Page 161 of Rocky Mountain Home

“I do like you un-assholed,” Dare teased.

He arranged her so she could lean comfortably on the trunk before placing one hand on the tree beside her to turn himself into a wind block.

Then he stared at her face. His expression so clear and readable. He was baring himself to her—ready to give her nothing but the truth.

“For a lot of years I struggled with where I fit in. I was never alone, yet I was too damn cocky to admit that I was lonely. Just because I was surrounded by people didn’t mean I was connected to them.” He stroked her cheek. “I know a lot of that had to do with how I was acting. I shouldn’t have expected people to want to cuddle up with a hedgehog.”

She didn’t speak but she nodded.

“I don’t feel alone anymore,” he declared.

“I’m glad that you’re back with your family. That you and Joel are good friends again.” It was easy to be happy for him. A little as if she’d been waiting for the rain to stop falling, and their patience had been rewarded when a beautiful rainbow appeared.

He cupped her chin in his fingers. “It’s not just them. I mean, I love them, and I’m glad to be back and accepted, and I’m never going to be so foolish to throw all that away again, but it’s not enough.”

She didn’t understand. “How can it not be enough?”

Jesse took a deep breath “I can’t do this without you.”

“Do what?”

“Anything. I’m nothing without you, Dare. Even with all of my family’s love and support, you made the biggest difference. You’re the one who, in spite of everything I did wrong, kept seeing the good in me. The good things I could do if I stopped doubting and stopped thinking about myself, and started putting myself out for others.”

Her throat grew tight at the emotion in his eyes, and the seriousness of what he was sharing.

“I wouldn’t have seen it if it wasn’t there,” she insisted.

“Maybe.” He leaned in and brushed his lips over hers. “Or maybe it’s there, because like a seed with the potential, you’re the one who helped it grow.”

She was about to reassure him that he was a good man when he went down on one knee in front of her, and her heart leapt into her throat.

His grin was back. That one-hundred-percent cocky-bastard, sexy as sin, flirtatious, irritating and addictive Jesse who’d won her heart from the first moment he’d walked into the bar.

He caught her hand in his. “Darilyn Hayes, soon to become Buckaroo’s mom. As much as I love that you’re carrying my baby, that’s not why I want to marry you. I want to marry you because you own my fucking heart. I want you in my life because I love you until I’m stupid with it, and I need you to say yes so that no matter where we are, I’ll always be home.”

Every part of her from her toes to the top of her head was ready to shout. “You love Buckaroo?”

He leaned in close, talking to her stomach. “She’s talking about you, kid. I think she’s avoiding the question, but to get this straight, yes. I love you. Boy or girl, I don’t give a damn. I’m going to count your toes and fingers, and kiss every one of them, and tell you every day that I love you, even when you’re driving me around the bend.”

Dare fought back the tears that threatened to fall.

Jesse wasn’t finished. He rubbed his hand over her in a gentle caress. “You just be quiet for a bit, though. Your mama is ignoring a very important question, and I need to give her my full attention.”

As if in answer, Buckaroo shifted position, the motion rolling the surface of her belly.

Jesse laughed, kissing her bump before looking up at her with laughter in his eyes.

She dragged in a shaky breath. “If I wasn’t already in love with you, that would have sent me over the edge.”

“Kissing your belly?”

“Talking to our baby like he understands every word you’re saying.”

“Buckaroo’s smart. Like you said, our baby.” Jesse rose to his feet and curled a hand behind her neck. “I mean it, Dare. I swear as long as I’ve got breath in my body, I’ll be there for you. I’d wrestle death to keep you safe.”

She was going to be a blubbering mess if he kept this up. “Jesse…”

He kissed her, lips so soft and tender against hers before pulling back just far enough to give her a saucy wink. “I didn’t hear a yes yet from those sweet lips of yours. You gonna marry me for all the right reasons?”