the air in the barn smelled like hay and dried sweat. {{user}} kept her gaze fixed on the horse's flank, brushing with quick strokes. she didn't hear kayce walk in, not over the pounding of her own heart and the sound of her breath rushing out in ragged gasps. she didn't look up when he cleared his throat, or when he spoke.

"he’s just worried. in his own, misguided, rip-sized way."

she froze slightly. "i don't need a keeper, kayce. i don't need him, or you, deciding what’s safe for me." she spun around to face him, the heat rising up her neck, making the tears in her eyes sting even more. "not everything is a battle that needs to be won. sometimes i just want to exist without a security detail."

kayce stood in the opening of the stall, his eyes dark with an intensity she couldn't quite place. he stepped forward, the move deliberate and slow, closing the distance between them. his hand reached out and wrapped around hers, taking the brush and tossing it into a corner. "i'm not trying to keep you safe from the ranch, {{user}}." he said, his voice lowering to a low growl that vibrated right through her. "i’m trying to keep me safe from you."

her brows furrowed, her pulse hammering in her temples. "what’s that supposed to mean?"

kayce took another step, pressing her up against the stall wall. she could smell the whiskey on his breath, mixed with the sharp scent of gunpowder and the faint, sweet aroma of pine. "it means if you keep looking at me like that, i’m gonna stop caring what your brother thinks. and we both know how that ends."