Page 37 of Monster Among the Roses (Fairy Tale Quartet 1)

“It’s a brand spanking new Super Duty F-450 Platinum. That’s what it is! It’s like the boss of badass trucks. Do you know how much this thing had to cost? Holy fuck, Isobel. What if I wreck it, or dent it, or get a freaking scratch on it?” I was afraid to even touch it, much less drive it.

In fact, I took a safe step back, worried my breath might stain the paint job.

Isobel blinked at me as if I were completely overreacting. “I’m sure it’s insured.”

I let out an incredulous laugh. “This is insane. You realize how insane this is, right?”

A shrug this time. “It’s a work truck, Hollander. Not yours to keep forever.”

I nodded. Yes, I knew this, but still…I was going to be driving this beast, this beautiful, spectacular road beast. My hands began to shake with nerves, the keys in my palm jangling. Holy shit, I couldn’t believe I was holding the keys for it.

With a roll of her eyes, Isobel reached past me and opened the driver’s side door. I flinched, afraid some kind of alarm would sound, warning me away. When it didn’t, she lifted an eyebrow and shooed me forward. “Well, climb in. See how it fits.”

“Oh, God,” I whimpered, but slowly stepped forward before I gripped the door, planted my foot on the sidebar and hoisted myself inside. “Holy shit. It smells so new.”

“Not too bad,” Isobel agreed, hopping up onto the sidebar step so she could lean in and check things out. Her nearness distracted me. I breathed in roses over the new-truck smell and narrowed my attention on the ends of her hair that brushed my thigh when she leaned past me to examine the dash.

Forgetting all about my driving inhibitions, I found myself asking, “Want to go for a ride?”

Her face zipped up, surprised blue eyes meeting mine. “What?”

My grin widened. “Let’s take it for a spin. I need to go to the lumberyard and buy all the supplies for the bookshelves, anyway. Why don’t you come with me?”

She blinked and pulled back as if I’d just asked her to show me her tits. “Oh, no. No, I don’t think—”

“Come on,” I encouraged, taking her hand as the idea gained energy. Not only did I want her to come with me, but Mr. Nash would probably piss his pants if he found out I’d coaxed Isobel into leaving Porter Hall.

But she tugged her had free and took another step away. “No. I don’t…I don’t think so. I don’t go out much.”

Or at all, I wanted to add.

I sent her an expression full of begging eyes. “I’d feel better if you were there, making sure I picked out the correct wood, and stain, and—”

“I fully trust your capabilities in this matter.”

I stared at her a moment before saying, “I’d still like you to come with me.”

She shook her head.

I sent her a sad smile and capitulated, feeling as if I’d lost. “Some other time, then.”

I might’ve lost this battle, but I was still determined to win the war.

chapter

TWELVE

When I drove home that night, I expected red and blue lights to start flashing behind me any second with some cop threatening to arrest me for theft. I drove with my eyes more on the rearview mirror than on the road ahead of me.

By the time I made it into town, handcuff-free, my worry only gained volume. People didn’t own rides as nice or new as this in my neighborhood. If I parked this thing on my street, I might as well paint a huge target on it. It wouldn’t survive the night.

Swearing under my breath, I found a better neighborhood about a fifteen-minute walk from my own, where the cars and trucks started to look nicer and were safer to park on the street. I still felt wrong about leaving it there, so far from my apartment, but hell, it had a better chance here.

“You’ll be okay,” I said, stroking the paint job and reassuring myself more than I was the truck. Then I stepped back, took a deep breath, and hurried home. Once I reached the apartment, I remembered to check the mail slot on the first floor before heading up the stairs. There were about half a dozen letters, all from people we owed money.

Realizing it’d been days since we’d received a single late notice, I started to sweat and tore open the first letter. I was halfway up the first flight when I realized what I was staring at. Slowing to a stop, I gaped in disbelief.

I knew I’d made the deal with Mr. Nash, but a part of me had never fully believed he’d see to his half. Yet there I stood, slack jawed as I stared at the loan paid in full notice. It was exhilarating and kind of scary. I feared it couldn’t be real.

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