"I know exactly what you need, (Y/N)."
I stop breathing as Changbin's handsome face inches closer to mine from across the bar. When he's just a breath away from my lips, he stops. He looks up at me with a dangerous smile on his face.
"What are you doing tonight?"
This is not a drill!
"What were you thinking?"
Changbin gives me a sly smile.
"You're coming over to my house tonight. And don't tell Keeho. I'll pick you up."
The look he gives me sends a shock of electricity down my spine.
"And what are we going to do at your house?"
Changbin gives me a mischievous smile, making my knees weak.
"Be ready at six."
Changbin disappears into the kitchen, leaving me sitting at the bar in shock. I run to my best friend's boutique, desperate to share this development.
"(Y/N), why are you out of breath?"
"Shaylee! I need your help. Changbin just asked me to come over to his house tonight."
"Changbin is back in town? That man is crazy hot, you're so lucky!"
"It's nice to know someone is on my side with this."
"Who wouldn't be?"
"Keeho, for sure. If he found Changbin and I together, he would skin us alive."
"True, Keeho can be pretty intense when he's protective. Let's just focus on the Changbin part right now. We should doll you up for tonight."
"We're getting ahead of ourselves here. This might not even be a date. He never got around to explaining why he wanted me over."
"Who cares? You're going to be alone with the guy you clearly have a fat crush on. What's the harm in looking hot?"
"Well...I do love your makeovers. You always make me feel so confident."
"That's exactly how you need to feel tonight. Hold on."
Shaylee runs around collecting outfits for me to try on.
"Here, try this. This is the perfect not-sure-if-it's-a-date outfit."
I step into the beautiful teal dress and Shaylee practically squeals.
"How do I look?" I ask while spinning around.
"You look absolutely perfect!" She says clapping her hands together with excitement.
"Do you think Changbin will like it?"
"Changbin was actually eyeing that dress yesterday when he came in to get his boots repaired. I pulled a few other options, but I think this is amazing on you."
Even though this might not be an official date, I still want to look my best for Changbin.
"I'll take it!" I grin widely.
"It's perfect on you!"
"I hope Changbin likes it on me."
I walk back to Keeho and I's house, wishing again that I could drive. Just another freedom that Jackson took from me. I walk inside and is startled to see my brother on the couch.
"I thought you were on patrol tonight."
"I switched with the deputy, so I'm off tonight."
I didn't expect Keeho to be home, and Changbin is about to pick me up.
"What are you up to tonight?"
Changbin told me not to tell Keeho, how do I keep this a secret?
"Changbin offered to give me a ride into town." I lied.
"What are you doing in town?" he asked sweetly.
"I'm not sure yet. I'll decide once I'm there."
I feel like he is going to see straight through my lie.
"I'm glad my best friend has taken a liking to you, even with the age difference. Text me when you decide on your plans so I know you're safe." he said with a smile.
"I will, I promise. I know how you worry."
"Can you blame me?"
I hear a horn beep outside and rush out the door to Changbin's truck. Changbin's eyes rake over me with a slow intensity, making my breathing quicken.
"You look amazing, (Y/N)." he says looking over me.
"Thanks, I just got it today."
"Well you look beautiful. Ready to go?"
Changbin drives down the road, his hand dangerously close to my thigh.
"So, why do you want to start dating again, (Y/N)?"
"Because I deserve to be happy."
Changbin hits the breaks as a large group of cattle block the road. A playful smile unfurls on his lips.
"Then prove it. Prove that you're ready to start dating again."
He gestures towards the cattle blocking the highway.
"I challenge you to go out there and scare the cattle out of the road." he chuckles.
"How does that prove I'm ready to date?" I softly giggle.
"If you can handle livestock, you can handle single guys."
"And If I don't do it?" I challenged him.
"Then I guess you aren't ready to date after all. I can turn the truck around and take you home."
I laugh at his logic, enjoying this playful side of Changbin.
He doesn't show this part of himself to anyone. I take off my seatbelt and give Changbin a wide smile.
"I'm ready."
"Good. Now go scare those cattle and clear the road."
He gives me a mischievous smile as he opens my car door.
"Show me what you've got."
"Watch and learn."
I hop out of the truck and walk over to the cattle. If Changbin can be a secret goofball, then so can I. I sprint towards the cattle, waving my arms above my head like a crazy person.
"HERE I COME, CATTLE! LOOK OUT!"
I can hear Changbin laughing as the cattle start to move off the road. The cattle are finally clear from the road and I hop back in the truck.
"That was truly impressive. You win the challenge, no question."
"That's what I like to hear."
We pull up to Changbin's house and he cuts the engine.
"Wow, this place is huge."
"It was my family's property. I don't have many people over. Come on."
Changbin leads me inside to his living room and pulls me down onto the couch.
"You still have that Timber app on your phone?" he asks.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because I'm going to teach you a thing or two about men." he grins.
"Oh, is this a hands-on lesson?"
Changbin looks at me with a seductive gaze before catching himself and clearing his throat.
"If by hands-on you mean our hands on your phone, then yes. We're going to swipe through these boys together, and I'm going to show you what to look for and what to avoid at all costs."
Changbin gives me a playful smile, his eyes bright. This isn't a date after all, he wants to help me get back into dating. But the way he's looking at me still feels...different. New. I pull out my phone and scoot closer to Changbin on the couch. I'm about to swipe right on a guy when Changbin takes my phone.
"All right, now this guy is a hard no." he says.
"What, why?"
"Trust me, (Y/N). I've got quite a few years on you. I can spot a player from a mile away."
He hands back my phone and I swipe to the next guy. Changbin shakes his head.
"What's wrong with this one?"
"Take a guess."
"Is it because he's posing with a woman?"
"Right. He's letting you know right now that he's a player and won't be apologizing for it."
"Makes sense."
"What do you say we make a game out of this?"
"What kind of game?
Changbin takes my phone and holds it so only he can see.
"I'll read you the guy's bio, and you have to guess if he included a picture of himself holding a giant fish."
"What? Is holding a fish a red flag? What if they just like fishing?" I asked confused.
"If they like fishing, they'll just tell you. If they hold a giant fish in their photo, it's because they want you to think of everything about them is giant."
I burst out laughing, and Changbin swipes to the next guy.
"Ready? Here's the bio. 'I'm looking for the Jane to my Tarzan'."
Changbin waggles his eyebrows at me with a goofy smile.
"I'll go with...no fish."
"You win, there's no fish!"
He cheers showing me the picture.
"Ha, I knew it!"
"But there is a picture of him with a pyramid of empty beer cans, so still not the guy for you."
I grab the phone from Changbin and swipe to the next guy.
"Your turn. 'You must be under 120 pounds to ride this ride'."
"Definitely fish." he chuckles.
"Yeah, that one was too easy."
I hand the phone back to Changbin and he looks at me with a lopsided smile, making my stomach flip.
"What do you say we up the ante? Whoever gets three right is the winner, and the loser has to run down the street with their shirt off."
My heart lurches out of my chest at the thought of seeing Changbin shirtless.
"Get ready to strip." I glare at him playfully with a low laugh.
"Someone's cocky." He chuckles.
"I'm going to crush you." I challenge.
"Oh yeah? I think you'll choke under the pressure against an expert fish guesser like myself."
"Your smack talk won't work on me, Changbin. I know I can beat you."
Changbin moves closer to me, his intoxicating scent of leather and whiskey making my toes curl.
"Ready to lose, (Y/N)." he smirks.
"You wish."
"Let's put your money where your mouth is. Here's your first bio. 'I just want a girl who loves brunch as much as me'."
I stare at Changbin unable to remove my eyes from his. I almost forget about the game.
"What do you think? Does brunch boy have a fish in his picture?"
I want to see him with no shirt but at the same time, I want to see how he would react with me shirtless.
"I think...fish." I say even though it's obvious there is no fish.
"Nope, you're wrong." I keep playing, and Changbin easily beats me at his game even though I secretly let him.
"Damn, I guess age does equal knowledge."
"Enough talk, missy. Let's see your shirtless run. Or in this case, dressless run."
I go out to the front yard.
"I'm keeping my underthings on."
I strip down to my underwear and catch Changbin eyeing me with a dark grin.
"Time to run."
I start running down the road screaming as I go.
"Whoo! I'm the loser!"
I do a few laps before finally coming back to Changbin. He looks me up and down with a rugged smile, making my heart race.
"Way to be a good sport."
I throw my clothes back on and reach for the front door to go back inside, but it's locked.
"Oops. We can go around back. I keep a spare key by the sliding door."
We move into the backyard and I take in the animal enclosures and livestock tools.
"Is this a ranch?"
Changbin comes to stand next to me, looking out at the empty enclosure.
"It used to be. Before I opened the bar, my brother and I were horse wranglers." he told me.
"Why did you stop?" asking as I look out into the wide open space.
"I didn't want to keep wrangling alone."
"What about your brother?"
All the playfulness evaporates from Changbin, his body stiff as he looks out at the land.
"My brother got bucked off a horse he was trying to break. Wyatt fell right on his neck. He didn't make it."
Changbin clears his throat, his eyes fixed on the horizon.
"I haven't been able to ride a horse since."
I had no idea Changbin lost his brother. I stand silently next to him as he takes in shallow breaths.
"Thanks for listening, (Y/N). I grip the rail of the horse enclosure, letting the moment hang between us.
"It's hard to let go of the guilt."
"Why would you feel guilty? It sounds like it was an accident."
Changbin looks away, clearly not ready to tell the whole story.
"Hey, it's okay. I know it can be difficult to open up. I sometimes have a hard time talking about Jackson."
"That's completely understandable, (Y/N). He caused you a lot of pain."
"I've never told anyone this, but my biggest fear is that Jackson finds me."
"He's in prison for life, (Y/N)."
"I know. But he told me after he was arrested that if he ever got out, he would hunt me down. He said he wouldn't stop until he found me, and then he would hide me where no one could save me."
"I would never let him take you, (Y/N). Not ever."
"Changbin...I feel safe with you. Just knowing you would protect me makes me feel so much better."
"You're always safe with me, (Y/N)."
I tighten my grip on the fence, letting out a sigh.
"Thank you for listening. It's hard to open up, but I feel like I can talk to you." I tell him with a sweet smile.
Changbin grabs the fence as well, his shoulder almost touching mine.
"I get it. I've never talked about Wyatt with anyone before."
His eyes are electric as he turns to me.
"Not until you, (Y/N)."
"You can always talk to me, Changbin."
Changbin's hand slides closer to mine on the rail. He is so close to me. We've been near each other before, but never like this.
"Things with you are always so easy, (Y/N). It just feels...right."
My heart races as his hand stops just short of mine, almost as if asking for permission. I move my hand the last few inches and close the distance between us.
"(Y/N)."
Changbin wraps my hand in his, intertwining our fingers. His skin is rough, his hand much larger than mine, and my heart races as he rubs his thumb against mine.
"Changbin...I've never felt this before."
"Me neither."
Changbin stares at our intertwined hands with a contemplative smile. He looks up at me with dark eyes, and my mouth goes dry.
"There's something I need to tell you, (Y/N)."
He takes a step closer to me and clears his throat.
"I--"
We both hear the slam of a car door.
"(Y/N)!"
Changbin pulls his hand from mine, and we fly away from each other as Keeho stalks over.
"You never texted me your plans, and then you weren't answering your phone! With all these assaults happening in town, I thought maybe you were hurt! I was coming over to get Changbin to help look for you. What are you doing here at his house?"
"Keeho, I can explain."
Changbin blurts but Keeho's phone rings in his pocket, and he sighs and pulls it out.
"Hold that thought."
He stalks off to answer the phone, and Changbin turns to me.
"What are we going to tell him?"
"Let's just say I didn't feel good, so you brought me here.. We can say your house was closer and I just wanted to lay down for a second." I quickly conjure up a plan.
"That should work."
Keeho comes back over with a haunted look in his eyes.
"Right, so the reason I'm here with Changbin is--"
"(Y/N). That was the warden at the Daegu penitentiary. It's Jackson."
I froze at the mention of my ex's name.
"Jackson...? What about my ex-husband?"
My stomach clenches as Keeho stares at me with fear.
"Jackson broke out of prison."