Free Testament by Katie Ashley Page B

“You’re finished?”
    “Yep. And I think you’re going to like what you see,” she said, wagging her eyebrows.
    I stood up on wobbling knees and glanced into the mirror. “Wow,” I murmured. It was unbelievable—I had to look twice to believe it was me. Laurel had gone for a dramatic makeover. Shimmering green eye-shadow coated my eyelids and glittered when it caught the light. Dark mauve lipstick plumped up my lips. My hair had been curled into a mass of auburn ringlets and then swept back on the sides with glittering combs.
    “Like it?” Laurel asked.
    I smiled. “It’s amazing. You are amazing!”
    “Tell me something I don’t know,” she replied, with a grin.
    A knock came at the door. “Oh no, is it time to go downstairs already?” I asked.
    Laurel eyed the clock. “No, not yet. It better not be one of those prima donnas from the Hill wanting me to come spend time on them. That’s what my minions are for!” She flung open the door and demanded, “What?”
    It was Micah. “Oh, uh, I just came by to see Cadence.”
    Laurel grinned at him. “Then by all means, come in.”
    “Thanks,” Micah answered, as he stepped over the threshold. When his eyes landed on me, his mouth gaped open. “Holy shit!”
    “Joshua Micah Greene! You watch your mouth!” Naomi scolded from behind him.
    He ducked his head at his mother’s admonishment and mumbled, “Sorry.”
    When he met my gaze, I couldn’t help but grin. Even though he was a foot taller than Naomi, he still feared and respected her. Maybe it was that moment of him looking sheepishly at me that I realized how much I really liked…maybe even loved Micah.
    Laurel started to the door. “You’ve got twenty minutes before you have to be downstairs.” She gave Micah and me a wicked look. “Don’t do anything I would do because I don’t have time to fix your makeup.”
    I think both Micah and I flushed crimson from our cheeks down to our necks. Thankfully, the door closed behind them, and we were left alone.
    “So…” He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his jeans and shuffled back and forth on his feet.
    “So?”
    “You’re taking out all the stops with that costume, aren’t you?”
    “Is my costume all you can think of right now?” I teased.
    He bobbed his head. “I came up here to say something, but for the life of me, I can’t remember now.”
    I laughed. “There you go proving the stereotype Laurel was just talking about with men.” I poked his chest with my finger. “If you’re so dazzled by my costume, then you obviously only think with one thing.”
    Micah swatted my hand away and grinned. “Well, it’s kinda hard not to think of that when you’re looking like a sexpot.”
    “Oh whatever. For men, it doesn’t matter what you have on.”
    His eyes roamed over my body. “And the less you’re wearing, the better.”
    I grinned. “You’re terrible.”
    Micah glanced at the clock. “I don’t want to keep you too long.”
    A storm of emotions crashed over me, and without even thinking, I threw my arms around his neck and crushed my lips to his. When I pulled away, I met his startled expression. “I-uh, I just wanted us to have a little of what we had the other night,” I said.
    “Trust me, I’m not complaining,” Micah replied, in a husky voice. He snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me to him. This time he kissed me, but it was with a little more passion than I had bestowed on him.
    “Micah,” I murmured, against his lips. “I have to go.”
    He pulled away to bury his head in my shoulder. His hot breath scorched against my shoulder. “I have this ache in my chest when I think about Kellan picking you. I want to throw you over my shoulder like a caveman, run away and never look back.”
    I couldn’t help giggling at the image. Micah raised his head. My laugh caught in my throat at his expression. “I’d take care of you—I’d work until my back broke and my fingers bled if I had to.” His thumb