The Glasshouse (Lavender Shores Book 6) Read online

  The Glasshouse

  Rosalind Abel

  Wings of Ink Publications, LLC

  Contents

  The Glasshouse

  Dedication

  About The Glasshouse

  Prologue

  1. One

  2. Two

  3. Three

  4. Four

  5. Five

  6. Six

  7. Seven

  8. Eight

  9. Nine

  10. Ten

  11. Eleven

  12. Twelve

  13. Thirteen

  14. Fourteen

  15. Fifteen

  16. Sixteen

  17. Seventeen

  18. Eighteen

  19. Nineteen

  20. Twenty

  21. Twenty-One

  22. Twenty-Two

  23. Twenty-Three

  24. Twenty-Four

  25. Twenty-Five

  26. Twenty-Six

  27. Twenty-Seven

  28. Twenty-Eight

  Epilogue

  Family Trees & Lavender Shores Maps

  Family Trees & Maps

  About the Author

  Author Note

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Rosalind Abel

  The Glasshouse

  Rosalind Abel

  Copyright © 2018 by Rosalind Abel

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Designer: AngstyG - AngstyG.com

  Main Editor: Desi Chapman

  2nd Editor: Cristina Manole

  3rd Editor: Corrine Harris

  Family Trees & Map Design: Ron Perry - rperrydesign.com

  Visit Rosalind’s Webpage: RosalindAbel.com

  Visit Lavender Shores: LavenderShores.com

  Created with Vellum

  for Claire Castle

  who steadies my nerves

  and whispers romance in my ear

  About The Glasshouse

  Adrian Rivera lives as he damn well pleases, defying his Lavender Shores family to spend his days farming the beautiful Northern California land. Not one to daydream of true love and romance, Adrian’s social life has always been filled with sex and plenty of good times.

  Harrison Getty went from NFL star quarterback to America’s gay heartthrob, to reality TV star—with his wedding day broadcast live on national television. But Harrison feels trapped in a Hollywood life dictated by others. To breathe again, he runs from it all…

  Adrian’s attraction to Harrison has been building for months—even as Harrison prepared to marry another man. Lightning strikes between them, stirring emotions and passions as Adrian finds “the one,” a love that’s meant to be. But can Harrison stop running long enough to know his own heart?

  Amid scandals and betrayals, Adrian and Harrison struggle to grow their new love even as life’s storms threaten to shatter it all…

  Prologue

  Adrian

  June

  The wedding planner had a close personal relationship with King Midas. That was the only possible explanation for all the gold. I glanced at my reflection in the massive hallway mirror and adjusted my golden bow tie. Like a bow tie wasn’t bad enough, they had to make it gold.

  Nevertheless, I was the lucky one—despite having to wear a bow tie—because gold was a good color on me. I refocused on the scene outside the window of the photographer arranging the grooms and family members. Despite both the grooms wearing actual neckties, gold wasn’t their color. Everyone looked washed-out.

  As Kimberly Epstein adjusted her golden mother-of-the-groom dress while the photographer attempted to reposition the group for a fresh shot, I realized the wedding planner wasn’t responsible for the color palette. Nope, this had the Epstein name all over it, just like the rest of their mansion. Everything was gilded, even the mirror I’d used to check my appearance. The entire decor could be summed up in gold, marble, and onyx. Like my mother said: money could buy anything except class.

  I felt bad for Jasper, though. One of the things that first attracted me to him was his red hair—Lord knows I love a ginger—but that stupid gold bow tie wasn’t helping him out. He was handsome, in that geeky hot way he had going on. But the gold made him look more brassy than his normally ginger glow.

  Not for the first time, I wondered if Jasper’s brother truly grasped what he was marrying into. Sure, as a famous ex-quarterback, Harrison Getty was wealthy and famous—as evidenced by his wedding being televised—but he was marrying into one of the Lavender Shores five founding families. As Riveras, we’re every bit as proud of our founding family heritage as the Epsteins, but we didn’t gold-plate everything.

  Narrowing my eyes, I studied Harrison. He was as all-American as a man could get. Tall, dark thick hair, model face—a literal model’s face—completed with NFL biceps. But he didn’t look like a model smashed between Jasper and Will and the rest of the Epstein clan. He looked stressed, tired, and like he was two shallow breaths away from running off to puke into the bushes. I didn’t think the gold tie could be blamed for all of it either. That particular pallor had been growing on him the past few weeks.

  “Fifteen more minutes, ladies and gentlemen. While we’re not live yet, I would ask you to remember that things need to stay calm and orderly.” A man’s voice boomed from behind one of the closed doors in the hall.

  After turning my back on the never-ending photo session, I padded over to the door, cracked it open, and peered through. One of the television crewmembers stood midway on the spiraling staircase—that might’ve come directly from the Titanic—and addressed the crowd filling the foyer and spilling out the front door onto the lawn.

  “People would be less rowdy if we had hors d’oeuvres and champagne.” I readjusted to see Robert Kelly, the father of another founding family, giving a wide-eyed expression to those around him. He reached into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulled out a rainbow-hued flask and offered it to someone outside my view. “Here, help yourself. It’s not a mimosa, but—”

  He didn’t get to finish the thought before his wife, Debbra, snatched the flask away and shoved it into her purse. “Knock it off. The last thing the town needs is looking like a bunch of lushes showing up for a wedding on national television.” She sniffed and lowered her voice. “Although I’m not sure anyone will be able to see anything past all the gold.”

  I almost laughed. Debbra Kelly actually agreeing with me on style. What would my mother say?

  The TV man continued to give directions as I looked past the Kellys. It seemed as if the entire town of Lavender Shores was present for the chance of being seen on television. I didn’t blame anyone; it was fun. And we were proud of our town. There was only one Lavender Shores. Before a few months ago, it had been a secret little treasure. But after the reality series that followed Will and Harrison’s engagement aired, the entire country had fallen in love with the place. The show promised a huge influx of tourists, and that was a very good thing.

  “Crazy out there, isn’t it?”

  I jumped at the whisper near my ear and shut the door on reflex, as if I’d been caught snooping. I turned to see Jasper’s smiling face. “Pictures done?”

  He nodded and thumbed over his shoulder. “Yeah. Finally. They want us all to go out to the groomsmen’s rooms. They need shots of us getting ready. Even though we won’t be live yet, they’ll use them for behind-the-scenes clips or something.”

  “They want us to get ready
again? Didn’t we already do that?”

  Jasper shrugged and pushed up his glasses. “Remember, one of their cameras wasn’t working? Now we do it again.”

  Oh, right. Well, whatever. Like it mattered. As one of the groom’s brother’s friends, I was a side character in this tale. “Maybe if we get dressed again, we can change out these horrid bow ties and vests for something a little less metallic. I’d settle for neon at this point.”

  Jasper laughed. “I thought you were exaggerating about the Epsteins at the beginning. It’s like the Kardashians on steroids.” Jasper grew serious again. “I’m not sure Harrison really knows what he’s getting into.”

  “I was thinking the same thing.” I glanced over Jasper’s shoulder. “We should be careful about saying such things from now on. With my luck I’ll make some disparaging remark about the Epsteins by a live mike and it will be broadcast all over the country.”

  Jasper bugged his eyes. “Good point.”

  “My parents would skin me alive if I embarrass the Rivera name on national television.”

  “True. Your mother’s scarier than Kimberly Epstein.”

  “And she’s proud of that.”

  Jasper gave a shudder. “To think I allowed myself to miss out on joining the cult.” He exhaled in exaggerated relief.

  I play-nudged him toward the doorway at the end of the hall that led to the back staircase. “You should be grieving you missed out on all of this.”

  I’d lusted after Jasper from afar and we finally went on a date several months ago. The goodnight kiss was about as passionate as kissing your grandmother, so we flipped the script and built a friendship instead of a romance.

  He looked over his shoulder as he kept walking. “Well, you are the only one of us that looks halfway decent in these god-awful ties.”

  Though Harrison was a famous ex-football player and America’s newest face of the gay movement, besides the crew and his publicist, the bedroom suite used as his personal dressing space was only occupied by three other people he actually knew—Jasper, myself, and Johnny Myers, an ex-teammate. I was certain Will’s suite was packed with the entire Epstein family.

  By the time Jasper and I entered the suite, Harrison had already commandeered the restroom for himself. Maybe I’d been right, and he was feeling sick. From the short seven months since knowing him through Jasper, I realized how bittersweet this was. All of America was watching him, yet only one of the three groomsmen in the room was a member of Harrison’s family. I would need some space too.

  I’d anticipated that Angela, Harrison’s publicist, would start micromanaging Jasper and me the minute we stepped into the suite, but she was occupied in a whispered conversation with Johnny in the far corner of the room. Though nearly silent, their frantic hand gestures only increased the growing sense of anxiety.

  Jasper cast me a nervous glance and then looked toward the closed bathroom door.

  “I can’t do this.” Johnny started to step around Angela, but though she was probably a third his size, she stopped him with a hand on his chest.

  She whirled toward the cameraman. “You’re not filming this, right?”

  The poor guy shook his head like he expected her to slit his throat.

  “Good. Keep it that way.” She refocused on Johnny. “You can do this. And you are going to do this. You’re under contract, and you’re getting a hefty paycheck and priceless exposure.”

  Jasper and I exchanged glances again. Johnny was getting paid? From Jasper’s expression, that was news to him as well. I was willing to bet Harrison wasn’t aware of it either.

  “I don’t care. Fine me for breach of contract.” Johnny sounded so panicked I nearly felt sorry for him. “My dad’s right. This kind of publicity is the last thing I need. I can’t be seen as part of this. Everyone will think I’m queer too.”

  Okay, no more feeling sorry for Johnny boy.

  “Dear God, save me from you Bible Belt people.” The publicist threw back her head and let loose a frustrated sigh before slapping her hand on Johnny’s chest again. “If you’re so worried about that, get a date with a model. Hell, I’ll get you a date with ten models. We can film an orgy with you with the entire new line-up of Victoria’s Secret women. We’ll release it as a sex tape.”

  Johnny blanched but looked hopeful. “Seriously?”

  Another sigh. “No, of course not. The Victoria girls are models, not whores.” As Johnny’s expression darkened, she rushed ahead. “But we can definitely figure out how to release a sex tape. One that makes you look extremely desired and extremely straight. And probably ten thousand times better in the bedroom than you actually are.”

  He pushed her hand roughly aside and stepped around her. “I’m outta here.”

  I normally didn’t have violent tendencies, and I didn’t know Harrison all that well, not really, but I wanted to go kick that guy’s ass.

  Yeah, because me taking on Johnny Myers, linebacker or whatever the fuck he was, would end oh so nicely for my face.

  Before Jasper or I could say anything, Angela straightened and made a beeline for us. “Okay, I’m going to chase down Johnny and get that damn tux off him.” She jabbed a finger at Jasper. “You go find somebody in the crowd you know who’s roughly his size.” She started to head out of the room and then looked back. She pointed at me. “If Harrison comes out, stall.” Without waiting to see if we agreed, she stormed out of the room.

  “What the hell?” Jasper turned to me, his blue eyes wide and nervous. “I guess we need another groomsman. Who do you think? Connor?”

  Perfect. “Yeah. Nicely done.” Connor, my best friend’s husband, was every bit as big as Johnny Myers, and with none of the cowardice. “I can go ask him if you want.”

  “No.” Jasper shook his head and straightened. “Harrison never stops doing things for me, the least I can do is try to fix this.”

  Several minutes passed with no sign of Angela, Jasper, or Connor. I began to pace like I was the one getting married.

  What a thought.

  I was suddenly aware that Harrison had been in the bathroom an exorbitantly long time. Maybe the guy really was sick.

  I padded over to the bathroom door and knocked quietly.

  There was no answer.

  I knocked again.

  Still no answer. Despite his star status, Harrison wasn’t one to be rude. He really had looked sick and white as a sheet. Maybe he’d passed out….

  I tested the door handle, and it turned. I nudged it open and poked my head in. “Harrison? Are you all ri—”

  My words fell away. Harrison stood in front of the bathroom vanity, his hands gripping the edge of the counter, and his brown eyes met mine in the reflection of the mirror.

  I didn’t even consider backing out and leaving him. Without a second’s hesitation, I stepped in and shut the door behind me.

  The man could’ve easily been a Greek god broken free from his marble casings. But not in that moment. He looked… terrified.

  Made sense. He was getting married.

  “Jitters?” Dumb question.

  He didn’t answer at first, just took a deep breath. Finally, he nodded.

  I attempted a smile. “I hear that’s normal.” Actually, all my friends who had gotten married were so sickeningly in love that it was disgusting. I doubted any one of them had jitters. “Want me to get you something? Water? Champagne?”

  Harrison shook his head.

  “I saw Robert Kelly with a flask earlier. I’m not sure what’s in it, but knowing Robert, it’s something that’ll make you feel good.”

  The corners of Harrison’s lips curved into a smile in the mirror, and he released the edge of the marble counter long enough to turn and face me. “Of course Robert Kelly brought a flask to the wedding.”

  Speech! That was a good sign. “A rainbow one, no less.”

  A little snort. “As expected. It is Lavender Shores, gay mecca and all.”

  I shrugged. I imagined Robert would drink out
of a rainbow flask no matter where he was. I started to make a joke, then noticed the sweat dampening Harrison’s collar. “You feeling okay?”

  “I look that bad, huh?” Another half-hearted grin. “I thought maybe my reflection was lying to me.”

  I considered sugarcoating. But we were going to be on TV any second. “I’ll go find you another shirt. No harm done. You’ll look like America’s gay sweetheart again in no time.” I reached for the bathroom door handle again.

  “You really have heard that it’s normal?”

  I turned back to him. “What?”

  “Having jitters before the wedding. That’s normal, right?”

  There was a desperation in his voice that had me taking a few steps closer. “Yeah. Anybody in their right mind would feel that way before they walked down the aisle. Especially when doing so in front of the whole damn world.”

  He shuddered.

  Okay, maybe that wasn’t helpful. Dammit, I needed to do a better job. I closed the distance and gripped both of his shoulders. Dear God, the man was all muscle. I forced myself to meet his eyes. “This is normal. Anyone would be nervous. Just breathe.”

  He took a breath. It was shallow and shaky, but it was a breath. And it was progress.

  I gave a little shake to my grip, like I imagined his coach might’ve done. He needed a pep talk. “You’re gonna be fine. You got this. Keep your eye on the ball.” Maybe that was a little bit too literal. “You’re marrying the man you love. That’s the only thing that matters. You and Will. Trust me, I know. I’m seeing soul mate after fucking soul mate… er… sorry… I’m seeing soul mate after soul mate get married lately. I can tell you, from what I see, it’s worth every bit of work and fear there is to get to that other side.”