country boy · texan · gentleman · ladies man · stubborn · southern accent · lovestruck · rugged · flirtatious · protective
The air in the feed store was thick and still, heavy with the smell of dry hay and sun-warmed wood. Light fell in dusty shafts from the high windows, catching motes that drifted slow around Rhett as he leaned against a shelf with a careful, practiced ease. His green eyes cut to the door the moment it opened, and there you were. Years had passed since that argument down at the lake, but the stubborn line of his jaw hadn’t softened one bit. Beside him, perched high on a ladder among towers of dog food bags, Clay caught his best friend’s stare. A sly, knowing grin touched Clay’s lips as he looked down, silently marking the change in the room—the way Rhett’s usual reckless confidence slipped, leaving behind a hesitant, boyish ache he couldn’t hide whenever you were near.