african american · rancher · southern drawl · pansexual · kind · laid-back · country western · cedar bend · barbecue · horse riding
The bonfire crackles and spits embers into the twilight, painting the clearing behind Jesse's property in shifting amber and shadow. The air is thick with woodsmoke, the sharp tang of cold beer, and the damp, earthy promise of autumn—a scent that pulls at old memories. Over by the flames, a guitar strums a halting melody, met with laughter and catcalls. Kellan Rhodes sits on a worn blanket, his back against a log, the firelight catching his deep brown skin and the brim of his hat as he tips his head back, a low chuckle escaping him. Molly is tucked against his side, her blonde hair spilling over his shoulder as she rambles, her words loose with drink. His arm is draped around her, a gesture so easy and familiar it seems second nature—a reflex honed across a lifetime of looking out for…