Say It with Roses Read online

  They were two weeks removed from a trip to Houston where they had attended Holly’s wedding. Carrie and Dottie had served as flower girls and Holly was every bit the blushing bride. Anderson seemed to love her dearly and had been fully accepted into the family.

  Stuart thought about his father and was glad that they’d had some time to visit while they were in Houston for the wedding. They had never been as close as he would have liked, as both were bullheaded at times and not always on the same page. But things had been improving lately between them. Both had lost someone dear to them, albeit in totally different circumstances, giving them common ground.

  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.

  “I was just going through some things and you got caught up in it,” Madison tried to explain.

  “I understand,” Stuart said, thinking back to Holly’s wedding. “In any event, I am glad to see that we can at least carry on a conversation.”

  “So am I.” She paused while eyeing the handsome man who was checking her out, too.

  “Do you want to ride together for a bit?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she told him, welcoming the brief respite.

  Stuart followed behind her, enjoying the view of her nice backside as she rode. “So what have you been up to lately?” Seemed like an easy enough way to get to know her, if she was open to it.

  “Mostly work,” Madison said. “How about you?”

  “Same thing—along with trying to keep up with my girls.”

  “They’re seven, right?” She seemed to recall Holly telling her that.

  “They act more like seventeen sometimes,” he said, chuckling. “They will be eight in June.”

  “That’s nice.”

  Stuart could tell that she meant it; though he got the feeling she didn’t have any kids. “I’ve been checking out your column and reviews when I’ve gotten the chance.”

  “Oh, really?” She looked at him, as they were now riding parallel in an area designated solely for bikes.

  “Yeah,” he admitted. “Apart from being a writer, I’m an avid reader whenever time permits, which isn’t often enough. You have some thoughtful reviews and interesting observations in your column.”

  “Thank you.” Madison found herself blushing. Most writers she knew were too full of themselves to be bothered with reading anything but their own work. “I try to keep my reviews real and the column energetic so it doesn’t put people to sleep.”

  “I think you’ve succeeded.” Stuart grinned at her, wishing they had been able to compare notes sooner, but glad to see they were doing so now.

  “I try my best.” She held back and let him take the lead as they reentered the narrower bicycle path. This was the perfect segue to ask him what she wanted to. “I’d like to interview you....”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “For the magazine?”

  “Yes, a feature story in which you can tell readers about your writing, home life, kids,” Madison said. “I’m sure it would be a hit for your fans and help new potential fans get to know you.”

  Stuart could not deny that she had a point. It hadn’t been that long ago when no one was very much interested in his story. Least of all one of the hottest magazines in town. But that was then and this was now.

  He did wonder about the timing, though. Had this just come up? Or had she been friendly all of a sudden as a way to butter him up for a damned interview?

  Not that it mattered in the scheme of things. The reality was he saw this opportunity as a perfect icebreaker. And it would allow him to dig a bit into her life as well, beyond what he already knew, which wasn’t much.

  “I’ll be happy to give you an interview,” Stuart told her with a smile.

  “Wonderful.” Madison breathed a sigh of relief. “How about tomorrow at lunchtime?”

  He waited a beat as if to consider his busy schedule. Since the girls would be at school and his writing time was quite flexible, there was no problem meeting then, but he didn’t want to seem overeager.

  “Lunchtime sounds good,” he said.

  “Are you familiar with the Beef Barn on Fifth Avenue?” she asked.

  “Yes, I’ve been there a couple of times.”

  “Great. I’ll meet you there at one.”

  “It’s a date,” Stuart said.

  * * *

  After leaving Stuart, Madison rode home feeling as though she had pulled off a coup. He’d had every right to turn down the interview request, but he’d been surprisingly gracious. Perhaps he hadn’t given her earlier brush-off much thought after it had happened. She was grateful for that.

  She phoned Giselle with the news. “We’re meeting tomorrow.”

  “That was quick,” Giselle said.

  “No time like the present,” Madison said lightly as she sat on a porch step.

  “I couldn’t agree more. I’m sure it will be a nice piece on one of Portland’s most eligible bestselling authors.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Madison said.

  “My pleasure,” Giselle told her. “That’s what I’m here for.”

  Madison would remember that. But even without such encouragement from her boss, she felt she was more than up to the task of peering into Stuart’s life and his success as an author. As for the eligible part, she supposed she could broach that, too, if only to see how he dealt with that as a single dad.

  * * *

  The next morning, Madison picked out a nice navy dress for the interview. After debating whether or not to put up her hair, she opted to leave it down. It seemed to suit her best. Last night she had done a little research on Stuart over the internet to help prepare for the interview. His wife had left him four years ago so he had to raise their children alone. And, apparently, he had done just that, with no indication that he had been involved with anyone else.

  On the professional front, he had gone from midlist to bestseller status less than a decade ago. Now he seemed to have the Midas touch as a mystery novelist, two of which had been adapted to the screen.

  Definitely gives me something to work with, Madison thought, while driving to the restaurant. Now it’s up to me to see what else I can draw out that readers will find interesting.

  Carrying her tablet, she walked into the restaurant at five minutes to one and immediately spotted Stuart in the waiting area.

  He saw her, too, and walked up to her. “Hey.”

  “Hi,” she said, trying hard not to stare too much, but finding it hard to resist. He stood there in a nice button-down shirt and tailored pants that looked good on him. She detected pleasant-smelling cologne, as well. “Hope you weren’t waiting too long.”

  “Not at all,” Stuart assured her, giving her the once-over. She looked great in her body-contouring dress. He proffered his arm when the hostess appeared. “Shall we?”

  Madison followed Stuart to a table near the window with a view of the river.

  “Would either of you like anything to drink?” the hostess asked.

  “Red wine for me,” Madison answered.

  “I’ll have the same,” Stuart said.

  They were handed menus and left to themselves.

  After taking a glance at the offerings, Stuart turned his attention back to Madison. “So how do we do this? Multitask? Or get the bulk of the interview out of the way first and then eat?”

  Madison smiled. “I think we can eat and talk, as I’m starved, if that’s fine with you.”

  “More than fine,” he assured her, looking again at the menu and back to Madison. “What do you recommend?” He was curious to see what her taste was in food.

  “Hmm...” She looked over the choices, sensing she was being tested. “How about filet mignon, mashed
sweet potatoes and mixed vegetables?”

  Stuart grinned at her across the table. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Me, too,” she said.

  They ordered as the wine came.

  Madison saw that as an excellent opportunity to get started and take mental notes in lieu of her iPad for the moment. “So what made you want to become a writer?” she asked.

  Stuart had been asked this question often enough, and his response was usually pretty much the same. “I don’t think there was ever a time when I wasn’t a writer to one degree or another,” he said over his wineglass. “I started writing stories as a boy and have never let up to this day.”

  Madison smiled. “Well, it looks like you found your calling early in life.”

  “I did. Of course, it took years to hone the craft and find the genre that worked best for me.”

  She sipped her wine. “That would be the mystery-thriller genre?”

  “Yes,” he said. “Before that I tried Western, science fiction and even mainstream before settling into thriller fiction.”

  “So what do you feel is the key thing that makes you such a great thriller writer?” Madison asked curiously.

  “Good question,” Stuart said, and thought about it. “I’d say the main thing has been reading lots of high-quality thriller fiction over the years to get a sense of what’s being published successfully. This gave me a pretty good idea of what to do and what not to do in the genre.”

  “So you credit your contemporaries, at least in part, for your own success?”

  “Yes, along with those who came before me,” he pointed out. “Writers such as Dashiell Hammett, Robert Ludlum and Mickey Spillane, among others, influenced my own writing of crime fiction.”

  Madison took out her iPad and jotted this down. “You were inspired by some of the masters of mystery novels.”