Page 99 of Rocky Mountain Home

Dare’s smile widened.

He took advantage of the moment to examine her face. The shiner on her right eye was darkening rapidly, but the worry crease between her brows was gone, and she looked peaceful.

She looked beautiful.

Even more so when she opened her eyes to meet his, grey-green darkening to near hazel as she spoke. “Hey.”

Jesse’s heart did this weird kick-flip thing, and he had to work hard to keep from jolting upright. Suddenly the distance between them was way too much.

“Come here,” he growled softly, opening his arms.

She shifted forward on her knees before turning and settling with her back against his chest, tugging his hands where she wanted them. One arm ended up around her body above her breasts, the other she deliberately adjusted until his palm rested on her belly.

Over the past month the gentle curve had been growing steadily, and as he rested his chin on her shoulder, she slid her fingers over his and held him there. Intimate—more intimate in some ways than the night before, slipping his body into hers.

“You doing okay?” he asked quietly, not willing to break what seemed to be a spell that had taken over the room.

“Shhh. Buckaroo is holding a hoe-down.”

Jesse matched her breathing as he waited. She’d tried to get him to feel the baby move before, but so far, there’d been—

Her belly shifted under his thumb.

He held his breath.

Another fleeting touch, this time under his palm. “Is that you?”

“Nope.” Dare let out a little happy sigh. “And it’s not gas, if that was going to be your next question.”

“Good to know, considering where you’re sitting, and all.”

She giggled. “Stop it. Don’t make me laugh, or he’ll stop moving.”

“Our kid? Hell, now that he’s started, I bet he doesn’t give you more than a minute or two off. Get used to nonstop Buckaroo Love Taps.”

She leaned back into him. “I needed this,” she whispered.

Jesse waited. The heat between their bodies wasn’t sexual, but a connection nonetheless. She stroked his knuckles softly as he kept his hand in place, thrilled at the continued sensation of bubbles percolating under her skin. “It’s pretty damn cool.”

Dare twisted her face toward him, and he couldn’t resist. He brushed their lips together softly. A single kiss. Another.

The weight of her body against him increased, and he supported her as he took the kiss deeper. Tasting her lips, tongue teasing gently. Dare’s even breathing picked up a notch, and his body came alive with something more than peaceful relaxation.

A cough echoed in the quiet of the room, and Dare broke away from him. Her gaze lingered on his face for a second before they turned toward the sound.

Dare was still buzzing with some weird combination of sexual desire and utter relief, but Vicki waited awkwardly near the door, examining the ceiling with great interest, and it wasn’t right to leave her standing there.

Behind her, Jesse had stiffened. Silly man. Probably embarrassed to be caught cuddled up and smooching. Dare squeezed his fingers then escaped from his hold, sliding back to the head of the bed so he could hit the floor.

“It’s safe,” Dare informed Vicki.

The other woman smiled as she stepped toward the bed, a familiar bag in her hands. “You look good.”

“I feel fine,” Dare said, pointing at the bag. “You brought my stuff.”

“Jesse called and asked me to bring it.” Her gaze flicked to Jesse’s for a split second then back to Dare’s. “You hadn’t unpacked much. I hope you don’t mind I had to fold the things on the chair. I put your bathroom stuff in a plastic bag at the top so I didn’t have to dig through anything.”

“That’s fine. Thank you for bringing it over.” She was sure she had shorts in there.