Page 2 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Summer

I walked into the bedroom with a slight bounce in my step, though I sure as hell wasn’t going to let Rowan know he did that to me. He had a way of always making me happier simply by being in his presence. I threw on a sports bra, tank top, and yoga pants, then joined Rowan back in the living room.

“I’m going to fix me a coffee. Want anything?” I asked him.

“Got a water. Thanks.”

As I waited for my coffee to brew, I studied Rowan’s back as he looked at photos on Kora’s mantle that she hadn’t packed up.

His fitted army-green T-shirt defined his muscles, the sleeves hugging biceps that bulged slightly as he picked up a picture.

His dark hair was cut short and tight on the sides and longer on top—still perfectly neat and tidy, like it always had been.

His complexion was tanned, showing he’d spent time outdoors, and a slight five o’clock shadow darkened his strong jawline.

My eyes traveled down his back to his ass, which filled out his jeans nicely.

Yeah, he was my best friend, but I’d be blind if I didn’t notice how amazing he looked. He turned, and when his large brown eyes caught mine, I could swear they glimmered as a smile grew on his face.

I returned the smile and cleared the sudden frog in my throat. “Sure, you don’t want anything?” I asked him.

“Nope, I’m good.” He sat on the couch, his back to me once again.

I finished fixing my coffee and plopped down next to him. I took a sip and smiled over the top of my mug. “So, did you lose track of time in your quest to keep America safe? The wedding’s in a couple of weeks. I thought you weren’t coming home till right before.”

“Nope. I know what the date is. Had a chance to get home and thought I’d surprise everyone.

” Rowan chuckled, the sound deep and relaxed.

He’d nestled in the corner of the couch with one arm draped over the back, and while he’d looked good from behind, this view was even better.

His smile ticked up a notch. “Looks like so far I succeeded.”

I placed my mug on the table next to me and slapped his arm resting over the back of the couch. “Yeah, dumb shit. You could say that.” I closed my hand over his forearm. “It’s good you’re home.” I leaned in and hugged him around his neck.

Now that I was fully clothed and not scared as shit because some person who shouldn’t be in my kitchen was gawking at me in a towel, I could enjoy the hug, and the feeling of familiarity returned. Rowan was here in the flesh—finally.

Rowan was more than my best friend. He’d been like a brother to me. We’d been inseparable in school, to the point that other guys were scared to approach me because they thought we were an item.

We hadn’t been, even though I had to work hard at getting even Kora and Darlene to understand that—while secretly admitting to myself that sometimes I’d wished we were.

But I’m not a relationship type of gal. And, besides, he was never in need of a girlfriend, since every human with two legs and tits was lined up to date him.

Friendship was perfect from where I sat.

He squeezed me back, his hug solid. My entire body relaxed against him, and I didn’t miss the sigh that escaped his lungs, or the way he seemed to slump against my shoulder.

I held him a little longer. I could feel his heartbeat slow through his tight shirt.

My insides fluttered as the scent of him—masculine and outdoorsy—soaked into my senses.

I patted his back. “Hey.” I pulled away and held his arms so I could look him in the eyes, which had grown distant and serious. “Is everything okay?” His gaze darted around my face like he was searching for something. I cocked my head.

“Yeah, everything’s perfect.” A smile lit up his face again, and he trailed his fingers through the wet hair hanging over my shoulders and sucked in his lips.

It was obvious his thoughts were far away.

He was here, looking at me, yet he wasn’t.

He closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them, the distance was gone.

He stood and picked up his duffle bag from the floor. “I’m going to throw my bag into our room, hop in the shower, then unpack. I hope there’s room for my stuff in the closet. It’s going to be a tight stay.” He winked and walked away.

Again, my gaze followed him. I couldn’t lie.

He looked good, probably better than ever.

A warmth stirred deep in my gut. I swallowed, ignored the feeling, and got to work straightening up the place.

I picked up a spare bra and pair of panties from the floor of the bedroom and moved clothes around in the dresser to give him a drawer and some space in the closet.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to work, but I didn’t think it would be for long.

At least it didn’t look like he brought much with him.

I exited the closet at the same time a towel-clad Rowan entered the bedroom.

My mouth went dry. Fuck me.

My eyes traveled over his perfectly chiseled chest down to the spattering of hair at his navel. I promise I never let that trail of hair lead my eyes to the secret spot where it vanished beneath the towel—the towel that hung loosely on the alluring curve of his sculpted hips and waist.

He dried his hair with a hand towel and gazed around the room.

My body needed to get a grip. It wasn’t the first time I’d been alone with a barely clothed Rowan. At the river in our swimsuits, we wore less, but that was a young teenage Rowan, and this man who stood in front of me was more of an Adonis than the Rowan I remembered.

I quietly cleared my throat so I could speak. “I emptied a drawer for you.” I gestured toward it. “And made room in the closet.”

“Thanks. I didn’t bring much, so this will work just fine.”

Just then a knock on the door took my attention away from Rowan and the thickness of the air in the room. I pointed. “Gotta get that.”

He stepped out of the way.

I brushed past him and breathed for the first time since I got to admire him in a towel.

“Hey.” Kora let herself in the house.

“Hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Kai answered as he closed the door behind them.

“Yeah, about that.” My voice was thick with irritation, and my eyes held Kora’s .

The smirk that filled her face was too much. Kora, my best friend since forever, always wanted Rowan and me to hook up. In Kora’s demented mind, Darlene was with Bryson, and if Rowan and I were a couple, we would all be one big happy family.

“Kora, enough,” I said as I held her gaze and crossed my arms over my chest, willing her to get the message that Rowan and I weren’t going to happen.

“There’s my favorite cousin,” Rowan’s deep voice bellowed from behind me. He strutted past and wrapped Kora in a tight bear hug and twirled her in a circle. As he passed, the smell of sage and cedarwood lingered in the air.

Kai’s face lit up as Kora’s laugh filled the room. Those two were disgustingly sweet together.

“Rowan.” Kai stepped forward and greeted him with his hand out.

Rowan grasped Kai’s hand and patted him on the shoulder with the other. “Kai, it’s so good to meet you in person.” He glanced at Kora. “From the glow radiating off my cousin, you must make her pretty happy.”

“I try.”

Kora brushed her hand through the air. “Enough with that. What the hell are you doing here this early? I about went into a panic when Kai told me you were coming in and were staying here.” She looked at me, then back to Rowan, then to me. “Sorry, Summer. This is a tiny miscommunication.”

I raised my brow. “That’s the understatement of the century.”

“Yeah, I wish I could have one of you stay with us,” Kai said, “but I promised my sister that she could, and our other two bedrooms are filled with shit—Kora’s stuff in one and building materials in the other.”

“It’s all good,” Rowan said, waving his hand in the air as if sweeping away their worries. “I’m sure Summer won’t mind sleeping on the couch, or maybe she could go to my mother’s house. She has plenty of room.”

“I was here first, so you get the couch. And there’s no fucking way any time this century that I’m going to Tonya’s.

” Tonya and I were like oil and vinegar.

We didn’t mix and irritated each other to the core.

Kora and Darlene always said it was because we were two peas in a pod, but I never agreed with that.

“She’s your mother. I’m sure she would love to have her baby stay with her.

And if not, you’ve got two brothers with extra space, and five empty acres of your own itching to have someone live on it. I’m sure you can find somewhere to go.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t stay on my property until I have a place to live,” Rowan said as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the counter.

“Jamison and Lilly have weekly sleepovers that I don’t wish to be a part of.

Darlene and Bryson—yeah, that’s asking for World War Three—and my mother, well, she’s my mother.

I didn’t leave home to come back and stay with her.

I was looking forward to staying here at this cute little house, enjoying time to myself. ”

“Yeah, well my house is under construction due to mold,” Summer retorted, “so I’m out of there for the next few weeks. If you want a bed, you’ll have to go to your mom’s. Just saying.”

“You two can hash out who’s sleeping where later,” Kora said as she put her arm around my shoulders.

“Summer, you need to put on something more appropriate. It’s Saturday night and we’re going to Jerry’s Pub.

Time for dinner and some drinks. I’m sure there will be lots of people ready to see this guy. ”

“I told Trevor I’d stop by as soon as I got settled, so I’m game,” Rowan said.

“Fine,” I answered. I stalked to the bedroom but turned at the doorway and pointed toward Rowan. “I’m getting dressed. There’s no lock. Stay out.”Rowan grunted. “Good to know. I’ll have to keep one eye open tonight. You might sneak into my bed and have your way with me while I sleep.”

I huffed out a breath and slammed the door behind me.

Then I searched my closet until I found my favorite well-worn blue jeans and threw on a white crop top and my cowboy boots.

I added some serum to my now-dry wavy hair, combed my fingers through it, touched some mascara to my lashes, and was ready to go.

When I got to the kitchen, Kora had some shot glasses and my tequila on the counter.

Lemon drop time—our favorite drink. She poured us shots, dumped some sugar on a plate and got the already cut lemons and limes from the refrigerator. The guys each grabbed a lime and salt, but Kora and I dipped our lemon wedges in sugar.

“Here’s to Rowan,” Kora said as she raised her glass. “Welcome home.”

We all tapped our shot glasses together and tipped them up. Damn, it tasted good.

“Well, why don’t we take this to the pub?” Rowan said. “I need to see Trevor.” He threw his arm around my shoulders. “I haven’t partied with y’all in way too long.” I knew he was speaking to both Kora and me, yet his eyes never left mine.

Again, warmth filled my gut.

It’d better just be the tequila.