Free Framed and Hung by Alexis Fleming

raised. ‘And?’
    He shook his head and dragged his mind back to the conversation. ‘Have you ever done any portraits?’
    ‘Well, I have, but it’s not my best work. I’m better at caricatures.’
    Yes! This could work, if he played it right. For a moment he felt like an asshole. He was planning on setting Zoe up to fail, but if the portrait was less than perfect, there was no way in hell his mother would hang it. Certainly not in the inn.
    ‘I take it this is to do with those portraits hanging in the Garden Room?’
    Jake groaned. ‘Mother is never going to get off my back until I have it done. I don’t suppose…’
    Zoe chuckled. ‘You want me to do your painting?’
    ‘Would you?’ He scrunched his face up and tried to look pathetic. ‘Please?’
    She burst out laughing. ‘You look about five years old like that. Okay, I’ll put you out of your misery and give it a shot. But don’t come back at me if it doesn’t turn out any good.’
    He released a relieved breath. ‘Thank you. I really appreciate it. But I have to warn you, I’m not great at the sitting still for hours thing.’
    She shook her head. ‘Not necessary. I can take a series of photos tomorrow and work from those. At most, I’ll probably only need two sittings.’ A frown creased her forehead and she tilted her head on one side to stare at him.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Any reason why it has to be a formal portrait like those in the Garden Room? I can still do it in sepia shades to tone in with the rest of the portraits, but with a more up-to-date theme.’
    He shrugged. ‘I can’t see why it would matter too much. Let’s break with tradition and go for something more modern.’
    ‘Sweet. This should be fun. It’s been a long while since I did a portrait.’
    Jake gulped and rubbed a hand across his belly. There was that lump of guilt in his stomach again. God help him, he felt like the lowest of the low. Here he was, hoping she’d fail, and she was excited about doing his painting.
    Not only arrogant, but a low-down bastard, too?
    Oh yeah, Jake, not your finest moment.

Chapter Five
    Zoe quaffed the last of her wine and stood, stretching her shoulders to get rid of the stiffness left over from painting. She barely stifled a chuckle as she spotted the look on Jake’s face. His gaze was fastened on her breasts, barely confined by her top. She raised one eyebrow and stared at him, willing him to comment.
    A tide of red washed over his cheeks. He gulped and looked around the kitchen. ‘Um, it’s getting late. Guess we’d better get this place cleaned up and head off to bed.’
    He pushed back from the bench and gathered the dishes before turning to the sink. After filling it with hot water and detergent, he dumped the dirty dishes in.
    She collected the pan and cooking utensils from the stovetop and joined him. ‘You know we do have a commercial dishwasher available, don’t you?’
    ‘Not worth it for so few.’ He kept his gaze trained on the sink.
    Zoe shrugged, grabbed a tea towel and dealt with the wet dishes, placing them back on the shelves when she’d finished. The whole time she kept an eye on Jake. On the flush that still stained his cheeks. On the surreptitious looks he cast her way when he thought she wasn’t looking. And the heat that rose from his body every time she brushed against him.
    Accidentally, of course.
    Yeah, right . You are such a liar, Zoe, my girl.
    With a last swipe of the bench, Jake threw the dishcloth into the sink. ‘Okay, all done. Let’s hit the sack. I’ve got to get up early and do some work on my election campaign before I head to the bank.’
    He led them out of the kitchen and locked the door, before taking her arm and guiding her along the path that led to their rooms.
    Zoe snuggled close to him. ‘I heard you were running for local council. Following in Dad’s footsteps?’
    Jake shrugged. ‘I guess, but it’s more than that. I like the idea of having a say in how this town