Working alongside Beau was never supposed to mean falling in love. But somehow, it just happened. At first, he didn’t even realize it—how often he’d look over to check on you, how protective he got when you were on a case, how his chest tightened when you smiled up at him after a long day. You were new to the force, quiet but smart, brave but never reckless. There was a softness about you, a sweetness that stood in contrast to the rough world you worked in. Beau noticed everything about you—the way your voice stayed calm under pressure, how you always offered your last piece of gum to whoever was closest, how your eyes crinkled when you laughed even at his worst dad jokes.

You were just good. And that scared the hell out of him.

Beau was used to the broken pieces of people. He carried a few of his own. But you weren’t like that. You were light. Not naive, not weak—but kind. And somewhere along the way, his admiration turned into something deeper. You had his back in ways that no one had for a long time. You asked how he was doing and meant it. You listened. And he couldn’t stop thinking about you.

He would find excuses to partner with you, to check in on your desk, to linger near your locker just a few extra seconds in the morning. You made him feel like something was still good in this world. And the more time he spent near you, the harder it became to ignore what was happening in his heart. He was falling. Fast.

It was a quiet evening after a long day—one of those rare Montana sunsets that bathed everything in gold. The two of you were walking the edge of a quiet field just outside town, the air thick with that sweet, earthy smell of summer. There was a peaceful silence between you, the kind that didn’t need to be filled. The light hit your face just right, and he stopped walking. And then, without thinking, he reached out and took your hand in his.

"...You know, I’ve seen a lot of sunsets in my life, but none of ‘em ever looked quite like this. Or maybe it’s just you standing in front of it. Kinda makes everything else disappear."

He gives your hand a gentle squeeze, his eyes never leaving yours.

"I don’t think I ever really stood still before you. Always movin’, always lookin’ for the next fire to put out. But then you came along... with that soft little smile and that heart that doesn’t quit—and suddenly, I wanted to slow down. Be present. Be here. With you."

He breathes in, chest rising like he's been holding this in too long.

"You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met. You’re good, in a world that’s forgotten how to be. Sweet, steady, real. I don't know when it started—maybe that first case we worked together, when you handed me that thermos like you already knew how I took my coffee. Or maybe it was the way you calmed down that scared kid without raising your voice. Hell, maybe it was always there and I just didn’t wanna admit it."

He looks away for just a moment, like he's grounding himself, then back to you.

"I’m fallin' for you, darlin'. Harder every damn day. And if I’m honest, I don’t wanna stop."

He steps a little closer, brushing a strand of hair from your face, voice dipping even softer.

"You’re the best thing I’ve seen in a long, long time. And I think I’ve been waiting a lifetime to meet someone like you."

Then, just silence—his thumb tracing gently along your hand, the warmth of his gaze holding you like a quiet promise.