Page 85 of No Place Like Home
Epilogue
Summer- 7 months later
“You ready?” Rowan asked as he leaned over the fence.
“Almost,” I answered as I spread the hay in the chicken coop. Big Red crowed next to me. “I think he likes his new house and his women,” I said.
Big Red did a little side-shuffle and crowed again as six hens pecked the ground next to him. “He sure isn’t complaining,” Rowan agreed.
It was the end of May, and Rowan had been living in Kora’s place as he waited to decide what to build on his own property. Big Red and Rowan became buddies, so we decided to get the ornery rooster some women to keep him company. Rowan was now the proud owner of six hens and Big Red.
I went home occasionally, but spent most of my time here. I loved the openness and fresh air, and had to admit, chickens had become my newest addiction—besides sex with Rowan, of course.
“I need to wash up quick and we’ll go,” I said as I shut the door to the coop behind me.
“Okay. I’ll wait for you in the Jeep.” Rowan gave me a kiss and a smack on my ass as I hurried away.
It didn’t take long for me to wash up, grab my bag, and climb into the passenger side of the Jeep.
He hung up the phone when I got there.
“Who was that?”
“Just Kai.” He put the Jeep in reverse, turned, and headed down the driveway. “He was wondering where we were. Everyone’s already there. I told him they should be used to us being late by now.”
I laughed at the truth in that statement. Rowan and I were always so busy with each other that being on time was not our calling card. “Do you have the present?” I asked.
“Yep. In the back.”
It was Susie’s birthday. She had just gotten into town and was planning on staying for the summer, so we were celebrating her at Kora and Kai’s.
“Seems like we’re the last ones, as usual,” I said as we pulled up to the back of their property. Cars filled the driveway, so Rowan parked on the grass.
Before we got out, he pulled me to him. “If I could have my way, I’d have spent my day with you in bed.” His lips met mine, and the now-familiar tingle traveled throughout my body as he devoured me with his kiss.
“We could go home,” I whispered against his lips. “They’d understand.”
He pulled away quickly. “Nope,” he said. “We gotta go.”
“Fuck, Rowan.” I huffed out a breath. “Why the hell did you get me all worked up like that?”
He met me at the passenger door with my bag over his shoulder and the present under his arm and helped me step out. “A hot Summer is the best kind.”
He smiled that sexy-as-hell smile I didn’t think I’d ever get tired of, and I willingly let him pull me toward the noise of the party by the river.
We were greeted by everyone as we arrived. I found a seat by Kora and Darlene, and Rowan went directly to the kids, who were all wading in the river and splashing each other.
“Late again,” Kora said.
“Get over it,” I told her.
Darlene laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, Summer. We aren’t stressed by it. At least we know you’ll show up in a good mood.”
I rolled my eyes and accepted the drink Susie gave me. “Happy birthday, and welcome back.” I gave her a hug.
“Thanks. It’s good to be back,” she said with a strange smile on her lips.
Tonya came over to us with a bundle of preciousness in her arms. Michelle Grace McKendry arrived in this world right on time the middle of February. Rowan and I had been at the hospital when she was born, as Rowan had refused to miss another niece’s birth.
