Black Rose (In the Garden #2)

Stella fought to swallow a snorting laugh. We’ll be out of your way in a minute.

No rush. Roz bit into the muffin.

You’re usually gone, or finishing up before the invasion.

Slept in a little today.

That explains the bulletin I heard on the news this morning about hell freezing over. David didn’t bother to hide the smirk as he brought the coffeepot over to top off Roz’s mug.

Aren’t you full of sass this morning.

I’m not the only one full of something. How’d the . . . lasagna go over?

Very well. She gave him a bland look over the rim of her cup, and wondered if she was wearing a sign: Recently Got Laid.

You ought to have a nice big helping of it more often. Puts roses in your cheeks.

I’ll keep that in mind.

I could use a nice hot dish of lasagna myself, Hayley commented. Come on, baby doll, let’s get you cleaned up. She took Lily out of the high chair.

You guys go up and get your things – including raincoats, Stella ordered. It’s almost time to go.

But she loitered another minute. You want to ride over with me? she asked Roz.

I guess I will.

STELLA WAITED UNTILthey were starting down the drive. By her calculations, swinging just a half a mile out of the way to drop Lily off at the babysitter’s should give them enough time.

We made a lot of progress on the painting last night. It’s going to be nice to have the dining room finished and put together by the wedding. I’d really like to have a dinner party once we’re set. David and all of us, Harper, my parents. Oh and Mitch, of course.

That’d be nice.

He’s around so much – Mitch, I mean – these days, he feels like part of the household. At Roz’s noncommittalhmmm , Stella glanced in the rearview mirror to see Hayley rolling her eyes and giving get-to-it hand signals.

So . . . ah, did you and Mitch work on the project last night, or take advantage of the quiet house and just relax?

Stella, why don’t you just ask me if I had sex with him instead of beating around the bush? Nothing I hate more than seeing a bush beat half to death.

I was being subtle, Stella replied.

No, you weren’t.

I told her she didn’t have to lead up to everything, Hayley said from the back. Besides, we know you had sex. You’ve got that recently waxed and lubed look.

God.

Of course, it’s none of our business, Stella put in, shooting Hayley a hot look in the mirror.

Of course it’s not, Roz agreed easily.

But we just wanted to find a way to say that we’re happy if you’re happy. That we think Mitch is a terrific guy, and we’re here to support –

Jeez. Hayley leaned forward as much as her seat belt would allow. What she’s trying to say in her Stella way is: Score!

I am not. Exactly. I’m trying to say, with some delicacy –

Screw delicacy. Hey, just because people are a little older and all doesn’t mean they don’t want and deserve some touch the same as the next guy.