Page 89 of Rocky Mountain Home

“Miss you too. We’ll be home in a few days and I’ll tell you everything.”

Ginny offered her approval. “I’ve got stuff to tell you when you’re home, as well.”

“Did you change your mind about the bachelor dude you bought?”

“I refuse to answer on the grounds that…on the grounds that—well, that wasn’t even close to the topic I have a secret about.” Ginny cleared her throat. “Gotta run. Take care of yourself, and if you need me to text Jesse to remind him to behave, let me know.”

“Love ya, Truth.”

“Love ya, Dare,” Ginny echoed before signing off.

Dare tucked her phone away slowly. Ginny had secrets? That was so…odd. They didn’t have secrets from each other. Ever.

She thought back to the boys’ proposals and grimaced. Okay, maybe a few secrets.

A strange sensation joined the rest in her belly. Things were changing, and there seemed to be no turning back the tide.

Was it even worth trying?

Jesse stared over the railing, itching to join in as a crew of hands took off, driving a herd from the barns and corrals where they’d been contained during a vet visit.

Getting to help with chores would’ve been a way to keep his hands busy and his mind off the chaos his life had become. A temporary distraction, but one that would help. Only two more days, then he and Dare would get back in his truck and head south, and he wouldn’t have to play pretend anymore.

Another truck pulled into the yard and he paced toward it. His cousin Rafe gave a friendly wave as he parked.

Rafe climbed out of the cab then reached in to help lower Laurel to the ground. The delicate blonde gave Jesse a quick wave before hurrying to join Dare and Vicki at the other end of the corral railing.

Rafe watched after her for a moment then strode to Jesse’s side.

No hesitation. His cousin hauled him in for a backbreaking hug, smacking his hand between Jesse’s shoulders as he growled a greeting.

“I’m glad you came home, you jerk.”

Jesse laughed. “I see being married hasn’t improved your sense of humour.”

Rafe stepped back and eyed Jesse critically. “You don’t look any stupider than before you left, but then again, you’d set a pretty high standard to beat.”

“Shut up,” Jesse muttered.

“Shutting, I guess.” Rafe glanced toward the girls. “That her?”

“Dare? Yeah. You want to say hi?’

“Definitely.” Rafe took off at a pace that covered the distance between the groups in an instant.

Jesse followed a little more reluctantly. His gaze met Vicki’s, and she shifted awkwardly as he approached, her eyes averting and flitting over the landscape behind him.

It was all he could do to stop from turning around and letting Dare introduce herself.

Instead he focused on the face he figured was safest—Laurel wore the same sweet smile she’d always offered him. As if she wasn’t quite sure he was harmless, but she was amused by him in spite of herself.

Somehow looking at the nonjudgmental acceptance Laurel offered brought everything back into perspective.

Fuck being a wimp. He moved in on the group and pulled Dare possessively against his side before offering Laurel the cockiest grin he could. “Mrs. Coleman.”

Rafe’s wife of all of a few weeks flushed prettily, and Jesse’s grin deepened as he winked at his cousin. They were a good fit, those two.

Laurel’s gaze flitted between him and Dare. “Congrats on your engagement,” she offered before speaking to Jesse. “I’d say the Colemans were falling like flies, but you were the last man standing.”