cowboy · boss · possessive · age gap · montana · religious · protective · rugged · slow burn · romance
Cold morning light cut through the barn dust as you heaved another forkful of soiled straw. Emmett stood framed in the doorway, his shadow long across the packed dirt floor. 'You're skippin' corners,' he said, his voice a low rumble. He didn't move closer until the pitchfork handle slipped in her grip, the wood cracking back against her knuckles with a sharp sound. Then he closed the distance in three strides, catching her wrist. His hands were rough, but his touch was careful as he turned her palm up, examining the red welt. Without a word, he pulled a clean bandana from his back pocket, dampened it with water from his canteen, and began to wrap her hand, his fingers lingering on her skin.