‘You think?’ Christ, what a mess. He’d worked in the bar, hell, worked for Bill for ten years, so he’d taken the whole thing on trust. Because you’re an idiot.
After ending the call to his brother, Luke stared out of the window and over to Mia’s. To think, ten minutes ago all he’d had to worry about was trying to get her to message him back.
Now he wasn’t sure how much longer he’d be able to live in his flat. And his dreams of owning something, being someone, seemed as far away as ever.
Chapter Seven
Mia discovered that instead of making her own coffee in the morning, she could buy it from the café downstairs. Of course it meant she had to get dressed, but that was a good discipline and the coffee was worth the effort.
As a bonus, the lady who ran the café was a real hoot.
Naomi, part Caribbean, part Mancunian, part who the Lord knows? – her words – greeted Mia with her signature beaming grin. ‘It’s my favourite green elf.’
‘How many five-foot-two elves do you know?’
Naomi winked. ‘Not as many as I’d like to. Come for your latte?’
‘Yes please.’ She looked around at the empty tables. ‘You’re quiet this morning. What have you done with everyone?’
Naomi chuckled. ‘Have you looked at the time, lady? You’re running early. It’s only five past nine. You’re my first customer.’
Mia stared at the clock on the wall. Wow. Clearly worry, in this case about whether she was being rude, or just plain dumb to ignore Luke’s messages in the window, upset her body clock. If she carried on like this she might actually be at her desk before Immaculate Woman.
‘You all right love?
Mia shook herself. ‘Sorry, yes. Just stuff on my mind.’
Naomi gave her a knowing smile. ‘Boy stuff.’ When Mia opened her mouth to object, she flapped a hand at her. ‘Don’t you go pretending otherwise. I know the look on a woman’s face when she’s thinking about a man.’ She placed a lid over the takeout cup and handed it to Mia. ‘If you tell me the problem, I might be able to help, on account of this.’ She tugged at a strand of silver hair. ‘The grey represents years of experience on the subject. And the wrinkles. Lord, I swear, men are not good for the complexion.’
Naomi had told Mia, on their first meeting, she was sixty-two, yet she looked at least ten years younger. Accepting the coffee, Mia decided she needed a dose of that wisdom. ‘Okay, if you’d met a guy who was really … well, hot, but also funny, you know? And easy to talk to. If you’d met him and liked him, but then found out he was a total player so you turned down his offer to meet up.’ She paused to take in a breath. ‘If he then put some messages in his window that he knew you’d be able to see, what would you do?’
Naomi’s dark brows shot upwards. ‘Heavens to Betsy, this sounds like the plot of a book. What did the notes say?’
‘Nothing really, just greetings. Hi, goodnight.’
The older woman sighed. ‘Damn girl, that’s sweet.’
Mia’s shoulders slumped. ‘It is, isn’t it?’ She sighed, twisting the coffee round in her hands. ‘I haven’t replied. Is that mean?’
‘You said you liked him?’
Mia thought back to that first conversation in the bar, how effortless it had been to banter back and forth with him. ‘Yes.’ But Tanya, Chloe, Helen. ‘I don’t want to date him though. I’ve trusted too easily in the past and been badly let down. The next man I date has to be a good one. This guy, with his sweet talk and easy smile, is more good-time-only.’
Naomi’s deep brown eyes were full of sympathy. ‘Sounds like you’d better steer well clear then, love. Ignore the notes and wait for the right one to come along.’
‘That’s what I thought.’ So why did she feel so disappointed?
‘How’s that neighbour of yours?’
‘Stan’s good. How did you know we were neighbours?’
‘Ah, nothing gets past old Naomi. Of course, it may have helped that he told me he had a new neighbour with green hair.’ She chuckled. ‘He wasn’t quite sure what to make of you at first. A bit of a traditionalist, our Stan, though he’s a sweetheart beneath the bluster. And the bone dry humour.’
Mia eyed Naomi speculatively. ‘Is he a regular here?’
‘He comes from time to time.’ She nodded towards the highly calorific cakes and buns. ‘Can’t resist a custard donut. Tell him I’ve got some in especially for him.’
Mia had a feeling Stan was more than just a customer to Naomi. ‘I will.’ She took a sip of the coffee, savouring the flavour. ‘Well, I guess I’d better get some work done. Thanks for the coffee.’ She smiled. ‘And for the advice.’
‘Anytime time, love. I’m here for both.’ She chuckled. ‘And I only charge for the coffee.’
Laughing, Mia opened the door. And almost careered into the next customer.
Tall, built like a brick wall.
Smelling like shower gel, citrus and man.
‘Hey.’
Her heart bounced. She’d know the voice anywhere. Deep, low and smooth with a soft Manchester accent. ‘Hi.’ Feeling awkward, she glanced down at her take-out cup. ‘Just getting my caffeine fix.’
‘Me too.’ He smiled, dimples flashing either side of his mouth. But then a guard came down over his face. ‘Err, do you have a minute?’
‘Yes, sure. I should be working though, so…’
‘It won’t take long.’ He glanced back to the bar, but then seemed to change his mind about asking her over. Instead he took a step back and shoved his hands into his pockets. It was a restless, awkward gesture for a man Mia had only seen as relaxed and confident. ‘I just wanted to apologise.’
Mia frowned. ‘For?’
His eyes met hers. She’d seen them glint with humour, blaze with confidence. Now they seemed unsure. ‘The notes to you in my window. I thought I was being … hell, I don’t know, cute I guess.’ He gave her an embarrassed look. ‘That sounds cocky, but what I’m trying to say is I didn’t mean any harm by them. Quite the opposite.’ His huge shoulders lifted and fell as he sighed. ‘It was pointed out to me last night that rather than being charming, I was in fact coming across as a total creeper.’ A shudder ran through him. ‘Christ, the thought that I might have upset you—’
‘You didn’t.’
He stilled, those brilliant green eyes searching hers. ‘No?’
‘Definitely not.’
He exhaled a long, deep breath. ‘Okay. Good.’
Quiet descended and Mia struggled with how to fill it. She felt awful knowing her lack of response had made him think she’d been offended by his messages. Before she could say anything though, he was speaking again.
‘I’d better let you get back to work.’ He glanced into the coffee shop and gave Naomi a wave.
‘I don’t usually see you up and about so early.’ Not before 10 a.m. Mia cringed, wondering how much she’d given away. Here he was, apologising for acting like a creeper with his notes, when she was the one who couldn’t stop staring into his spare room every morning.