Page 35 of Rocky Mountain Home

She wasn’t about to push, since she didn’t really know his family history. “No problem.”

Jesse met her gaze full on. “I’ll be back in a few days. We’ll figure it out then, okay?”

Dare nodded her agreement, even though the email was going to burn a hole in her account until she responded. “I can wait.”

He touched her cheek gently, gaze drifting over her face as if he were considering hard, but then he turned and left without another word.

Morgan unfolded himself from where he’d been curled up on the porch. He bumped her legs then headed out after Jesse.

The two of them left as silently as they had arrived, but with their coming, her world had totally changed again.

Or had it?

Dare stared after his truck until it vanished in the distance. People left. They always left.

She turned and went inside the cottage, suddenly cold.

Chapter Six

Blog post: A Day in the Life

It’s definitely the start of summer here on Little Ranch on the Prairie. We get the four seasons with a vengeance in this territory, which I love. Means I appreciate the green growing things that keep popping up all over after the icy cold days of winter let go. By the time I don’t appreciate them anymore (weeds!) the fall days have arrived and temperatures drop.

Right now in our latitude, the sun is up early, and sets late, and we’re not quite at the longest day of the year. After feeling as if I hibernated for a lot of the winter, the bright mornings are a nice change to wake up to. Early chores are a lot easier when they’re done with the sun watching. Also, going out after dinner means you can visit with friends for hours and drive home while it’s light.

Those of you who get sunup and sunset around the same time every day, all year—what’s that like? Do you still feel as if summer is a fresh, bright experience?

It was nearly eight in the evening four days later when Jesse dropped his bag outside the door to Dare’s cottage. He’d called to let her know he was going to be late, but now he hurried as he slipped back to his truck to grab Morgan’s dog bed and bowls.

He tucked the flannel blanket into the corner of the porch where it would be out of the weather. He filled the water bowl from the outdoor tap then whistled for his dog who was exploring the flowerbed beside the house.

Morgan came running, and Jesse knelt to pat him on the head, pointing to all his necessities, including filled food bowl. “There you go, boy. Home sweet home while we’re here.”

Morgan took an opportunist lick at Jesse’s hand before examining both bowls then dropping into the bed. His tail thumped a couple of times before he settled his nose on his paws.

“Guard.”

Satisfied that Morgan would stick within his allotted distance, Jesse slid into the cottage.

Dare was in the tiny kitchen, mucking about with some pots. He watched her for a moment before clearing his throat.

She glanced up. “Oh. You’re here.”

“I am.” He was suddenly aware of the dirt he’d dragged into her clean house. “I’ll grab a shower.”

“Of course. Go ahead.”

She got busy, as if something was waving from the bottom of the pot.

He slipped into the second bedroom/her office, stripping to nothing but his underwear. She kept her back firmly toward him as he marched the short hallway to the bathroom, glancing around the tiny space.

The entire room was filled with her presence. Her robe hung on the back of the door. A pale orange towel was arranged neatly on the towel rack to dry, but she’d put out a dark brown facecloth and towels for him.

Stepping into the shower was like being surrounded by her as the scent of her shampoo and soap got stronger. He unwrapped a new bar of his own soap, attempting to combat the lingering fragrance filling his nostrils and sending all sorts of urgent messages to his body.

Demands he couldn’t answer right now, although, damn, he wanted to.

By the time he got out of the shower, he was more determined than ever to make her remember how good they’d been together. Yes, he’d put into play what he needed to get the medical proof she’d asked for, but while he was suffering, maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing for her to be itching for him as well.