Page 13 of Buck Me

We went from first kiss to first time tofirst lovein a single night. And I’ve never been happier.

Danner is quiet, where my world is loud. He’s patient while my life is frantic. He’s grounded in a way that makes me feel safe, but never stifled.

CHAPTER 10

BOOTS AND BITCHING POD

Howdy,Sagebrush Creek! It’s your favorite secret podcaster with gossip hotter than the weather. I wasn’t going to bring you another episode this week, but I’ve got the news you’ve all been waiting for. So let’s get right into it.

I don’t know if y’all heard the news… though let’s be honest, of course some of you did. But I figured I’d put it on record. It looks like Kingridge Ranch just pulled off a miracle. That’s right. Word on the grapevine is the ranch has officially secured that big fancy SPECIAL grant.

Say it with me, y’all, easement officially denied.

Looks like Mayor Bellcourt’s grand plan to bulldoze a chunk of the county’s most historic land is officially off the table. Sorry, Randolph. Better luck steamrolling someone else’s legacy next time.

Now I could talk about the sustainable agriculture initiative, or the native pollinator restoration, or the fact that Sagebrush Creek might finally be known for something other than cornbread and gossip… but where’s the fun in that?

Instead, let’s talk about the most interesting element of this grant. I’ve heard whispers that a certain someone’s daughtermight’ve had a hand, or two, in bringing the grant across the finish line.

For those still not getting it, I’m talking about Ms. Rebecca Bellcourt.

The mayor’s daughter. The artist. The one who’s been seen allegedly lips-on-lips with Danner Kingridge himself.

What’s she doing sneaking around the Kingridge property? Helping plan a native garden like some kind of crunchy revolutionary? Or is she finding her own sexual awakening? And what does Daddy Dearest think about all this? My guess? Nothing good.

Congratulations, Kingridge Ranch. You’ve saved your land and made headlines doing it. Just be careful. This just might be the straw that breaks the Randolphs' haystack if you know what I mean.

I’ll be watching the fallout. Our dear mayor lost this battle, but will he wage war?

Until next time sugar, your bitch with boots on the ground.

CHAPTER 11

DANNER

We’reout digging in the clay, the sun beating down on our backs. But the air is thick with satisfaction today. The news of the grant approval changes everything.

Around the ranch, the mood’s lighter. My brothers have eased up, too, and not just on me. It seems they’re ready to get along with each other, too. There’s laughter between the rows of wildflowers. They’ve been out here all morning putting in the work with real teamwork.

It feels like actual peace, and it’s all thanks to Becca. She’s helped me find my place on the ranch. When we got the news of the grant approval, we’d been working around the clock for days. Except for the hours we’d spent tangled up in each other.

I read the email and ran across the field to her. I scooped her in my arms and lifted her off the ground. We kissed, covered in dirt. She laughed as the wind whipped her hair. I carried her straight to the shower, both of us still half-dressed, water streaming over her curves as I pressed her against the tile wall.

She was hungry for me. I felt her desperation in a way that made my chest tight with possession. Her nails raked down my back as I lifted her. Becca’s legs wrapped around my waist as I buried myself deep inside of her.

"Mine," I'd growled against her throat.

In response, she’d gasped, "Yours." I moved inside her and claimed her all over again.

The guys have made their way to other tasks for the day. But Becca’s still here with me now. The truth is, I like having her all to myself. I’m drawn to her like a magnet, and I can’t get enough. She’s slipped her shoes off and her hair is a mess just the way I like it.

The memory of her falling apart in my arms is still fresh in my mind this morning. The way she cried my name as she came undone is burned into my brain. I can still taste her on my lips. I can still feel the way she tightened around me when I followed her over the edge.

She smiles up at me, standing in the center of our dream coming to life. “Look what we did, Danner. This is going to be amazing.” There’s dirt smudged across her cheek. She’s got her folder tucked under one arm and a smile that knocks me sideways every time she looks at me.

I close the distance between us. “You did. Look what you did.” I brush a strand of hair behind her ear.

The sound of footsteps interrupts my would-be kiss with her, and I roll my eyes in anticipation of a Kingridge brother crisis. “Let me guess, the damn goat is out again?”

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