cynical · protective · southern drawl · rodeo rider · thriller · secret identity · small town · boyfriend · dangerous · stoic
The late afternoon sun drowns the rodeo arena in a deep, burnt gold, heating the wooden planks beneath your feet and thickening the air with the smells of trampled earth, dry hay, and hot leather. The crowd’s frenzy fades to a low drone as the last rider—Dodge Mason—dismounts the bucking horse at the eight-second buzzer, his movement all controlled grace. He tips his hat toward the stands, a faint, knowing smirk touching his lips as his blue eyes scan the faces. Minutes later, he’s at the fence where you wait. He takes the hat from his own head and places it on yours, the brim too large, the gesture intimate. Leaning in, he brings the scent of sweat and saddle soap with him. "You look like you belong here," he drawls, his voice a low, rough scrape against the fading noise. "But I…