Free His Tempest by Candice Poarch

the next morning. He sounded as if he’d been up for hours. Noelle moaned and rolled over. She snuggled up tightly beneath the covers.
    â€œHow can you be so energized this early in the morning?” she asked, the phone tucked close against her ear.
    â€œI’m sipping my second cup of coffee and I’m watching the the mountains against the moonlight,” he said. The timbre of his voice decreased. “It’s the best I can do since I don’t have you in my arms.”
    Noelle had been filled with contentment until his statement hit her. He threw her immediately into a sensual haze, wondering what kind of lover he’d be. He was definitely a morning person who’d wake her slowly with his kisses. Her skin felt hot beneath the blankets and she peeled one of them back.
    They talked for nearly five minutes while his words stroked her slowly and sweetly. Finally they said goodbye and she hung up the phone.
    Noelle wasn’t a morning person. Usually she made it up at seven, not five-thirty, but she had a lot to do. The first order of business was a fresh pot of coffee for energy. She dressed, woke Gregory up and went downstairs. They should have at least brought in a table and chairs, she thought as she took meager supplies out of the fridge—just bacon, eggs and a loaf of bread. She needed to make a trip to town to purchase food.
    By the time she cooked breakfast and carried it upstairs to the sitting area, Greg had dressed. He came out of the bathroom looking sleepy. She handed him coffee. “A cup of joe should get you moving.”
    â€œI need to get back to school so I can get some rest,” he said.
    â€œYou’re still young and strapping. You can handle it.”
    After breakfast they painted downstairs. By noon, they had finished the living room and dining room. Then they changed clothes and went into town for groceries, stopping first for lunch at Salamanders. After they selected items from the display cases, they took a seat in the dining area.
    â€œDad called last night,” Noelle said. “He forgot about the time change. You were fast asleep.”
    â€œYeah. I was asleep before my head hit the bed. I woke up in my clothes this morning. Wow!” he said looking behind her. “If only she was a little younger.”
    Noelle followed his interested gaze until it lit on a woman at a table behind them. She looked familiar, but Noelle couldn’t place her. She had a pretty round face with a dark-brown complexion and dimpled cheeks. She took off her hat and ran her hand across her short black, naturally curly hair. Noelle frowned. She remembered those dimples, but couldn’t place them. Not wanting to be caught staring, she faced her brother.
    â€œI think we’ll paint the kitchen and the bathroom tonight and leave the downstairs bedroom for tomorrow morning,” Noelle said.
    â€œWhat are you going to do with the bedroom? Make it into a family room?”
    â€œNo. I don’t need a formal living room, so that room will be the family room and entertainment area. I’m turning the downstairs bedroom into an office.”
    Greg groaned. “Which means I’m back to sleeping on the couch when we all visit.”
    â€œThe office is large enough for a sleep sofa. So you’ll have someplace to sleep.”
    â€œI hope you get cable. The reception is terrible here.”
    â€œYou’re full of complaints, aren’t you? I’ll have satellite when you return, just to please you.”
    â€œNoelle?” a voice called out. “Are you Noelle Greenwood?”
    Noelle focused on the woman Greg had commented on earlier.
    â€œYes, I am.”
    â€œOh, my gosh. I’m Casey. Cassandra Reed.”
    â€œI can’t believe it. I thought you looked familiar. I haven’t seen you since…”
    â€œSummer camp. How I enjoyed those summers.”
    â€œSo did I. This is my brother, Gregory.”
    â€œPleasure