Page 161 of Ironwood Ranch Cowboys

Big mistake.

Because the expression on his face is all stripped-down honesty now. No distance or careful restraint. Just raw, focused wanting aimed directly at me like a spotlight.

And the worst part?

I know I’m looking at all of them the same way.

Duke pushes away from the truck first, stepping closer. “Honey,” he says softly, “you’ve been staring at us all night like you’re trying to solve a problem.”

“I am trying to solve a problem.”

“What problem?”

I gesture helplessly between all of us. “This one.”

“That’s fair,” Cody murmurs.

Silas watches me in silence for another long second before speaking. “Tell us to stop.”

My breath catches. The entire world feels balanced on the edge of whatever I say next.

I should stop this.

I should absolutely stop this.

Instead I whisper, “I don’t think I want to.”

Duke actually smiles at that. Soft this time. Almost disbelieving. Cody closes his eyes briefly like the words hit somewhere deeper than he expected. And Silas looks at me like restraint is physically painful.

The realization burns straight through me.

Then Duke reaches for me.

His hand settles at my waist and he kisses me gently at first, like he’s giving me space to reconsider.

Warm mouth. Familiar bourbon and sugar taste still there from the rodeo. The soft scrape of his thumb against my cardigan.

The second I kiss him back, the carefulness breaks.

Duke makes a rough sound against my mouth and pulls me closer. Heat flashes through me.

The whole day crashes back at once, dancing with him beneath the lights, laughing by the arena, his hand finding mine every chance he got.

I kiss him harder.

He grins against my mouth for half a second like he’s genuinely delighted.

Then another hand slides into my hair.

Cody.

I feel him before I fully register him, fingers curving carefully at the back of my neck, calming and possessive all at once.

My breath catches against Duke’s mouth.

“Annie,” Cody says.

I pull back enough to look at him and immediately regret it because his composure is hanging by threads now.