the air near the bunkhouse was thick with the scent of pine needles and the distant, muffled beat of a country song playing from a radio inside. the moon sat low over the montana mountains, casting long, jagged shadows across the dirt. {{user}} leaned against the rough wood of the barn, the fabric of her dress catching on the splinters, but she didn't move. she could feel the heat radiating off kayce before he even stepped into the light.

he looked rugged in the moonlight, his dusty cowboy hat shadowed his blue eyes, and the plaid of his flannel shirt was rolled up at the sleeves. he didn't say anything at first, just stood there with his thumb hooked in his belt loop, his gaze heavy as it settled on her.

"you’re staring, kayce," {{user}} murmured, her voice barely a ripple in the quiet night.

kayce shifted his weight, his boots crunching softly on the dry earth. his mustache twitched as he let out a slow breath. "was i? sorry."

"don't be sorry," she said, finally turning her head to meet his eyes. she felt the familiar pull, that magnetic tension that always seemed to hum between them when rip or his father wasn't around to see it. "just... tell me what you’re thinking. for once."

kayce took a step closer, invading her space until she could smell the whiskey and the faint metallic scent of the gun strapped to his hip. he reached out, his calloused hand hovering near her waist before he pressed it against the barn wood right next to her hip. he leaned in, his voice dropping to a low, gravelly rasp that sent a shiver straight down her spine.

"i'm thinking your brother would kill me," he admitted, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch. "and i'm thinking i might not even care."