Not Quite Over You

by Susan Mallery

  They’d gone to her house and started looking. Wynn had found the small snake but instead of grabbing it, she’d screamed and jumped on a coffee table. Jasper had rescued the snake, then her. He’d impulsively invited her to coffee. She’d declined, telling him her rules, including the fact that she didn’t want anyone in town knowing she was seeing someone. It had taken him a couple of seconds to figure out there was an excellent chance she was offering to sleep with him, as long as they weren’t publicly an item.

  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?”

  “Not all three of them,” Wynn said.

  Just then the back door opened.

  “We’re here!” Pallas called. “And we’re late. I’m sorry.”

  Bethany, Pallas and Renee walked in together.

  “They’re late,” Renee clarified. “I tried to leave on time but they wouldn’t let me.”

  “It’s my fault,” Bethany said. “I’m sorry. Two days ago we came to terms on the wedding. It’s been such a chore to get everything finalized.”

  “I thought you were having a shower here,” Wynn said. “It’s not a shower?”

  “No. It’s a party. A really big party.” Bethany sank into a chair.

  “You are the princess,” Silver said. “Literally. So how big is big?”

  “Four hundred people,” Renee said. “Including the king and queen, several other members of the royal family and a few heads of state. The president is coming.”

  The room went silent.

  Carol cleared her throat. “Of the, ah, United States?”

  “Yes. That president.”

  Pallas held up her hand. “We don’t know that for sure. It’s possible the vice president will come instead.”

  “Well, then.” Wynn waved her hand. “That’s hardly noteworthy.”

  They all laughed and moved toward the food.

  “Wow,” Natalie murmured. “A royal party. Do you get to wear glass slippers? Although it’s not really a slipper, is it? It’s really a classic pump.”

  “No glass shoes,” Bethany said, scooping up mac and cheese and ignoring the salad. “I’m really, really sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing,” Renee told her. “Planning the party will be fun.”

  “You say that now.”

  Pallas moved next to Silver. “We’re going to have to talk about how we’re handling all of this. Please, please tell me at least one of the new trailers will be ready?”

  “It should be, but there’s no way we’re using trailers at a royal party. I’ll set up regular bartending stations. Let’s talk later. Give me the date and I’ll reserve my best people.”

  “See,” Bethany said with a pout. “It’s already happening. Everything is going to be different because of my parents. I don’t want regular bartending stations. I want Airstreams and a fun theme and everyone having a good time. Sometimes I really don’t like being a princess.”

  Wynn rolled her eyes. “Yeah, nobody’s buying that, kid. Sorry, but there we are. You’re a princess. You’re going to have to deal with it.”

  Bethany looked at Silver. “Promise me we’ll have the trailers at my party.”

  “You’re the bride. If that’s what you want, that’s what we’re going to do.”

  Pallas pressed her lips together. “This is going to be so interesting. I can’t wait to see how it all turns out.”

  “Best party ever,” Renee told her. “Or it’s off with our heads.”

  * * *

  DREW KNEW THAT Silver was at her girlfriend lunch—on his way to her place, he’d driven by the gallery and had seen several cars, including Bethany’s truck—but instead of going back to the bank, he’d decided to wait. He glanced at his watch and figured they would be wrapping up soon enough.

  He needed to see her. Later, he would analyze what that meant but for now he was willing to go with the nagging sense of urgency that would only be satisfied when he was in Silver’s presence. Too much had happened too quickly—them becoming lovers, his mother’s arrival, the articulation of his parents’ plan for his future. A plan he wanted no part of.

  His mother was by far the more ambitious of his parents. He wasn’t sure if she’d been born that way or if her personality had been formed by influences he didn’t know about. Grandpa Frank wasn’t at all that way and except for Libby, her other sisters were relatively normal. But his mother...

  He spotted Silver a couple of blocks away, walking toward him. He headed toward her, consciously keeping himself from breaking into a run. As they got closer, he found himself admiring her long stride, her sleek, platinum blonde hair and her air of confidence. She was a beautiful woman and if the gods were willing, she would soon be in his bed again.

  “What?” she called when they were close enough to talk. “Were you waiting for me on the sidewalk?”

  “It was that or in my car.”

  They met in the middle of the block. She smiled at him. “Okay, this is slightly weird. I’m just saying. We’re business partners. I’ll get you a key to the downstairs space. Wait until you see what Walter and his team have done. It’s amazing. I’m still a little unsettled by the stripper poles, but they’re starting to grow on—”

  She paused midstep and looked at him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Let’s go inside and then I’ll tell you.”

  They quickly walked the rest of the way. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, then gestured him inside.

  He saw she was right—a lot of progress had been made. The soundproofing was up and the floors were in. Speakers had been mounted on the ceiling.

  “I like how it’s coming together,” he said.

  Silver raised her eyebrows. “Tell me.”

  “My mother’s in town.”

  Her expression relaxed. “Is that all? I thought something bad had happened.”

  “My mother is here. Isn’t that bad enough?”

  She smiled. “Not for me. She barely knows who I am.”

  “This is you helping?”

  “Oh, I was supposed to help. You didn’t mention that. Let’s go upstairs and we can talk about it.” She waved her tote bag. “I have leftover mac and cheese.”

  “You’re the perfect woman.”

  She laughed. “Tell me about it.”

  They went up to her place. Her apartment was a loft—one big room with lots of windows and light—decorated in grays and pale purples. A big sofa backed onto the compact kitchen. Screens provided privacy for what he guessed was the bedroom.

  She pointed to the round table in the corner by the kitchen, then put the bowl of mac and cheese in the microwave. While it heated, she got a spare key from a drawer and handed it to him.

  “You’re welcome to come and go as you please, but I’d really prefer to never catch you using the stripper pole.”

  “That I can promise.”

  The microwave beeped. She set the bowl and a fork in front of him, poured them both a glass of water, then sat across from him.

  “Tell me about your mother.”

  “Are Cade and Bethany having a big party to celebrate their engagement?” he asked instead.

  Silver frowned. “How do you know about that? Pallas just told me an hour ago.”

  “My mother told me about it yesterday when she arrived. I have no idea where she gets her information, but that’s one of the reasons she came home. She knows I’m good friends with Cade and she wants me to arrange some kind of private audience with the royal family and anyone else who can help the business.”

  “Yikes, that’s no fun. But Cade would help with that, wouldn’t he?”

  “I don’t want to encourage her. I don’t want her messing up Cade and Bethany’s party. I don’t want her here.”

  He ate some of the mac and cheese. “This is really good.”

  “Thanks. It’s the jalapeños that are inspired. What else?”

  He thought about his conversation with Irene and wondered how much to tell. Not that he wanted to have any secrets from Silver—he was more concerned about looking ridiculous or self-serving.

  “She says she wanted to help me secure the chairmanship at the bank. She knows Libby’s going to make a run for it and she doesn’t want that to happen.”

  Silver’s expression didn’t change. Her gaze
was steady and her mouth relaxed. “She really does have a plan, then. First the bank, then you join the family lobbying firm.”

  “It’s not a family firm, but yes. That’s her plan. She’s staying with my grandfather while she’s here. She wants to get on his good side and screw with Libby at the same time.”

  “I like that last bit,” Silver admitted. “As for the rest of it, what do you want?”

  He pushed away the bowl. “Not to move to D.C. I like it here. I’ve always seen myself as belonging with the bank.”

  He remembered what it had been like when he’d been a kid. His parents had been on him constantly. It wasn’t about doing his best, it was about being the best—at everything. He was expected to be stronger, faster, smarter, funnier, meaner, nicer. He was to win every battle, conquer every foe.

  When they’d left him with Grandpa Frank, he’d finally been able to relax. To be just like everyone else, and he’d liked it. Ironically, he’d continued to excel, but only because he wanted to, not because it was expected.

  “I’m going to guess you’ve told her no and she won’t listen,” Silver said.

  “More than once. She’s going to make things difficult. You, me, the business, the party, the bank.”

  “Do you think she and Libby will get into a fight and pull each other’s hair? Because I’d really like to see that.”

  He smiled. “That would be awesome, but I doubt we’ll be lucky enough to be around when it happens.”

  “Darn.” She stretched out her arms and took his hand in hers. “So the bank, huh?”

  “Are you surprised?”

  “No. You have all those nice suits. Where else would you wear them?”

  “I know to most people it seems boring, but not to me. I have some programs in mind that would fund small businesses. We have a lot of expertise on our board. We should be offering classes and resources to business owners to help them grow. I want to talk to the high school about sending in a few people a couple of times a year to teach the basics, like how checking accounts work and the difference between a money market fund and a Certificate of Deposit, otherwise known as a CD.”