Playing in Shadow by Lesley Davis Read Free Book Online Page A

dark the shadows were beneath Bryce’s eyes that morning. She had started to ask if Bryce was okay, but she’d been brushed off with a brusque “I’m fine” and the conversation had been abruptly over. Scarlet couldn’t help but wonder what was keeping Bryce up at night…or who ? The flare of jealously that pierced through her chest startled her and left her feeling flustered.
    “You look thoughtful, girlfriend,” Monica said as she walked past pushing a wheelbarrow.
    Scarlet quickly moved out of her way. “Sorry, I was in a world of my own.”
    “Are you still coming with us tonight?” Monica began unloading her flower trays, shooing Juliet away and instead laying the trays within reach for Juliet to handle without bending down. Scarlet bit her lip to stop her amusement from escaping at the sight of Juliet rolling her eyes at Monica’s solicitude.
    “Yes, I’ve brought my change of clothes with me so I can leave straight from here. The guys have gotten the bathroom reasonably habitable in the house we’re working in so I’ll skip in there to get dressed up.”
    “It should be a good night,” Monica said. “A live band on stage and the club is even laying out a spread.”
    “It’s a good thing there will be food. I’ll be starving by the time I leave here tonight.”
    “You wearing the dress I made you?” Monica pushed the wheelbarrow aside and began helping Juliet sort through the plants. Scarlet nodded.
    “Yes, the one with the ornate stitching. It gets its debut tonight.”
    “You look beautiful in that,” Juliet said, having seen Scarlet being fitted for the dress. “And the stitching is the exact same color as your hair. Monica, you outdid yourself with it.”
    “I had a good form to fit. I mean, look at her…” She waved a hand at Scarlet. “She’s drop-dead gorgeous with a body perfect to design for.”
    Scarlet just grinned. “Well, as much as I’d love to stay here and have you boost my ego, I’d better go back to work.”
    “Have you taken any more candid shots we should know about?” Monica asked. “Elton loved the one you e-mailed him of me looking all imperious, directing my workers.”
    Scarlet pretended to hide her camera behind her back. “You looked delightfully bossy. I know for a fact Elton loves that about you.”
    “You have no idea,” she drawled.
    Juliet chuckled. “At least you’re dressed in your photo. Trent adores the studio picture you did of us though.”
    Scarlet was immensely proud of the professional photograph she’d done privately for Trent and Juliet. She’d set up the living room in the apartment with a simple white backdrop. Trent and Juliet had disrobed enough so that Juliet’s prominent belly had been visible and Trent’s naked body had been shielding both Juliet and their unborn child. Scarlet had positioned them so that nothing was really revealed while the nakedness of their pose was still easily apparent. Trent’s vibrant rose tattoo incorporating Juliet’s name was a blaze of color against their pale skin and the stark white of the background. Scarlet had captured a very sensual picture, Trent’s obvious dark strength in contrast to Juliet’s pale softness. The look in Trent’s eyes alone had revealed just how much she was in love with the woman in her arms. Juliet had gasped when she’d seen the finished photograph and had hugged Trent to her. Trent had been quiet for a long moment.
    “Thank you. It’s beautiful,” she’d said. “It’s going in our bedroom though because I don’t share Juliet’s naked beauty with anyone else.” That had earned her another hug from Juliet and then they’d made Scarlet promise she’d be the baby’s official photographer once the child made its appearance.
    Monica made a play of running her hands down her body. “Do you think I should get naked with Elton and have Scarlet take our picture? It would be awesome in black and white and would really display Elton’s marvelous body