Page 3 of No Place Like Home
As I waited for my coffee to brew, I studied Rowan’s back as he looked at photos on Kora’s mantle that she hadn’t packed up. His fitted army-green T-shirt defined his muscles, the sleeves hugging biceps that bulged slightly as he picked up a picture. His dark hair was cut short and tight on the sides and longer on top—still perfectly neat and tidy, like it always had been. His complexion was tanned, showing he’d spent time outdoors, and a slight five o’clock shadow darkened his strong jawline. My eyes traveled down his back to his ass, which filled out his jeans nicely.
Yeah, he was my best friend, but I’d be blind if I didn’t notice how amazing he looked. He turned, and when his large brown eyescaught mine, I could swear they glimmered as a smile grew on his face.
I returned the smile and cleared the sudden frog in my throat. “Sure, you don’t want anything?” I asked him.
“Nope, I’m good.” He sat on the couch, his back to me once again.
I finished fixing my coffee and plopped down next to him. I took a sip and smiled over the top of my mug. “So, did you lose track of time in your quest to keep America safe? The wedding’s in a couple of weeks. I thought you weren’t coming home till right before.”
“Nope. I know what the date is. Had a chance to get home and thought I’d surprise everyone.” Rowan chuckled, the sound deep and relaxed. He’d nestled in the corner of the couch with one arm draped over the back, and while he’d looked good from behind, this view was even better. His smile ticked up a notch. “Looks like so far I succeeded.”
I placed my mug on the table next to me and slapped his arm resting over the back of the couch. “Yeah, dumb shit. You could say that.” I closed my hand over his forearm. “It’s good you’re home.” I leaned in and hugged him around his neck.
Now that I was fully clothed and not scared as shit because some person who shouldn’t be in my kitchen was gawking at me in a towel, I could enjoy the hug, and the feeling of familiarity returned. Rowan was here in the flesh—finally.
Rowan was more than my best friend. He’d been like a brother to me. We’d been inseparable in school, to the point that other guys were scared to approach me because they thought we were an item.
We hadn’t been, even though I had to work hard at getting even Kora and Darlene to understand that—while secretly admitting tomyself that sometimes I’d wished we were. But I’m not a relationship type of gal. And, besides, he was never in need of a girlfriend, since every human with two legs and tits was lined up to date him. Friendship was perfect from where I sat.
He squeezed me back, his hug solid. My entire body relaxed against him, and I didn’t miss the sigh that escaped his lungs, or the way he seemed to slump against my shoulder. I held him a little longer. I could feel his heartbeat slow through his tight shirt. My insides fluttered as the scent of him—masculine and outdoorsy—soaked into my senses.
I patted his back. “Hey.” I pulled away and held his arms so I could look him in the eyes, which had grown distant and serious. “Is everything okay?” His gaze darted around my face like he was searching for something. I cocked my head.
“Yeah, everything’s perfect.” A smile lit up his face again, and he trailed his fingers through the wet hair hanging over my shoulders and sucked in his lips. It was obvious his thoughts were far away. He was here, looking at me, yet he wasn’t. He closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them, the distance was gone.
He stood and picked up his duffle bag from the floor. “I’m going to throw my bag intoourroom, hop in the shower, then unpack. I hope there’s room for my stuff in the closet. It’s going to be a tight stay.” He winked and walked away.
Again, my gaze followed him. I couldn’t lie. He looked good, probably better than ever. A warmth stirred deep in my gut. I swallowed, ignored the feeling, and got to work straightening up the place. I picked up a spare bra and pair of panties from the floor of the bedroom and moved clothes around in the dresser to give him a drawer and some space in the closet. I wasn’t sure how this was goingto work, but I didn’t think it would be for long. At least it didn’t look like he brought much with him.
I exited the closet at the same time a towel-clad Rowan entered the bedroom.
My mouth went dry.Fuck me.
My eyes traveled over his perfectly chiseled chest down to the spattering of hair at his navel. I promise I never let that trail of hair lead my eyes to the secret spot where it vanished beneath the towel—the towel that hung loosely on the alluring curve of his sculpted hips and waist.
He dried his hair with a hand towel and gazed around the room.
My body needed to get a grip. It wasn’t the first time I’d been alone with a barely clothed Rowan. At the river in our swimsuits, we wore less, but that was a young teenage Rowan, and this man who stood in front of me was more of an Adonis than the Rowan I remembered.
I quietly cleared my throat so I could speak. “I emptied a drawer for you.” I gestured toward it. “And made room in the closet.”
“Thanks. I didn’t bring much, so this will work just fine.”
Just then a knock on the door took my attention away from Rowan and the thickness of the air in the room. I pointed. “Gotta get that.”
He stepped out of the way.
I brushed past him and breathed for the first time since I got to admire him in a towel.
“Hey.” Kora let herself in the house.
“Hope we’re not interrupting anything,” Kai answered as he closed the door behind them.
“Yeah, about that.” My voice was thick with irritation, and my eyes held Kora’s.
The smirk that filled her face was too much. Kora, my best friend since forever, always wanted Rowan and me to hook up. In Kora’s demented mind, Darlene was with Bryson, and if Rowan and I were a couple, we would all be one big happy family.
“Kora, enough,” I said as I held her gaze and crossed my arms over my chest, willing her to get the message that Rowan and Iweren’tgoing to happen.
