Pallas’s name comes from Greek mythology.” She paused. “Or Roman. I think Greek. We have two mythologically based names in town. What are the odds? And back to your girl. She could be a florist, an artist. Oh, make her a glass artist. You could totally hang out with Mathias and Ronan and learn the trade. It would be very method acting. Or writing, I guess.”
“You’re feeling better.”
She smiled. “I am. The ice cream cured me, at least for the moment. Thank you for bringing it.”
“Thanks for helping me with my book.”
“We didn’t accomplish anything.”
“I have a lot to think about. That’s progress.”
“If you say so.” She thought about all they’d discussed and how he’d watched all the movies she’d suggested plus more she hadn’t. He was good at his job, doing the work and then some. He was handsome, funny, godlike in bed and successful.
“So why aren’t you married?” she asked. “Why the serial monogamy?”
“You proposing?”
“Not today.”
He grinned. “Okay, you answered my question when I asked it, so fair is fair. You know I was in the army.”
She nodded.
“Before that I was just some small-town guy. I grew up in Montana. I liked the usual outdoor stuff, had a girlfriend in high school. There weren’t a lot of opportunities and I wasn’t excited about college so I joined up right after I graduated.”
His gaze shifted past her, as if he was seeing something she couldn’t.
“I got into the military police and that was good for me. I liked my work and I was serving my country. Some days were more difficult than others.” He shifted his attention back to her. “I had several tours in Afghanistan. They got harder and by the time I was ready to rejoin the civilian world, I found myself physically intact but mentally and emotionally messed up.”
“PTSD?” she asked.
“Among other things. I had nightmares, anxiety, sleeplessness. I couldn’t focus. Some days I couldn’t stop shaking. I went through all of it. Therapy, drugs, group counseling, halfway houses. Everything helped a little but nothing helped very much. After a while I figured out I was never going to be whole. Not the way I had been. The doctors I saw talked about managing my symptoms. One day we were given an assignment to write about how we were feeling. I started writing and couldn’t stop. Two years later, I’d finished a book that had nothing to do with the war and everything to do with someone else’s problems. That was the first Vidar novel.”
She thought about what Wynn had said—that he wasn’t as broken as he thought—and wondered if it was true.
“So you’re too wounded to love anyone?” she asked lightly.
“Something like that. It’s okay. I’ve got a pretty decent life.” He grinned and got to his feet. “I never thought I’d be a writer, that’s for sure.”
He moved close, bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Thanks for talking to me tonight. I hope you feel better soon.”
“I will. The first twenty-four hours are the worst for me. By the morning, I’ll be fine.”
“I’m glad.” He touched her cheek. “I’ll show myself out. See you soon.”
She nodded and he left. When he was gone, she stretched on the sofa and thought about all they’d talked about. Jasper was an interesting guy. Under other circumstances, she just might want to test her friend’s theory about his condition. But as things were, she would be foolish to even try. Love was not happening—at least not for her. Given her past, she was going to have to go it alone. But for this moment in time, Jasper was exactly right.
* * *
RENEE HUNG UP the phone and did a little shimmy in her chair. Having the disparate elements of a wedding start to come together always made her happy. When a seemingly impossible item—like a request for half the chairs at the reception to be black and the other half to be white, while all of them had gold cushions—worked out, she felt as if she could achieve anything. At least when it came to weddings. Ride in on a hot air balloon? Done. A vegan cake so delicious no one would guess its lack of dairy and eggs? Easy-peasy. Talking dolphins? Renee winced. Best not to go there, she thought, entering the information about the chairs on her computer and saving it so it flowed through to her tablet.
She was about to call yet another vendor about yet another challenging request when Jasper walked