They moved together, easy as breathing. Fern smelled like summer and soap and a hint of the spiced cider she’d been drinking. Cody breathed deep, soaking in her scent.

“Work going okay?” she asked, lifting her chin so her eyes caught his in the shifting light.

“Busy. Bookings scheduled into the New Year. My bosses have threatened to hire more hands for me to wrangle.” He smirked. “Poor souls.”

Fern laughed, and all her dark ringlets bounced, catching the light like blue-black diamonds and torturing him all over again. “You’ll make a lovely tyrant.”

“And you? Gallery still your kingdom?”

“Always.” Her smile widened, triumphant. “Chance keeps trying to boss me. I let him pretend it works.”

“You could run the entire county if you wanted, Fern Fields.”

She tilted her head, mock serious. “I probably could if I wanted to. Now to figure out if that’s what would really make me happy.”

Before he could tease her back, something failed in Rough Cut’s electrical system. A loud pop sang from the speakers right before sudden darkness swallowed them. Even the dim red of the exit signs flickered out.

As the crowd gasped, then half laughed and half complained, Cody’s protective instincts roared to life. His arm slid around Fern’s back, pulling her in tighter before she could so much as blink.

“You okay?” His voice rumbled against her hair.

She pressed her cheek to his chest, voice muffled but teasing. “Kicking into hero mode, are you? It’s just the power, cowboy.”

“Don’t care.” He shifted them sideways as people fumbled for phones. “Stay close.”

She did. Too close. Perfectly close.

His hand found hers as they navigated the dance floor through the press of bodies as confused laughter rang out. In the soft glow from his phone flashlight, he caught a flash of her face. Reckless, trusting, lit from inside.

Outside the pub, the night was a wash of cool air and scattered stars. The sudden hush after the music and loud noises made his pulse roar in his ears.

Fern squeezed his hand once, her lips parting as if to say something clever.

Destiny…

He didn’t let her finish.

Cody cupped her cheek with his free hand, brushed his thumb against her warm skin, and kissed her.