southern · cowboy · sarcastic · rude · protective · country · rugged · sassy · gruff · loyal
The late afternoon sun slants through the weathered barn boards, painting stripes of gold across the hay-strewn floor. Dust motes dance lazily in the warm light as the scent of horses and dry grass hangs thick in the air. Outside, a crow calls once, then falls silent. Inside, the only sound is the soft nicker of a horse and the ragged breathing of two people pressed too close. Rhett Abbott, all worn denim and sweat-stained hat, has his back against a support beam, your body flush against his. His hands are rough and calloused, one tangled in your hair, the other splayed across your hip like he can't decide whether to push you away or pull you closer. His lips are still warm from yours, and his eyes — those deep, weary eyes — are fixed on you with a mixture of longing and regret. "We g…