Free Hidden Gifts (A Castle Mountain Lodge Romance) by Elena Aitken

she normally reserved for him. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled.  
    “Don’t be.” Morgan turned away. “Obviously you have it all under control.”
    He wanted to say something else. For a moment, Bo even wanted to spill his guts and tell her that he most certainly did not have it under control. That he didn’t know the first thing about a little girl, or how not to freak out when she tripped, or what she should be wearing, or even where to get her more clothes. He wanted to tell Morgan that he’d panicked and called Clara Kersey at Social Services again and maybe, just maybe, she could find a better situation for Ella, something more stable and better suited for a child. He opened his mouth to tell her everything but before he could, he felt a tug on his pant leg.  
    Ella peered up at him. Her brown eyes peeked out from under her long bangs. She needed a haircut on top of everything too.  
    “Ella,” he asked, crouching so he could hear her if she spoke. “What is it?”
    “Can Morgan come for dinner?” It was the longest string of words Ella had ever said to him, and she’d asked the question so quietly, that for a moment Bo hoped he had misheard her.  
    “I’m sure Morgan already has plans tonight. We wouldn’t want to—“
    “I’d love to.”
    Bo stood and stared at her. Morgan smiled innocently before turning and walking away.  
    He opened and shut his mouth and then looked down at Ella, who he could have sworn gave him a conspiratorial smile.

Chapter Eight

    Even as she changed her clothes, Morgan still couldn’t figure out what had possessed her to accept Bo’s invitation. If you could even call it that. It was more like Bo trying to convince Ella that she wouldn’t want to go, which was probably the only reason Morgan had accepted. She wasn’t normally so antagonistic towards people, but there was something about Bo that brought out a challenge in her.
    It didn’t matter, anyway; she’d accepted and even if she wanted to, Morgan would never cancel, so she might as well make the best of it. She looked in the mirror and applied another coat of mascara. Besides, she wasn’t interested in Bo. Was she? Maybe if she kept telling herself that, eventually she’d believe it. If things were different, if she were different, she would definitely be interested in him. Very interested.  
    She tossed the mascara tube into her makeup bag and picked up the lip gloss before putting it back. “No,” she said to her reflection. “I will not make an effort.”
    “An effort for what?” Astrid popped her head into the bathroom and eyed Morgan’s reflection in the mirror. “Where are you going all dressed up?”
    “I’m not dressed up.” Morgan smoothed her hands down her dress.  
    “Really? So you’re just wearing a dress around here then?” Astrid leaned back against the doorframe and smirked at her. “Not that I don’t appreciate it.”
    “Stop it.” Morgan pushed past her friend and went out to their small living room. The scent of incense burning on the coffee table tickled her nose. “I’m going for dinner.”
    “With?” Astrid asked, following her down the hall.
    “Ella asked me.” Morgan grabbed her purse and busied herself by digging through the contents.
    “Whoa.” Astrid didn’t even try to hide her shock. “So you’re having dinner with Bo?”
    “I assume he’ll be there,” Morgan said. She pulled a plain lip balm from her purse. “Ella’s only four. I can’t imagine that she can cook.”
    “So how exactly aren’t you making an effort?“
    “I’m not putting on lip gloss, if you must know.”  
    “Wow.” Astrid laughed. “You’re right, putting on lip balm instead of lip gloss will really show Bo that you’re not interested.”
    Morgan frowned at her. “I’m not interested,” she said. Even to her own ears the words weren’t convincing. “He’s been nothing but a jerk to me since I’ve met him.”
    “He’s still hot.”
    “I’m not into rude