Commissioned In White (Art of Love Series) Read Online Free

it.”
    “I do not like the man,” Brooke denied, using her fingers to quote mark invisible words in the air.
    “He’s. . .” Her mind drifted to thinking about Drake saying she was beautiful and asking to paint her. “He’s way too old,” she said finally, bringing her attention back to an amused Carrie, who had narrowed her gaze.
    “Too old for what?” Carrie prodded. “I’ve seen him in jeans and all dressed up for teaching. If he looks that good in clothes, imagine how good he would look without them. He might be the father of a teenager, but he looks better than men lots younger than him.”
    “What was all that mine stuff about a few minutes ago?” Brooke asked, choking on a laugh.
    “I’m just saying the man is fine, as in you know damn well what I mean, Dr. Daniels,” Carrie protested, laughing. “Drake is practically Michael, except nicer and more well-mannered. He’s not for me of course, but I have to tell you, Drake could use someone fun like you in his life. Brandon told me his father never dates or goes out, no matter who does the asking. Doesn’t breaking him in again sound appealing?”
    “No, it sounds boring,” Brooke said, lying through her teeth as she was wondering why a good-looking man like Drake didn’t have women lined up.
    Truth was—and Brooke studied the truth for a living—she liked the art professor a little too much. Not many men in her life had ever made her hands sweat or her heart pound. If she spent any more time with him, Dr. Drake Barrymore might be severely dangerous to her mental state. And she certainly wasn’t planning to get serious with someone that much older than she was.
    “Sorry—just not interested,” Brooke said firmly.
    “I think that’s going to be your loss then,” Carrie advised, pretending to ignore Brooke. “Maybe I’ll hook Drake up with my sister Darla.”
    “Darla? Are you serious? Isn’t she only in her twenties?” Brooke protested, frowning. “He’s twice her age.”
    Carrie shrugged. “So? I’m not suggesting she marry the man. Good grief, Brooke. Don’t you feel sorry for him not dating? Darla won’t hold his attention long, and also she lives in Bowling Green. But she’s lots of fun and might bring Drake out of his shell a bit when she visits.”
    “Out of his shell? The man offered to paint me nude,” Brooke said, her tone tight. “I think he’s out enough.”
    Carrie was shaking her head. “You must have misunderstood. Drake hasn’t painted a nude since his wife died. Whatever he said that day was probably just nerves talking.”
    “You are so naïve,” Brooke told her. “How do you thrive in business so well?”
    “I am not naïve,” Carrie denied hotly. “I am trusting. And people generally live up or down to your expectations of them.”
    Brooke snorted. “Maybe. But Barrymore is not that fine,” she complained.
    Carrie nodded slowly but firmly as she held Brooke’s nervous gaze. “Yes he is. Drake is absolutely fine. I think you should come alone to the opening.”
    Now it was Brooke’s turn to sigh. “I don’t know. Hell, I don’t even have a home yet. Right now, I’m thinking about moving into Shane’s condo. Anybody ever call you stubborn?”
    “Sure. All the time,” Carrie admitted, completely unrepentant about it. “I take it as a compliment, though I prefer the term ‘persistent’ instead.”
    Michael slid the door open again, this time with an empty bottle in his hand. “Can you make the next one water, honey?”
    “Husbands are so much trouble. I swear I’m never getting married again,” Carrie declared, laughing as she went to the refrigerator for the second time.
    “Damn right you’re not getting married again,” Michael said, smiling at the cold bottle of water and then at his wife. “I’m keeping you. You’re mine.”
    Carrie nodded, not at all surprised to hear him say it. “So it would seem,” she said flatly, handing Michael the water bottle and taking the empty