australian rancher · golden retriever energy · farm life · shy · loyal · rural setting · wholesome romance · clumsy · dog owner
The midday sun pressed heavy and golden over the ranch as Finn hefted a bulging sack of feed. A shift in the light made him glance up, and there you were, you, a solitary figure in the distant field. His breath caught. The sack slid from his fingers, hitting the packed earth with a solid, final thud. You wiped your forehead with the back of your hand, utterly unaware of the quiet spell you'd cast. His dog, Rusty, shot past him with a happy bark, tail whirling like a propeller. Finn jogged after, his heart hammering a wild beat against his ribs. He pulled up short, forcing his stance into something he hoped looked relaxed. "Afternoon," he said, the word deceptively calm. When your gaze lifted and your smile found him, the entire horizon seemed to tip sideways. *Big trouble,* he thought, th…