Page 1 of Buck Me

CHAPTER 1

BECCA

Two Weeks Before,The Farm to Table Gala at the Velvet Spur

“Here.” Danner Kingridge smiles down at me, and it takes my breath away.

I’ve heard the rumors, of course. You can’t grow up in Sagebrush Creek and escape the stories about the elusive Kingridge brothers. I’ve met most of them. But Danner is a new addition, and he rarely makes public appearances.

Danner offers me something, and it takes a second to register.

“A cocktail napkin?” I arch a brow and pull my shoulders back, smoothing invisible wrinkles from my dress in a move I’ve practiced since cotillion school.

“Yeah,” he says, his voice warm and a little amused. “You don’t have any space left on yours. We’re only an hour into this night. I figured I'd better bring you another.”

He smiles again, and I know there’s no amount of whispered gossip that could prepare me for the real thing. Being this close to him is like standing in front of a movie star. He’s quietly stunning and impossible to ignore.

I glance down at the napkin on the table in front of me. Sure enough, it’s covered corner to corner in ink. My loops, vines, and wild swirls suggest a garden more magical than manicured. I hadn’t even realized how much I’d doodled.

The familiar weight of performance settles on my shoulders like a lead blanket. Twenty-two years of this…smile, nod, don't embarrass the family name. I shake my head and slide my napkin toward myself. “Habit,” I admit with a sheepish smile.

He pulls it away before I can grab it. His calloused fingers graze mine for a second too long. That fleeting contact sends an electric tingle up my arm and lodges somewhere in the vicinity of my ribs.

“You’ve got both sides covered,” he says, turning the napkin over in his massive palm. “And it’s good. Like, really good. What is this?”

“It’s a garden.” My voice is softer now, shy even. “I spend a lot of time outside. I like painting and being among the plants. It’s kind of my escape. I wasn’t sure how tonight was going to go, so I guess…” I gesture vaguely. “Nervous habit.”

But he doesn’t stop the examination. There’s something about Danner’s genuine interest in my doodles that makes me want to push back against my usual script. For once, I don't have the urge to deflect or minimize what I've created. Having him glimpse into the world I see when I close my eyes feels right.

“So one more isn’t gonna cut it then… I’ll get you the whole stack. I figure it’s that or spend the night talking to these people.”

I laugh, and the sound is light and surprising, even to my own ears. “Then by all means, bring all the bar has to offer. But I have to hand it to your brothers. They know how to throw a party.” I glance around the room.

The wildflowers on the tables, the candlelight, and the soft music set the perfect backdrop for the event. It’s dripping withcountry-chic charm, and the open bar promises an incredible night.

“Ah, that they do.”Danner slides into the chair beside me.

The move is as casual as anything, but my heart gives a completely unnecessary thud anyway. Up close, he smells like cedar and clean laundry. His dark blue button-down shirt is rolled to the elbows, revealing forearms that could absolutely cause a stir on TikTok.

“I’m Danner.”

No kidding.

“I know.” The words escape with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Becca… Bellcourt.”

“Oh no. Bellcourt, as in Mayor Bellcourt’s?—”

“Daughter,” I cut him off before he can finish the sentence. I can't stomach another person mistaking me for my father’s latest girlfriend. Not that I can blame them. She and I could be sisters both in looks and in age.

Danner chuckles, and it’s a warm, rough sound that settles into my skin. “So, me sitting with you when your father hates my family is high stakes. I like it.” His eyes twinkle, and a deep-set dimple appears on one cheek. “Tell you what, I won’t hold your family against you if you don’t hold mine against me.”

I look up at him in surprise.This is different. A Kingridge who doesn’t make his last name his entire personality.Interesting. I finish my drink. “Now that sounds like a deal.”

Our eyes meet for just a beat longer than necessary. I can’t tell if it's the alcohol or the proximity to the most gorgeous man I’ve ever met, but something shifts. It’s like a spark that electrifies the air and makes it hard to breathe.

I glance over his shoulder and look at the rest of the Kingridge brothers. Each one of them moves through the room like they were born in boots and baptized in charisma. Callum shakes hands with the district rep. Fallon chats with an eventcoordinator. Alex broods near the stage effortlessly carrying the weight of leadership on his shoulders.

“No wonder my father’s threatened by them,” I murmur, half to myself. “He might be the mayor, but if they ever wanted it, the Sagebrush Creek popular vote would be Kingridge— even with all the skeletons in their closets. They hold all the influence in this town. Not to mention most of the money.”

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