Framed and Hung (7 page)

‘Well, you did good, kid. It looks fantastic.’

The multi-tiered chandelier, along with the brass carriage lamps set around the walls, gave the room a soft, glowing ambience. The walls were painted a heavy cream shade that reminded Zoe of the colour of clotted cream. The polished timber picture rail running around the top of the walls was a great contrast. The ceiling and the beautifully moulded ceiling rose that framed the chandelier were done in stark white.

This room, too, had its own open fireplace framed by a polished timber mantle. Earlier, Zoe had placed a china vase in centre position on the mantle and had cut three of the old-fashioned, deep cream roses from the garden just outside the room and placed them in the vase. They’d soon die off, but she could replace them for the photos.

She stood back and ran her gaze over the room. ‘I know Jessie’s notes said the Garden Room would be used for conferences or board meetings, but I just can’t see all those business men sitting down around a couple of tables for a meeting. How about we dress the room for a wedding?’

‘Sounds great to me,’ Rachel said. ‘Much more fitting. If I close my eyes, I can almost see the ladies in their ballgowns floating across the polished floor.’

Zoe chuckled. ‘Yeah, I know what you mean. I feel like I’ve stepped back in time. Okay, give me a hand and we’ll place the tables. I don’t want to drag them in case they scratch the floor.’

With Rachel’s help, Zoe placed one table in front of the fireplace for the bridal table, and then arranged the others in a U shape, three across the bottom and two each on either side.

‘I’m just going to go grab some table linen. How about you place the chairs while I’m gone?’

Zoe dashed out of the room and along the paved walkway until she came to a door marked Linen Room at the end of the building. It took her five attempts before she found the master key on the key ring and was able to unlock the door. Then, juggling the tablecloths and napkins, she secured the door and returned to the Garden Room.

The linen was old and where once it had been snowy white, now it had a slight creamy look to it. Perfect for what Zoe wanted. She quickly covered the tables while Rachel turned each napkin into what looked like a swan and placed one before each setting.

A long sideboard at the far end of the room yielded up a stack of old china. Rachel and Zoe found enough matching dinner plates, dessert bowls and side plates to set the tables.

‘You know what I really need? Ivory tulle. If I had enough I could loop the netting in scallops along the front of the bridal table. I might see if I can get some tomorrow.’

‘No need,’ Rachel piped up. ‘I think I have just the thing you want. Back in a minute.’ Grabbing the keys to her van, she disappeared out of the room.

Zoe used the time to raid the cupboards in the kitchen. Grabbing a tray, she lined up champagne flutes, wine glasses and silver cutlery, and then checked to see if there was anything else she could use.

The top shelf in the pantry was a treasure trove. Zoe helped herself to a couple of three-branch candelabras and on the second shelf down, found enough tapering ivory candles to sink a battleship. Whoever had ordered them must have thought they’d have to deal with a blackout; there were boxes of the things, taking up the whole of the shelf.

She found a stash of silver and some single candle holders on the far end of the top shelf, and… She couldn’t help but grin.
So help me God, more boxes of candles
.

This time, squat ivory candles that would be perfect for her wedding theme. She added them all to her tray and staggered back to the Garden Room with her bounty.

She’d no sooner placed the tray on the nearest table when Rachel came bolting back into the room with a roll of cream-coloured netting in one arm and a clear plastic bag full of artificial ivory and gold roses in the other. She piled them into Zoe’s arms before digging into her pocket and producing a packet of sewing pins.

She handed them over with a chuckle. ‘I
thought
I had some of the tulle left from where I dressed that new wedding reception centre. What do you think? Will it do?’

Zoe laughed. ‘I am
so
glad you never get around to unpacking and cleaning that van of yours and I promise, I’ll never bug you about it again.’ She held up her hand as if swearing an oath.

‘Hey, don’t knock it. That van is my office.’

Still laughing, Zoe started to loop the tulle along the sides and front of the bridal table, pinning as she went. By the time she’d finished and trimmed off the excess, she had a scalloped effect with the upper point of each loop held in place with one of the ivory and gold roses.

She placed the three-branched candelabras on either end of the table and inserted the ivory candles. With some of the leftover netting, she fashioned a twist that resembled the petals of a flower around the base of each candle holder and added a couple of the artificial roses.

Rachel fitted the remaining candles in their silver holders and placed one in the centre of each table. Zoe worked her magic again and used the remaining ivory and gold roses to create a centrepiece to highlight the candle.

Rachel had already set out the glassware while Zoe had been working on the bridal table and now she wandered over to stare at the paintings and old sepia photographs hanging from the picture rail either side of the fireplace.

‘Boy, they sure have strong genes in this family.’

Zoe was counting out cutlery, but at Rachel’s comment, she dumped it all on the sideboard and joined Rachel in front of the paintings.

The portraits, even the more modern ones, were done in sepia tones and each had a small gold plaque fixed to the bottom of the polished frame. Zoe read off the first one. ‘
Jake Lord – 1866 – Age 33
. I guess this is where our Jake got his name from.’

‘
Our
Jake?’

Ignoring the raised eyebrows and the grin on Rachel’s face, she went back to studying the portraits and the names and dates inscribed on the plaques. ‘Jake. Joshua. Josiah. George. Nathan. Andrew. And each one was painted when they were 33.’

The family resemblance was strong. In the shape of the face and the nose. In particular, the eyes. Dress modern-day Jake in period costume and he could have sat for the first Jake’s portrait. Two blank spots were left at the end of the row of portraits, obviously meant for Jake and his youngest brother.

‘Hey, I just realised something. Jake’s 35. Wonder how he missed out on joining the Rogues’ Gallery.’

Jake cleared his throat and stepped into the Garden Room, joining the women in front of the portraits. ‘Ah, I need to talk to you about that when you have some free time.’

With a shake of his head, he stared up at his ancestors. ‘I cannot believe she did this. The last time I saw these paintings, they were hanging in the hallway at home.
Mum’s home
.’

Zoe’s lips twitched as if she wanted to burst into laughter. ‘They look nice up there. Suits the décor. And just how
did
you manage to get away without having your portrait done at 33?’

He grinned. ‘By ignoring all the oblique references
and
outright demands from Mother Dear. But now that Simon’s home, you can bet your bottom dollar she’s going to be on my case again. She’s already started to chip at Simon and he has only just turned 33. My mother is a bulldog when she wants something.’

Now Zoe and Rachel did burst out laughing. Jake couldn’t help but join them. He loved his mum, but there was no doubt she liked to get her own way.

A smile still on his face, he turned towards Zoe to share the moment with her, then his mouth dropped open. When he’d walked into the Garden Room, his brain had registered she was wearing shorts and some type of skimpy top. But, freakin’ hell, now his brain engaged and
really
took notice…and the old grey matter wasn’t the only thing on high alert.

The skimpy little top Zoe had on turned out to be a halter top. Bright red, or more like scarlet, and the fabric looked so soft and slinky he could see the outline of her nipples. His hand itched to reach out and touch, just to confirm what his eyes were telling him.

Then there were the shorts she
almost
had on. Skin-tight. So brief he wasn’t certain the term ‘shorts’ was justified. They cupped and moulded her ass so tightly they looked like they were painted on. The lower half of her bottom was clearly visible, the cheeks of her ass outlined by the fabric.

No panty line that he could see. Hell, he wasn’t even certain she could fit undies on under those shorts.

She turned towards him and his temperature shot into the danger zone. The shorts were so damn tight they pulled up in front every time Zoe moved.

The blood left his head and roared through his lower body. For a moment he felt light-headed, numb, as if his heart had ceased to beat. Then his cock snapped to life and pressed against the front of his trousers. Oh yeah, he was well and truly alive.

Swallowing, he tried to lubricate a throat gone suddenly dry. When that didn’t work, he averted his gaze and struggled for a new topic of conversation to take his mind off his wayward body.

He turned away from the 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 behind her. Then, her arm linked in his, she led them to the kitchen.

Jake breathed a sigh of relief when she released his arm inside the kitchen. He needed a little distance to get his libido under control.

Zoe immediately opened the big commercial refrigerator and bent down to peer at the shelves. Within seconds, she had grabbed a carton of eggs and a packet of bacon. Without looking, she thrust them behind her for him to take.

Unfortunately, he was too fixated on the image of her shorts creeping higher and showing off the cheeks of her ass.

‘Hey, Jake, take the eggs before I drop them,’ she mumbled, still hunting in the refrigerator.

‘Ah, sorry.’ He grabbed the eggs from her and placed them on the central workbench. God, she must think he was a total idiot. Shaking his head, he worked at disciplining his mind while he hunted through the cupboards until he found a plastic jug. He cracked three eggs into the jug and then went searching for a whisk.

Zoe, a bunch of parsley and a loaf of bread in her hand, hovered beside the workbench. ‘Jake, that’s not enough eggs for the two of us.’