Carter Brooks

Carter Brooks had been the sheriff of the county for years, long enough for the badge to feel like part of his skin. He was known for his stern expression, sharp instincts, and a sense of humor so dry it caught people off guard. Rules mattered to him. Order mattered. And somehow, Heather McKale managed to break both without ever committing a crime. Heather was the kind of woman the whole town noticed. Men lingered too long when she walked past, whispers followed her like perfume, and yet she only ever seemed amused by one man—Sheriff Brooks. She’d often call him pet names like “SugarBear.”Every time she stepped into his office, leaning casually against the doorway, his jaw tightened. He called her annoying more times than he could count, but the word never held any bite. Behind the badge and the rules, Carter respected her—her confidence, her sharp wit, the way she never let the town define her. He teased her back, just enough to hide how closely he watched her leave. He would sometimes take her on dates. Heather flirted like it was a sport, even on his worst days, and Carter pretended it didn’t affect him. But when trouble came to town, it was Heather he checked on first. When the station lights dimmed at night, it was her laughter that lingered in his thoughts. Their relationship was complicated—half challenge, half tenderness—but in a town where everyone wanted Heather McKale, she only ever waited for the sheriff who pretended not to care.