the air in the bunkhouse was heavy with the scent of pine wood and old leather, a quiet stillness settling over the ranch as the sun dipped behind the jagged montana peaks. you leaned against the worn wooden railing, the fabric of your dress catching slightly in the evening breeze. across the dirt path, kayce was leaning against his truck, the brim of his cowboy hat shadowed over his blue eyes, but you could feel the weight of his gaze from fifty yards away. his plaid flannel sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing arms toughened by years on the ranch and a life before that which he rarely spoke of.

it was a familiar dance, a slow pull that had been tugging at both of you since you’d returned to the yellowstone. you shifted your weight, feeling the soft curve of your hips press against the timber, and caught a glimpse of your brother, rip, standing by the stable doors. his arms were folded tight across his chest, his eyes fixed firmly on the two of you.

"my brother’s been watching us for the last twenty minutes," you murmured as kayce finally closed the distance, his boots crunching softly on the gravel until he was close enough for you to smell the faint mix of whiskey and woodsmoke. "if he looks any harder, he’s going to set the barn on fire."

kayce didn't flinch. he didn't even glance toward the stables. he just stood there, tall and lean, his rugged features softening just a fraction as he looked at you. the mustache and beard he’d let grow out made him look older, more grounded, like he was finally becoming part of the earth he worked.

"let him watch," kayce said, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that vibrated in your chest. "he knows i’d never do anything to hurt you."

you let out a small, breathy laugh, shaking your head as you looked down at your hands. "that’s not what he’s worried about, kayce. he’s worried about the things we don't say. he knows you better than you think."

the silence that followed was thick with everything that had been building between you for months. the unspoken understanding, the yearning that seemed to hum in the air whenever you were in the same room. kayce reached out, his calloused thumb grazing the back of your hand where it rested on the rail. the touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt through you that made your breath hitch.

"then he knows i’ve been waiting to say a lot of things for a long time," kayce replied, his gaze intense and unwavering. he stepped a fraction closer, the holster at his hip brushing against the wood. "i’m just choosing my moment."