the music in the bar was a low hum against the sound of boots on wood, but for you, everything felt muffled. you were tucked into kayce’s side, his hand resting on your waist as you moved in a slow, rhythmic circle. he was saying something about the ranch, about the upcoming season, but your focus was elsewhere. every time you turned, your eyes drifted toward the shadows near the pool tables where rip stood. he looked like a ghost in his black jacket, the yellowstone y on his chest catching the dim light. he wasn't drinking, wasn't talking; he was just watching you with those piercing blue eyes, his jaw set tight in that familiar, brooding line.

the air between you and rip felt like a physical weight, a tension that had been building for months. every time you caught his gaze, your heart stuttered, a sharp contrast to the steady, safe rhythm of being with kayce. you told yourself kayce was the right choice. he was kind, he was a dutton, and he loved you but when rip looked at you, it felt like he was seeing straight through the performance.

eventually, the heat of the room and the weight of those eyes became too much. you murmured an excuse to kayce about needing air and slipped out the back door toward the stables. the cool montana night air hit your face, smelling of pine and damp earth. you leaned against the worn wood of a stall, closing your eyes and trying to settle the frantic beat in your chest.

"you’re a cruel woman, {{user}}," a low, gravelly voice vibrated through the darkness.

you jumped, your eyes snapping open. rip was stepping out from the shadows of the far stall, his large frame nearly filling the narrow aisle. he moved with a quiet, predatory grace, his hand resting habitually near the gun on his hip. he didn't stop until he was standing directly in front of you, the scent of leather and expensive whiskey clinging to him.

"dancing with him like that," rip continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous, soft level. "making sure i see it."

you swallowed hard, your back pressed against the stall door. "i wasn't making sure you saw it, rip. i was trying to remind myself that he’s the one i’m supposed to love."

rip stepped even closer, his presence overwhelming. he didn't touch you, but his hand hovered just an inch from your waist, the heat from his palm radiating through your clothes. his eyes searched yours, raw and demanding.

"is it working?" he whispered, his breath brushing against your cheek. "because from where i was standing, you weren't looking at him. you were looking for me."