Page 32 of No Place Like Home
I was fucking Rowan. Rowan McKendry, my best friend.
“Hey.” He raised his hands to caress my face. “It’s okay. Come here.” He rolled and I was suddenly under him, his arms on either side of my face. “This is perfect,” he whispered breathlessly, picking up his own rhythm. “Don’t overthink it.”
I nodded.
He smiled and our lips met.
As we both fell apart, my world fell into place.
Chapter 15
Rowan
“Where you going?” I asked Summer, groggy and a bit hoarse from our long, amazing night. I pushed up in bed and let the sheets fall low, barely covering the evidence of what I wanted to start my morning with—but, instead, I watched her slip on her shoes.
“I have to work, and I’ll be at the salon till six. We’re closed on Saturday, so I have a full calendar all week.” She never made eye contact as she put on her earrings.
I jumped from the bed, wrapped my arms around her from behind, and kissed her neck. There was no way I’d let her ignore me this time. Not after last night. Not after she proved to every nerve ending in my body that wanting her for years was so worth the wait. “Damn, you smell good—and taste even better.”
She froze in my arms. I could feel her body go rigid.
I bit down on my cheek and pressed my forehead against the back of her head. I had to keep my irritation contained. Damn her father and all her past relationships. She always shut down when things became more than—well, platonic. I couldn’t let her do that to us. “Don’t shut me out, Summer.” I brushed her hair over her shoulder and placed a soft kiss on her cheek.
Her body leaned against mine before she turned and placed her hands on my chest. My bare chest. Her warmth soaked right into my skin, and a smile ticked up the corners of my mouth. “Morning,” I said.
“You’re naked.”
“You’re beautiful.” I placed a kiss on her lips, and she finally kissed me back—short, but sweet.
“I’ve gotta go, Rowan.”
When our eyes met, I raised my brow.
A glimmer appeared in her hazel eyes, and she pressed her lips to mine, another quick kiss which left me wanting more—but she relaxed this time, became less rigid. My lips curled up against her mouth.
When we broke apart, she walked to her closet. “What are you going to do today?”
I shrugged and picked up my sweats from the floor, pulling them as I thought. “Look more into my plans. Visit Trevor at Jerry’s Pub. Maybe go see Kai and Kora. Maybe wait for you to come home so we can continue last night’s activities.”
“Yeah, well, I won’t be home tonight until late.” She walked out to the kitchen, and I followed. “After work, we have a last-minute wedding to-do list Kora has us going over at Darlene’s. Just a little more than a week till the big day, and lots to do.” She grabbed her purse. “So, I’ll see you later. Maybe you should wait up.” She raised her brows, gave me a wicked grin, and walked out.
I leaned against the counter and ran my hands through my hair. “What the hell am I gonna do to get her to relax and realize she’sworth it?” I didn’t know, but I sure as hell needed a cup of coffee. At least that was something I could take charge of.
My phone pinged as I poured half-and-half in my cup. My mouth watered as I read the text from mom inviting me to breakfast. Mom’s breakfast usually included something like homemade biscuits and gravy or maybe pancakes and bacon. There was no way I was saying no.
I took very little time showering and getting dressed, then headed down the path to Mom’s. I passed Big Red, perched on the old wood fence that was used to prop up the blackberry bushes. “Morning, Red,” I greeted the ornery rooster. He flapped his wings and let out a loud crow. “See. We’re becoming friends.”
I laughed as he crowed again and jumped off the fence in the other direction.
I walked across my mother’s patio and into the kitchen. The smell of bacon and maple syrup filled the air.
“Uncle Rowan, you’re here.” Jamison’s daughter, Darcie, red curls bouncing, jumped from her chair and into my arms.
“Hey there, princess.” I hugged her tightly. “Look at you.” Her large, hazel-green eyes and head of red curls made her look like a tiny version of her mother, who had passed away about three years ago. “You are so much bigger in person, but shouldn’t you be in school?”
“And you are more handsome in person, Uncle Rowan.” She sniffed. “I have a cold, so I stayed home today.” She coughed as she hugged my neck again.
Emotions clogged my throat. Darcie was five, and this was only the third time I’d seen her, the second being the time two years ago when Jamison and my mother came to see me at the base fora weekend. If it hadn’t been for our weekly FaceTime calls, Darcie would be like a stranger to me.
