Free Always Tried and Proven by Nancy Hopper Page A

breath away.  The soft smooth skin of her cleavage, that had drawn his eyes before he even realized what he was seeing.  And the legs … dear God, the legs.  Endlessly long, slender and tan.  Her thighs were even slender and beautiful.  Not like the hams most women had above their knees – but long, muscled and smooth.  Brown, and begging his fingers to touch them.  Her calves, so sinuous and pleasingly curved.  Her ankles, so tiny, and her feet – even they were lovely!  Tiny, with the nails perfectly manicured and painted white along the tips, like her fingernails.
          Her arms were slender, but also muscular in a lean, beautiful way.  Her wrists, so tiny he knew he could put one hand around both of them.  Her hands so soft and lovely, with long, slender fingers made even more tantalizing by the medium length nails, so perfectly done in a French manicure.  How she managed to play a guitar with those nails, was a mystery to him.
          Her cheeks had just the right amount of roundness to draw the eye.  Her nose was tiny and adorable.  Her lips – her lips!  Full, yet not fleshy.  Perfectly shaped, soft and smooth.  They curved up at the edges, as if she was going to smile at every moment.  The dimples that flanked her lips fascinated him.  They were so cute.  Her teeth were beautiful, too;  even and white.
          Her husky voice, like no other he'd ever heard.  He could still hear it now, saying his name.  “ Sam ”.  Like a caress!  How did she think he'd ever be able to think about anything else, when he kept hearing her voice, saying his name?
          He had been so stunned that morning, when the door opened a tiny three inches, to see the curtain of hair, the wary eye that peeked out at him.  The scent of her, so light and sweet, like Jasmine or Lily of the Valley, muted by the soft freshness of crushed leaves and maybe, the silky freshness of a Spring breeze.  Then, to be hit between the eyes by the cleavage and endless legs, the beautiful hands and lips, eyes and nose, dimples and toes.
          He smiled, thinking how silly he sounded.  He found her wary eyes so lovely; looking at him as if trying to determine whether he'd pounce, or bite.  Looking at him, and being spooked by his very presence.  As if he would devour her.  Yet – not being able to look away, either.  That was quite encouraging.
       He'd been amused when she'd run, hair streaming, back to her room, obviously trying to escape his scrutiny.
          Then, she had returned, trying so hard to appear poised and indifferent.  And managing only to be shy and adorable.  And so, so cute.
         And yet, on another level, she challenged him.  She was defiant and fiery, wily and intelligent.  Feisty and mouthy, and independent.  He found, to his surprise, that he liked that.  It rather made his blood race through his veins, just to think about it.
         Sam suddenly felt his own heart beating wildly.  He'd been waiting, he realized.  Waiting for someone like Callie Wilson to appear.  The feeling of loneliness because he wasn't with her, almost strangled him.
          Yes, he had his God – indeed!  But he'd never had a mate.   Never had a woman look up at him and grab him with her wide, honest eyes, that way.  Not until today.  And now?
            He couldn't escape.
     
         Callie didn’t wake up until noon.  Sadie was already busy in the kitchen, baking cookies.
         “Well good afternoon, sleepyhead.”  She greeted Callie cheerfully.  “Late night?”
           “Yep.”  Callie agreed.
           “Well, how was the job?”
           “Great.  Fine.”
           “You sound grumpy.”
         “I am.”  Callie growled.  Perhaps I’ll take a bath and with any luck,  I’ll feel more human, after.”
          The bath definitely improved her spirits.  Afterward, she went into her room and put on some white, terry