Not Quite Over You
Page 27
Jasper had modified his invitation to coffee, changing the location to his place. She’d accepted and within a month, they’d been lovers.
That had been nearly two years ago. People had started noticing them hanging out at tournament night at The Boardroom bar and eventually word of their relationship had gotten out. Wynn had been fine with that, but had insisted Hunter wasn’t to know about them.
Last summer, Hunter had shown up on Jasper’s doorstep. He’d found out about Jasper’s relationship with his mom and wanted to meet him. The two of them had started talking. Talking had turned into hiking together. Jasper hadn’t liked going behind Wynn’s back, but Hunter had pleaded with him to keep things quiet. If Wynn found out, she would end things. Which now left Jasper lying to the woman he was sleeping with.
Or we could go fishing, Hunter texted.
Jasper exhaled. He didn’t like lying to Wynn and he wondered what it said about their relationship that he was willing to keep secrets from her about her kid. He supposed it said just as much that after all this time, she didn’t want Hunter to know they were... What? Involved? Dating? An item?
He couldn’t define what they had and he had no idea where it was going. Currently, nowhere, and while he was fine with that, a disquieting voice in his head whispered he should want more.
Not possible, he told himself. When he’d left the army, he’d had a hell of a time adjusting to civilian life. He hadn’t been physically injured, but the PTSD had nearly done him in. Prescription medication, therapy and strong-willed determination had done shit to make him better. In the end, one of the therapists had admitted Jasper might never be whole. His last-ditch attempt to find his way back to something that could pass for normal had been to write about his experiences.
He’d started writing literally day and night. His incoherent ramblings had started to become a story. A different therapist had signed him up for a writing class. Jasper had figured out he might have a novel buried in his hundreds of pages and had slowly begun to put it together. He’d met his agent Hank at a conference and the rest, as they say, was history. He’d settled in Happily Inc, had bought this place and made a home of sorts. As for what he had with Wynn...
Hello?
Hell. Jasper texted back.
Let’s go hiking. At some point we’re going to have to tell your mom.
No way. She’ll ruin it. She’s weird about guys in my life. Something to do with my dad, but she never talks about him. Gotta run. C U Saturday.
See you.
Jasper tucked his phone back in his pocket and picked up his coffee. Only the cup was cold and the view wasn’t as relaxing as it had been before he’d heard from Hunter.
CHAPTER EIGHT
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS LATER, Silver was still feeling the aftereffects of her night with Drew. She didn’t want to—knowing Drew was the best sex of her life was hardly comforting—but she couldn’t help it. Facts were facts. There was something about that man and her body. They got along really well.
She’d already been to the drugstore to buy a morning-after pill. Although he’d worn a condom, she wasn’t taking any chances. Right after that, she’d made an appointment with her doctor to get back on birth control. Not that she was assuming there would be a second, um, event, but she would be foolish not to protect herself.
She poured the big batch of bacon jalapeño mac and cheese she’d made into a large bowl, then covered it with foil. The walk to the gallery would only take a couple of minutes, so her dish should still be plenty warm when she arrived.
She tucked her keys in her jeans pocket, then packed the bowl in an insulated tote and went downstairs.
Walter’s team had already started work on her retail space. Her tables and chairs, along with the large photographs and drink setups, were in storage. The walls had been soundproofed with some kind of siding and there were four shiny stripper poles in place. Silver had to admit they were growing on her. She’d read that stripper poles were a popular item at bachelorette parties. The ladies could get their groove on and learn something they could use later in the privacy of their bedrooms. Although she wasn’t exactly sure how a stripper pole move translated to non-stripper-pole life. Hmm, she might have to check that out.
She returned her attention to her retail space. The walls would be painted this week, after the new flooring was finished. The lighting had been upgraded. While she hated to think about how much this remodeling job was costing, she had to admit the end result was going to be fantastic. Walter and his team did good work. In a few days she would get to see the larger trailer and that would be the most exciting reveal of all.
She was still smiling at the thought as she headed for the Willow Gallery.
The gallery was next to the river and Happily Inc’s river walk. More than a tourist attraction, Willow Gallery boasted a worldwide clientele, due to the exclusive nature of its collections, including the works of brothers Ronan, Nick and Mathias Mitchell.
Natalie, Ronan’s fiancée and a budding artist herself, had started at the gallery as a part-time office manager. In the past few months, her art had taken off and she was in the process of transitioning from part-time employee to full-time artist. Natalie hosted the girlfriend lunches when the gallery was closed. Silver had to admit there was something really cool about dining al fresco with zebras and giraffes one week, and surrounded by incredible art the next. It kind of made going to her place or even Weddings Out of the Box seem ho-hum.
She went around to the back entrance of the gallery and let herself in.
“It’s me,” she called as she walked past the offices and into the main gallery, where Natalie had set up a long table and chairs.
“Hi, you.” Natalie, a pretty, curvy brunette, greeted her with a hug and peered inside the tote. “What did you bring?”
“Mac and cheese.”
“You are the devil.”
“I know. I can’t help it.” Silver carried the tote to the small table where Natalie had put out several quiches. “What happens when you don’t work here anymore? Are we going to have to find somewhere else for our lunches?”
Natalie grinned. “I’m engaged to Ronan and he’s Atsuko’s most successful artist. I’m pretty sure even if she would say no to me, she wouldn’t say no to him.”
Carol walked out of the kitchenette in the back with a tray of plastic glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. “Atsuko would never say no to you, Natalie. You’re like a daughter to her. Hi, Silver. I’m in the middle of a big carb craving. Please tell me you brought something decadent.”
“Mac and cheese with jalapeños and bacon.”
“I love you so much.”
“Good. I was worried.”
They all laughed.
Wynn arrived next. She brought a green salad, which had everyone groaning.
“We’ve got to eat at least one vegetable a week,” Wynn said. “I worry about us.”
“It’s just plain mean,” Carol complained. “I eat healthy every other meal. I look forward to hanging out with my friends and being bad. It’s not like I’m drinking wine or anything.”
Silver put her arm around her friend. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “You don’t have to eat the salad. I’m sure someone brought dessert.” She looked over Carol’s shoulder and mouthed hormones.
The four of them talked for several minutes before Natalie glanced at her watch. “Should I call the others? They all said they were coming, but do you think they forgot?”
That had been nearly two years ago. People had started noticing them hanging out at tournament night at The Boardroom bar and eventually word of their relationship had gotten out. Wynn had been fine with that, but had insisted Hunter wasn’t to know about them.
Last summer, Hunter had shown up on Jasper’s doorstep. He’d found out about Jasper’s relationship with his mom and wanted to meet him. The two of them had started talking. Talking had turned into hiking together. Jasper hadn’t liked going behind Wynn’s back, but Hunter had pleaded with him to keep things quiet. If Wynn found out, she would end things. Which now left Jasper lying to the woman he was sleeping with.
Or we could go fishing, Hunter texted.
Jasper exhaled. He didn’t like lying to Wynn and he wondered what it said about their relationship that he was willing to keep secrets from her about her kid. He supposed it said just as much that after all this time, she didn’t want Hunter to know they were... What? Involved? Dating? An item?
He couldn’t define what they had and he had no idea where it was going. Currently, nowhere, and while he was fine with that, a disquieting voice in his head whispered he should want more.
Not possible, he told himself. When he’d left the army, he’d had a hell of a time adjusting to civilian life. He hadn’t been physically injured, but the PTSD had nearly done him in. Prescription medication, therapy and strong-willed determination had done shit to make him better. In the end, one of the therapists had admitted Jasper might never be whole. His last-ditch attempt to find his way back to something that could pass for normal had been to write about his experiences.
He’d started writing literally day and night. His incoherent ramblings had started to become a story. A different therapist had signed him up for a writing class. Jasper had figured out he might have a novel buried in his hundreds of pages and had slowly begun to put it together. He’d met his agent Hank at a conference and the rest, as they say, was history. He’d settled in Happily Inc, had bought this place and made a home of sorts. As for what he had with Wynn...
Hello?
Hell. Jasper texted back.
Let’s go hiking. At some point we’re going to have to tell your mom.
No way. She’ll ruin it. She’s weird about guys in my life. Something to do with my dad, but she never talks about him. Gotta run. C U Saturday.
See you.
Jasper tucked his phone back in his pocket and picked up his coffee. Only the cup was cold and the view wasn’t as relaxing as it had been before he’d heard from Hunter.
CHAPTER EIGHT
FORTY-EIGHT HOURS LATER, Silver was still feeling the aftereffects of her night with Drew. She didn’t want to—knowing Drew was the best sex of her life was hardly comforting—but she couldn’t help it. Facts were facts. There was something about that man and her body. They got along really well.
She’d already been to the drugstore to buy a morning-after pill. Although he’d worn a condom, she wasn’t taking any chances. Right after that, she’d made an appointment with her doctor to get back on birth control. Not that she was assuming there would be a second, um, event, but she would be foolish not to protect herself.
She poured the big batch of bacon jalapeño mac and cheese she’d made into a large bowl, then covered it with foil. The walk to the gallery would only take a couple of minutes, so her dish should still be plenty warm when she arrived.
She tucked her keys in her jeans pocket, then packed the bowl in an insulated tote and went downstairs.
Walter’s team had already started work on her retail space. Her tables and chairs, along with the large photographs and drink setups, were in storage. The walls had been soundproofed with some kind of siding and there were four shiny stripper poles in place. Silver had to admit they were growing on her. She’d read that stripper poles were a popular item at bachelorette parties. The ladies could get their groove on and learn something they could use later in the privacy of their bedrooms. Although she wasn’t exactly sure how a stripper pole move translated to non-stripper-pole life. Hmm, she might have to check that out.
She returned her attention to her retail space. The walls would be painted this week, after the new flooring was finished. The lighting had been upgraded. While she hated to think about how much this remodeling job was costing, she had to admit the end result was going to be fantastic. Walter and his team did good work. In a few days she would get to see the larger trailer and that would be the most exciting reveal of all.
She was still smiling at the thought as she headed for the Willow Gallery.
The gallery was next to the river and Happily Inc’s river walk. More than a tourist attraction, Willow Gallery boasted a worldwide clientele, due to the exclusive nature of its collections, including the works of brothers Ronan, Nick and Mathias Mitchell.
Natalie, Ronan’s fiancée and a budding artist herself, had started at the gallery as a part-time office manager. In the past few months, her art had taken off and she was in the process of transitioning from part-time employee to full-time artist. Natalie hosted the girlfriend lunches when the gallery was closed. Silver had to admit there was something really cool about dining al fresco with zebras and giraffes one week, and surrounded by incredible art the next. It kind of made going to her place or even Weddings Out of the Box seem ho-hum.
She went around to the back entrance of the gallery and let herself in.
“It’s me,” she called as she walked past the offices and into the main gallery, where Natalie had set up a long table and chairs.
“Hi, you.” Natalie, a pretty, curvy brunette, greeted her with a hug and peered inside the tote. “What did you bring?”
“Mac and cheese.”
“You are the devil.”
“I know. I can’t help it.” Silver carried the tote to the small table where Natalie had put out several quiches. “What happens when you don’t work here anymore? Are we going to have to find somewhere else for our lunches?”
Natalie grinned. “I’m engaged to Ronan and he’s Atsuko’s most successful artist. I’m pretty sure even if she would say no to me, she wouldn’t say no to him.”
Carol walked out of the kitchenette in the back with a tray of plastic glasses and a pitcher of lemonade. “Atsuko would never say no to you, Natalie. You’re like a daughter to her. Hi, Silver. I’m in the middle of a big carb craving. Please tell me you brought something decadent.”
“Mac and cheese with jalapeños and bacon.”
“I love you so much.”
“Good. I was worried.”
They all laughed.
Wynn arrived next. She brought a green salad, which had everyone groaning.
“We’ve got to eat at least one vegetable a week,” Wynn said. “I worry about us.”
“It’s just plain mean,” Carol complained. “I eat healthy every other meal. I look forward to hanging out with my friends and being bad. It’s not like I’m drinking wine or anything.”
Silver put her arm around her friend. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “You don’t have to eat the salad. I’m sure someone brought dessert.” She looked over Carol’s shoulder and mouthed hormones.
The four of them talked for several minutes before Natalie glanced at her watch. “Should I call the others? They all said they were coming, but do you think they forgot?”
