Free Finding Home (Montana Born Homecoming Book 2) by Roxanne Snopek Page B

didn’t return his smile. But now she looked torn.
    “I think the only one who’s not fine, who hasn’t been fine in a very long time,” he said softly, “is you. But if you need to go, we’ll go.”
    He kept his hand on hers, stroking lightly.
    “I’m enjoying getting acquainted with you all over again. How about you?”
    Her head dropped forward then, just slightly, and Logan knew he’d won.
    “A half-hour longer,” she said. “That’s it.”
    He grinned and stuck his hand up in the air. “There’s a chocolate volcano cake here that will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven. And I, for one, don’t share dessert, so you’ll have to order your own.”
    “You don’t play fair, do you?” she said.
    “I do whatever it takes, honey.”
    *
    Sam beheld the empty plate in front of her with disbelief, marvelling that somehow, she’d managed to put away that entire, huge, luscious chocolate volcano cake. And after everything she’d already eaten.
    “I think I just gained five pounds,” she said, putting her hand on her stomach. She felt sated, as if a long-term deficiency had been filled.
    But it wasn’t just the food; it was Logan. Who else could make her leave her daughter with near-strangers just so she could spend an hour or two with him?
    “Five pounds? Then we’ll have to do this at least four more times,” said Logan. He’d had the cheesecake and it was fantastic too. She knew because he’d insisted on giving her a taste.
    “Twenty pounds?” She tossed a paper napkin at him.
    “At least.” He stood up. “Half-hour’s up. Time to go.”
    “Right. Of course.” She shook her head. It was as if she became someone else in his presence. Someone who was more than a mother.
    She took out a couple of twenties. “Here, this should cover my portion.”
    “When you ask me out,” he said, pushing them back into her bag, “you can pay. When I ask, I pay.”
    He lifted her sweater off the back of her chair and held it out for her. “Besides, I never got to treat you the way I wanted to, way back when. Let me do this now.”
    He looked regretful, she thought, though for what she couldn’t imagine. He’d been such a wonderful boyfriend. Her first, which may have colored her memory, of course. But still. He’d been sweet, funny, courteous… and the chemistry between them.
    Well.
    It had been ferocious. The kind of heat you look back on years later with fondness, knowing it was wrapped up in hormones and youth, nothing that could last.
    Nothing real.
    He unlocked the passenger door of his truck and held out his hand.
    She needed his help like ducks need a map to the lake, but she couldn’t resist the chance to touch him again. She’d always loved his big hands, his long fingers, the elegant curve of his thumb. Even though he spent his days working with wood, there was nothing rough or crude about his hands. If anything, he had the touch of an artist.
    The solid warmth flowed from his skin to hers and it felt… right. Familiar. Comfortable.
    Hands didn’t change, she thought.
    Logan walked her to the door. For a moment, they stood on the porch, the last golden streaks from the dying sun slanting through the trees.
    “Thank you,” she said. “For making me have dinner with you.”
    He laughed. “Next time maybe I’ll really torture you and take you to a movie.”
    Next time.
    Then he took a step closer to her. She backed up but the rough stone façade stopped her.
    “Goodnight, Sam,” he murmured. Then he lowered his head and covered her mouth with his. Her hands went to his chest, as if to push him away, but when he deepened the kiss, they crept up, up to his neck until she was clinging to him, dragging him closer, unaware of anything but the need to be touching, every bit of them, with no stopping, no barriers.
    Logan chuckled, breaking the kiss. He leaned his forehead against hers. They were both breathing hard.
    “Wow,” she said. Her voice shook. And she thought the kiss