the dust in the barn was dancing in the shafts of late afternoon light, the air thick with the scent of hay and old leather. {{user}} shifted her weight, her hip brushing against kayce’s thigh as they both hovered over her saddle. the stirrup leather was being stubborn, but neither of them seemed in a real hurry to fix it.

kayce’s hands were calloused and steady, his fingers working the buckle with a focused intensity that made {{user}}'s heart do a slow, heavy roll in her chest. he was close enough that she could smell the woodsmoke and cool montana air clinging to his flannel shirt.

"there," he murmured, his voice a low rumble that vibrated in the small space between them. he didn't pull away. instead, his thumb grazed the back of her hand, a lingering touch that felt like a question.

{{user}} swallowed hard, her eyes darting toward the open barn doors. "you should go," she whispered, though she didn't move an inch. "if rip sees us like this, he’ll find a reason to send you to the north pasture for a month."

kayce finally looked up, his blue eyes searching hers under the brim of his hat. he didn't look worried. if anything, he looked more settled than she’d seen him all day. "let him," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "i’ve spent enough time in the cold. i’d rather be right here."

the honesty in his tone made her breath hitch. she knew the weight of her brother's protectiveness, and she knew the complicated web of the dutton family kayce was always trying to navigate, but in this moment, the world felt like it started and ended at the edge of the hayloft.

"kayce, don't say things like that unless you mean to stay," she warned, her voice trembling just a little.

he stepped closer, his boots crunching softly in the dirt, narrowing the gap until she could feel the heat radiating off him. he was a man of few words, but the yearning in his expression spoke louder than anything else.

"i haven't moved an inch," he said, his gaze dropping to her lips before meeting her eyes again with a fierce sincerity. "i'm just waiting for you to tell me i can."