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uncertain situations always caused.
    Danny set a box of unsalted butter in the cart and then turned toward her. “Don’t let me bring you down. I just… Things cross my mind sometimes, and it takes me a little bit to get past them.”
    â€œIs that because of the PTSD?”
    â€œYeah. I have a lot of triggers, some of which I’m still discovering, but I’ve been assured they should get easier to ignore eventually.” He sighed and moved over to the egg case. “I sort of believe that, since I’m not as bad now as I was at first. But it’s still frustrating.”
    Her heart went out to him. “I can see how it would be. I know it’s probably pointless to ask, but is there anything I can do to help?”
    He set half a dozen eggs with the rest of the ingredients. Then he turned to her, a teasing twinkle in his eyes. “Make cookies with me.”
    Apparently, he was over whatever had bothered him. “Okay. Where?”
    â€œMy floor has a kitchen that hasn’t been used since the semester started. We can use that.” He scanned the contents of the cart. “Did I miss anything?”
    It looked like he had all of the necessary ingredients. “A mixing bowl and pans?”
    He chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t need them. The kitchen is fully equipped with pans, utensils, and other dishes.”
    â€œI’m jealous,” she said as she walked beside him toward the checkout lanes. “My floor doesn’t have a kitchen. We just have a small kitchenette with a miniature stove, a sink, and a microwave.”
    â€œWell, if you feel the need to use a real kitchen, let me know and I’ll sneak you into ours.”
    She bumped her shoulder into his with a grin. “I love having connections.”
    ****
    Cindy munched on a cookie as she looked around the warm vanilla-scented kitchen on the second floor of Wyatt Hall, impressed with Danny’s baking skills. She still couldn’t believe how much they’d accomplished in the last couple of hours. The walnut-chocolate chip cookies were cool and packed in re-sealable storage bags Danny had brought from his room. The pecan-chocolate chip cookies sat on cooling racks on the counter, and the plain chocolate chip cookies were baking and waiting to be baked.
    She turned to Danny, who stood washing dishes at the sink. “I think Josh is going to label you an overachiever when he sees the number of cookies you bring.”
    He laughed and set the mixing bowl in the dish drainer on the counter. “He should have been more specific about what he wanted, then.”
    â€œI think you would have made a million cookies at some point anyway, just to prove you could.”
    Danny shrugged and turned off the water. “Maybe. Cookie baking is relaxing, and I have fond memories of cookie-filled care packages from my parents when I was deployed.”
    â€œYou were serious about this being your mom’s recipe?” Cindy said, waving a hand at the surrounding cookies.
    â€œYeah. She’s an awesome cook, and if she carries out her threat to send me care packages here, I’ll be sure to share any baked goods with you.”
    Once the last of the cookies were baked, cooled, and packed, Cindy helped Danny clean up the kitchen. By the time they finished, it was after five. He picked up most of the cookies and then turned to her.
    â€œIt’s about time to go. Want to help me carry these out to my truck?”
    â€œSure.” She picked up the remaining bags, thankful her wrist no longer ached, and followed him into the hall. “So, are you going to give me a ride, or do I have to walk?”
    â€œNo car, huh?”
    â€œNope.”
    â€œIn that case, I’ll give you a ride.” He glanced at her and winked. “I was going to offer anyway.”
    She laughed and they headed for the stairwell. Yes, she was definitely starting to like this guy.
    ****
    Lacey opened