I walk quickly, my footsteps loud in the silence that follows me out of the room. I head for the hallway, trying to focus on the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, but my mind is a jumbled mess.
When I reach the hallway, I lean against the wall for support, pressing my back to it, my fingers gripping the cool wood. I take a few shallow breaths, trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.
I’m suffocating in here. Everything is closing in on me. The ranch, Charlie, Clint… the feelings I can’t quite name.
I close my eyes, forcing myself to take deeper breaths. I tell myself I’m being ridiculous. It’s just dinner. It’s just Clint and his damn smile. It’s just the strain of being here, of trying to keep it all together.
I’ve done it before. I can do it again.
“Hey,” a voice cuts through my thoughts, warm and calm.
It’s Sawyer.
I open my eyes, startled by how quickly I’ve forgotten where I am.
He’s standing in the hallway, a few feet away, his hands in his pockets, leaning casually against the wall. His brow is furrowed, concern etched into his features.
“You alright?” he asks curiously.
I nod quickly, trying to push the wave of panic back down. “Yeah, just… needed a minute.”
Sawyer’s eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn’t press. Instead, he steps forward, his easy presence settling beside me, but he’s not crowding me. He’s just there.
He’s giving me the space I need without letting me feel alone.
I blink at him. “Thank you. That’s… nice.”
I feel a little embarrassed by how much I appreciate this simple kindness, but I can’t help it. It feels nice. He shrugs, that easy grin back on his face.
“No problem. It’s what I do. Be the charming, ever-helpful guy who occasionally brings snacks.”
I chuckle. “You? Helpful? The guy with the wild dog?”
“Hey, hey.” He raises his hands in mock surrender. “Rover is fun-loving, is all.”
I laugh. His humor is an antidote to the weight I’ve been carrying around all night. I feel lighter just being near him.
Sawyer laughs, too, the sound warm, and the tension in my chest starts to loosen. “Well, Rover’s definitely something, that’s for sure. But hey, if he’s the worst thing I bring to the table, I think we’re doing alright.”
I smile, shaking my head. “I’m not sure I agree. I’m starting to think you’re just as wild as he is.”
“Wild?” He raises an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. “I prefer to think of myself as… adventurous.”
I roll my eyes at his charm, but my lips curl into a smile I can’t quite suppress. There’s something about the way he says it—everything’s just a little bit easier when he’s around.
Sawyer takes a step closer, his presence a little more intense, a little more… grounded. His hand moves as if instinctively, brushing lightly against my arm as he steps closer, and I feel the electricity of it.
I don’t move away, don’t pull back. For a brief, breathless moment, time pauses.
His fingers linger, warm against my skin, and I catch the look in his eyes. Something softer than the playful teasing we’ve been throwing back and forth.
I look up at him, my pulse quickening. He’s so close now, close enough that I can feel the heat of him, smell the faint hint of his cologne. Fresh and woodsy, like the outdoors.
It’s too much. I can’t breathe right. It’s so natural, and yet… it shouldn’t be.
His gaze drops to my lips, charged, heavy with the possibility ofsomething…
Just when I think I might lean in, just when I think he’s about to, there’s a loudwhoopfrom the dining room, followed by the unmistakable sound of Reid’s voice.
