Oneshots - Kayce Dutton Book 2

I wanna write about that.

You tapped your pen on the notebook in front of you. The small café in the last building as you were leaving the town wasn't busy. It shouldn't be for a Monday afternoon. You half wondered if this was why the guy had picked it. Besides you, there was a barista and then someone in the back cooking desserts. Your iced coffee drink was half full as you look over to the window.

He was late. Not too late, only ten minutes, but still. You looked down at your paper and saw 'Kayce Dutton, Livestock Commissioner' written in your handwriting. After graduating, you worked in Billings for a few years as an opinion piece reporter for the paper. Now, you had moved up and was a freelance writer for some of the best magazines in the country. Right now, the Washington Post had asked for a piece done on rural Montana and how to govern it. That led you to the Livestock Commissioner's office and after five phone calls, you finally secured a meeting with the third Dutton to hold this position.

The door opened. You turned and saw a tall cowboy walk in, removing his hat as his eyes fell on you. He wasn't much older than you, maybe a couple of years. His dirty blonde hair was windswept, brushing just above his shoulders. His gray button down tucked into his wranglers and boots completed his look. He walked over to your table as you stood up.

"Commissioner," You held out your hand to him.

Kayce's hand was rough, but warm as he shook yours.

"Kayce," He nodded his head.

"I'm Y/N," You let go of his hand and smiled at him. "Thank you for meeting me."

"Figured it'd save you some minutes with all your calls," Kayce smirked.

His drawl was charming. Not the menacing temper you had heard about back east when it came to the Dutton men.

"I like to get what I want," You told him sitting back down. "Please."

Kayce took the chair opposite of you. Due to the size of the table, his long legs poked out next to yours.

"Would you like something-"

The barista put a mug of black coffee down in front of Kayce and walked away.

"Never mind," You made a quick note in your book.

"So...you don't look like you have a problem?" Kayce took a sip of his coffee.

"No, I don't have a problem?" You were confused.

"You've just called a lot," He shrugged. "Figured there was a problem or something you needed."

You blinked a few times back at him.

"Your receptionist didn't tell you who I was, did she?" You asked.

"No ma'am," Kayce said.

"Y/N..." You said. "I'm a writer...and currently working on a piece about rural Montana and how things are different out here than in the cities."

"Who wants to know?" Kayce asked.

"A pretty large newspaper," You said.

"I don't really keep up with the news," Kayce sat his mug down.

"I'm sure," You felt at ease with him surprisingly.

"So...do you have questions?" He didn't look bored, almost relieved.

"How long have you been Commissioner?" You picked up your pen.

"A year," Kayce said.

"And before that?" You asked, looking up at him.

"Before that what?" He asked.

"Where did you work before?" You asked.

"My family's ranch," Kayce said.

"The Yellowstone?" You saw Kayce nod. "That's your father's ranch, correct? And he was Commissioner before you?"

"I guess technically my brother Jamie was before me," Kayce said. "My father was before him."

"What's that like?" You looked at Kayce. "To have so many commissioners in one family?"

"It's fine," Kayce shrugged.

"You don't think it's awkward?" You offered him a friendly smile, trying to get him to like you.

"Families always are," Kayce chuckled.

"Do you have one?" You wrote some more down.

"One what?" Kayce asked.

"A family?" You looked at him.

"I have a son," Kayce nodded.

You wrote down on your pad before pausing to take a sip of your drink. The ice hitting the lid and back down was the only noise between you two.

"How old is he?" You asked.

"Seven," Kayce said. "I uh...don't really want to talk about him much though for this."

"Understood," You nodded. "I'll just say you're a family man at heart."

"I wouldn't go that far," Kayce mumbled.

"You wouldn't?" You asked. "You help run your family ranch? You've followed in your father's footsteps? You have a son...pretty family oriented if you ask me."

"You'd know what best to write I suppose," Kayce sipped his coffee again.

You sat your pen down and looked across at Kayce.

"You don't like it, do you?" You asked, reading right through him.

Kayce sat his mug down and smiled at you.

"You read people well," He said.

"It's my job," You shrugged.

"Where're you from?" Kayce asked.

"Small city outside of Billings," You answered.

"Which one?" Kayce pressed.

"Laurel?" You said, not sure he'd know.

"One of my deputies is from there," Kayce nodded.

"Huh," You smiled. "Small world."

"I've passed through there," Kayce said. "I think."

"Everyone passes through there," You laughed. "Anyway-"

"You went to school in Billings?" Kayce interrupted.

"Yeah," You nodded. "Graduated about four years ago now."

"How'd you end up out here?" Kayce asked.

"My aunt had a farm near Darby," You explained. "I took it over last year when she died."

"I'm sorry," Kayce said, and you were surprised to see that he meant it.

"It happens," You said.

"Yeah," Kayce said softly.

You looked at him for a few seconds.

"What would you do if you could do anything?" You asked him. "For a job I mean."

"Easy," Kayce smiled. "Be a cowboy."

"Ain't you sort of doing that?" You asked.

"Maybe the closest thing I'll get," Kayce shrugged. "What about you?"

"What would I do?" You asked and Kayce nodded. "I don't know...I love writing."

"Yeah?" Kayce tilted his head and you were stuck with how cute you thought he looked.

"Maybe if I could write a book and I don't know," You shrugged.

"What kind of book?" Kayce asked.

"I love mystery," You smiled. "That or something in fiction. I like writing to escape from realities around me."

"Must be nice," Kayce said.

"It can be," You nodded. "Bet it's like when you're riding on a horse off into the sunset?"

"There is a peace to it," Kayce laughed.

"So, if you don't want to be Commissioner, why'd you take it?" You asked.

Kayce took a deep sigh.

"Because your father asked?" You offered and Kayce looked surprised at you. "Fathers can be...insistent."

"That's one word for it," Kayce mumbled.

You looked down at your notepad and shut it, setting your pen on top of it. Kayce gave you a curious look.

"Am I that bad of an interview?" He joked.

"No...you're that good of a person," You told him. "I write things to bring light to stuff that's supposed to draw attention. The more 'likes' they get online or more subscriptions, whatever. But in the last twenty minutes talking with you I don't really want to do that to you."

"Why's that?" Kayce asked.

"I don't know," You shook your head. "I honestly feel like I was the protect you."

"Think that's my job, darlin'," Kayce leaned his arms on top of the table. "But I guess we all need a little help at times."

The term of endearment made your cheeks warm. You felt like a teenager as you cleared your throat, praying Kayce couldn't tell.

"I do feel bad about all the phone calls now," You told him. "I really thought you'd be some old, rude jerk."

"Sorry?" Kayce mused.

"Don't be!" You laughed. "I like this much better."

"Yeah?" Kayce raised his eyebrow.

"Well..." you swallowed. "I mean, you know..."

Kayce glanced over his shoulder out the window.

"Storms coming," He told you. "Darby ain't far, but I'd rather you not be driving in that."

"Wow," you couldn't stop yourself. "You're like a character I'd write."

"What?" Kayce smirked.

"Sure," You giggled. "The handsome cowboy...rescuing women from storms..."

You thought a bit.

"Pick me up on the side of the road in the storm and take me home,"  You giggled some more. "It'd be a good story."

"You think?" Kayce smiled.

"Oh sure," You nodded your head. "You don't think?"

"Well...guess I'm more curious about the sequel," Kayce shrugged.

"Sequel?" You leaned toward him, over the table.

"Sure," Kayce lowered his voice. "The one where I take you to bed once we're home."

Your legs closed instantly. For once, you were speechless. Kayce finished is coffee and smirked at you.

"Oh..." You blushed hard. "I wanna right about that."

"Maybe we could...not make it fiction sometime?" Kayce asked you, his eyes showing slight hesitation.

He was nervous and you found it adorable.

"Maybe...I have a problem I need fixing at my farm?" You shrugged.

"Did you call the Livestock Commissioner?" Kayce asked, scooting his chair back.

"Mmhmm," You grabbed your things and stood up with him.

"Guess you're my last call of the day then?" Kayce placed his hat on his head.

"And you don't want me driving in the storm," You smiled up at him.

"Right," Kayce nodded. "I better drive."

He placed his hand on the small of your back as you both headed toward the door. Kayce opened it for you as you stepped out, smelling the rain coming.

"Sorry you didn't really get much of a story," Kayce said leading you over to his truck.

"Oh, I got one," You smirked as he opened the passenger door. "Just not one the whole public can read."

Kayce shook his head as he shut the passenger door.