Say It with Roses

The fact that his father adored Dottie and Carrie went a long way in Stuart’s book, as they needed their grandfather as much as he needed them.

Stuart wondered how long it would be before Holly gave his girls a cousin or two. He had no doubt that Holly wanted a family, and Anderson seemed of the same mind.

It made Stuart consider the possibility of one day giving Carrie and Dottie siblings. He was sure they would love that. So would he. Of course, he would first need a woman in his life who felt the same way. Neither seemed on the horizon at the moment. But he had decided to try to keep his mind open, even though Fawn had done her best to turn him off women forever.

Stuart snapped out of his reverie when Dottie tugged on his hand. “Come play with us, Daddy,” she pleaded.

He smiled. “Are you sure I wouldn’t be in the way?”

“I’m sure.” She giggled. “Plus Grace said she has to leave soon to study.”

“Well, in that case, I’ll be happy to fill in for her,” he said enthusiastically. He allowed her to take him by the hand and lead him over to where Carrie and Grace were.

* * *

On Monday morning in the first week of March, Madison was at her desk working on a review when Giselle knocked on the open door and entered.

“I see you’re busy as usual,” she said.

Madison didn’t deny it. Her work was the perfect way to keep her mind occupied. “I like to make my deadlines.”

“And you always do.” Giselle sat down in a chair beside the desk. “I loved the review you wrote on Linda Bloom’s latest romance.”

“She’s a great writer,” Madison said.

“I agree,” Giselle said. “And it doesn’t hurt that she includes plenty of passion in her novels for folks who aren’t getting enough in their real lives.”

Madison batted her lashes. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry if I offended you,” Giselle said sincerely. “That wasn’t my intention. But it’s obvious that you and I are very much alike—burying ourselves in work and fitness while not having much of a love life, if any. If I’m way off base—”

“You’re not,” Madison admitted. “My social life is pretty much nonexistent these days—by choice.”

“I’m sure there’s a story there,” Giselle said hopefully.

Madison sighed, not wanting to go there. “Yeah, isn’t there always?” She paused before saying, “I love my job, and if it can sometimes act as a substitute for real-life romance, then so be it.”

“My sentiments exactly,” Giselle said, smiling. “Actually, I’ve got a new assignment for you.”

“Oh...” Madison wondered if Giselle would take advantage of her being a workaholic. Should she be flattered or insulted?

“Yes, I’d like you to interview Stuart Kendall for our May issue.”

“Me?” Madison hadn’t meant for it to sound like a question. Or like this was new territory for her, which it wasn’t. She had done her fair share of interviews with authors in Houston.

“Yes, you,” Giselle said. “You said you know him, right?”

“I know his sister, but him, not so well,” Madison said.

“Well, here’s your chance to get to know him better,” Giselle told her wryly. “His book, An Act of Murder, will be released in May in paperback. It’ll be a great feature on a local bestselling author and single dad.”

Madison did not disagree that it would be a good article for the magazine. She just wasn’t sure she was the best person to do it. Especially since things between her and Stuart hadn’t exactly been cordial, which was totally her fault. It might make him less likely to want her to interview him.

“I’d love to do it,” she offered halfheartedly, “but I’m really swamped with books to review and a story I’m working on for my column...”

“So I’ll reassign some of your reviews,” Giselle said. “And you can shorten your column if you need to. I just think that you’re the perfect person to interview Stuart and maybe get inside his head to see how on earth he manages to balance a successful career with a home life of raising two little girls. I think our readers would eat up this piece.”

Madison had a feeling this wasn’t something she could turn down, even if she still had reservations about approaching Stuart after giving him the brush-off. But, after all, she really was sincere about wanting to put the past to rest. So forcing herself to socialize with Holly’s brother without getting bent out of shape was a good place to put that to the test. The fact that it was in a professional capacity meant there would be no added pressure on either of them to make it personal.

“I’ll be happy to interview Stuart Kendall,” she told her boss. “Assuming he’s willing. I know some authors prefer to let their words speak for them.”

“From what I’ve heard and seen for myself, Stuart’s not likely to pass on the interview. Especially since you’re someone he knows, even if not too well,” Giselle said confidently.

Madison made herself smile, while the thought of getting together with him made her heart race for some reason. “I’ll try.”

Giselle smiled back and got to her feet. “Great. I’ll set it up.”

“Actually, I’d like to set it up myself,” Madison said, not wanting Stuart to somehow feel that he’d been blindsided into doing an interview with her. “We both ride our bikes in the same area. I’m sure I’ll run into him, and I can approach the subject then.”

“That’s fine,” Giselle agreed. “Keep me posted.”

She left and Madison thought about seeing Stuart again and how both of them might react to it. I have to remain coolheaded and let him see more of the real me, she thought, while hoping that she hadn’t already blown the opportunity.

Chapter 4

On Wednesday, after taking the girls to school, Stuart drove home in his gray Mercedes. He put the dishes in the dishwasher and did a little writing before getting on his bicycle for a few miles of riding. It was the perfect escape from the hard work that had made him a bestseller.

It was a far cry from the early days when writing was strictly a part-time endeavor, and he had to make a living doing the best he could with various jobs. But things began to go his way following his first bestseller a few years ago. After that, he never looked back as far as money was concerned. He’d made wise investment choices and set up trust funds for both girls so they would never have to do without.

The one thing he knew money could not buy them was the love of a mother. Stuart wished he had never gotten mixed up with Fawn, save for the two girls they’d brought into this world.

He rode his bike up the hill easily and was on his way down the other side, staying in the bicycle lane, when he spotted another cyclist ahead of him. It didn’t take much for Stuart to recognize the rider as Madison Wagner. She was moving at a leisurely pace, seemingly enjoying the feel of the wind in her face and the beauty of her surroundings.

As though she had eyes in the back of her head, Madison turned once to look his way and slowed down at the bottom of the hill, as if to wait for him.

Maybe she thinks I’m someone else, he thought. Hate to disappoint her and possibly ruin her day when she realizes she’s going to cross paths with a Kendall.

Given that their previous encounters had been less than ideal, Stuart almost considered turning around and going back up the hill to avoid another letdown. But that would be taking the easy way out. He was up for a challenge.

He cruised down the rest of the way before putting on the brakes, stopping just short of her. “Hey,” he said casually.

“Hey.” Madison gave him an uneasy smile. “Thought that might be you.”

“And yet you still waited?” Stuart said, chuckling. “Sorry, couldn’t resist.”

“It’s cool,” she told him, realizing she hadn’t made it easy for him up to this point. “Look, we may have gotten off to the wrong start.”

“You think?” he asked, raising a brow.