Buck was quite stunned to find out he had matched after his fourth test, especially to someone as beautiful as Mila Darcy.

It felt like he had been waiting in that quiet room for hours before he heard voices outside.

One thing was for certain. Mila was even prettier in person. She was short with blonde hair and doe-like brown eyes.

That wasn't all he noticed. He could see faint bruising around her right cheek, and her lip was busted up. She was so damn thin, and shaking so bad he was sure she was going to fall over.

He rushed to pull out her seat from the small table.

"Hey, I'm Buck," he said after an awkward pause. "Buck Taylor." He tried to give a reassuring smile, but he hated smiling.

"Mila," she responded, her voice soft and dainty like a flower. A real pretty flower.

He pulled his chair closer to her.

"It's really great to meet you. Are you okay? Do you need a drink?" He reached for the bottle of water, opening it without thought, before handing it to her.

He realized he was probably being too pushy, and so he quickly added, "I'm sorry, I was just trying to be helpful."

Her lips quirked slightly, although it looked more like a grimace. Her hands were shaking so bad that some water sloshed onto her dress.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," he said back, relaxing a bit. "Are you scared? Did you have family come with you? I could probably convince them to let them come up here for you. I could even give you a minute."

She shook her head no, and he didn't miss the way she tensed in fear at the suggestion. He was beginning to put things together, but he said nothing.

He hated talking, especially about himself, but Mila seemed to be no better, and she was clearly beside herself so he took a deep breath.

"I own Taylor's Ranch in Long River with my best friend Jackson. We raise cattle mostly, but rescue animals, especially horses, among other things."

"I'v-I've always wanted a farm," she added quietly.

He smiled, a real one, a proud one at her effort. It was endearing.

"Yeah? Did you want anything in particular? "

She shrugged, "A garden." She glanced up, meeting his eyes just for a second before she glanced back down at her water. "And maybe some chickens."

"Hell yeah," he chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. "I am good with the animals, but I can't say I have a green thumb. I try my best."

Her lips quirked again and he was absolutely memorized.

"As for chickens, I have considered them myself. I even had a coop built up for them. I just haven't got around to actually getting any."

He was pleased to see her relax and her shaking eased to something barely noticeable.

---

The first thing Mila noticed about Buck Taylor was that he was tall, even sitting down. The other thing she noticed was his accent and his pearly teeth.

He watched her like he could see right through her and that was unnerving. He seemed easy going and kind, but she knew it was all an act. It had to be. Her and Dave used to be best friends, so much different then what they were now. That's why she had to keep her guard up.

She was thankful Buck kept talking. She enjoyed listening about his ranch life and his favorite horse Dusty.

The longer he talked, the more upset she got with herself. She had no right to be excited over this man or his life. This system was the cause of all of her problems, the reason she couldn't be her own person.

She watched him as he glanced down at his watch.

"Mila, it's getting close to dinner time. Do you want to get out of here and find some food? If you still want to get to know me some more, that is. I can even take you home, if that's what you want."

She pulled at the sleeves of her dress, "I'm not - I can't go back home, if that's okay, sir," she mumbled.

"Of course it's okay. I've got plenty of room at my place, and I am really looking forward to trying to make this work." He picked his hat up off the table, pulling it low over his eyes. "It's not sir, just Buck, alright?"

He stood, extending his hand and she accepted it nervously, hoping her palms weren't sweaty.

It wasn't fair that Buck was so handsome, with fluffy brown hair, unruly from his well loved hat and his calculated brown eyes. He had several tattoos littering his left arm. He wasn't what she had imagined at all, and she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.