With that the force five tornado that just ripped through him was gone. Owen drew in a ragged breath to regain composure.
Owen straightened his shoulders. Glanced over his shoulder to ensure the girls were gone then walked down the ramp into the basin. His heart jolted when he saw Isabel. She’s never looked more beautiful. In her denims, shirt, dirty sneakers, hair pulled back and with a smudge of dirt on her face.
“Hi,” Owen said stopping beside her.
“Hi.” Isabel turned and gave him such a radiant smile he truly thought he was about to end up in the ICU beside George.
“How is everything with George?” Isabel asked
“He’s stable for now,” Owen told her. “How are you?”
“I’m good,” Isabel assured him.
“Here,” Owen didn’t mean to be so abrupt but he hadn’t given anyone flowers in ten years let alone asked them out on a date. “For you.”
He saw her eyes flash at the beautiful rose in his hand. It had soft stripes of white, a line of purple, and a thicker line of red. It was called Angel Wings because of the shape of the petals.
“Thank you, it’s beautiful.” Isabel said and he could see in her eyes she meant it.
They stood just staring at each other for a few more moments. “Isabel…” Owen began. He wasn’t much for romance and didn’t know how to approach women. “Would you have dinner with me?”
“I…” Her eyes got a bit bigger. “Yes, I’d love that.”
“Phew,” Owen breathed a sigh of relief and gave a nervous laugh. “Honestly, I haven’t asked anyone out on a date in so long…”
“I haven’t been out on one in so long,” Isabel countered and they smiled warmly at each other.
He remembered what Emma suggested.
“Would you like to go for a walk in the rose garden?” Owen asked her.
“That would be nice,” Isabel said, then glanced around. “Although we need to finish up here.”
“No, it’s not going anywhere. We can come back to it,” Owen assured her.
They walked out of the pool and to the plot beside it where the garden was walled off with a tall white washed wooden fence andan ornate gateway which over the top read: The Forbidden Rose Garden. In memory of James and Ellie Heart.
As they stepped inside the scent of roses and recently watered earth drifted around them. The sun warmed them as they walked.
“Isabel, I’m not much for mincing words,” Owen began. “So I’m just going to come right out and say it…”
“Okay,” Isabel said, frowning at him worriedly. “Is everything okay?” Her brows drew tighter together. “Did the girls upset you? I’m sorry. I know they can be quite forward…”
“Oh, no they didn’t upset me,” Owen said with a soft laugh. “Maybe terrified me,” he admitted.
“I know, right?” Isabel agreed with him. “They have hawk eyes and ears.”
“And a frightening grown up view of things,” Owen added.
He went quiet for a few moments then stopped and turned to face her.
She was so beautiful and still clutching her rose.
“I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.” The words just flew out of his lips.
“I can’t either,” Isabel admitted, the confession flooding him with relief.
“I don’t know what tomorrow is going to hold,” Owen told her. “What I know is what I’m feeling right now and have been feeling since we met…” He cleared his throat. “I’d like to have a chance to get to know you. Explore whatever this is that’s growing between us.”
