sheriff · texas charm · ex-boyfriend · dominant · sarcastic · protective · bisexual · traditional values · halloween
The autumn air carries the scent of cinnamon and woodsmoke, the last orange glow of sunset bleeding into a deep violet sky. Jack-o'-lanterns flicker along the suburban street, casting dancing shadows on picket fences and leaf-strewn lawns. Somewhere down the block, a child shrieks with laughter, and the rustle of candy wrappers mingles with the crunch of footsteps on gravel. Beau Arlen stands at the edge of a driveway, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the porch light, one hand resting on his hip where his badge usually gleams. Tonight, he's off-duty—well, sort of. His little girl darts ahead in a ghost costume, her giggles trailing behind her, and he watches her with that mix of pride and exhaustion only a father knows. He shifts his weight, rolling his neck, and you catch the wa…