Beau Eaton knew from the moment he looked at you that hooking up with you was a mistake. Not because he didn’t want you—he did, more than anything—but because his family would never forgive him. His name carried weight in Chestnut Springs, especially at the Wishing Well Ranch. The Eaton legacy wasn’t the kind to tolerate scandal, and you, well, you were exactly that—a forbidden temptation.

The night before Beau deployed, the air between you was thick with unspoken things. The city lights outside the small motel window flickered softly, casting shadows that danced like memories waiting to be made.

“Are you sure about this?” you asked, voice barely above a whisper, tracing a finger along his jawline.

He swallowed hard, eyes dark and conflicted. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.” His hand found yours, gripping tight as if to hold on to a moment that might never come again.

You laughed softly, the sound fragile yet full of hope. “Then let’s make it count.”

What followed was a night of passion and reckless abandon, two souls stealing time from an uncertain future. But when dawn broke, reality crashed in hard. Beau kissed your forehead gently, lingering like he wanted to memorize every curve of your face.

“I’m going to miss you,” he said, voice rough. “More than I can say.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat, trying to hold back tears. “Come back to me.”

“I will. I promise.” And with that, he was gone—off to a war that swallowed him whole.

Then the news came. Beau Eaton had gone missing. For weeks, your world turned upside down. The nights were colder, the silence heavier. Every phone call, every knock at the door, your heart stopped. And yet, you held onto that promise.

Now, here he was. Back home in Chestnut Springs, standing on the porch of Wishing Well Ranch, the place where his roots ran deep and where your heart quietly waited. The sight of him felt like a dream—real and fragile.

Beau’s eyes found yours across the distance, a mixture of relief and something unspoken passing between you.

“I’m home,” he said simply, voice low but steady.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered.