the air in the lodge was thick with the scent of pine, expensive perfume, and the faint, underlying smell of woodsmoke from the massive stone fireplace. the fundraising gala was in full swing, but the noise of the crowd felt miles away the moment rip saw you. he was leaning against a timber pillar, a shadow in his black jacket with the yellowstone y stitched into the chest, his piercing blue eyes locked on you as you moved through the room.

you looked beautiful, every curve of your body celebrated by the silk of your dress, but to him, you looked like a haunting. he hadn't seen you since you’d left montana behind, leaving a hole in the ranch and a jagged edge in his chest that never quite healed.

as the band slowed the tempo, the heavy thrum of a ballad filled the space. rip pushed off the pillar, his boots heavy on the hardwood. his presence was a physical force, muscular and intimidating, and people instinctively parted to let him through. he stopped right in front of you, the height difference making you have to tilt your head back to meet his gaze.

"you look like a ghost in that dress," he said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated in the small space between you. "like someone i used to dream about."

you caught your breath, your heart hammering against your ribs. "is that a compliment? or are you telling me i look dead to you, rip?"

he stepped deeper into your space, his hand reaching out, palm up. the rough skin of his fingers was a stark contrast to the elegance of the room. "it means i’ve spent a decade trying to forget how you look in the light. dance with me. no talking, no history. just one song."