Page 155 of Rocky Mountain Home

He looked damn impressed. “Nice.”

Dare nodded. “You know, this is the first time in my life I’ve ever bought a bed. Is that stupid?”

Jesse shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never bought a bed before, either.”

Amusement returned. “Seriously? Jeez, what a slacker.”

He pulled her into the guest room and took a leisurely stroll around, laughing as he glanced at the poster on the wall. “Cowboys are like guns. If you keep one around long enough, you’re going to want to shoot it.”

“Truth in advertising,” she said.

He took his time and was properly appreciative, but she was eager for him to get to the main event.

His response entering the master bedroom was worth the effort. “Holy shit. This is gorgeous, Dare.”

The bed was a four-poster, with solid wooden beams for corners. Queen-size, which meant she didn’t have to be farther away from him than necessary. Not that she’d told him that yet, damn her ass.

“Daniel and his boys made the bed. The quilt is from Hope’s stash.” Dare stepped forward and pointed to a pair of pictures on the wall. “Your mom and dad gave me this, and I got Caleb to send me the other one.”

Two pictures, aerial shots. Six Pack and Silver Stone, beautiful pastoral scenes with the mountains in the distance. Different, unique and yet distinctly home in her heart.

He examined them closely, happiness written all over his face. “I love them. Thank you for doing this up so beautifully.”

His gaze fell on another poster that she’d placed on the wall opposite the bed. He didn’t say anything, not for a few minutes before turning back to her, a smile on his lips. “Is that true?”

“The saying on the plaque? Definitely.”

My heroes have always been cowboys.

She’d seen the phrase in a magazine, and now the bold proclamation hung there in a spot where she’d see it every day.

Jesse nodded firmly.

Then he took her hand as they continued the tour, moving to the bedside. He ran a hand over the quilt before pressing on the mattress, glancing back at her slyly. “Seems firm enough.”

The next thing she knew she was seated on the bed, Jesse leaning over her, one hand planted on the mattress on either side of her hips. “Do you like it?” she asked.

“I like lots of things. You might need to be a little more specific.”

She wiggled backward, thrilled when he joined her. “The bedroom.”

“Our bedroom.”

It wasn’t a question. Plus, his entire intonation was different than the casual way he’d said that phrase before.

Dare’s heart gave a little kick. “Ours?”

He nodded before reaching for her. “I’ve been thinking about something you said once. Funny how it stuck in my mind, but there’s a certain complaint I need to correct.”

Totally distracted. That’s what she was. He’d lifted her hand to his mouth and was nibbling on her fingertips. “You forgot to eat lunch? You need a snack…”

“You like peanut butter on celery but don’t like raisins on top, which is really odd considering it’s called ants on a log for a reason, and you like raisins in everything else. Including cookies, which I forgive you for because you add enough chocolate chips to hide them.”

She couldn’t help it. A giggle escaped as he kissed her little finger then moved to the next.

“You drink pop with ice, water without ice, and milk straight from the container—and don’t say you never, because I’ve caught you. Twice.”

“Guilty,” she admitted, wondering what was going on, but happy to let it unfold as he gave her another kiss, this time sucking the tip of her ring finger into his mouth before pulling away.