Riordan by Kathi S. Barton

they got back to her home. But
    he opened the door for her, and she had no choice but to get out. If this was a joke, she didn’t
    think it was funny.
    The house was nice. It was larger than her home, and the pillars out front were made of
    stone, not wood as the ones at their house were. She was wondering if they could have their
    home look just like this one when a tall handsome man came out of the house. Isabell fluffed her
    hair and put on her best smile. Whoever this was, she wouldn’t mind having a bite or two of him.
    “Are you lost?” She told him she had no idea and tried her best lost look on him. “Yeah, we
    don’t get a lot of your kind coming out here in the evening. At least—”
    “What do you mean, my kind?” He laughed, and she felt her temper rise. “I’m looking for
    the Harrison family. Perhaps you can direct my driver to the correct address and we can be on
    our way.”
    “You’re here.” She looked around again and thought this had to be a lie. “My parents live
    here, and have since they got married. My brothers and I have for the most part moved out, but
    we’re all here now.”
    “I’m looking for Riordan. He’s my…we’re dating.” He looked at her oddly with a cocked
    brow that made her want to try it, too. She so envied people who had talent like that. Then she
    realized that he was speaking. Her asking him to repeat himself had him laughing again.
    “I said, Riordan is here, too, with Stormy. She’s in the back with a couple of men, and Dad
    and another guest are in the office with Riordan.” Isabell asked him who Stormy was, his sister?
    “No, she’s Riordan’s fiancée. I guess she’ll be my sister when they marry, but for now, she’s just
    a good friend. Were you invited here today?”
    He knew that she’d not been invited and she wanted to smack that knowing grin off his face.
    When he turned and started up the steps again, Isabell had no choice but to follow. This was not
    going the way she’d hoped. And when she entered the house, she knew how wrong she’d been
    about Riordan and his money. She’d bet anything that his money was older than hers.
    The house was massive. The entryway alone was bigger than her room. And the marble
    floors and beautiful Chippendale table in the center of it shone to a brilliant shine. The vase was
    more than likely as old as the house, and the flowers in it were bright and colorful, nothing like
    she’d ever seen before. Beyond the hallway was a staircase that was at least ten feet wide and
    split at the large stained glass mural at the top. She was just dying to see what beauty was up
    there as well. This was a house that Isabell would love to live in forever.
    When she saw who she assumed was Riordan’s mother, Isabell thought maybe she should
    have taken her mom’s advice and stayed home. This woman didn’t look like she’d be a pushover
    as she had hoped she’d be. The look on her face told her that she had interrupted something, and
    she wasn’t at all happy with her for doing so. It wasn’t a good way to start what Isabell hoped
    would be a long and wonderful relationship.
    “Hello, Mrs. Harrison. I was hoping to find Riordan. I don’t know why, but I thought my
    driver was taking me to his house, not here.” The man that had met her in the yard laughed. She
    glared at him as she put out her hand for Mrs. Harrison. “There must have been some sort of
    mess up.”
    “I’m sure.” The woman took her hand, and Isabell thought she was trying to crush it. As she
    pulled it back, Mrs. Harrison smiled at her, as if she knew just what she’d done. “Riordan is
    talking to his dad and one of the partners. There were some issues at the office today, and they’re
    trying to work it out. But Stormy is here. I think whatever she was doing with her men is taken
    care of. I’ll just call for her. I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”
    Before she could tell her that was all right, Stormy was called for. Isabell watched