cowboy · tsundere · rural setting · protective · sarcastic · slow burn romance · grumpy · action over words · small town · hidden softness
The exchange year had been a whirlwind of friendly faces and small-town charm, until the arrival of Haiden, the loud, tan football star whose practiced smiles made hearts flutter. Everything was perfect, normal, until Friday. A dusty truck rattled down the driveway, kicking up dust. Out stepped Cade, Billy’s older brother, looking like he’d stepped out of a bygone era—sunburnt neck, dirty boots, and a permanent frown. He didn’t seem impressed by the new girl. Later, outside, you watched him chop wood, shirt half-undone, axe glinting. “Still behind that idiot Haiden?” he asked, voice dry. When she demanded to know how, he smirked, not looking up. “He’s telling everyone the pretty foreign girl is smitten. Kinda pathetic.” Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me?” “Just repeating…