Page 129 of Rocky Mountain Home

They were both still grinning by the time they reached Silver Stone ranch.

Jesse whistled, and Morgan came running at full tilt, ears flapping like wings. The dog got a hug and a head scratch from Jesse, then turned to Dare as if to say she’d been missed.

“I’m glad to see you, too, but I bet you had more fun here than you would have in Rocky. You wouldn’t have understood what was going on.” She knelt to give him a hug, and he sat, tail thumping as he accepted her adoration like it was his due, wide doggy smile in place.

“Joel said he’s looking forward to seeing Morgan again,” Jesse shared as he helped her to her feet.

“Of course, he is. Morgan’s a good boy, ain’t cha, pupper?”

Morgan panted, waiting patiently for someone to do something more exciting than just talk.

Dare chuckled. She should have warned herself against falling in love with his dog, but it was too late. “Yes, you get to come with us the next time,” she assured Morgan.

Jesse paused on the porch after dropping off the couple of bags they’d borrowed from the Colemans for her to transport her things. “You mind if I go track down Caleb? I don’t want to steal your thunder, but I feel as if I should let him know what’s going on in terms of work. I don’t want to leave him in the lurch, either.”

“Makes sense. You know where to find me if you need me.” In the distance Ginny was making tracks toward them like a bat out of hell. “I’ll be talking my sister off the ledge. And packing.”

“Look at you, multitasking goddess and all.”

He gave her a brief, intense kiss before taking off toward the barns, whistling as he walked, Morgan at his heels. Obviously happy, which was pretty much what the sensation in her gut said too.

Funny how a good bout of sex could do that to a person.

Ginny was on the steps an instant later, crowding after her into the cottage. “Start talking. I saw that smooch you just gave your baby daddy. I take it his ranking has moved up a notch or two out of the negatives.”

Dare headed to her bedroom and pulled open drawers to start packing. “He’s out of the hole, yes.”

“The Colemans? Are they approved Buckaroo material?”

“Definitely.” She turned to Ginny, T-shirt in her hand. “They’re not perfect, but they honestly care about each other. They already care about me and Buckaroo, which is kind of mind-boggling.”

“I don’t see what’s mind-boggling about it at all,” Ginny said sternly. “You’re very care-about-able.”

Dare grinned and kept going. “I’m happy to report that I don’t have to go on bed rest, which is a good thing because even with Jesse’s millions of family members to distract me, I don’t think I could handle four months in the same room.”

“I’ve never felt so relieved as when you sent word you were okay.” Ginny sat on the edge of the bed. “But I do admit I’m concerned about your mental clarity. You just got back. Why are you putting things into a bag instead of out of it?”

Dare took a deep breath. “We’ve decided to move to Rocky, at least until Buckaroo is born. We’re heading back tomorrow.”

One of Ginny’s brows rose to her hairline. She just stared, and stared. Then she glanced over her shoulder to make sure they were alone before whispering, “Blink twice if you’re being held against your will.”

Dare snickered. “That’s rich—this is partly your idea. You’re the one who said that we should consider moving.”

“I thought consider meant taking more than thirty seconds. You’ve got to admit this is fast. You just went to check them out.”

“I did. And I like them.”

Ginny hopped off the bed and paced the room. “You really going to marry Mr. Sexy?”

“This isn’t about him. This is about doing what’s best for Buckaroo, remember? I feel as if being in Rocky is going to be a good thing for me up until the time he’s born, but especially the days after, because oh my God, Jaxi and Blake’s baby was adorable, but the idea of bringing something that teeny home and having to take care of it all by myself? Hell no.”

The pacing stopped. Ginny’s concern deepened as she folded her arms over her chest. “I can be here for you. You don’t need to move.”

“Ginny. No, I don’t want you to put your life on hold any longer. That’s not fair to you, and I’ll just end up hating myself.” Dare tossed the packing to the bed so she could catch hold her friend’s hands. “I love you, and I love that you would sacrifice your plans for me, but I won’t let you do that. Plus, it’s not necessary. The Colemans will be wonderful to Buckaroo.”

Her friend tilted her head. “What about you? Because all kidding aside, is there something between you and Jesse more than just this baby?”

“Of course, there is. We’re friends, at least I think we are.” She wasn’t going to mention their sexual compatibility was off the charts.