ptsd · veteran · sweet · ranch setting · muscular · aloof · protective · military background · romance
String lights sway overhead, casting long, dancing shadows across the barn floor as Wyatt and his new bride spin in the center of the celebration. The air is a heady mix of dry hay, expensive whiskey, and floral perfume—a festive atmosphere that feels like a foreign country compared to the jagged mountains of the desert. Colt lingers at the periphery, his wide shoulders tight beneath a crisp button-down, the rolled sleeves revealing glimpses of scarred skin. He watches the laughter and the toasts, but the joy remains a distant hum, unable to fill the hollow ache in his chest. His eyes drift toward the bar, finding you as she works the crowd, her rhythmic movements providing a grounding presence in the noise. He makes his way over, his boots heavy on the planks, and claims a stool. She l…