Bachelor's Bought Bride by Jennifer Lewis Page A

before he could scrutinize her expression. She was still working on keeping it serene.
    “Mmm, fantastic. I was too busy to eat lunch so it’s lucky we didn’t make plans.”
    “Something big going on at Maddox?”
    “In a way.” His voice had a funny tone to it that made her turn around. “Oh?”
    “Me, leaving.” A sheepish grin snuck across Gavin’s face. One that just a few hours ago she would have found adorable.
    She froze. “Leaving Maddox Communications?” One million dollars was not enough to retire on. Not in San Francisco, at least. Maybe he just planned to kick back and live off her fortune?
    She turned and marched to the kitchen to check on the lasagna. The dish had helped get her focus off Gavin this afternoon. Might as well use it as a distraction now.
    “You’re shocked, aren’t you?” Gavin followed her into the small galley kitchen. His physical presence filled the doorway and she fought a stray surge of desire.
    “Well, yes. I thought you liked it there.” She didn’t look up. Instead she busied herself with taking the dish out of the oven.
    “It was a good place to build my reputation. But now I’m ready to strike out on my own.” He eased up beside her and slid his arms around her waist.
    “Careful. This dish is hot.” She tried to wriggle away from him, hating the way her stomach tingled under his fingers.
    “Then don’t look so irresistible. It’s not fair to wear a dress like that and then not let me touch you.”
    Arousal rippled inside Bree at the touch of his handon her hip. Curse him and this stupid dress. Another of the ones Elle had talked her into buying. Dark blue with a swirly skirt of clingy jersey.
    “I just don’t want to burn myself.” I’ve already been badly burned today.
    “All right, I’ll set the table.”
    “I already did.” She had everything planned and organized to perfection. She’d had plenty of time on her hands, after all, because the idea of photographing couples had quickly lost its charm. “Why don’t you sit down? It’s almost ready.” She managed to keep her voice calm and even bright. Who knew she had such powers of deception?
    She served the food with a smile. Gavin’s admiring gaze took in her hard work primping this afternoon. She’d wanted to look good so he wouldn’t know that inside she was in tiny pieces. “Why are you leaving Maddox Communications?”
    Gavin’s smile broadened, and took on a conspiratorial air. “To start my own company.”
    Bree swallowed as she sat down hard. Everything was becoming crystal clear. She called on an inner strength she hoped was in there somewhere. “What kind of company?”
    “My own advertising shop. Boutique, top-notch creative, specializing in cutting-edge brands.” The confident sparkle in his eye both aroused and infuriated her.
    “Isn’t that a risky endeavor? It must be hard to raise the money for a venture like that.” She cocked her head, maintaining her placid demeanor.
    Gavin’s smile faded slightly, which gave her a moment of grim satisfaction. “Yes, no doubt it is, but I have yearsof experience now and I’m confident in my ability to make this endeavor succeed.” He reached across the table and she let him take her hand and squeeze it. “With you by my side, there’s no way I can fail.”
    His words rang hollow in the still air. Words that—if spoken yesterday—would have filled her with giddy pride. Today they sounded phony. A cliché. A lie.
    Of course, in a way, he spoke the truth. It’s hard to fail if the endeavor is underwritten by one of the most successful investors in San Francisco—who’d handed over the money as a reward for taking his daughter off his hands.
    “So, are you bringing clients with you from Maddox?”
    Gavin paused, fork hovering above his plate. “Much as I’d love to, I don’t think that would be ethical.”
    “You wouldn’t want to do anything unethical.” Like, say, marry for money. “Much better to do things the