Read Online Framed and Hung by Alexis Fleming - Free Book Online Page A

paintings and stared at the room, his mouth open. ‘My God, look at this. I can’t believe how much you two have achieved in one day. It doesn’t even look like the same room.’
    The room had been set up for a wedding. A picture in ivory, cream and gold. It was outstanding.
    ‘Not bad, eh?’ Zoe gave him a superior look. ‘So how about an apology now for your comments about my abilities when we first arrived?’
    Hand over his heart, he bowed to her. ‘My most humble apologies. The room looks fantastic.’ He grimaced and nodded his head at the paintings. ‘Even if we do have every Tom, Dick and Harry hanging about cluttering up the place.’
    ‘Or even a Nathan, Drew, Jake and Simon,’ Rachel quipped.
    Jake groaned. ‘Don’t remind me. So why don’t you two call it quits for the day? You’ve got through an amazing amount of work.’
    Rachel echoed Jake’s groan. ‘Finally! I’m so hungry I’m about to start on those artificial flowers.’
    Zoe flipped her wrist over and looked at her watch. ‘Oh my goodness, it’s after nine o’clock. Rach, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you say something? We could have ordered in a pizza.’
    ‘Nah, it’s fine, but I’m definitely ready to stop now.’
    ‘How about I cook you both dinner?’ Oh crap, why did I offer to do that? Jake shook his head. He was an idiot.
    Zoe tilted her head on one side and stared at him. ‘Hmm, that’s the best offer I’ve had in a long time. I’m too tired to cook for myself. So what are you offering?’
    ‘Ah, I can do — ’
    Zoe cut him off. ‘It will have to be something fairly light. I’ll never sleep tonight if I eat a heavy meal this close to bedtime. What do you reckon, Jake? What’s on the menu?’
    ‘Um…scrambled eggs?’
    ‘With bacon and onion and parsley in it?’
    He nodded so rapidly it was a wonder his brains didn’t work loose. Well, hell, maybe they had.
    ‘You’re on.’ Zoe flicked a smile at Rachel. ‘Come on, Rach, let’s go play ladies of the manor while Jake cooks and serves us dinner. We can set out the cutlery tomorrow. I’ve already counted it out for each table so it won’t take long to finish up in the morning.’
    Rachel held up her hands and backed towards the door, grabbing her shoulder bag and the keys to the van on the way. ‘Nuh-uh, not me.’ She waggled her eyebrows at Zoe. ‘I…ah, I have a visitor coming over at 10 o’clock. I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to appease my…appetites.’
    Zoe burst out laughing. ‘You dirty dog, you! What haven’t you been telling me?’
    Rachel grinned and gave a little finger wave. ‘Never you mind, girlfriend. So I’ll see you tomorrow?’
    ‘Why don’t you take the morning off seeing I worked you so late tonight? I’ve got plenty to be going on with here and then I have to check those swatches of curtain material against the Victorian Textiles website to see if they’ll suit the décor.’
    ‘You’re on. Catch you then. See you later, Jake.’
    Jake lifted his hand to wave, but Rachel had already disappeared. He turned back to Zoe and gulped, swallowing the lump that seemed to have formed in his throat.
    Zoe had her hands planted on her waist and had arched backwards as if to ease the kinks in her back. He didn’t know what it was doing for her back, but it sure wasn’t doing much for his equilibrium. Her breasts were more prominent, the movement lifting them higher. The tiny shorts pulled up even more in the front and he sure didn’t need to ask where the shorts ended and she started.
    Crap on a cracker, any more and I’m going to explode .
    He swallowed hard to clear his throat. ‘Um…ah, it’s…ah, getting late. I’d better get you fed.’
    With a surreptitious jiggle to try to reposition the raging boner in his trousers, he swung around and made it to the doorway. Zoe quickly joined him there, flicking off the lights as she went. She stepped outside with him and made certain the door to the Garden Room was locked