Chasing Home (Cherry Peak Book 3)

by Hannah Cowan

“You work quick,” I tell him. “When I want to. There’s a time and place for all kinds of speeds,” he replies smoothly, coming to stand at the bottom of the stairs.

“I haven’t had a lot of experience with that, actually. Fast is usually my speed of choice.” One hand slides into his pocket as his smirk stretches wider, bordering into smile territory. “Always?” “Most of the time.” “There’s still time to open your horizons and experiment. I’m always up to share some of my insight with interested parties.” “Oh? And how many interested parties have you shared this insight with?”

“Give or take about . . . six.” “Six?” I squeak, my jaw hanging open. “That’s it?” He tips his head. “Yeah, darlin’. Six. That alright with you?” “Why shouldn’t it be? You can add another six tonight for all I care.”

“Even if I could physically tear myself away from you long enough to go add six to my tally, I couldn’t get there mentally,” he says, standing so close the toes of his boots touch my sandals. My breath hitches when he takes my hand in his, the calluses on his palm scratching my skin. “Been only one woman on my mind since I saw her, and I’ve been tryin’ to impress her tonight, but maybe I haven’t done a good enough job yet.” “You have,” I

“You have. I’m just not the one for you.” “I don’t believe that.” “Why should you believe otherwise? I’ve given you nothing.” He wets his lips and reaches up to remove his hat.

“I’ve got three sisters, two moms, and have watched more fairy tales than anyone in their right mind. Love at first sight isn’t a taboo topic for me. It isn’t hard to believe in. Romance doesn’t scare me or intimidate me. It never has. And do you know what I felt the first time I saw you, Aurora?” I shake my head, unable to speak. Too scared to. He moves impossibly closer and drops the hat before resting his hand on the wall behind me. I hadn’t realized I’d backed up against it.

“I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. You were sittin’ at that table with your fingers tapping the way they do when you’re nervous or uncomfortable, and I knew I needed to get over to you. The woman with the sad but fuckin’ prettiest eyes I’d ever seen. I followed the tug I felt between us and only needed one minute with you to know that I made the right choice.”

“I don’t believe in love at first sight,” I say on a breath. “No? Alright. So you didn’t feel anything with me that night? When I had you in my arms as we swayed between tables? Because you could have shoved me away at any time. God knows I’d have let you go without a fight if that’s what you wanted. I did let you go.”

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.”

IM GONNA CRY

“I . . .” My throat is so thick I can’t even swallow properly. Heat engulfs my cheeks. “I can’t tell you no. That night was a lot for me too. There’s something here, I know that. But I’m not staying in Cherry Peak. I can’t make you any promises. I’m here for Wanda and Lee.”

My muscles tighten when he softly curls his finger beneath my chin and turns my head, forcing me to meet his stare. His smile is unexpected and confusing. “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.

He strokes his finger over the ridge of my jaw before swooping it up my cheek. “I don’t think it’ll be possible to hate you. But if I have to watch you leave, then at least I’ll be able to know that I had my time with you.”

“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. I release a breath. “Okay.”

If the lawn needed mowing? I was out doing it. My sister had a boy over? I was the one standing in her bedroom doorway with my arms crossed and my glare fixed on the douche.

“I always wanted to work on Steele Ranch,” I say, keeping an eye on her bare fingers as she grips each piece of wood. Every haphazard toss has my muscles tensing. “You should wear gloves. You’re going to get a sliver⁠—” “Fuck!” she shouts while yanking her hand to her chest and then holding it up to her face. Her eyes slide toward me as she adds, “Don’t say a damn word.”

“Which finger?” “Pointer.” I hum and pull the finger up, taking in the inflamed tip. The thick sliver is easy to spot, and I fight the urge to press my lips over it. “Do you have tweezers?” “Yes. And I know how to use them myself.”

“I don’t doubt you can. It’ll be easier if I help, though. I’ve got incredible eyesight.” My grin is wide as I wink at her and reluctantly release her hand.

“The guys get slivers all the time. I’m a pro at removing them at this point,” I add, trying to sweeten up my offer. Sighing, she nods behind me toward the house. “Fine. But you have to finish telling me about why you wanted to work on the ranch so young while you’re performing surgery on my finger.” “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, darlin’,” I promise without a second thought.

“Let me,” I whisper, finally releasing her wrist and sliding the tweezers free of the death grip she has on them. “I can do it myself, Johnny.”

swallow, grappling for my manners. “It’ll be quicker if I do it.” Her lashes flutter as our stares hold in the mirror. “This doesn’t feel quicker.” “No, I guess it doesn’t.”

“Let me see your finger,” I coax.

“Should I time how long it takes you?” she asks, the tease so obvious in her voice that I can’t help but grin like a fool. “Go for it, gorgeous. Maybe we should take bets.” She hums, pushing her fingers a bit harder into my sternum. I lean forward, encouraging her to keep going. Shove them deep, Rory. Wrap them around my heart and feel how fast it beats in your company. “Bets are dangerous,” she muses. “The best things are.”

“Are you dangerous, Johnny?” “Not when it comes to you.” Her lips part as she flicks her tongue along the bottom one, right over that small scar. “Liar.” “We were making a bet. I’ll go first.”

“It’ll take me under a minute to get the sliver out.” “That’s a confident bet.” I smirk. “Surprised?” “Not at all,” she says, finally drifting her eyes back up to mine. “Three minutes.” “So little faith in me, Rory,” I tease, swaying even closer.

“What do I get when I win the bet?” “When?” I blow out a long breath and reach behind her to grip the edge of the sink. The move brings us too close to pretend it’s just my heart thumping like crazy. “No, darlin’. If you win.” “If I win, what do I get?” she corrects herself. “Name it.” Her brow curves. “Anything?” “Anything.” “Wanda’s number.”

Relief ripples across her expression. “What do you want if you win?” I don’t need to think about it. “A kiss.” “A kiss?” she echoes, eyes wide. “That surprises you?” “Well . . . no. I guess not. But you could have had anything.” “There’s nothin’ else I want.” Her cheeks flush a pretty shade of pink, and my heart thumps in answer. “Better get to it, then.”

“Don’t forget the timer,” I remind her when I feel her eyes burying themselves into my face and bring her finger to press between my lips. She shifts, slipping her phone out and setting a timer as her pink cheeks grow apple red. “Go.” It only takes me a handful of full breaths to slide her finger into my mouth and suck on the tip, my tongue swiping over the sliver once before it comes

With the sliver on my tongue, I slide her finger free and wink at her. “How did I do?”

“Is that how you get slivers out of all the ranch hands’ fingers too?” “Nah, just you, darlin’. You’re the only one special enough for that treatment. The others get jabbed with tweezers because they don’t know how to stand still and let me work. Stubborn mules, those guys.” “Are you saying ...

“Right. Well, you won fair and square. I suppose you want to claim your prize?” I shake my head, bringing her finger to my lips. Goosebumps grow over her skin. With a soft kiss to the red, inflamed skin, I declare, “Not quite yet. I’ve got p...

Despite winning our bet, Johnny left me Wanda’s number last night. On the back of an old gas station receipt resting on my kitchen counter, I found her phone number scribbled in nearly illegible writing. 780-555-1829. Call her Rory. She’ll want to meet you. Johnny, aka the pro sliver remover

“If there’s one thing Johnny doesn’t care about, it’s the opinion of others, Rory,” Bryce says. “He’s too unapologetically himself to give a shit about that.” “I’ve started to realize that,” I reply softly.

“He’s smitten by you. Are you smitten by him?” “Going right for the throat, Pops,” Bryce mutters. Anna laughs lightly, watching me. “You don’t have to answer that question if you don’t feel comfortable. I know we’re all still getting to know each other.”

“Eight years is one of the better age gaps I’ve heard of. You could always be one of those women who dates an eighty-year-old billionaire on his deathbed,” Poppy says. Bryce snorts a laugh. “Clearly, Poppy has thought of taking that route before. She got lucky and found a thirty-year-old billionaire instead.” “Don’t be jealous, you hag. And don’t talk about me marrying anyone else around Garrison, or he’ll get jealous and have me walking around bow-legged for the next week.” Poppy cuts herself off and smirks. “Okay, on second thought, maybe do bring that up to him.”

Poppy pokes her elbow. “As if you’re some saint. I’ve seen inside your nightstand.” “You’re one to talk. I think you have an actual clinical dildo addiction. I know a therapist if you want their info.” “At least I haven’t been pining after⁠—” Bryce cuts Poppy off with a hand to her mouth.

“It’s not every day I see a woman hanging around back here. Don’t tell me my brother has driven you into hiding.”

The woman speaking to me is unfamiliar but gorgeous all the same, with round blue-grey eyes and hair the colour of ripe cherries. She smiles kindly at me, and the dimple on her left cheek has my eyes growing wide at how similar she looks to Johnny.

Clearing my throat, I collect myself. “You must be Daisy.” “So, he does talk about his sisters, then. I was beginning to worry we’d meet and you’d have no idea who I am,” she says, approaching me to offer her hand. “And you’re Aurora, right?”

I nod, something warm filling my belly at the knowledge that she knows who I am. “He talks about you guys a lot.” When I shake her hand, she swings her other arm awkwardly, as if she would have preferred to hug me instead of something so formal.

“Just taking a minute?” “Yeah,” I say on a weighted exhale. “Yeah, a minute that’s turned into quite a few.” “Is there anything I can do to help?” she offers. I think about my answer twice before saying, “I need to make a phone call but can’t get myself to press the button. Could you do it for me?” Her nod is instant. She bounces a step toward me and holds out her hand. “You’ve got it, babe.”

Daisy slides the phone back into my hand and rubs my shoulder in a soft, soothing motion. “Whatever this is about, you’ll be fine. It will be fine.”

Daisy gives me a squeeze and then shifts back, giving me room to breathe. “You’re beautiful, by the way. I knew you would be—Johnny said you were—but I definitely concur with him. I’m glad I got a minute with you without him hovering. Hopefully, we’ll see each other again soon.”

It rings three more times before cutting off. “Hello?” I almost burst into tears at the first sound of her voice. My sister’s voice. The half doesn’t matter right now. Clearing my throat, I lift a hand to my throat and say, “Hi. Is this Wanda?” “That depends on who this is.”

“Are you sitting down somewhere? If not, you might want to.” “How about you just tell me what this is about.” “Alright,” I mutter. Jumping right into it, then. “My name is Aurora Bennett and⁠—” My lips clamp shut when I feel a shift in the air. Whipping my head to the right, I feel that stupid fucking burn in my eyes again. Daisy went to him. That’s why she left so quickly.

Johnny presses a finger to his lips and comes to stand right in front of me, close enough that when I drop my head forward, it rests against his shoulder. His arms wrap around me, anchoring me to his chest as I blink away the emotion in my eyes. “And I’m your sister,” I state into the phone. A kiss on my head comes as I wait for a reply. The weight of a large hand on my back, rubbing up and down my spine, is a steady reminder that I’m not alone.

don’t have a sister,” Wanda says, her tone of voice hard and to the point. I flinch again, but this time, Johnny’s tightening his hold on me. “I didn’t think I did either. But it’s true. I can show you anything you want to see to prove it.” A weighted pause. “How’d you even get this number?” “Does it really matter?” “Of course it does. You’re out to lunch if you think I’m going to take the word of some random woman who’s somehow come across my number. Are you looking for money, is that it?”

I’m so lost in my head that when a gentle set of fingers peel mine from my phone, I don’t fight them. I keep my forehead pressed to Johnny’s chest and inhale the smell of cologne and outdoors. “Hey, Wanda.” “Johnny? What the shit is going on right now?”

I don’t let myself think twice about my next move. Giving in to the desperate urge to touch him, I slide my arms over his hips and lock my fingers at the base of his back, hugging him right back. “There isn’t anyone else to talk to right now, Wanda. Just you, me, and Rory. And it’s up to you now whether you buy what we’re saying or not, but you’ve gotta drop that attitude before I tell your sister you aren’t worth knowin’,” he says.

I open my eyes to stare at our feet, his threat shocking me. The part of me that hates not taking care of myself and my own problems demands I grab the phone back and take care of the rest of this conversation myself, but the other part of me? It wants me to climb up this man’s body and beg him to kiss me. Hard. Preferably until I can’t feel my lips any longer.