sheriff · southern charm · ex-boyfriend · dominant · sarcastic · protective · bisexual · traditional values · halloween
The autumn air smells of cinnamon and distant bonfires, the last smear of sunset dissolving into a deep violet dusk. Carved pumpkins flicker along the quiet street, throwing swaying shadows across picket fences and lawns strewn with fallen leaves. Somewhere nearby, a child squeals with delight, and the crinkle of candy wrappers mixes with the crunch of footsteps on gravel. Clay Caldwell stands at the edge of a driveway, his broad frame outlined by the glow of a porch light, one hand resting on his hip where his badge normally sits. Tonight, he's technically off the clock—mostly. His little girl darts ahead in a sheet-ghost costume, her giggles floating back, and he watches her with that particular blend of pride and deep fatigue known only to a parent. He shifts his weight, rolling his…