Page 9 of Rocky Mountain Home

“It’s not rocket science. Are you sure you can’t—?”

Dare hid her grin best she could.

Ginny huffed into the phone a few more times, rolling her eyes in an exaggerated manner before muttering fine and hanging up.

“Trouble in paradise?” Dare teased.

Ginny flipped her the finger. “I have to go. They’re having trouble sorting this week’s orders and can’t figure it out without my help.”

Dare slipped past her into the living room. “No worries. I’ll look after the girls when they get home if you’re not back yet.”

“Thanks.” Ginny eyed her. “Ummm…is there something you’re not telling me? Like, you’re auditioning for the part of a homeless person?”

Oops. Dare glanced down at her outfit. “It’s comfy, okay?”

“If you’re comfy being half-naked, whatever. I should be back in thirty minutes, and I’ve already got the crockpots going.”

“I’ll get the cake in the oven before I start my yoga.”

She was talking to empty air—her friend was already gone.

Dare didn’t mind the time to herself. She headed into the big old-fashioned kitchen, and ten minutes later she had her cake in the oven. Time enough left to pull her yoga mat from where she’d stashed it behind the couch in the sunroom.

The big ranch house was as familiar as her own. She’d spent hours and hours here growing up, her parents and Ginny’s sharing meals on a regular basis.

They’d shared everything, including—morbidly—their untimely deaths.

She moved into position on the yoga mat and began her practice. As huge and life-changing as her family’s deaths had been, after ten years it was more of an echo than a constant buzz.

There were times that brought to mind what they’d all lost—her and the Stone family—but usually life went on.

Including the unexpected bits of life…

Dare glanced down at her ratty outfit, the leggings so full of holes and the fabric worn so thin it was barely there. Definitely time to buy a new set, but she’d been trying to hold off until her expanding waistline made it impossible to wear her old things.

She had her butt in the air and feet tangled over her head when the door opened and Caleb’s oldest daughter let out a shout. “Auntie G, Auntie D.”

Dare slowly worked to untangle herself. “I’m here, honey. Auntie Ginny had to go into town. She’ll be home soon.”

“Emma’s hurt.” Sasha seemed more excited than worried.

A loud, exaggerated sniffle accompanied the announcement, and Dare shot to her feet, teetering for a moment as she turned to face the door to discover the little girl cradled in the arms of her missing cowboy.

Chapter Two

He’d come looking for Dare, but after months apart, Jesse hadn’t expected the first thing he spotted to be her spectacular ass.

Her all-too-memorable ass, wiggling in his direction as his wild child untwisted herself to stand before him. Her red hair was barely tamed back into a ponytail. Threadbare leggings caressed her legs, and her faded sports bra hugged every curve while leaving a lot of skin uncovered.

He pulled his jaw back into place, suddenly thankful the little girl in his arms and her talkative sister stole the spotlight.

“Auntie Dare, Emma fell down and she was crying, but Jesse said you’d make it all better.”

Jesse met Dare in the middle of the room. She checked the faint scrape on the little girl’s knee, clicking her tongue soothingly. “Wow. Were you riding the bucking broncos again?”

Emma shook her head, teeth digging into her bottom lip.

“She was chasing Demon, and she tripped,” Sasha announced. “There was a big rock.”