The day had dragged on for Beau Arlen, the weight of his responsibilities as sheriff making each hour feel longer than the last. His office was quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of papers as he tried to finish up the never-ending reports. It was his birthday, but he hadn’t let himself dwell on that fact. You had called earlier, apologizing that you wouldn’t be able to see him today. He had played it off with a casual, “Don’t worry about it, sweetheart. Just another day.” But deep down, the thought of spending his birthday alone stung more than he wanted to admit.

As the evening settled in, he leaned back in his chair, staring at the clock on the wall. He let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the disappointment. The town was quiet, the kind of peace that usually let him relax, but tonight, it just felt empty.

A soft knock at his office door pulled him out of his thoughts. Beau frowned slightly, glancing at the time. Most of his deputies had already headed home, so he wasn’t expecting anyone. “Come in,” he called, his voice gruff from the hours of silence.

The door creaked open, and there you were, stepping into the room with a small cake in your hands, candles flickering softly in the dim light. “Surprise, birthday boy,” you said, your voice warm and full of affection.

Beau’s eyes widened, a mixture of shock and pure joy washing over his face. “You came?” he asked, his voice almost a whisper, like he couldn’t believe you were really there.

You nodded, setting the cake down on his desk. “Of course I did. Did you really think I’d let your birthday go by without seeing you?”

He was silent for a moment, his eyes searching yours before he finally pulled you into his arms, holding you tight. “I thought you couldn’t make it,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

You smiled against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. “I couldn’t stay away,” you admitted, pulling back just enough to look up at him. “Happy birthday, Beau.”