Bachelor's Bought Bride Read Online Free Page B

showing her off.
    She fought the urge to pinch herself. Any minute now she’d wake up in her own bed, with Faith and Ali stretched, purring, on the duvet next to her. But until then she’d better keep a smile on her face.
     
    Never a morning person, Bree had barely managed to drag herself out of bed by the time Elle showed up at her door. She and Gavin had stayed at the party until nearly 1 a.m. Once again, he’d dropped her home without dropping a hint about coming in.
    And without trying to kiss her.
    “Hey, Bree!” Elle kissed her on the cheek like they were old friends. “I brought your bear claw and some coffee. I bet you need it after last night. Gavin must have introduced you to everyone in the room.” She handed Bree a to-go cup full of steaming coffee.
    “He may have even introduced me to some of them twice. It was all a blur after about ten o’clock. Come in.” She ushered Elle into the bright room. Ornate Victorian paned glass covered one wall and part of the sloped ceiling, creating the bright studio light that gave the space its name.
    “Oh, my lord, look at the view.” Elle put the paperbakery bag on the small dining table and moved to the window. “I bet on a clear day you can see Japan from here.”
    “Almost.” Bree grinned. “I do love watching boats in the bay.”
    “I guess you’ll miss the view when you move in with Gavin.” Elle lifted a brow.
    Bree froze. “What? There’s nothing going on between Gavin and me. I only just met him.”
    “Really?” Elle’s eyes widened. “I got the definite impression that you two were a serious item.”
    “He was being very…solicitous, but I only met him the night before.”
    “You’re kidding me.” Elle’s eyes narrowed. “I know you and I only just met, so I shouldn’t even ask this, but you’ve kissed, right?”
    “Not even a peck.” A prickle of embarrassment ran over her. If she were cute like Elle, he probably would have tried. “I think he’s just being friendly.”
    “But he kept putting his arm around you.” Elle cocked her head. “That’s not the kind of thing you do with a friend. Nope. He’s definitely after you. Probably just taking it slow.”
    Bree shrugged, hoping the heat in her face didn’t show. “Let me get some plates.”
    They chatted about the house and the neighborhood while they ate their pastries and sipped the strong coffee. After they ate, Bree showed Elle some of her photos.
    “You have an amazing eye. In each picture there’s something of the essence of the individual. I know how hard that is to capture. I can’t take a decent portrait to save my life. I’m lucky if their eyes are open.”
    “I wish I could offer some tips, but I’m afraid I’m not sure how I do it.”
    “Genius. Talent. All those things I don’t have as a photographer.” Elle smiled. “It’s not hard to see why Gavin’s crazy about you.”
    “Oh, stop! First of all, he’s not crazy about me. Second of all, he hasn’t seen my photos.”
    “Yes, he has. He was showing everyone the Black Book in the office on Friday.”
    “Was he really?” Bree bit her lip.
    “One word. Besotted.” Elle crossed her arms. “A man in love. Sometimes it happens that fast.”
    “Oh, come on. What could Gavin possibly see in me? I’m definitely not the type men fall head over heels for.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “Well, let’s see. My hair has a mind of its own, which changes with the barometric pressure. I need to lose weight. And the only famous person I bear a resemblance to is one Duncan Kincannon, Tenth Laird of Aislin. You can see him halfway down the stairs in the main hall, wrapped in a gilt frame.”
    Elle giggled. “I bet Gavin loves your sense of humor.”
    “That’s about all there is to love.”
    “What nonsense! Though…” She tipped her head to one side and pressed a figure to her lips. “If you don’t mind my saying so…I can see a little room for improvement.”
    Bree cringed inside her baggy