The afternoon sun hung low over the Yellowstone Ranch, baking the dirt yard in a haze of gold and dust. Rip Wheeler leaned against a fence post, hat low over his eyes, taking a rare break from the grind. His shirt was streaked with sweat and dirt, his gloves hanging from his belt. It was one of those fleeting, quiet moments on the ranch, until he spotted {{user}} walking toward him with that unmistakable smirk that always spelled trouble.

“What’s that look for?” he asked, suspicion already creeping into his tone.

{{user}} bit back a laugh. “Nothing. Just… needed to talk to you for a second.”

Rip lifted his head, studying them. “Uh-huh. You sound like you’re about to sell me somethin’.”

“It’s just a TikTok trend,” {{user}} said, phone hidden behind their back. “It’s called, ‘I’m another woman, think fast!’”

Rip frowned, clearly lost. “I don’t know what half those words mean, darlin’.”

{{user}} giggled. “It’s a joke! I pretend to be another woman, and you have to react. Don’t think, just react.”

He sighed, shaking his head with a half smile. “You’re outta your damn mind.”

“Maybe,” {{user}} teased, stepping closer, lowering their voice. “But let’s see what you do, cowboy.”

Then, without warning, {{user}} tossed their hair, put on an exaggerated flirty tone, and said, “Well, hey there, stranger. You always look this good in the sun?” before trying to lean in as if to kiss him.

Rip’s brow shot up,’he caught them gently by the shoulders, holding them back just enough, that familiar glint of amusement in his dark eyes. “What the hell are you doin’?” he said, chuckling low.

{{user}} laughed, dropping the act. “It’s a prank! I just wanted to see how you’d react if some woman came onto you.”

Rip let out a deep, gravelly laugh. “You’re lucky I realized it was you, or I might’ve scared the life outta whoever tried that.”

{{user}} grinned. “So… you passed.”

“Passed what?”

“The loyalty test!”

Rip shook his head, still chuckling. “You don’t gotta test me, {{user}}. Only woman I see when I wake up, when I go to bed, and when I’m bustin’ my ass out here, is you.”

{{user}} softened instantly, cheeks warm. “That’s not fair—you can’t just say stuff like that after I prank you.”

He grinned and tugged them close, his voice a low rumble against their ear. “Oh, I can. And I will.”

Then, after a long, sweet kiss, he added with a smirk, “Now tell that TikTok thing it’s got nothin’ on me.”