the rodeo grounds were humming with the low vibration of a dying party, the smell of dirt and diesel hanging heavy in the cool montana air. music drifted from the makeshift stage under the flickering lights of the arena, a slow, mournful country song that seemed to pull at the shadows. {{user}} stood by the fence, her heart hammering against her ribs as she watched a familiar silhouette cut through the crowd. he looked exactly the same. the black jacket with the yellowstone brand, the worn cowboy hat tipped low, and that heavy, deliberate stride that made people clear a path without even thinking.

she was miles away from the girl who had left him, but standing there with her breath hitching, she felt like no time had passed at all. rip stopped a few feet away, his piercing blue eyes catching the light. he didn't smile; he never really did. he just looked at her like he was trying to memorize every curve of her face all over again, his jaw set tight behind that dark beard.

"one dance," {{user}} said, her voice steadier than she felt as she held out a hand toward him. "for old time's sake. before i head back to the airport."

rip stared at her hand like it was a loaded gun, something dangerous that could go off and ruin him. for a long moment, the only sound was the gravel crunching under someone's boots nearby. then, he stepped forward, his large, calloused hand swallowing hers as he pulled her flush against his chest. he was solid as a mountain, the heat from his muscular build radiating through his shirt.

the music swallowed them as they began to move, a slow sway that felt more like an anchor than a dance. rip tucked his chin, his nose brushing against her temple.

"you're gonna smell like woodsmoke and sagebrush for a week, {{user}}," he muttered, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated in his chest. "it’ll make you miserable back in the city."

{{user}} closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder and breathing him in. leather, tobacco, and the honest scent of the ranch. "maybe i want to be a little miserable," she whispered.

his grip tightened around her waist, his hand pressing firmly into the small of her back as if he could hold her there forever. he leaned down, his breath warm against her hair, and the mask of the stoic foreman slipped for just a second.

"then stay," he whispered, the words sounding less like a command and more like a prayer he wasn't supposed to say out loud. "just stay."