was broken and damaged and all things...
“Jasper?”
“What? I’m here.”
“Sorry. I crossed a line there. You don’t have to tell me about Renee. I just knew one day you’d meet someone and it would be wonderful. I’m glad that’s true and I really hope it works out.”
“Uh, thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Okay, I’m going to stop reading because I have meetings I can’t cancel. I’ll get you notes within a couple of weeks, but I doubt they’ll be much. You did great.”
“Thanks. Talk to you soon.”
He hung up and stared at Koda.
“She liked the book.”
He was going to focus on that because thinking about anything else was just too terrifying. In love with Renee? He couldn’t be. He wasn’t. They weren’t. It was just fun and friendship and sex.
Are you in love with my daughter? Verity’s words came back to him, making him wonder what was wrong with everyone. Why did it have to be love? Why couldn’t it just be what it was and everyone was happy?
Koda stretched out in his bed.
“Nothing to add?” he asked the dog. “No opinion on the matter?”
Koda closed his eyes, which Jasper took as a no.
* * *
RENEE WAS DETERMINED that every single detail for Hanna and Graham’s Scottish wedding would be perfect. Not only did she really like the couple, she was still dealing with the debacle that had been the Halloween wedding. She needed happy we’ll-be-blissful-together-all-our-lives vibes resonating through the entire property.
She and Pallas had already performed their ritual cleansing with the burning of white sage smudge sticks and sprinkling salt on the floors and carpets. A good vacuum later and all the rooms seemed happier. A silly tradition to be sure, but one they followed faithfully whenever a wedding didn’t happen. Better to be safe, and all that.
She reviewed her to-do list for the next few days. Friday was the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Saturday was the wedding itself and Sunday morning was the goodbye brunch. The Friday and Sunday events were easy. Just setup and takedown, with very little in between. The catering service was in charge of the meals. Silver was sending her smallest trailer to handle the bar service, and there were no special decorations or entertainment.
The wedding on Saturday was a big deal with three hundred guests, so a full house for Weddings Out of the Box. There was a traditional service and a dinner reception following with a live band and dancing until at least eleven. It was going to be a long day.
But a happy one, Renee thought, excited to be a part of the weekend. She and Pallas had divided the duties. Renee would take the rehearsal and the wedding while Pallas would man the Sunday brunch. They’d hired a couple of college kids to work the Saturday night reception, mostly to help out Renee and be another set of hands if needed. Renee wanted everything to be perfect.
She walked through the main building to where the wedding would be. Chairs were already in place, along with the pole where they would string the floral garland at the front by the podium. Outside, the huge white tent was up, and the tables and chairs were in place there, as well. The plates, glasses and flatware had been delivered, along with dozens of flat bowls to be used as the centerpieces. Clematis blossoms would float in the bowls with greenery scattered across the table.
Knowing she’d done all she could for today, she returned to her office and was surprised to find Ed waiting for her. Carol’s father was handsome, with dark red hair and an easy smile. Renee hadn’t spent a lot of time with him, but what she knew, she liked and he made her mother happy, so that was all that mattered.
“Hi,” she said, not sure if she should ask why he was here or—
“I hope it’s okay I stopped by.” He rubbed his hands against his jeans, looked at her, then away, then back at her. “Do you have a minute?”
“Of course.” She motioned to a chair.
He started toward it then shook his head. “I should stand. It’s easier.”
“Is my mom okay?”
“What? She’s fine. Busy getting ready for her show. It’s going to be exciting for her. She’ll be successful—I’m sure of it. She’s a great woman. A wonderful woman.”
He swallowed. “I’m in love with her. I had no idea I could fall in love again. I didn’t expect to and I wasn’t looking, but suddenly there she was. It was like being struck