice but to try and throw you together.”
“What?” I stammer.
“But then, when he requested that you not work with him anymore, I knew something was happening,” she adds and I just stare at her.
“I’m not above being sneaky, dear. Not when love is at stake. So take this as you will, but Mina was never matched with Cole. And she knew she was not a match for Cole. They had just enough in common that she could fit nicely for him to be able to check his boxes. I had hope that as I pushed her on him, he would turn to you. And it seems to have worked.”
I shake my head in disbelief. I must look like a dying fish. My mouth opens then closes, trying to make sense of it all. Finally, I get out words.
“I don’t understand.” Is all I’ve got.
She sighs but smiles at me. “You’re Cole’s match. Mina was a decoy. She’s not interested in Cole and never was. She isn’t upset with finding you and Cole together. Though, I have to say, really, Layla? You know where the bedrooms are in my house, my goodness. If you’re going to participate in the horizontal tango, please use a room with a door. Preferably one that locks.”
“Oh my God.” I groan into my hands.
I honestly don’t know what to feel right now. Relief that I haven’t burned a bridge with a client. Or anger at my grandmother for playing Cole and me like fools, or just pure embarrassment. I’ll go with all three.
“I would have shared all of this with you and Cole yesterday had you graced us with your presence.” Her tone is icy.
On a normal day, I would feel absolutely horrible about attending to any kind of request from her. Heck, on a normal day, I would have never wanted to miss out on a chance to spend time with her. But right now, I’m gobsmacked and rightfully so.
“And Natalie? Was she part of the ploy?” I ask through my hands.
“Unfortunately, no, she was an innocent bystander. Hoosier Insider is working on a spread for the fall, of historic homes throughout the state. Mina wanted my home to be featured, so she was showing her the house. I wasn’t aware the two of you were still in the house when it was suggested that the tour happen right then.”
“It was horrible timing,” I mutter.
“I agree with you there, darling.” She hums.
I ponder this whole mess and realize that some of the details in my email to Mina are not as necessary as I originally thought. She may not have been actually dating Cole, but I still want to apologize for the scene we made. Even though quietly brushing it under the rug doesn’t sound like a horrible idea either.
“I take it you’ve talked to Natalie?” Ruth confirms.
“Cassie did yesterday. She’s not going to run anything about how the owner of Happily Ever After, Inc. likes to date clients behind everyone’s back.” I laugh but know it’s not even remotely funny.
“Layla.” She gasps.
“Sorry. If I can’t laugh at the situation, I’ll cry.”
“Have you spoken with Cole?” She eyes me as if she knows what I’m going to say.
“I have not.” I push some pens around on my desk. “I broke things off with him.”
Her thin, professionally shaped brow arches. “Oh, he didn’t mention it yesterday at brunch.”
I blow out air from my nose. “I think he is an optimist and refusing to think it’s actually over.”
“Darling, it’s not indeed over, right?” Gone is the strict, formal grandmother she always likes to pretend to be and in her place is the soft, nurturing grandma. Concern is etched over her face.
“We should have never gotten involved,” I tell her and it burns like hell.
“Poppycock. You two are soul mates.”
