Chasing Home (Cherry Peak Book 3)

by Hannah Cowan

“I’m a damn good dancer, darlin’. I promise I won’t let you slip up.” “Promises from a stranger don’t mean much to me.” “So let’s not be strangers. I’ll tell you all about myself while we’re dancin’.”

“You’ve drawn a crowd, Johnny,” she whispers, tipping her head back to stare up at me. She’s tall, but the way she still has to crane her head to look at me right now has my pride tripling in size. “You know my name.” “And I was expecting you to be wearing a cowboy hat tonight,” she says. “Disappointed?”

“Not disappointed. Just surprised,” she says. I can’t keep from smiling again as I wink. “If I had brought it, I’d have already set it on your pretty head.” “And that’s a bad thing? Don’t think I’d look good beneath it?” Oh, we’re flirting now, are we?

No doubt in my mind you’d look perfect beneath it. But there’s a rule when it comes to a man settin’ his hat on a woman, Aurora.” Her breath hitches. “A rule?”

My throat is dry as I blurt out, “Don’t go.” “You got your dance, but I’m not here for fun.” She doesn’t look at me when she adds, “Bye, Johnny.”

mhmm is she running from something??

Although I was expecting someone entirely different to greet me the moment I busted through the door. My entire trip here was counting on it. So, Anna’s offer helped bank some of my disappointment. I still haven’t figured out exactly what I’m going to do now that the person I was searching for has just up and disappeared.

wait was she related to the previous owner of the salon???

The only thing I plan on doing while I’m in Cherry Peak is track down Wanda Rose and learn why she up and left this town before I got here.

why is she looking for WANDA?????

“Appointment?” I ask, confused. “My hair appointment, Rory,” he says cheekily. “You’re here to get your hair cut?” “’Course I am. Did you think I came here just to see you?” Scoffing, I roll my eyes. “No.”

And try not to make a habit of changin’ your schedule so you can fit in the time to bug that poor woman in town. You’ll set a precedent for the others.” I chuckle, flashing him a bashful grin. “I don’t have a damn clue what you’re talking about.”

Lmao

needed answers, and Cherry Peak is where I thought they’d be,” I tell them before I can think twice about it. Eliza’s features grow thoughtful. “And you aren’t so sure anymore?” “No,” I admit. “I’m still trying to figure things out.” “Sometimes all it takes is a bit of time.”

“The show makes sense now,” Garrison mumbles. Yeah, it does. I’m the scheduled performer, and I’m not the least bit ashamed of that.

“You did this on purpose, Eliza,” I say while we wait for the ranch guest to step out of her car. “Me? Would I do that?” Both the girls answer for me. “Yes.”

My jeans tighten at the crotch at the annoyance in those pretty blues. “That okay with you, Rory?” “Does it matter?” “’Course it does, darlin’. I won’t touch it unless you give the okay.”

“Enough to know where the door hinges are so I can oil ’em for you.” “You’re such a smartass,” she blurts out before clamping her lips shut and glancing guiltily at everyone watching on the porch. Poppy’s the one to reply. “Don’t look so guilty. You’re not wrong. He is a smartass.” “Worse than that sometimes,” Garrison adds.

I force myself to stay focused on the curves of her waist and the way I can see the imprint of her bra from beneath her shirt instead. It’s a fucking great distraction, and that in itself is a bit alarming. It’s probably creepy to get hard from staring at someone’s bra strap, and I’m already halfway there. As if sensing where my mind’s wandered, Garrison slaps me on the back. The pain from the hit shakes me from my thoughts. His laugh is low and gruff. “Fuck me. You’re screwed.” “You’re just learning that now?”

Trinkets decorate any and all empty spots and, of course, family photos in a million types of different frames. Anna is in several of them, as if she hasn’t only been here for two years but decades.

aw that's cute

That’s Bernice and James Rose. It’s been . . . oh, at least a decade since I’ve seen them last.” “Did they live here?” Eliza takes a step closer to me, her gaze burning into my cheek. “Yes. They moved up to Edmonton shortly after their son left town.” My throat is so clogged I can hardly swallow as I ask, “When did he leave town?” “Well, I’d say shortly after he met your mother.”

so the son is most likely Rory's dad???

“I recognized you the moment I saw you. You’re a spitting image of your mother. My memory isn’t shot quite yet.” “You knew my mother?” “Knew of her and saw her a handful of times,” she corrects me. “Everyone here knew about Lee Rose’s city girl from up in Calgary. She spent a couple of years down here with Lee before they both left. Lee came back alone a few months later. We didn’t know why she didn’t come back with him at the time, but maybe . . .” “It was because of me,” I say,

“That would make you, what? Thirty? A year older than Brody and Wanda.” She nods to herself. “Yes, that would line up about right.” Hearing my half-sister’s name spoken out loud right now is a shock to my system.

ahhh so the old salon owner is her half sister!!!!

“Am I allowed to ask why you’re here if you don’t plan on staying for long?” I fight past the immediate urge to close up and shift in my seat. “I came here to meet Wanda. And to learn about Lee—my father, I guess. I don’t know if I even want to call him that. But Wanda was supposed to be here to help me figure that out.”

“Sweet girl, Wanda’s been gone for over a year on a mission to get to know Lee. She may have grown up here with him, but he was no more a father to her as he was to you.” “What?” I gape, guilt swelling in my chest. Eliza grimaces. “Lee Rose has a lot of making up to do, Rory. With everyone. Even family.”

Saturday nights are for dimpled grins, laughing until your throat hurts, and empty beer bottles,

“I fuckin’ love it. And I wouldn’t mind a cute date with you either,” I tease. “Please. I’d never go on a date with Darren,” Bryce balks. He whips his head to look at her, eyes tightened at the corners. “Do you have to sound so disgusted at the idea?” “As if you’re not equally as disgusted.” “I am. But at least I’m not making it obvious.” “People are going to think you’re into each other for real with how much you bicker,” I say, my first beer pressed against my lips.

“If I wanted you to know anything, you already would, Johnny.” “Does Darren know?” I ask before snapping my gaze to him. “Do you?” He smirks, shoulder lifting. “Maybe.” “He doesn’t,” Bryce says, giving Darren a rough shove. “Because there’s nothing to know other than I’m not interested in Darren. Got it?”

“I’m going to get another drink. Let me up, you oaf.” “A please goes a long way,” Darren mutters but lets her out of the booth without a fight. “You’re not my daddy.” As she walks away from the table, Darren places his hands around his mouth and yells, “I could be!”

It’s a big deal to me that you’re here.” She rolls her eyes, brushing me off. “What’s your play?” “My play?” “Yeah. The reason for the flirting and interest. Is it a bet or something?” “I’m not a teenager, darlin’. I don’t make bets where women are involved.”

“How old are you?” I wrangle back a smirk at her interest. “Twenty-two.” Her lips part, a quick inhale following closely after. “You’re a baby.” “How does the saying go? Age isn’t anything but a number?” “Yeah, and twenty-two is a very low number.” “Well, how old are you? Twenty-three?” I ask slyly, shifting the smallest bit closer to her, just enough to face her more fully. Her cheeks pinken up at my question, and my chest lurches. “Not even close.” “It doesn’t matter either way. Twenty-three or thirty-three, my interest stands where it is,” I say, my voice thick with conviction. “Well then. I’m forty-three,” she bluffs.

“You’re right. I’m not forty-three. But I’m not twenty-two either.” “Like I said, I don’t care. I’m interested in you regardless of my age or yours.” “You shouldn’t be,” she says rigidly.

And how do you know that? Because I think you’re jumping the gun. You don’t know a damn thing about me yet, and I don’t know much about you. I want to change that,” I say, putting it all out there. “And I’m supposed to care about what you want?” I nod. “I’d prefer that, yeah.” The corner of her mouth twitches. “It’s your funeral, then, Johnny. But don’t say that I didn’t warn you.”

“I never knew funerals could be so fucking exciting.”

Just in case you’re not really alone. I heard someone say once that they saw a creepy woman standing in the upstairs window.” “It’s not haunted,” Garrison tells her. She leans out of his arms and stares at him deadpan. “And you know that how? Have you gone inside and asked if anyone’s there?” “Fuck no.” “Well, then you don’t know that it isn’t.”

LMAO

“Safe enough isn’t really all that settling, darlin’.” “I wasn’t aware that I was supposed to be settling you, sugar.”

“You know, I actually like that pet name. Keep it coming,” he teases, glancing my way just long enough to wink. “With all the winking you do, some would assume you constantly have something in your eyes.” “Fuck me, you like busting balls,” he says,

lmao

“You’re putting a hell of a lot of eggs in one basket. How do you know you’ll like what you find the further you dig?” His shrug is adorable in the most naïve of ways. “I’ve got a good sense of intuition.” “I’ve never made a decision based off of blind faith before.” “I don’t know about blind, darlin’. I’ve got twenty-twenty vision, and right now, it’s dead focused on you.”

“He’s an asshole,” I mutter. Eliza chuckles. “He is an asshole.” “It sounds wrong when you say it.” She winks. “I’ve said far worse.”

“You want more coffee? More than just a quick walk from the house to your car? Say the fuckin’ word, gorgeous. I’ve been waiting weeks for the opportunity to give you more than that,”

“Does your AC work?” I ask, my brows knitted together as I start to fiddle with the climate-control knobs, turning it to full blast and down again. “Sometimes,” she answers gruffly. My eyes bulge. “Sometimes? In this heat?” She straightens in her seat. “I don’t need a lecture from you, Johnny.” “I wasn’t gonna lecture you, darlin’. Just wanna make sure you’re taken care of is all.”

“Are you okay?” I ask with a swipe of my thumb over the first bump of her knuckle. Her throb strains with a swallow. “No. Not really.” “Can I help?” “I’ve never needed help before.” “It’s not a bad thing. Maybe you don’t need it, but it’s okay to want it.”

“Get on your way now, Loren. Don’t be lookin’ at Rory like that, you damn grump!” Eliza calls. Finally, he blinks and takes a step back. “It was a pleasure, Aurora.” Really? Was it? “Likewise,” I reply.

I attempt to smile. “Does everyone know that Johnny is . . .” “Interested in you? No. I don’t think they care as much about his interests as they do teasin’ him from time to time. Nobody is going to force you to give him anything. That’s not how we work around here. You make that boy work for your attention if you so choose to, or tell him to get lost. Either way, you’ve got my support.” “Thank you,” I say, and I mean it.

“If you’re here, I’m assuming I missed lunch. I’m sorry, darlin’. Real fucking sorry.” “You’re busy. This is more important.” His eyes dart between mine as he strokes my wrist again. “What about you let me make it up to you?” “I’m available for lunch every day.”

“You want to come spend an evening fixing my porch with beer and soggy, lukewarm food?” I ask. He dips his chin. “Yeah, Rory. That’s exactly what I want. As long as you’ll be there.” “Oh,” I mutter. “Oh . . . yes?” I smile, just a tiny curl of my lips. “Yeah. Okay, fine.” His grin puts my smile to shame.

“Sounds like a plan, darlin’. Can’t wait.” I roll my eyes and distance myself from him a step. “Just don’t be late, or I’ll lock the front door, and you can drink and eat alone.” If anything, I think my threat excites him. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She’s a sweet one, though. All the stubborn ones are deep down,” Johnny replies, staring right at me with a smirk that I want to give a hard flick. He’s got one thing right. I am stubborn. But I need a lot more than a handful of treats to obey anyone’s orders.

She tugs on a strand of my hair. “Cologne isn’t an easy gift if you’re doing it right. We spend at least two hours searching for the perfect smell every time.” “Well, it might be time to find a different gift idea for this year. I don’t think a guy needs seven bottles of cologne at once.” “Seven? And you still smell like shit as often as you do? Jesus.”

LMAO

It was terrifying. And every time I see him or speak with him, I feel that fear again. Because men like Johnny don’t stay in your life for a moment in time. They stay there forever.

“I see all of those thoughts running through your pretty head, Rory, but I want to hear them. Tell me no—a real no—and I’ll leave right now. I’ll back up and let you find your father without me complicating anything. But if you tell me yes, I’m jumping in headfirst. “I’ll be here every night fixing up this house of yours until I deem it safe enough and bringing you food at lunch. I’ve got a list of things a mile long that I want to show you and teach you out at the ranch, but only if you say yes. I won’t keep pushin’ if you don’t feel what I do. You’ve got my word.”

“Why are you smiling?” I ask. “Everyone thinks Cherry Peak is a blip on the map for them, but oftentimes, it’s never that. I’m more than ready to prove that to you, darlin’,” he answers. “And if you can’t? You’ll hate me for leaving.”

“If we do this,” I start, feeling something warm start to build in my chest. “Would you help me contact Wanda? Not as a quid pro quo or anything, but . . . I can do it on my own—it would just be nice to have someone⁠—” “Name anything you need, and I’m here to help you get it. You’ve got my word,” he says instantly.

Like when I meet the woman I decide to marry. Which isn’t me saying I’m ready to propose to Aurora right now or anything. God, my moms would kick my ass for even considering that already, but the fact still stands. I want to be able to say that I know how to take care of a woman and be someone that she can depend on when that time comes.