Page 14 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Summer

“ D ammit,” I grumbled as I rolled over for what felt like the millionth time and checked my phone.

Five a.m. Thank God it was finally morning.

I threw my legs over the edge of the bed, brushed my hands roughly over my face, and stretched my exhausted body.

Last night sucked. Memories of Rowan’s warm, luscious lips on mine kept haunting my dreams. I breathed heavily and pushed to my feet. I needed coffee—bad.

I trudged heavily out to the kitchen and pressed the button to get my cup of coffee brewing. The counter became my leaning post as I waited.

I glanced at the couch. No Rowan.

My heart fell in my chest, and I forced myself to hold my head up because it suddenly felt too heavy. What the hell was that last night? His lips. The way he looked at me. The blaze of heat and desire in his molten-chocolate eyes made him more irresistible than ever.

“What the fuck were you thinking, Summer?” I yelled at the empty house. “He’s Rowan, he’s not irresistible! He can’t be. ”

Yeah, tell my body that. Just thinking about him—his touch, my arms around his neck, his hands in my hair as he devoured my lips—made my body quiver and tingle. “Holy . . . flying . . . fuck .”

The Keurig beeped its completion. Thank you, God. I fixed my coffee and trudged to the shower, glancing again at the empty couch. He hadn’t slept here last night. Of that, I was certain.

I froze. Where did he sleep, then? I hurried to the back door and yanked it open. It was a quiet, chilly, October morning—and his jeep wasn’t in the driveway. Where the hell did he go last night?

A harsh rooster’s crow disturbed the peace just then, startling me. I looked to where it came from, only to see Big Red perched on the roof of my car.

“Get the fuck off my car, asshole.” I grabbed a rock from the ground and slung it at the rooster. He squawked and shit on my car before flying to the ground and strutting away.

“Stupid cock.”

He answered with another harsh, arrogant crow, and I slammed the door. “Fuck the shower. I need to get out of here.”

I brushed my teeth, threw on an oversized sweatshirt and yoga pants, and piled my hair on top of my head in a messy bun, then climbed in my car and drove.

Where to? I used to go to Kora’s when I felt alone, but I was already here.

Alone. Because she was busy playing house with her fiancé.

Besides, right now she would be getting ready for work.

So would Darlene and Bryson. Darlene and Kora taught at the elementary, and Bryson at the high school.

And that was the extent of my friend group. Shit, my life was pathetic.

I drove through town, still quiet for the most part except for the parking lots of Orlinda Valley Pharmacy and the grocery. Soon the town would be bustling—well, bustling for the small town of Orlinda Valley.

The hair salon came into view. It was still early, and I’d done all my stocking and ordering yesterday, which didn’t leave a lot of extra work, but I supposed I could get some cleaning done before Diane and Kaye came in. With that decided, I parked and set to work distracting myself.

I had music playing on the speakers, the towels washed and folded, and the floors swept and mopped when the back door opened.

“Summer,” Kaye greeted me. “What are you doing here so early?”

I shrugged as I put the mop away, then walked into the kitchen. “I was up and didn’t feel like staying at home, so I came in early.”

“Well, it looks like you’ve been busy,” Diane said. “You must have been here a while.”

“Just long enough to wash and put away the towels and do the floors. I completed the inventory and ordering yesterday.”

I spent the rest of my morning planning the schedule for next week—Kora’s wedding week. We were doing hair and nails for the entire bridal party, the three flower girls, and mothers and aunts. It was going to be a busy week, and of course the book club ladies weren’t going small on anything.

I loved my job and easily got lost in what I was doing until my first appointment came in at ten, followed by another at eleven. As soon as my eleven o’clock left, I set about cleaning my station, just when Kaye called from the kitchen. “We have subs, Summer. Come eat with us.”

I swept the hair clippings into the wall vacuum and joined Kaye and Diane in the kitchen, grateful for their thoughtfulness. I hadn’t had a bite to eat all morning, and the sandwich was delicious .

“So, how’s it going with Rowan?” Diane asked. “Do you have enough space?”

“Tonya told us she wouldn’t let Rowan stay with her,” Kaye said.

“You know how stubborn she can be,” I said between bites.

I thought back to last night before Rowan left.

“Rowan didn’t spend the night at the house last night, though, and I haven’t talked to him today.

He wasn’t home when I left.” I said as I took another bite and washed it down with Coke.

“Don’t know where he went.” I pretended to shrug it off like it didn’t bother me and hadn’t been what put me in a cleaning frenzy all day.

“Hmm. Maybe he decided to hang with Trevor,” Diane said.

“Don’t know, don’t care. As long as he doesn’t bring anyone back to the house, he can do whatever he wants. It was nice not worrying about who would be in the living room when I woke up this morning.”

I guess I was believable, because they let it go. We moved on to inventory needs, and this week’s schedule. The salon would be closed Saturday, because of Kora and Kai’s shower-slash-housewarming, so I was working later than usual most every night to make up for the lost business.

It was after six by the time I got home. I was tired but felt better than I had that morning. Work had managed to keep me from spending my time obsessing over Rowan—who still wasn’t home when I pulled in the driveway.

Whatever. I was over it and glad to have the house to myself.

Big Red greeted me with a loud crow as he perched on the fence. “Yeah, good to see you too,” I muttered. I walked in the house, around the living room, and to the bedroom. There was no sign that Rowan had been here at all today. Where the hell was he ?

My heart beat hard, and my stomach churned. So much for not giving a shit. I needed a shower to wash away the day’s work—and these thoughts about my best friend.

I tried my best to wash away the exhaustion, dread, and—damn him—the need that filled my gut as memories of last night’s kiss flooded me. But it didn’t work.

Rowan’s dark hair, deep eyes, chiseled chin, perfect features—and, okay, absolutely fucking amazing body—wouldn’t leave my mind.

In high school, sure, I wondered what it would be like to kiss him.

But he was so far out of my league. He dated girls so different than me, that I never let myself fantasize about him. I was happy being his friend.

I froze in the middle of scrubbing shampoo in my hair. What did he say last night? He’d wanted to kiss me for forever. He’d had feelings for me for decades—ever since he started calling me Summertime.

I rinsed my hair and let the water surround me in warmth. It wrapped around my body like a shield, a comfort I hadn’t realized I needed. For a few stolen seconds I imagined that the water could wash away these feelings. The pull. The ache. The unwanted emotions.

But it didn’t work. My desire for Rowan still haunted my thoughts.

I sighed and leaned my head on the cool tiles, which contrasted with the warmth of the shower soaking into my bones.

What the hell do I do know? I don’t believe in relationships, and I sure as hell don’t believe in love.

Maybe for some like Kora and Kai, Darlene and Bryson, Jamison and Lilly, but not for me .

“Dammit, Rowan,” I said under my breath. “Why did you wait all these years to tell me how you felt? What would I have done if you’d have said something sooner?” I stared at the tile wall of the shower.

Back in high school I would probably have run from him. I didn’t want anyone to care for me in that way. But now?

I climbed out of the shower, toweled myself off, wrapped my silk robe around my body and tied it in front, then wrapped my wet hair in a towel to dry. I cleared the mirror of steam and started brushing my teeth—then paused and stared at my reflection.

What if Rowan and I could work?

My body instantly reacted, that now-familiar tingle in all my sensitive places answering my question with an enthusiastic yes .

But then, just as quickly as the feeling came, it disappeared—replaced by the even more familiar doubt and fear. It didn’t matter whether my body thought Rowan and I could work. I had to avoid relationships. I had nothing to give to a man but frustration and emptiness.

I finished brushing my teeth and ran my brush through my wet hair. I leaned on the sink, stared again at my reflection, and let out a sigh. “Don’t let it get to you. It’s Rowan.” I felt refreshed, if a little sad, and left the bathroom.

“Hey.” Rowan’s deep voice made me jump.

I spun toward him. He sat on the arm of the couch, looking hurt and a little unsure. My heart picked up speed. “Dammit. You’ve got to stop scaring the shit out of me.”

“Sorry,” he said.

I ignored the look of concern etched in his face as my heart thumped in my chest. “Where the hell were you last night and all day? It doesn’t look like you’ve been home at all. ”

“Why? Did you miss me?”

I wanted to say, “Hell yeah, I missed you. I slept like shit and considered opening the door more than once.” But instead, I said, “No. I was just concerned when I got up and saw you weren’t here. Then you still weren’t here when I got home.”

He stood and walked toward me.