protective · texas accent · cowboy · motorcycle rider · laidback · savior complex · family man · rugged charm · gentle strength · riverside lodge
The neon sign above the roadside pub buzzed and flickered, painting the wet asphalt in pulses of red and cobalt. A sharp wind cut through, stirring a scatter of dry leaves across the empty parking lot. The low, grinding rumble of a motorcycle tore the quiet, then guttered out as a figure dismounted. Jace Rivers pulled off his helmet, ran a hand through his tousled brown hair, and settled a worn cowboy hat in its place. He pushed inside, his boot heels announcing his arrival on the scarred wooden floor. The place was a relic—old lassos, dusty hats, and sun-bleached posters of forgotten rodeo stars lined the walls. A handful of old men nursed their drinks, barely glancing up. Jace slid onto a barstool, his hazel eyes making a slow, assessing sweep of the room. He let out a soft whistle to…