Page 60 of Rocky Mountain Home

Jesse swore softly, driving his cock fully into her as his body shook with his release. Muscles taut, heavy gasps escaping.

Stillness washed over them. When he finally rested his head on the bed beside her, he held himself braced just far enough away to keep from crushing her into the mattress. They were sweaty, breaths mingling as they balanced on the limited space of her childhood bed, but she was content.

Confused, overwhelmed, but also sated, and for now? They’d found a connection in the simplest thing in the world.

It was enough.

Jesse whistled happily, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Stop smirking,” Dare ordered, but there was a smile on her lips as she threw a muffin at him.

He raised his arm, and her missile bounced off his wrist harmlessly. He leaned over to pick it up off the floor then blew at the surface before removing the wrapper. “That wasn’t a smirk. “

She folded her arms over her chest.

“This is a smirk.” He leered, leaning forward as he took a big bite of the muffin.

Dare rolled her eyes as she got up from the table and carried her empty plate to the counter. “Could you at least attempt to hide that we’ve been making the beast with two backs the next time you see my brothers?”

Jesse pretended to consider as he hurried to swallow his mouthful. “You plan on not telling Ginny we had sex?”

Dare sighed mightily. “I won’t outright tell her, but she’s like some insane mind reader, or she’s got a crystal ball. She probably woke up in the middle of the night the instant we started fooling around and made a note of it so she could tease me today.”

They had another topic to discuss. Jesse went for it. “Just so you know, I gave my notice at Bar M.”

Her face scrunched with confusion.

“I’ll be working out my final weeks, then I’ll find a job in the Heart Falls area,” he explained. Understanding lit her eyes, then something closer to protest. He spoke before she could complain about his actions. “Hey, I promised to be there for you and Buckaroo. Can’t do that from a couple hundred kilometres away, so you’d better get used to the idea. I’m sticking around, got it?”

She nodded slowly. “I hear you—although I still feel guilty. But…thanks.”

His phone buzzed with a message. She brushed a kiss against his cheek before leaving him to it and disappearing into the washroom.

The water turned on, and Jesse considered ignoring his message and heading into the shower to join her, but he supposed that might be pushing it.

He glanced at the screen to discover a far too familiar message from his cousin.

Rafe: Come home, you jerk

Jesse chuckled before texting back: are you really going with that as a permanent greeting?

Rafe: you like this better? Come home, you jerk, I’m getting married

A sudden rush of adrenaline struck Jesse. The last time he’d talked to Rafe in person was when his cousin had been making a stupid mistake, and Jesse had called him on it.

Although, to be fair, Rafe had also called Jesse stupid that day, so maybe it wasn’t a contest. Still some gloating was necessary.

Jesse: I told you Laurel was perfect for you

Rafe: I’m not marrying Laurel

What the fuck? Jesse texted the message and stabbed the send key violently.

Rafe: kidding. Of course I’m marrying her, idiot. Get your ass home so you can tell me I told you so in person

His cousin had been sending him prods for the last four months, but this was the first time Jesse considered giving in. He wasn’t about to explain everything though, so he sent a final message.

Jesse: congratulations on getting the girl. I’ll let you know if it works to come visit. Gotta run