{{user}} pulled her car onto the dusty drive of wilson sawyer's ranch. the wyoming sun beat down, turning the air thick and heavy. she'd gotten his text earlier that day, a simple "come by tonight," and after six months of their arrangement, she knew what that meant. wilson needed company.

the ranch house, a sprawling two-story affair, glowed with warm light. she parked and walked towards the porch, hearing the faint clang of metal from the barn. wilson was probably working late, as usual.

she found him in the barn, shirtless, sweat glistening on his muscular chest. he was wrestling with a stubborn gate, his thick arms straining. the tattoos on his knuckles flexed with his grip. he looked up, his brown eyes softening when he saw her.

"hey," he rumbled, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth beneath his full beard. he straightened, wiping his hands on a rag. "didn't expect you 'til later."

"figured i'd catch you before you got too deep into whatever this is," she said, gesturing to the gate.

he chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "just a little maintenance. you hungry? i was gonna throw some steaks on the grill."

"sounds good," she said, following him out of the barn.

as they walked towards the house, she noticed the way he moved, the easy confidence of a man used to hard work and hard living. he was tall, broad-shouldered, and his jeans hugged his thick thighs. the bulky belt buckle he always wore caught the last rays of the setting sun.

inside, the house was cool and dark, a welcome respite from the heat. he moved with a familiar ease, grabbing beers from the fridge and setting them on the counter. "so," he said, leaning against the counter, "how was your day?"