Page 7 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)

Rowan

S ummer froze and if I wasn’t mistaken, her breathing halted for a brief second.

I held her gaze and was almost swallowed up by her large hazel eyes.

They were so unique—light brown with a hint of gold around the pupil.

When she was pissed, though, they turned darker, almost black, like she was burning from the inside out.

Luckily, I didn’t get that gaze just now. Maybe that was a sign.

She turned from me and put her attention back on the screen, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from her and took in her profile.

Her nose still had a soft graceful curve that I use to trace with my finger to make her smile.

Her cheek was just rounded enough, though right this minute it held an indentation in the center—a tell-tale sign she was biting the inside, deep in thought.

Maybe I shouldn’t have told her I thought she was beautiful, though I do and have since we were teenagers.

God, I’ve loved her for decades, and I’ve often wondered if she could sense it. The times I’d stare a bit too long when she wasn’t looking, or recently, how I’d talk shit about the latest guy she was dating, or even the times I delayed hanging up when we FaceTimed .

Damn, this was not a time to go there. I wiggled my way under the comforter and sheet. “Summer, find something you want to watch, and don’t mind me.”

“Wait, you say that and then get comfortable in my bed?”

“What did I say?” I asked.

“That you’ve always thought I was beautiful.”

I should have realized she wouldn’t let that comment go.

I was sure her guys-are-shit-and-aren’t-to-be-trusted senses were tingling.

Hell, with her this close, I had to admit my senses were also tingling, and not in a this is my best friend kind of way.

“Good night, Summertime. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just joshing you like usual.”

She rolled her eyes and smiled. “So, I’m not beautiful?”

I shrugged. “Not if it puts me back on the couch.”

“You’re a dick.”

I chuckled. Things were back to normal. “Damn, this bed is comfy. So much better than the couch.”

“I’m glad you approve,” Summer said. “Keep on your side, and don’t steal the covers.”

“Well, you make sure to keep your hands to yourself and don’t take advantage of me. It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. I have no energy to fight you off.” I rolled away from her. I didn’t need to feel her body or heat at all. I was already having issues keeping my dick under control.

I closed my eyes, and a vision of her from earlier came to me. As I lay on the couch, having rejected her offer of the bed, I’d watched her ass as she walked away. It had always been a perfect ass, but it looked even better now with years of maturity behind her. I sighed deeply .

“You good?” she asked.

“Yep,” I answered. “Though sleeping in lounge pants is something new for me. I usually sleep in boxers—or better yet, let it all hang out.”

“Not tonight, you don’t. If you want to stay in here, you’ll keep your pants on.”

“Gotcha. Good night.”

“Good night.”

I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted.

“Hey, Row?”

“Yeah?” I answered, my voice already heavy with sleep.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

My heartbeat settled in my chest and a smile filled my face. “Me too, Summertime.”

Tonight would have been the perfect time to tell her the real reason I came home, but I’d be seeing her every day, and had nothing but time now. Tomorrow was another day. We could talk then.

I snuggled down into the pillow. Her quiet laugh at the television screen relaxed me and guided me to sleep.

“Something smells amazing!” I said, my voice scratchy and frog-like after I woke up the next morning. I stretched my arms over my head, scrubbed my hands over my face, and felt the mattress give a little.

“It’s about time you woke up,” Summer said as she sat next to me on the edge of the bed, two coffees in her hand .

I pushed to sitting and combed my fingers through my hair. “Good morning.” I took the coffee from her and took a sip. Rich and creamy. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me. Just get your lazy ass up.” She slapped my legs.

I pulled my feet from under the blanket and placed them over her lap.

“Come on Rowan. I hate feet and you know it.”

I chuckled. “Summer, when are you going to stop with your grumpiness? When you smile and have fun, you’re so much prettier.”

“First off, it’s seven a.m. Too early to be happy. Second, I’m not grumpy. I just don’t like your freaking fungus feet all over me.”

I lifted my feet toward her face and wiggled my toes. “Lick ’em, Summer,” I said in the sexiest voice I could muster this early in the morning. “You know you want to.”

She pulled my toe so hard it cracked. “Ow. Fuck.” I jerked it away. “What did you do that for?” I sat up taller.

“If you would have kept your fungus to yourself, you wouldn’t have had that happen to you.” The corner of her mouth ticked up and she hid her face in her coffee mug.

I watched her as she sipped her coffee. Her brown hair was stacked on top of her head in a messy bun, and some pieces of hair hung loose.

Her face was just how I liked it best—void of makeup.

Her hazel eyes popped more when fakeness didn’t hide them.

“You look good, Summertime. Relaxed. And even though you try to hide it from everyone, you look happy and content.”

She blinked a couple times, her way of taking in a comment she didn’t want, then smiled. “Thanks. Maybe it’s the company. I’m really glad you’re here, Row. Even though you do snore. ”

I chuckled. “Bullshit. I don’t snore.”

“Prove it.” She lifted her brow in a challenge and walked out of the room.

I shook my head, got out of bed, hopped in the shower, and got dressed.

When I walked into the kitchen, Summer was standing by the counter eating a bagel. “Made you breakfast,” she said as she gestured to the plate next to her.

See, she was a caring person. She might try to make the world believe she didn’t give a shit about anyone or anything, but Kora, Darlene, and I knew that was just a cover. A safety device she put in place years ago. But she cared. When it came to her friends, she cared a lot.

I filled my coffee and took a seat. “Thanks for the bagel.”

“Of course,” she answered, not taking her eyes from her phone.

“So, what do you say we go to the river today?” I asked.

“The water’s a little chilly. It’s October.”

“Yeah, but it’s supposed to be seventy-eight and sunny. Come on. Just sit in the sun, listen to the water. I miss it.”

“Fine,” she said.

“Great. I should probably say good morning to my mother first, then we can get out of here.”

“Well, she’s not home,” I said as I peeked through the kitchen door of my mother’s. The kitchen was dark and empty. I shrugged and slung my arm over Summer’s shoulders and led her back down the path between my mother’s house and Kora’s property. “You’re my witness I stopped by.”

The morning was already perfect. There was something about Tennessee in October. Even though today was going to be slightly warmer than average, the humidity was non-existent and the sun was bright.

“Shit.” Summer stopped abruptly and I about fell over her.

“What’s wrong?” I looked at her then followed her gaze down the path.

A rooster—an enormous rooster with brown feathers, a long black tail plume, and a large red comb and wattle—was there on the path, blocking our way. “I thought Kora took her chickens to Kai’s already,” I said.

“She did. Except him. Big Red.”

“He’s a large, good-looking cock. Don’t tell me you’re scared of cocks, Summer.” I chuckled and wiggled my brow as I continued walking, but Summer didn’t react at all to my joke. She grabbed my arm and jerked me to a hard stop.

“It’s a chicken, Summer. What’s the big deal?”

“He’s not a chicken. He’s the devil dressed in chicken feathers. He’s pure evil and out for blood.”

I laughed. Couldn’t help it. From what I saw, it was nothing more than a rooster.

Just then, he crowed—a loud, jarring crow that echoed against the trees and along the openness of the field .

“See. He’s the devil, and he’s warning us we’re in his way,” she hissed.

I studied her, then reached up and placed my hands on either side of her face, gently forcing her to look up and meet my eyes.

Hers were round and full of fear, but she didn’t fight me.

“Summer, you’re acting insane. It’s only a rooster, and if he’s a little upset, he should be.

All his women were taken away from him, and he was left behind.

” I left Summer and walked toward the rooster. “I feel sorry for him.”

I grew up around chickens, and there’s never been a devil-clad rooster that I haven’t been able to put my chicken-whispering powers to work on.

I crouched low with my hands up, showing him they were empty.

He started prancing around and fluffed out his neck feathers, rooster-speak for, “Watch out, I’m big and scary. ”

“Rowan, don’t! He’s going to—”

I put my hand out toward Summer. “Shhh, shhh, Summer,” I whispered. She needed to be quiet. I was determined to get this rooster.

He let out another crow as I closed in. Just a few more slow, quiet steps and I’d pounce and grab him, holding down his wings, and I’d be able to pick him up without him flying away. I froze for a second, a step away.

Then I pounced—and he jumped and flapped his wings and hit me square in the chest with his talons.

“Fuck!” He kept at it. One thing when you have wings, your jumps tend to keep you in the air.

He kept hitting me with those fucking spurs he had on the back of his feet, and the squawk that came from him was ear-splitting.

I did the only thing I could. I rolled in a ball and covered my head with my arms as he continued his demonic assault .

“Oh, my God!” Summer screamed and I could hear her running toward me. “Get the hell out of here, you fucking devil rooster! Get away!”

I peered through my arms, and she was shooing the devil-rooster away with a stick. I stood to my feet, brushed dirt from my pants, and watched in awe.

She swiped at him time and time again, but now he was attacking the stick. She kept at him, though, with crazy in her eyes—no other way to describe it—shouting cuss words and swinging that stick like her life depended on it.

Laughter broke free from deep in my gut.

She stopped her assault on the rooster, and Big Red, realizing he’d won the battle, shook his feathers out and strutted off across the yard, swinging his fluffy feathered ass.

“What are you laughing at?” Summer tossed the branch at me and crossed her arms across her chest.

I tried to dodge it, but was laughing too hard and it hit my thigh. “Ouch,” I looked up at her and tried to scowl but failed at that also. The complete and total pissed-off expression she was throwing at me made me lose it again, and I doubled over, laughing so hard my gut started to ache.

“See if I save your sorry-ass life from that devil-chicken again. Next time, I’ll let him talon you to death.” She stomped back up the path.

I took in deep breaths and jogged after her. When I caught up, I laid my arm over her shoulders. “Come on, Summertime. What if I’m injured?”

She stopped in front of the door of the ranch house. “You can’t call me that when you’ve been a dick. That’s only when we’re friends.” She opened the door and walked into the kitchen. She sighed and said, “Are you hurt?”

The sweetness and concern in her voice melted my heart. I lifted my shirt to check. “Nothing too serious.” I had a few scratches and a little blood, but I wasn’t going to lose sleep over it, unless . . . “Do you think I’d be safer if you nurse my wounds?” I shot my brows up.

Summer glanced at my abs and lifted her gaze to mine. I might have been mistaken, but was that a little bit of lust I noticed for a split second?

“I think you’ll live,” she said, then walked toward the bedroom. “I’m getting my bag, then we can go. I’ll drive.”

So much for concern. I pulled my shirt down. “So, we aren’t friends, and you’re not concerned about my injuries, but you still want to hang with me today?” I said as I grabbed water from the fridge and filled a small cooler I found in a cabinet.

She glared her famous Summer-glare at me as soon as she returned to the kitchen, then grabbed some snacks from the cabinet and threw them in her bag.

“Yeah, I feel sorry for you. Your only friend works too much at Jerry’s Pub.

If it wasn’t for me, you’d be pitifully wandering after your brothers like you did when you were young.

” She held the door open. “Get your ass moving. I only have until two. Some of us actually have to work and pay our bills.”