Page 21 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Rowan

“ W hat is that?” I mumbled into the pillow as a rooster crow, just outside the bedroom window, woke me from the most restful sleep I’ve had in a long time.

The sun streamed in through the curtains.

I considered rolling over and throwing the pillow over my head, but Summer’s leg lay across mine and I didn’t want to move.

I turned and looked at her. Her eyes were closed, her breathing even. Her hand was tucked under her pillow. I lightly brushed my finger along her cheek and tucked hair behind her ear, then kissed her softly on her angelic forehead.

Another loud crow came from outside.

“I’m going to fucking murder that damn rooster,” Summer mumbled as she rolled over.

“Oh, no you don’t.” I pulled her back toward me and cuddled into her, placing a kiss on her neck. “Ignore the rooster.”

“We’ve got to get up, Rowan.” She reached for her phone on the end table. “Damn, it’s ten thirty. We slept in. ”

“Did we really? Oh well. That’s what happens when you keep me up all night.”

She shot me one of her looks, then cuddled closer.

I took that as a positive sign and continue to tease her. “Last I knew it was after two. So, see, we didn’t sleep that late.” I kissed her shoulder and pinched her nipple.

The tired moan that came from her made this day already a great one, but getting lost in Summer for a little while more would make waking up next to her so much better.

The fact that she hadn’t pushed me away, and was kissing my chest was just the motivation I needed.

Our lips met. Maybe today would be different. Maybe . . .

A door slammed, and I could hear footsteps in the house. Summer froze mid-kiss.

“Summer, Rowan? I know you’re here. Your cars are in the driveway.”

“Fuck.” Summer whispered then sat upright in bed. “It’s your mother.” She jumped out of bed and threw a shirt over her naked body, eyes wide. “You need to get out of here.” She hissed in a whisper as she opened the window.

I walked over to her. “What are you doing?” I asked as she yanked the screen from the frame and leaned it against the wall.

“I’m helping you,” she hissed.

I looked at Summer and then at the open window. She pushed me toward it, and it became clear what she expected me to do. “Oh, hell no,” I said, my voice rising.

She shushed me with her hand over my mouth. “She’ll hear you,” she whispered as she pushed me closer to the window.

My chest tensed and I shot her a harsh look. “I’m not climbing out that damn window,” I hissed at her. This was ridiculous .

“Summer, are you here?” my mom asked, her voice moving closer to the door.

She threw my clothes out the window. “Climb out, get dressed, and come around to the front door. Act like you’ve been out running or something.”

Was she serious? I stood there in all my naked glory, my hands out to my sides helplessly, watching her bounce around the room like a pinball, gathering up clothing.

She hissed at me through gritted teeth, “Get out that fucking window. NOW.” Her eyes were wild, like she’d gone mad.

“Goddammit, Summer,” I said as I looked out the window. My clothes were strewn all over the ground. It wasn’t a far drop. I could easily climb out. But still. “I’m naked.”

“Get dressed when you get out there. It’s not like anyone can see you from the road.”

There was a knock on the door.

“Give me a fucking second, Tonya,” Summer yelled. “Damn. You woke me up. Make me a cup of coffee, please.”

“Fine,” my mom said just outside the bedroom door. “But if we’re leaving at noon, you really shouldn’t be sleeping in so late.” She paused, and I thought maybe she was going back to the kitchen, but then she asked, “Do you know where Rowan is?”

“Go.” Summer mouthed the word and shoed me away.

I shook my head and sighed deeply as I folded myself out the window and jumped to the ground. My feet barely hit when the window slammed shut. I picked up my boxers and sweatpants from the grass. “This is so damned stupid.”

I bent to put my leg in my boxer, but froze when Big Red crowed again, loud. I looked up and there he was, behind a nearby bush and strutting toward me, his wings out to his side. “Go away, damn bird.”

He danced to the side then took off toward me. “Fucking seriously ?” I ran and tried to step into my boxers at the same time. I fell on my face and pulled them up as he leaped on top of me and did a chicken kick-thing.

I kicked, cussed under my breath, and flailed my arms. “Damn bird! Get the fuck off me.”

I finally got a decent enough contact with him that he flew a couple feet away, which gave me time and space to get up and run around the house, my sweatpants in my hand.

I froze. Jamison was there.

“What are you doing, Rowan, and why are you outside with your boxers partially pulled up?” The laughter in his voice was unmistakable.

Could this morning get any worse? I adjusted my hastily thrown-on boxers and stepped into my sweatpants. “Don’t ask. Trust me, it’s not worth it.” I noticed blood on my chest. “Shit.” There were a few scratches, but it looked like nothing serious.

“Hey, Rowan.” Lilly said as she climbed out of Jamison’s truck. “What are you doing outside stepping into your pants?”

Yep. There was my answer. This day could get worse, and now more humiliating.

“Both of you, just don’t.” I put up my hand as I adjusted my sweats. A harsh crowing sounded behind me. I jerked around. Big Red stood there, staring at me.

“Get away from me, you fucking cock, or I will catch you and roast you for dinner.” I could have sworn he winked at me before he strutted off in the opposite direction. “I hate that damn rooster. It makes for a shitty day when I get chased by him before I’ve even had my first cup of coffee.”

“First cup of coffee? How about before you even got dressed?” Jamison’s laughter reverberated across the back field. God, I hated brothers.

Lilly hid a laugh behind her hand. “Sorry, Rowan,” she said, “but how come you came outside undressed?”

“The rooster’s fault,” I said as I stormed past them toward the house.

“What, he undressed you?” Jamison chuckled. “You can’t tell me that rooster pulled your sweats and boxers off.”

“Shut up, asshole.” There was no way I could ever talk about this.

How the hell could I make this make any sense to anyone?

Well, I had sex with Summer, and—even though we’re consenting adults—when my mother walked into the house, Summer made me jump out the window naked so no one would know we spent the night together.

Then, as I was dressing in the grass in the front of the house, the crazy rooster chased me down and tried to impale me.

Yeah, fat chance of that story ever seeing the light of day.

Damn, I needed a stiff drink, but coffee would have to do. Hopefully Summer had a pot brewing and had already dealt with my mother. “Why are you two here so early, anyway?”

“It’s not early. It’s almost eleven,” Lilly said with laughter in her voice.

I shot her a narrowed gaze.

She bit her lips and grabbed Jamison’s hand.

“I had to give something to Mom,” Jamison said.

“When I called, she said she was coming over and I should meet her here.” There was no mistaking the laughter in his voice.

“Did she surprise you, and you had to make a quick escape from the house naked?” He opened the door, and I stepped past him.

No way in hell was I going to answer him.

I really needed a fucking cup of coffee.