Page 2 of No Place Like Home
I followed the driveway to the rear of the house and pulled in next to a car I didn’t recognize—not that that was a surprise, since I’d been gone for five years. But Kai hadn’t mentioned that anyone else would be staying here. On the other hand, maybe he wouldn’t have told me about them because he didn’t know I was arriving a week earlier than planned.
I sent Kai a text telling him I arrived early and waited for an answer while the song that was on ended and another began. When I got tired of waiting, I figured I had a choice: I could either stay here or go say hi.
“Oh well. Hope the person’s friendly.” I grabbed my duffle bag from the back seat—I’d get the rest of my stuff out later once I decided what to do with it. I knocked and waited, but there was no answer. After knocking again with the same result, I found the key under the flowerpot where Kai said it would be, and let myself in.
The house had an open floor plan, so I could see the kitchen and living room from where I stood near the door. Off to the right wasa short hallway which held the bathroom and the only bedroom. I glanced around and saw no evidence of anyone staying in the house.
I shrugged and dropped my bag on the floor, then pulled a glass from the cabinet, filled it with water, and took a deep drink as I leaned against the counter.
I stood tall and craned my neck toward the music I heard coming from the bathroom.What the hell?My eyes darted toward the closed bathroom door. Someonewashere. I could hear what sounded like a woman talking—or was it singing?—but it was hard to make out.
Should I tell whoever it is they have company?I thought, then shook my head. Why should I? Whoever it was, they probably weren’t supposed to be here, anyway. I squared my shoulders as the door swung open.
The occupant—yes, it was a woman—strolled out, her body wrapped in a short white towel that barely covered her ass and showed off her toned, sun-tanned legs. She had another towel twisted around her head which bobbed side to side, and she wiggled her hips in tune to the music. The view from here was well worth my price of admission.Damn. Welcome home, Rowan!
She spun to the music as she released the towel from her head and let out a blood curdling scream as soon as her eyes focused on me. Her hand grabbed the front of the towel as it came loose and fell down her front giving me a brief, but much appreciated, glimpse of some amazing cleavage before she pulled it up again.
My brows popped, and the grin I’d started when she wiggled her way out of the bathroom now filled my face.
“Holy flying fuck,” she raged, her voice laced with venom and eyes wide with shock. “You scared the living shit out of me, Rowan.”
Summer. She still looked amazing and had a mouth that would embarrass a sailor. Nothing had changed, and I loved that about her.
“Damn, Summer. That mouth of yours and that show you just gave me in that get-up you’re wearing would get me hard if you weren’t my best friend.”
I placed the glass on the counter and crossed my arms over my chest.
Her beautiful face reddened with rage and her chest strained against the towel as she seethed. Yep, she still hated surprises, and clearly the fact that I’d surprised her had pissed her right the hell off. A pissed Summer was an entertaining Summer, and her mouth and no-bullshit attitude were things about her I could always relate to. She’d always been beautiful in her own way—all female, yet able to wield the harsh words and bitchy attitude that made so many guys afraid of her.
Not me, though. I loved that about her. If it hadn’t been for her, my status as the youngest of three boys would have sent me off the deep end a lot earlier than it did.
That, and she made me feel things no one else ever had.
I looked her up and down again. She’d been athletic in high school, and from what I could see of her now—which was quite a lot because of that very skimpy towel—her legs were still long, tan, and fit, and her skin golden and smooth. Her hair hung in wet waves down her back but appeared to be almost back to her normal light-brown color. And, of course, her deep cleavage still looked amazing as ever.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she snapped, her voice losing its edge. She stood up taller, the scare she’d gotten now totallyresolved and her take-no-shit attitude one hundred percent back in place.
“I could ask you the same thing.” I pushed away from the counter. “Kai gave me permission to stay here and told me where to find the key. He said the house was empty.” I strutted toward her, my gaze traveled up and down her body.
I talked to her every week, but a phone camera was not the same as talking face-to-face. Seeing her in person was so much better. Seeing her in person in a towel and getting a quick flash of booby goodness—well,thatwas a bonus.
Summer held her ground, her stance strong and her hands on her hips. “Kora gave me permission and told me the same thing. It’s her place, so her word holds truer.”
I shook my head. “Well Summertime, it looks like we may have a problem. It’s good to see you, though.” I opened my arms and raised my brow. She rolled her eyes and walked into my embrace.
She smelled like she always had, like honeysuckle, coconuts, and sunshine. The perfect scents of Summer.
For the first time since I left the Army, it felt good to be home.
Chapter 2
Summer
Iwalked 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.”
