Monster Among the Roses

I couldn’t stop glancing across the cab of the truck as I drove back to Porter Hall.

Isobel anticipated every stolen glance and met my gaze before she sniffed out a laugh and rolled her eyes. But then we both burst out with crazy, delirious grins. I bit my lip before I returned my attention to the road. When I reached across the interior of the truck without looking, she took my hand and interlaced our fingers.

Damn, I felt giddy. Light-headed. Downright decadent. It was the best feeling in the world.

“I don’t want to take you home,” I admitted, even though that’s exactly where I was taking her.

Night had fallen and I could only see her face in the bluish glow from the screen of the truck’s dashboard. Yet I still had no trouble making out the hope in her expression when she said, “You can stay the night…if you want.”

I was tempted. Of course I was tempted, but then all the reasons why I couldn’t stirred in my head, and I ended up wincing. “I don’t think I could get comfortable snuggling with you under your dad’s roof. And I need to get home to my mom, anyway, make sure she’s okay.”

She nodded, even though I could practically smell the disappointment ooze off her.

“I’d invite you back to my place, but…” I winced again. “My bedroom is currently the living room and I’ve been sleeping on the most uncomfortable pull-out sleeper sofa ever made.”

Isobel blinked. “And how long has it been since you moved your mom in with you?”

I shrugged. “Not that long. I’d like to find us a new place. Preferably something with two bedrooms. But…we’ll see.”

“I’ve never met your mother,” she suddenly murmured.

I glanced at her. She looked as if she’d been left out of something important. Drawing her hand to my mouth, I kissed her knuckles. “We’ll have to fix that, though I already know she’ll love you.”

Her smile showed relief and delight.

When we pulled into the drive, I rolled down the window to hit the call button on the gate. It took nearly a minute for anything to happen, and then the iron bars began to open.

Henry opened the front door and stepped outside to stand on the front steps as I pulled around the circle drive to the front door, my headlights splashing over him. Then he started toward us even before I could brake and kill the engine.

“He doesn’t look pleased,” I mused, unbuckling my seat belt.

“I know,” Isobel said, sounding similarly confused. She shared a glance with me. “I wonder what that’s about.”

“Think he knows what we did?” I whispered.

She sniffed but didn’t say yes or no.

Henry pulled open the passenger side door, gasping, “Isobel,” as he reached for her.

“Dad?” She took his hand and let him help her down from the truck. “Is everything okay? You look upset.”

“Upset? Upset?” he roared. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. You’ve been missing for hours.”

“I…” She shook her head, seemingly perplexed, while I frowned.

“You didn’t tell him where you were going?”

Her gaze shot to me as I joined her and her dad next to the still opened passenger door. “No,” she said before blinking. “You told him yourself; we’re adults. Why would I—”

“Because you don’t typically leave the house,” I explained. “Of course he’d worry. I would’ve worried if you had suddenly disappeared without a word after eight years of never going anywhere.”

“Thank you,” Henry said, nodding as he whirled to his daughter and pointed my way. “What he said.”

“But I…I…”

At a loss for words, she merely stared at her father and then me before I cleared my throat and offered, “Maybe you should let him know whenever you go out, just until he gets used to the idea of you coming and going again.”

“Yes, exactly,” Henry added. “It never even occurred to me you had left the property. I thought you’d gotten hurt, or fallen into the lake, or…I don’t know. I just knew I couldn’t find you. And it was awful.”

“Well I’m home now,” she started slowly before wincing. “And I really didn’t mean to worry you, Dad. I’m sorry I did.”

Henry nodded. “It’s already forgotten. I’m just glad you’re here now, and okay.” But he remained standing there between the two of us, his gaze shifting from me to Isobel as if maybe—oh, Lord, I hoped not—he could see exactly what we’d been doing.

“So…you two went out?” he finally said.

“Yes. It was a lovely time.” She grinned and kissed Henry’s cheek. “And you’ll never guess what. We’re going to open a flower shop together and sell some of my roses. Shaw told me my flowers’ beauty was meant to be shared. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that ever since. So I want to. Share them, that is. I’m going to start my own shop.”

“Darling, that’s…” Henry shook his head before clearing his throat. “That’s great. I’m so proud of you. But are you certain it’s not too soon to—”

“I’ll be fine, Dad. Don’t worry. But I do have a question.”

“Oh?”

“I want Shaw to work for me, except he insists he belongs to you and can only do what you tell him to. So can you give him permission to work there with me, instead of here with you?”

“I…” Henry turned to me and stared for a moment before saying, “I believe I could willingly give you over into Isobel’s hands for employment, though I can’t say any of the other staff will be happy about this. They’ve become quite dependent on your handyman skills.”

Unable to fully believe this twist in plans, I nodded. “I’m sure it’ll be months before we get the shop opened. I can keep coming here as usual until then. Maybe I can even help you find a new handyman to replace me.”

“I’m not sure we’d be able to find anyone to fill the shoes you leave behind, but that sounds like a fine idea to me. Thank you, Shaw.”

Isobel grinned and clapped her hands together. “It’s settled then.”

I gulped, not sure how to take everything in. Things seemed to be changing at warp speed. And they were once again too good to be true.

Neither Nash seemed concerned or worried about fate intervening with something drastic, though.

“Izzy,” Henry declared. “To celebrate how proud I am of these huge steps you’re taking, I want to send you two out to dinner this weekend. On me. I’ll take care of all the arrangements.”

“Dad, you don’t have to—”

“I insist!”

Isobel and I exchanged glances. She shrugged. So I shrugged, and that was enough for Henry. He set one hand on my shoulder and one hand on hers, grinning at the both of us. “I’ll admit I was worried earlier this evening when I realized how close you two had become, but after seeing how happy you are and how willing you are to get out and experience the world again, I’m beginning to think this was the best damn thing that could’ve ever happened.”

I gulped, worried he was really over tempting fate and certain he’d take a weapon after me if he knew I’d just had his daughter in the back seat of his truck. But I remained silent as I watched father and daughter grin at each other.

“Thank you, Dad,” Isobel murmured, pressing another kiss to his cheek. Then she turned to me. “And you.” Her hand gripped the front of my shirt before her voice dropped seductively low. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she hauled me down for a kiss.

Our lips barely touched, the pressure only a promise of more to come. But it still made my body stir. I felt that light-headed giddiness again as she pulled away.

“See you,” I said as she turned away and started inside.

Henry let me stare after her until she’d disappeared behind the door before he cleared his throat.

I jumped, having forgotten he was there. Certain he was going to tell me his true feelings about my relationship with her, I tensed.

But all he said was, “I think I’ll set you up with reservations at Urbane for this Saturday.”

I nodded, relieved. “Okay. Thank you, sir. But, uh, do you know how much a meal there usually costs? I’m not sure I can afford—”

“I said I’d take care of it,” Henry announced.

But I growled, “The hell you will,” making us both jerk in surprise and gape at each other.

I flushed, unable to believe I’d just said that to my boss. “I mean…” Face hot and heart pounding, I explained, “With all due respect, sir, I’m the one taking her there, right?” It was a pride thing. I should be the one to fund dinner. Not Henry.

“But I said it was my treat. I never meant for you to—”

“I want to,” I said quietly.

He stared at me a moment before giving a respectful nod. “At least allow me to help you dress yourself for the occasion.”

I glanced down at my usual ragged jeans and T-shirt, only to feel another rash of shame. Nothing I owned would suffice for a night out with Isobel at the posh Urbane restaurant. “Yeah,” I relented. “That would be fine.”

He nodded, looking relieved, before he pulled a phone from his pocket. When whoever was on the other end answered, he immediately barked, “Hollander’s taking Izzy on a date this Saturday and has nothing suitable to wear. Can I count on you? Great. I’ll send him over now.”

He hung up and tossed out an address for me to remember. “Go. Get yourself set up.”

My eyebrows lifted. “What? Right now?”

He blinked as if confused by my shock. “When else?”

As he waved me away, I just stared at him. He sighed. “Indulge an old man, will you? It’s been too long since Izzy’s been out on the town. On an actual date. I want it to be special for her.”

Those were exactly the words I needed to win me over. With a nod, I relented. This really would be the first date she’d been on in eight years. I wanted her to have the best too.

I arrived at the address Henry had given me about ten minutes later. It was another lovely home, located on Porterfield Lane, but it wasn’t as big as Porter Hall. It was still impressive, though. As soon as I parked, the front door came open, and Isobel’s brother stepped outside.

I don’t know why I was surprised to see him; it made perfect sense that Henry would send me to a man who owned half of a clothing company.

Stopping on the front steps, Ezra crossed his arms over his chest. “Was this date your idea or my dad’s?”

I sighed as I strolled toward him. “Well…” I started.

A smile flickered across his face. “That’s what I thought. Why am I not surprised he had to go and meddle in your relationship?”

With a shrug, I answered, “You know your father well.”

“Yeah, I do.” He sighed and stepped aside to motion me into his home. “Did he even bother to give you the fatherly, respect-my-daughter-or-die lecture, or was he so excited that she was actually doing something for a change that he completely forgot?”

“He did,” I said. Kind of.

Ezra sniffed. “Doubtful. That’s why I think I’m going to have to give it, instead.” Flashing out his finger, he pointed and narrowed his eyes. “Don’t disrespect my sister, or I’ll kill you. And don’t let anyone else disrespect her either. Got it?”

I lifted both hands and gulped. “Got it.”

Narrowing his eyes a second longer as if to make sure I was sincere, he finally dropped his hand and relaxed. Then the easygoing Ezra I’d first met reappeared. “Okay, then. Let’s see what we have in my closet that might fit you?”

I started to follow him down a hall, only to stop. “Wait, what? I’m borrowing your clothes?”

He snorted and kept walking away. “What the hell did you think you were doing when he sent you this way?”

Huh, now that he mentioned it, I hadn’t been thinking at all. With Henry Nash involved, calling the shots, I could’ve been headed to a tailor’s house to be fitted for some custom-made digs.

Ezra was rapidly disappearing ahead of me, so I hurried to catch up. He entered a room, and when I followed him inside, I stepped into his bedroom. But he wasn’t there.

“Where…?”

“In here,” he called from a doorway deeper in the room.

I went forward to find a walk-in closet.

“Any certain color you want?” he asked conversationally, filing through suit jackets hanging from one wall. Yes, an entire wall full of suit jackets.

Shaking my head, I watched numbly as he shrugged over my response and took one down. “See if that fits.”

He tossed it my way. I caught it against my chest, and held it there before reluctantly trying it on. It was a damn good fit, not too snug in the shoulders, not too big in the waist and barely half an inch short in the arms, which only made me feel more uncomfortable. Was I really going to wear some other man’s clothes?

Ezra skimmed his gaze over my torso before shrugging as if that would do, and he turned to a carousel full of ties.

I quickly yanked the jacket back off, feeling as if I had cooties now. “Is it just me or is one guy borrowing clothes from another guy just plain weird?”

“Hell yes, it’s weird.” Ezra picked out a handful of ties. “Which is why you’re signing an NDA before you’re allowed to leave my house.”

I snorted. “As if I would ever tell anyone about this, anyway.”

“Good.” He turned to me, holding up half a dozen ties. “Which one?”

Dear God.

“Hell if I know,” I answered, honestly.

He sighed. “Look, you’ve got to give me something here. Do you want to look nice for my sister or not?”

I shook my head. “Dude, you’re the one who works in the fashion industry.”

His scowl was immediate. “I’m administrative.”

I lifted my eyebrows, letting him know that made no difference to me. His closet was bigger than my entire apartment and was full of custom-made, name-brand clothes. He had to have more fashion sense than I did.

Grumbling under his breath, Ezra picked out a tie and flung it at me. I looped it over my shoulder and watched him mutter some more as he chose a dress shirt and pants.

“Wait until I’m out of here before you try the pants on,” he instructed before leaving me alone in his closet.

I did, hustling to do so as soon as he was gone.

Again, everything fit eerily well. The pants were a smidge too short, but not enough to look bad. I shifted around in everything, relieved it felt comfortable, and yet oddly aware I wasn’t in my own clothes.

Just as quickly, I took everything off and pulled on my holey jeans and T-shirt.

Slipping the suit back onto its assorted hangers, I draped everything carefully over my arm and left the closet. Ezra wasn’t waiting in the bedroom, so I entered the hall and found him in the front room, pacing the floor and scowling at something he was reading on his smartphone.

“That wasn’t what I meant, and you know it, Lana,” he growled as he jabbed his finger angrily against the screen, pounding out a response to the message he’d obviously just received.

I cleared my throat.

He glanced up, then lifted his eyebrows, waiting for a report on sizes.

I made the okay sign. “Everything fits perfect,” I said and nodded my gratitude, because I really did want to look good for Isobel, even if I had to wear someone else’s clothes to accomplish it. “Thank you.”

He nodded and started to follow me toward the door when I headed that way. “You know this is her first date in eight years, right?”

I slowed to a stop and gulped before facing him again. “I know. Any good advice?”

“Yes.” He pointed at me and narrowed his eyes. “No sex with my sister in my suit.”

With a frown, I growled, “I’m serious here, man.”

“So am I,” he argued. “You seem like a decent guy. I’d seriously hate to have to kill you if you get out of line.”

“And I’d hate to have to die,” I spit back. “But in all seriousness, I want this to be amazing for her. It’s your turn to give me something here.”

“Man…” He shook his head and tossed me an amused grin. “I think you have Izzy pegged better than anyone. You’ll do fine.”

I blew out a breath, bolstered by his faith in me and yet still uncertain. “You think?”

Ezra laughed. “I only spent five minutes in a room with you two together, and it was obvious as hell. Now go get ready for your ball already, Cinderella.”

Wrinkling my nose, I shook my head. “I’m not Cinderella.” Then, because I was lame and couldn’t think up a better retort, I said, “Y-you’re Cinderella.”

Ezra blinked. “That has to be the worst comeback in the history of comebacks. Seriously, Hollander, in what universe would I be Cinderella?”

He had a point. But I couldn’t be bested, so I shrugged. “I just saw your closet. Clearly, you have a shoe fetish. One of those fancy loafers has to be missing its pair.”

“Weak,” he told me, chuckling. “Now go, before your lameness becomes contagious.” But he was grinning affably as he said it.

I waved him goodbye before I realized we hadn’t discussed one thing. “Oh! Hey, when do you want this back?” I held up the suit.

He made a face and shuddered. “Are you nuts? You’re probably going to have sex with my sister in that suit. I never want it back.”

I rolled my eyes. “If it makes you feel better, I’m sure I’ll take the suit off before I have sex with her.”

Then I walked out the front door, unable to stop snickering.

How was that for a lame comeback?

“Damn you, Hollander!” he yelled after me. “You laugh it up now, you little bastard. We’ll just see who has the last laugh when I’m standing over your grave.”