Page 20 of Accidental Dad's Best Friend

“Walking distance from parks and coffee shops and ice cream.”

Ethan bites back a smile. “Anything else?”

“Two rooms. It needs to have two bedrooms.” I say firmly. Inside though, I am shaking.

Ethan arches an eyebrow. “Two rooms?”

“Yes.”

He studies me for the world’s longest two seconds before his expression relaxes. “You got it.”

“Good,” I say, getting up and grabbing my things. “I’ll have to head home to get my things ready.”

“Sounds good.” Ethan says, popping his lid to finish off his coffee. As I am about to walk away, he calls out to me.

“Hey, Izzy.”

I stop and wait.

“Why two rooms?”

I swallow hard and answer him without looking back. “That’s not your business.” I answer before walking away. It’s not until Iget down the block and around the corner to my car that I let out the breath I was holding.

Chapter 8

Ethan

Izzy is hiding something.

Though I’m not sure what it is.

At first, she was hesitant about the job, which I understand. I wouldn’t want to work with my dad either if my dad was Liam Sloane. But after I told her that she is working for me and me only, it loosened her up enough that she agreed to write the article. With some stipulations of course. That part doesn’t surprise me. Nothing comes easy with Isabelle Sloane. (Except me. I come very easy with Isabelle Sloane).

She wants a two bedroom rental in a family friendly neighborhood. That part is a mystery to me. Why a single girl of her age would turn down a free luxury flat in the heart of the mile high city is beyond me. Not that Izzy is a gold digger– she’s tooI don’t need no manfor that– but I’m not sure what the appeal of being in an area overflowing with soccer moms and more Ben and Jerry’s than bars is.

I guess there are a lot of things about grown up Izzy I still don’t know. And if a picket fence townhouse is all she wants in return for her father’s professional demise, she’s got it. That’s cake.

After she leaves the coffee shop in Glenwood Springs, I immediately get to work finding her a rental. It isn’t hard. Between my connections in the city and the budget I have, I am able to find a two bedroom place that is inner-city suburban life ™. With brick cottage exterior, white shutters and even a modest private fenced yard in the back, it’s about as charming as townhomes get. The laundry room and oversized tub will make her happy. And the location– the heart of Cherry Creek– makes me happy. She’ll be safe and close to all the best shopping and dining.

Once everything is arranged, I text her.

Ethan: Hey Izzy. How is packing going?

Izzy: Miserable. I guess I have more shit than I thought I did so I’m trying to downsize to make moving cheaper.

Ethan: No second thoughts. And send me your info. I’ll have movers come in for you. They can pack, load, unload and unpack.

Izzy: That’s…a thing?

Ethan: For a price it is. Consider it done.

Izzy: Jesus. Okay I guess.

I smile to myself. Her modesty is adorable. As Liam’s daughter she’s never grown up in want of anything. But he always had this way of making her feel like she owes him for it. Because of that, over the years, Izzy has grown more and more independent of him, not wanting his help with any of it. While he promised her he could get her into any college there is, she went to Naropa after winning a talent based scholarship. He wanted her to stay in a high end apartment complex and she refused, shacking up with several other girls from the school in a bungalow house in downtown Boulder. Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s hippy district, it was a hot spot of hot boxing (not that Izzy partook if I had to guess). Though she did do yoga and evengot a henna tattoo at one point. I know this only from Liam’s ranting. I thought it was cute. He thought it was a disgrace. Long story short, I’m not surprised she is fighting me on this.

Izzy: Shouldn’t we have a place lined up before you send movers in?

Ethan: Already done. 55 Garfield St SUITE A. Check it out on Zillow.

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