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What had I just been worried about?

"All right, you two Rowen’s mom will be here any second, and I don’t want her to walk into the place and see you two lip-locked" Rose grabbed the fruit bowl and atte look It didn’t really work because she capped her warning with a sive her a few minutes before we tell her about you two I don’t want her thinking the only thing you’ve been doing all sued out

Rose inspected our reaction for one moment before it clicked She flushed and suddenly couldn’tAll wrong"

"You think, Moh

She swatted his arm affectionately as she headed for the table "You knohat I ht not want to repeat those exact words when Rowen mom’s here," Jesse said "You know In case she takes it the wrong way"

"Since you’re so eager to hang out in the kitchen, why don’t you go mash those potatoes?" Rose settled the fruit salad on the table, then stood back to inspect the table She’d really gone all out

She’d cut a few ed them in mason jars She’d set out the country rose china set passed down from her mom and she had polished up the silverware set, too We’d spent a good half of the daya dinner of coldit off at the bunkhouse, we’d slaved away , and slicing apples The menu was simple country fare, but it had been created in the Walker kitchen, so it would be delicious, too

"I love this new dress," Jesse said, running his eyes down my body as he wandered over to the pot of potatoes "Like really love it" The inflection in his voice almost made me shiver in anticipation How ht have had a little help picking it out" I shot hie to pull out some milk and butter "I love that shirt of yours, too Like really love it"

Jesse lifted his ar it out"

We’d gone into "town" shopping yesterday, and instead of picking out our own outfits, we decided to pick out each other’s Since Jesse lived in his white tees, I found a plaid button-down shirt with those pearly looking snaps I got it one size smaller than he typically wore for the added eye candy I didn’t bother with picking out pants because Jesse’s everyday jeans could not be improved upon That was a fact of life I’d come to accept Add his boots, straw hat, and belt, and BOOM! He was every girl’s drearabbed the butter andaway

While I poured in the milk and dropped the stick of butter into the pot, he said, "No offense, Rowen, because this is one nice shirt, but I win in the picking clothes out for each other department That dress is" When Jesse’s eyes traveled back tocame to a stop The corners of his mouth lifted as he ski Else"

I glanced over at Rose before sneaking a quick kiss on his cheek "You really do kno to pick out a dress But don’t worry I won’t tell anyone"

"Thanks" He laughed as he got back to , manly cowboy that I am would be forever tarnished"

Jesse’s selection had surprisedthe racks of one of the clothing stores specializing in western wear, Jesse had wandered into a funky consign in there for only a half hour He sifted through every last rack in the place before he found undy, no-frills dress that didn’t screaed to find quite possibly the only dress in the history of dresses to blend both that punk, dark style I’d shown up in Willows Springs wearing with country flair The dress was a little bipolar in the style depart the salt down fro I froze

"They’re here!" Cle roo her arm around me like she knew I needed the support

Would it matter if I answered honestly? I just nodded rabbed a towel to wipe his hands, but Rose put the masher he’d abandoned back in his hands "Get those potatoes on the table," she said "Rowen and I can uests inside the house by ourselves, I think"

Without another word, Rose pulled ether

I’m okay, I mouthed Really, I added when he didn’t look convinced

He nodded once, then startedfroet the door opened Lily and Hyacinth rushed down the stairs, s their shirts Neil was just finishing up in the barn, and Rose had warned him if he wasn’t washed, presentable, and at the table by the time we sat down for dinner, he would sleep in the barn until winter