Free Finally Home by Dawn Michele Werner Page B

smooth oak finish and engraved scroll design. “It’s gorgeous, Noah.”
    He grinned with pride. “It was my grandmother’s. She gave it to my dad when he got married. But then it started falling apart. I found it in one of the storage sheds at the ranch last week--”
    “ And you decided to restore it,” she finished for him, feeling almost as much pride as he was at the moment. No wonder his mood was so pleasant.
    “ Yep. Think it’ll look good on the front porch of the house?”
    Her cheeks were hurting from smiling so much. “Yes, Noah, it will look great on the porch where everyone can see it.”
    “ If only I’d found it a few weeks earlier, then I could’ve had it restored before dad--”
    “ I know,” she interrupted, feeling uncomfortable talking about Thomas. “That would’ve been wonderful.”
    “ Well,” Noah clapped his hands together, “I have something else to show you.” He headed toward a piece of black tarp that was draped over something quite large.
    “ And what’s this?”
    A wide smile grew across his tanned face. “You’ll see.”
    Amanda stepped closer when Noah pulled off the tarp. “A desk,” she touched the granite surface and then the oak drawers. It was L-shaped with a small hutch attached to the corner.
    “ It’s yours.”
    She gasped. “Mine?”
    “ I thought you might need one. You’ve been working on that small kitchen table--”
    “ I know the perfect place for it!” She flung her arms around his neck, then stood on the tips of her toes to plant a kiss on his cheek.
    Caught up in her excitement, Noah hugged her snugly against his chest. Pivoting on his boot heel, he spun her around, enjoying the pressure of her curves against the length of his body.
    Amanda fought dizziness as he swung her in circles, then returned her to the ground. She pried her arms from around his neck and tilted her head back, searching his face for a hint of what he was feeling. Did she dare tell him how she felt? How her heart and soul overflowed with...love. Yes, she did love him! She wasn’t going to fool herself any longer. He was the only man she could love. He had stolen her heart so long ago when they were kids...and had it still.
    Noah’s strong hands caressed her hair, then slid down her back. When he leaned forward, she didn’t push him away this time. He rubbed a rough finger over her lips before he covered her mouth with his own, gently kissing her, cupping her face in his hands.
    A blazing heat traveled over Amanda’s skin, sending a tingle to her fingertips and filling her mind with fuzzy warmth. She tightened her embrace on Noah, never wanting to let go, when he suddenly withdrew. Opening her eyes, she stared at him-- giddy with happiness--even though her lips felt cold after he had pulled away.
    She couldn’t find her tongue--or her brain--so all she said was the first thing that came to mind. “Y-you are so talented.”
    He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Thanks, I practice on oranges.”
    When she realized what he meant, she busted out laughing. “I didn’t mean kissing! I was talking about the desk.”
    He frowned. “Well, thanks a lot. What a blow to my poor ego!”
    “ I didn’t mean that either. You’re a great kisser...I knew that when I was fifteen.”
    He squeezed her hand and touched a fingertip to her chin. “You remember that kiss?”
    “ Of course,” she couldn’t believe he had remembered. “It was my first.”
    “ Your first ? Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “ Because you kissed me and ran...to another girl.”
    Noah closed his eyes, recalling that night. “I’m sorry, Amanda. I hope you’ll forgive me for being such a jerk.”
    She looked into his eyes. It wasn’t a matter of forgiveness...it was trust. Loving him was easy, trusting him would take some work. “You really hurt me back then. But like you said, you were a jerk.”
    He tugged playfully on her hair. “So I’m forgiven?”
    She nodded and placed her head on