Free Against All Odds (Shifters) by Sam Crescent Page B

years bringing it back up to repair,” he said.
    She watched him open a heavy curtain. Going to the fabric, she knew it wasn’t readily available around them.
    “Yes, I will confess to owning a sewing machine as well. My mom used to love working with her hands, and she taught me how to make everything myself. I’ve done all the fabrics and built all the furniture.”
    She was truly amazed. “Is that why you’re so fit? I mean, erm, your muscles are rock hard . They look rock hard.”
    He chuckled. “I’ve got a gym , but I don’t use it. I love working with my hands, and the best way to do that is by making everything myself.”
    “This is amazing.”
    “Take a seat,” he said, tapping the back of a chair.
    Cautiously she sat down and moaned. The chair was so soft and comfortable. On the far wall a large plasma television hung waiting to be watched. “How do you move out of this room?” she asked.
    “I’m waiting for you to laugh at my hobbies.”
    “Why?” She watched him take a seat next to her. Heather couldn’t deny he really was a good-looking, hard-working man.
    “I’ve got woman hobbies.”
    “Excuse me?” she asked, laughing. “Women’s hobbies?”
    He laughed with her. “It’s something my dad would always say.”
    “Ben, there are male designers out there. You’re good at what you do. I think you should be proud of what you’ve achieved. This house is amazing. I want to see more of it.”
    “Come on, it looks like you’re going to fall asleep.” He took her hand in his and tugged her out of the chair. She groaned, not wanting to leave the comfort of the chair. His arms went to her hips.
    She wasn’t even tempted to push him away. Dana and everyone around her knew she wasn’t the type of woman to hold a grudge, even with Ben. He’d made a mistake, and she couldn’t bring herself to hate him. If she’d not gotten to know him it would have been easy to hate him. Now, hatred just seemed petty.
    He showed her his study and the desk he’d crafted with his own hands.
    “Wow, this is awesome.”
    Heather saw the pride in his eyes. He was also trying to impress her. Once he’d shown her the dining room and the games room, he took her upstairs. Ben showed her several guest bedrooms, and he’d made some themed rooms for boys and girls. She thought it was sweet. He’d not wanted a family, but he’d still made rooms for children.
    The master bedroom was a thing of beauty. He’d made a four-poster bed with lace curtains around the bed. It was truly beautiful. The bed showed the love shining out of the man. The more she was getting to know him, the harder it was to walk away.
    “I don’t sleep in this room. It was something I needed to do. The room spoke to me. I sound crazy, right?”
    “No, not crazy at all. All kinds of artists have their work speak to them. This is just part of who you are.” She ran her fingers down one of the posts. “I wished I had this skill.”
    He touched her hand. “I could teach you.”
    “I’d like that.”
    For the first time since meeting him, Heather wanted him to do more than touch her hand. She wished she could put her wants into words. What would it be like to have his fingers caressing her face or tilting her head back to kiss?
    Swallowing down her saliva, she stared up at his face. Ben never saw the scars. His gaze never travelled the path that her fingers had taken so many times.
    Her stomach growled, interrupting the moment.
    “I think it’s time to feed you and to show you my kitchen.” He didn’t let go of her hand. The moment was gone. Disappointment filled every part of her body. She wanted something more to happen. What would his lips feel like now? Would a similar moment arise, or was that her one and only chance to be with him?
    Crap, her thoughts were all over the place.
    “This is my pride and joy,” he said. Ben slid two doors open, and they walked into his kitchen. Heather instantly saw the love put into the room. The