Page 36 of Monster Among the Roses (Fairy Tale Quartet 1)

He grunted out his response, briefly scanning over the items on the page before setting it on the desktop beside him. “I’ll take care of it.”

I nodded, thanking him again, and left his office.

On Monday, I arrived to work to find a shiny new black truck sitting in the driveway. I lifted my eyebrows, impressed, before walking past it to meet Isobel on the running trail. I wondered who was visiting that owned such a grand piece of machinery. But when I asked her, she only shrugged.

“No idea.”

I thought it was odd that she didn’t even seem to care whose truck sat in her driveway, but I shrugged it off, too, and stopped pestering her about it.

My question was finally answered when Constance found me an hour after our run, while I was rearranging things in the library, waiting for the lumberyard to deliver our supplies.

She handed me a lumpy envelope. “Before he left this morning, Mr. Nash asked me to give this to you.”

“Okay,” I said, frowning suspiciously as I took it. “Thank you.”

I opened the top flap as the housekeeper left the room, only to find a note and set of keys inside. I frowned at the keys and pulled out the note.

Mr. Hollander,

It turns out lumber ordering is not my forte, but truck buying is. I’d feel much more settled if you used the truck outside to go purchase the bookshelf supplies yourself. It’s a black Ford sitting in the circle drive in front of the house. I believe you won’t miss it. There is a gas card in the glove box so you won’t be responsible for paying for fuel, and I would appreciate it if you’d drive it to and from work from here on out, as well. It wouldn’t be seemly if anyone saw you walking every day and got the impression I didn’t pay my employees enough to even afford transportation. Thank you for your understanding.

Henry

My mouth fell open before I took the keys and gaped at them in disbelief.

“What’re the keys for?” Isobel asked as she entered the library, munching on an apple.

I spun to her, the keys still weighing down my palm with disbelief. “Did you know about this?”

She glanced around, confused, before turning back to me. “Know about what?”

“I…I think your dad just bought me a truck?”

Slowing to a stop, she paused mid-chew to cock her head my way and give me a funny glance. I held up the note.

After reading it, she lifted her face, took in my poleaxed expression and grinned. “Well, why are you still standing there? Let’s go check it out.”

My eyes grew wide, yet I couldn’t move. “But…”

She laughed. It sounded amazing and multiplied my shock by ten, unable to believe I’d made her laugh.

“But nothing,” she encouraged, taking my arm. Yes, God, her fingers wrapped around the inside of my elbow caused sparks to shoot through my entire body. “Let’s go.”

I followed her helplessly. She seemed so happy for me, which made my own anticipation grow. Once we marched past the cupid statue and fish tank floor and indoor fountain in the foyer, she threw open the door and hurried out into the warm, sunny morning.

“Shit,” I breathed, taking in the truck I was meant to use from here on out. Pulling to a stop only a few feet from it, I began to shake my head. “No. I can’t.”

Isobel turned back to me, her eyebrows crinkling with worry. “You can’t what?”

“I…” Furiously waving my hand toward the truck, I stuttered, “This…I…it…I just can’t. I can’t drive this.”

She blinked. “Why not? Don’t you know how to drive?”

“Of course,” I muttered, sending her a short scowl. “I just… It’s so nice. It’s too nice. I don’t belong in a truck this nice.”

When I went to take a step back, Isobel caught my arm. “Shaw,” she warned, arching her eyebrows threateningly. “Don’t you dare wig out. It’s just a truck.”

“Ju…just a truck?” I exploded. Just a truck. Right. And Porter Hall Estate was just a house.

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