Page 39 of No Place Like Home
“I’ve always been good with Darlene holding that position,” I muttered, now annoyed with Kora.
Lilly rolled her eyes. “From killing each other.”
“Seriously? You think that’s possible?” Rowan asked her. “You know that’s a full-time job. I don’t know if I have enough skills to keep that from happening.” He glanced between us. “And what am I supposed to go with them to do, other than keep them from killing each other?”
“Kora wants me to be her errand bitch for the day,” I replied.
“Yeah, and I said I’d go to make sure she doesn’t mess it up. I mean, I have better things to do with my day, but this is important.” Tonya said.
“Mom, as far as I can tell, you never have anything better to do.”
“Exactly, Rowan,” Lilly said. “And that’s why you would be perfect to go with them. As far as I can tell, you don’t have anything better to do either.”
“So, you want me to go so I can be a witness to them killing each other?”
“Well, you are trained in self-defense and protection of your countrymen. I don’t know who else would be a better candidate.”
Rowan’s gaze caught mine and he raised a brow—anddammitif I didn’t feel the heat go up a couple degrees. My eyes roamed over his features, already forgetting what we were talking about. That face, perfect and chiseled . . . those brown eyes, deep as chocolate . . . those lips, warm, tasty, and so talented . . .
I shook my head to clear all those naughty thoughts before I started drooling—or worse, jumped his bones right here in front of everyone, secrets be damned.
I focused on the conversation. Rowanwasgoing with us. Well, it could be worse. I could be going with Tonya by myself.
“Fine, I’ll reschedule my appointments,” I reluctantly agreed. “It was going to be a quiet day, anyway.” I wiped my fingers on a napkin. “I guess Rowan will help make the afternoon a little less dreary and depressing.”
“Yep, spending time with Summer will be a little less mind-numbing if my youngest is around,” Tonya jabbed.
“Wow. I feel the love.” Rowan’s gaze passed between both of us. “Mom, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Rowan gave Tonya a hug. “I’ve got to go. I promised Jamison I’d take Darcie home, and I’m staying there for dinner. So, Lilly, I’ll let him know you’ll be there soon. And Summer,” he paused until I looked at him, and even without touching me he set my heart to pounding. “I’ll see you later.”
Hell yeah, he would.
Chapter 17
Rowan
It was almost nine when I pulled into the driveway of my temporary home. After dropping off Darcie, I hung out at Jamison’s the rest of the afternoon and stayed for dinner. It was good seeing him and Lilly together. They made a perfect couple. And their girls—wow! I thought Darcie was a lot to handle, but, damn, Darcie and Madelyn together were exhausting. If Jamison and Lilly got married, which I was sure they would, they would have no peace and quiet until the two girls moved out for college.
I was still shaking my head at the fun, yet chaotic, night I had just endured at Jamison’s as I parked next to Summer’s car.
I glanced at it, and then at the house. Despite all our fun last night, my stomach seemed to curl into a scared little ball as I thought about what I might encounter once I ventured inside.
Summer’s attitude had been all over the place today. One minute she ignored me, next she was irritated with me, then she responded positively to my kiss for a brief second before she pulled back and became frosty toward me again.
I scrubbed my hands over my face and blew out a breath.
Opening up to Summer and telling her the truth had always scared me. Hell, if I was honest,Summerscared me. God help the one who was ever on the receiving end of her wrath. But ignoring my feelings hadn’t worked. I’d tried that for over a decade, and every time we hung up after talking on the phone, I missed home even more than the last time we’d talked—and she was the main reason. If I could only get her to see how good a relationship between us could be.
I sighed deeply and walked through the door of the small house.
Summer sat on the couch, watching television. When she turned to look at me, her expression was blank, void of anything—excitement, emotion, feeling.
“Hey Summertime. Whatchya watching?” I sat on the couch and lifted her feet into my lap.
“Nothing much,” she said as she sat up and curled her legs under her.
Fine. I sunk back into the couch and placed my feet on the coffee table. “You want some popcorn? A Diet Coke?”
She shook her head without saying anything or taking her eyes from the screen. She seemed totally entrenched in whatever show she was watching—rich plastic women stomping around all dramatic and yelling about something. It was so ridiculous, I couldn’t keep up. “Who the hell wears heals and those clothes hanging around their house?” I griped. “What the hell are you watching?”
