Finally Home Read Online Free PDF

I thought you’d decided I was a scoundrel and didn’t want to see me ever again.”
    Her skin tingled as he touched the nape of her neck. Desperately, she tried to fight the weakness claiming her whole body.
    Thank goodness someone interrupted her muddled thoughts and made her instantly aware of her surroundings again. She forced herself away from Noah and turned from him when a woman approached.
    “ Mr. West, I’m going to buy two of your rocking chairs over there,” the woman scratched her fluffy red hair and pointed to the front of the general store where two large rocking chairs were displayed. “But I would really like it if you could make me a swing, too. I didn’t see any here in the store.”
    Noah swished fingers through his dark hair. He glanced at Amanda and then flashed the petite red-head a charming smile.
    “ I would love to make you a swing, ma’am. If you don’t mind, please go over to the front counter where Mr. Randall is and I will join you there to take your order in just a while.”
    She batted her lashes and left with a giggle.
    Amanda felt composed enough to punch Noah lightly in the shoulder.
    “ Ow! What was that for?” he rubbed his arm in false pain.
    “ For being such a flirt,” she teased. “You had that woman drooling all over you.”
    “ Hey, I’m just being myself,” he shook his head, staring at her coyly.
    “ Ok, whatever you say,” she humored him. “You can stand here being yourself but I need to find a pie for tomorrow night’s dinner.”
    “ I’m curious,” Noah called after her before she left his sight.
    “ About what?” she asked.
    “ How did you find out about my absence from the ranch?”
    She cleared her throat. Should she lie, or tell the truth about Thomas knocking at her door and wanting to know if Noah was with her?
    “ Umm, when your father came to fix the fence in front of my house, he caught me outside on the front porch and invited me to Thanksgiving dinner. I said yes and asked if you would be there since you had already invited me to dinner last week. That’s when your father told me you had been missing for a couple of days,” she knew she was rambling but hoped Noah believed her.
    “ So, of course he stressed to me that he was worried and didn’t know if you’d be back--”
    “ Ok, ok, sorry I asked. I didn’t want the book-length version,” he held his palms to her and waved them rapidly.
    “ Ah, but if you don’t mind, I would like the book-length version of your journey into the furniture business and why your father is being left in the dark about your talent.”
    Noah’s playful attitude vanished quicker than it had appeared just a few moments ago. “Amanda, my father is not in the dark. He knows about my furniture, and doesn’t like it. That’s why you can’t say anything about it.” He pivoted on his heel and headed toward the lady waiting for him at the counter.
    Dazed, Amanda watched Noah march away to help his customer. She could make no sense out of him! Here he was, a talented furniture maker, and he wanted to keep it a secret. Especially from his father. How much sense did that make? She thought for a moment, chewing her lip. Then again, how much sense did it make that she was attracted to Noah and wanted to keep that a secret? Closing her eyes, she sighed to herself and made her way to the bakery section of Randall’s General Store.
    Gradually, her gloomy mood changed into a sunnier outlook when she located the bakery. The smell of delicious baked pies lingered in the air along with freshly baked breads and cookies. Should she get the traditional pumpkin or maybe buy a sweet pecan pie?
    “ What do you think I’m going to do?” the scratchy voice of a man interrupted Amanda’s decision making.
    She looked to her left and found a very tall man in a brown trench coat and cowboy hat beside her. He was talking to another man who was jotting down notes in a black binder. “Mr. Ellinger, I think it might be a risk