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My head snapped back toward him. “What?”

“I don’t stay in one place too long. It’s easier to just stay here at the ranch.”

A pang of something—sympathy, or maybe understanding—settled deep in my chest. “So…you live in a regular guest room? On the ranch?”

Colton took a slow sip of his beer before answering. “I’ve got a suite I keep my shit in, but yeah, I stay with the guests.”

The thought sank in, hitting me in a place I wasn’t expecting. No place to call his own. No space that was just his waiting for him at the end of a long day. No messy pile of laundry in the corner, no favorite chair, no framed photos on a bedside table.

Everyone deserved a place that was theirs. Somewhere to settle, to breathe.

I watched him for a long moment, a quiet realization creeping in. He could do that here—could make himself at home if he wanted. But he didn’t.

“Did you know someone who went there?” Colton’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts.

I followed his gaze to where he was pointing—my sweatshirt with “NYU” in big letters.

“Yeah. Me,” I said, tugging at the hem. “I got my degree in communications before starting BuzzBurst.”

Colton’s eyes widened in genuine surprise. “BuzzBurst is your company?”

I nodded, a little amused at his reaction. “Why do you look so shocked?”

He cleared his throat, but I caught the faintest sparkle in his eyes. “I guess I should have known. Someone with your mouth wouldn’t work for anyone else.”

I laughed, the energy between us softening a little. “You would know.”

Colton smiled—an actual smile. It wasn’t smug or teasing; this one was softer. The sight made my pulse quicken. But it disappeared—fading into the night, whisked away by the cold breeze.

“Why did you start Stone Ranch?” I asked. I saw an opportunity to learn more and I took it.

He took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the horizon as if the weight of his answer was etched into the mountains. “I grew up here. My family didn’t have much…except a bad reputation. I worked at a ranch where we boarded horses, and one woman had faith in me. She took a chance on my idea, and it was my one ticket to something bigger, better.”

“What is bigger and better?”

“Stability. Security. A fresh start.”

“Why do you stay off social media? Or the internet as a whole?” I asked, unable to hold back my curiosity. Colton’s outright disdain for being online had to come from somewhere.

He shrugged. “I’m not the kind of guy who likes attention, I had enough of it growing up. I’d rather be in the background doing the hard work. Let other people plaster their face and business on the internet.”

I scoffed softly, surprised at how much I related to that sentiment. “I get it. That’s why I chose the work I do. I can make things happen from behind the scenes, stay in control, and still have a creative outlet.” I paused, letting my grin slip in. “Plus, if I’m being honest, I love the gossip.”

Colton raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond. His silence felt like a challenge.

“I mean, but with a face like that…” I teased, tilting my head toward him.

He let out a dry laugh. “Either you’re telling me I’m attractive or so god-awful to look at that I should stay off the internet for everyone’s sake.”

“Oh, definitely the first one,” I said, smirking. “The engagement from the charity event video speaks for itself.”

He shot me a sharp look, the kind that said he didn’t want to hear another word about work. I held my hands up in mock surrender. “I know, no shop talk. But seriously, you should see what women are saying about you online. I think there’ve been at least fifty proposals and even more than a few offers to father their children.” I whistled, leaning my head back against the chair. “And don’t get me started about the men…”

Colton let out a low growl and took a long pull from his beer, his jaw tight. His distaste was palpable, like the very idea of public adoration made his skin crawl.

“After all the negative attention I got as a kid for things that weren’t even my fault,” he said, his voice quiet but heavy, “I never felt the urge to put myself on a platform where I’d welcome it all over again.”

His tone wasn’t bitter—it was matter-of-fact, like the scars were still there but long healed over. I leaned forward slightly, hungry for more. “Do you have any siblings?”