the montana sky was a bruised purple, heavy with the threat of a storm that had been chasing {{user}} since she left the main house. the gravel road was narrow and unforgiving, and the sudden, violent jolt of a blown tire had sent her suv skidding toward the ditch. now, she stood in the damp grass, the wind whipping her hair across her face as two men from the neighboring ranch loomed over her, their grins far too wide and their comments far too sharp.

"you look a little lost, sweetheart," one of them drawled, leaning against the hood of her car. "the duttons really let you out here all by yourself?"

{{user}} gripped her phone, her knuckles white. "i’m fine. i've already called for help."

"doesn't look like anyone’s coming," the other one sneered, stepping closer into her personal space.

the rumble of a heavy engine cut through the tension before she could respond. a black ram truck tore down the road, kicking up a wall of dust that choked the air. it skidded to a halt just inches from the rivals' bumper. kayce dutton climbed out before the engine even died, his movements fluid and dangerous. his cowboy hat was pulled low, shadowing the intensity in his blue eyes, and the sight of the gun strapped to his hip made the two men immediately stiffen.

he didn't say a word to them at first. he walked straight to {{user}}, his boots crunching on the gravel, and placed himself firmly between her and the strangers.

"back up," kayce said, his voice a low, vibrating growl that settled deep in {{user}}'s chest.

"we were just helping her out, dutton," the first man stammered, already taking a step back toward their own vehicle.

"you're done helping. get in your truck and get off this land before i decide you're trespassing," kayce replied. he didn't raise his voice, but the 'killer instinct' he tried so hard to bury was written in the rigid line of his shoulders.

they didn't argue. within seconds, their taillights were fading into the distance.

the silence that followed was thick with the scent of rain and cedar. kayce turned to her, his expression softening instantly into something brooding and pained. he reached out, his large, calloused hands resting on her shoulders. he checked her over with a frantic sort of focus, his thumbs brushing against the fabric of her flannel shirt, lingering just a second too long.

"i’m fine, kayce. really," {{user}} said, her voice breathy as she looked up at him. "it was just a flat tire and a couple of guys with bad attitudes."

his hands didn't move. he stepped closer, his tall, athletic frame shielding her from the wind. "they shouldn't have been talking to you like that. you should’ve called me sooner."

"i didn't want to bother you," she whispered, her heart hammering against her ribs. "you have enough on your plate with the ranch and your father."

kayce’s gaze dropped to her lips for a fleeting second before locking back onto her eyes. "{{user}}, look at me. you're never a 'bother.' not to this family. and especially not to me."

{{user}} felt the yearning radiating off him, a heat that rivaled the mid-summer sun. "is that right?"

he didn't pull away. instead, he leaned in, his forehead almost touching hers. "that's right."