Page 42 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

“ Y ou ready?” Rowan asked as he leaned over the fence.

“Almost,” I answered as I spread the hay in the chicken coop. Big Red crowed next to me. “I think he likes his new house and his women,” I said.

Big Red did a little side-shuffle and crowed again as six hens pecked the ground next to him. “He sure isn’t complaining,” Rowan agreed.

It was the end of May, and Rowan had been living in Kora’s place as he waited to decide what to build on his own property. Big Red and Rowan became buddies, so we decided to get the ornery rooster some women to keep him company. Rowan was now the proud owner of six hens and Big Red.

I went home occasionally, but spent most of my time here. I loved the openness and fresh air, and had to admit, chickens had become my newest addiction—besides sex with Rowan, of course.

“I need to wash up quick and we’ll go,” I said as I shut the door to the coop behind me .

“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the Jeep.” Rowan gave me a kiss and a smack on my ass as I hurried away.

It didn’t take long for me to wash up, grab my bag, and climb into the passenger side of the Jeep.

He hung up the phone when I got there.

“Who was that?”

“Just Kai.” He put the Jeep in reverse, turned, and headed down the driveway. “He was wondering where we were. Everyone’s already there. I told him they should be used to us being late by now.”

I laughed at the truth in that statement. Rowan and I were always so busy with each other that being on time was not our calling card. “Do you have the present?” I asked.

“Yep. In the back.”

It was Susie’s birthday. She had just gotten into town and was planning on staying for the summer, so we were celebrating her at Kora and Kai’s.

“Seems like we’re the last ones, as usual,” I said as we pulled up to the back of their property. Cars filled the driveway, so Rowan parked on the grass.

Before we got out, he pulled me to him. “If I could have my way, I’d have spent my day with you in bed.” His lips met mine, and the now-familiar tingle traveled throughout my body as he devoured me with his kiss.

“We could go home,” I whispered against his lips. “They’d understand.”

He pulled away quickly. “Nope,” he said. “We gotta go.”

“Fuck, Rowan.” I huffed out a breath. “Why the hell did you get me all worked up like that? ”

He met me at the passenger door with my bag over his shoulder and the present under his arm and helped me step out. “A hot Summer is the best kind.”

He smiled that sexy-as-hell smile I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of, and I willingly let him pull me toward the noise of the party by the river.

We were greeted by everyone as we arrived. I found a seat by Kora and Darlene, and Rowan went directly to the kids, who were all wading in the river and splashing each other.

“Late again,” Kora said.

“Get over it,” I told her.

Darlene laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, Summer. We aren’t stressed by it. At least we know you’ll show up in a good mood.”

I rolled my eyes and accepted the drink Susie gave me. “Happy birthday, and welcome back.” I gave her a hug.

“Thanks. It’s good to be back,” she said with a strange smile on her lips.

Tonya came over to us with a bundle of preciousness in her arms. Michelle Grace McKendry arrived in this world right on time the middle of February. Rowan and I had been at the hospital when she was born, as Rowan had refused to miss another niece’s birth.

I stood and held my arms open. “Give her up, Tonya. I need some sugar.”

She begrudgingly passed off her newest grandchild to me. Michelle Grace was the most adorable baby I had the pleasure of cuddling with—outside of Madeline, Darcie, and James, of course. I cradled her in my arms, lost in all her tininess. Her precious fingers, nose, and ears. She was perfect .

“Look who I’ve got,” Rowan announced. I looked up to see him holding Adler and Leila’s son, Donald—or Donny, as we called him—who was born exactly a month before Michelle.

“Now, Donny,” Rowan said to the baby in his arms. “Michelle, there, can be your friend, and you’ll need to take good care of her. Maybe you’ll become best friends. Then,” he said giving me a wink, “maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll fall in love.”

The love in his eyes, directed at me and only me, made my heart swoon and stutter. “Only if they’re very lucky,” I agreed.

His gaze turned heated. “And, Donny,” he continued talking to the baby, “if you are the luckiest man ever ...” He trailed off and his gaze locked on mine. “She’d agree to marry you.”

I froze. “What?” My heart fluttered wildly. He didn’t just say...

Darlene and Leila, both grinning wildly, took their babies from us.

I turned back to Rowan, and my heart stopped at the sight of how much emotion filled his eyes. I’d seen him through so many of his life’s ups and downs, but there was something about the look on his face now—a mixture of love, adoration, and... fear. “Rowan,” I said. “You’re scaring me.”

“I’m sorry,” he said as he clasped my hands in his.

“I don’t mean to scare you.” He walked me closer to the edge of the water.

“I fell in love with you on this very bank, and I’ve loved you just about forever.

Summer, I know you have doubts and worry about what will happen in the future, but I hope these past months have shown you how much I love you. ”

A knot had lodged in my throat, and I was scared my heart would thump out of my chest. “Rowan, I do. I love you so much.”

“I know,” he said as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

My eyes popped wide, and my hands flew to cover my mouth.

“That’s why I wanted everyone to be here when I asked you to marry me.” He got slowly down on one knee and held the ring up.

My knees shook, and sobs broke free. I hated crying, but ugly crying? That was one thing I never did. Well, until now.

“Make me the happiest man ever and marry me, Summer,” Rowan said.

“Dammit, standup and put that ring on my finger,” I said through tears as I pulled him to his feet and crushed my lips to his. My body shook with sobs which I quickly got control of. “Yes, I’ll marry you. Just don’t fucking make me cry again.”

“Hell yeah!” He slipped the ring on my finger and swung me in a circle. “Time to party, everyone! We’re getting married!” Rowan held my hand in the air, showing off the ring on my finger.

Everyone hollered their congratulations.

“Wait,” I said as my gaze locked on Susie. “It’s Susie’s Birthday. We can’t hijack it.”

Susie laughed and shook her head. “It’s not my birthday. My birthday’s in July. This was just a way to get you and everyone here without making you suspect anything.”

“It’s not your birthday?” I asked.

She shook her head and laughed.

Kora said. “All this was just a perfect plan created by Rowan.”

I turned to him. “You planned all this? And no one told me? You know I hate surprises. ”

“I know,” he said. “Trust me. But this was worth it. The only ones who knew were Kora, Kai, Darlene, Susie, and my brothers. Everyone else thought it was a birthday party.”

“Kai told us when we got here,” Adler said.

“Hell, Rowan didn’t even tell me,” Trevor said as he wrapped me in a hug. “But congratulations.”

“You’re marrying my baby,” Tonya said.

I nodded, still in shock, and glanced down at my finger.

The ring was a beautiful princess-cut diamond.

I wasn’t sure how large, but just enough to glitter in the sunlight and catch my eye.

Like everything from Rowan, it was perfect.

“It looks that way,” I answered her. “Between you and me, this is overwhelming. I hate surprises, and he knows that.”

Tonya laughed, and her cackle echoed off the trees. “You two are going to have an amazing marriage.” She pulled me into a tight hug.

I didn’t know what to do. First the surprise proposal, now this response from Tonya. This might be too much for one day. “What makes you say that?” I asked as I pulled out of her embrace.

“Carl proposed to me the same way. He caught me off-guard in front of everyone. It was a total surprise, and, like you, I hate surprises. This might be one of the reasons everyone says you and I are two peas in a pod.”

I nodded. “So I hear.”

Rowan came over to us. “What are you two talking about?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I said. “Just how amazing of a man you are.”

He glanced from his mother, back to me. “Why don’t I believe that?” he asked .

Tonya laughed and strolled away. I took advantage of having Rowan here with me and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Let’s just say your mom and I came to an agreement.”

He wrapped his arms around my waist. “That’s a little scary.”

“Probably,” I agreed. I kissed him long and deep, and when we finally broke apart, we were both winded. “Thank you,” I said as I looked deep into his eyes.

“For what?”

“For sticking with me, and loving me through all my craziness and insecurities,” I answered.

“Woman, like I’ve told you a million times. There’s never been anyone else I’ve ever wanted as much as I’ve wanted you. I love you and I always have.” Rowan’s mouth crushed against mine.

My heart fluttered. Fear of those words was gone. This man was my home, and there was no where else I wanted to be.

***

Thank you for reading No Place Like Home.

This was the most fun writing as Summer and Rowan's story has been brewing since I first brought Summer to life back in No One But You.

If you have enjoyed Orlinda Valley, please JOIN MY NEWSLETTER to keep updated on the release of Book 4 which should in fall of 2025.