Summary: After divorcing your cheating husband, you decide to live the life you want.
Warnings: Cheating ex. Please let me know if I missed any!
A/N: Reader is female, 30+ years old. No other physical descriptors used.
New year, new life. That's your mantra right now as you unload the truck. You wish you could've done this in a more temperate climate, but you also wish your ex-husband hadn't cheated on you. You can't always get what you want, but, as you always have, you can make the most of what you've got. And once Charles' secret accounts were found, boy did you have a lot to work with!
The first thing you did was secure a small, cozy cottage for yourself in the middle of nowhere. It was a real dream come true for you on several counts. Charles always needed the biggest houses in the wealthiest neighborhoods, probably because he never had to actually clean them or manage the upkeep. Now, you're letting yourself indulge in a small home, on a decent sized lot that will be easy for one person to maintain.
Not to mention, you've finally got space for your garden. Charles had promised you, for years, that he'd get you a greenhouse, or a giant backyard, whatever you wanted for your plants. But, just like his wedding vows, that also fell through. It isn't the season for planting, but you're eager to find out what's hiding under the snow. After you've got things unpacked, you'll head to whatever counts for a general store in these places and get the gardening supplies you know you'll need.
You're broken out of your thoughts by the sound of a motorcycle pulling up. You were immediately on alert since you don't know anyone yet and weren't expecting any deliveries, especially not via motorcycle. Setting down the latest box from the truck, you carefully tread outside to welcome your guest or call the cops.
The drive parks his bike and you can already tell he's a very large man. If he causes trouble, there won't be much you can do. But when he takes off his helmet, your breath hitches. He's damn gorgeous! His blonde hair glowed gold in the sunlight. His blue eyes sparkled more as his kissable pink lips turned into a smile. You're certain you looked like an idiot, mouth agape, but he's gotta be used to that, right?
He approached you with a hand out for a shake. "Hello, Ma'am. I'm Steve Rogers, the sheriff in these parts. Figured I'd introduce myself."
You shake his hand as heat rushes to your face. He seems so effortlessly charming! But you can't deny your instincts and have to ask, "how do I know you're actually the sheriff and not just some rando? Aren't you supposed to be in a cop car or something?"
His smile turns into a smirk as he blushes a little. He brings out his wallet and shows you his badge. "I'm not officially on duty," he confesses. "But I wanted to get to you before the gossip train does."
"Ah, maybe you can put in a good word for me?" you giggle.
"That I might," he nods. "Though, the gentleman in me has to ask if you need any help with the rest of those boxes?"
As much as you love the mental image of this man bending over, muscles flexing, you're still wary.
"Thanks for the offer, Sheriff, but it's only a couple more boxes. I've got it."
He nods, smiling dropping a little. "Do you mind if I ask why you moved out here? Not many people coming to small towns these days."
You take a deep breath as you consider how much of yourself to be let seen. "I'm...I'm fresh from a painful divorce. Looking to start anew. Easier to do that when I'm surrounded by plants more than people."
His face falls into a sympathetic frown. "I feel that. My ex-wife handed me divorce papers last year. Her heart belonged in London, but my duty kept me here."
Her loss, you think to yourself. "That's a damn shame," you say instead. "Well, maybe this will be a good year for both of us."
He smiles a little at that. "Maybe."
"So, have I earned a good word with the local gossips?" you tease.
He chuckles, "I think so. But do yourself a favor and introduce yourself to a few other people. Namely Nick Fowler, our mayor and Curtis Everett, he owns the diner in town. You get in good with them, they'll shut down negative gossip about you right quick."
You make a mental note to drive to the diner for dinner.
"And also make sure you take care around Hal Carter," Steve adds. "He's always doing odd jobs so the church ladies are always looking to him for more gossip."
"How will I know him?"
"Chances are good that, even in this weather, he'll be the brunette with his shirt off." Your eyes widen and you blink a few times in surprise, making Steve smile brighter. "Yeah, he's a real peacock. Another reason the church ladies love him."
You can't help but giggle and you swear you see Steve blush a little more.
"Well, I should get going, let you return to the work of settling in," he says as he moves towards his motorcycle. "Don't be afraid to call for help, okay? Given the kinds of calls I get around here, I can promise there's no mission too big or too small for me."
"Thank you, Sheriff," you beam at him.
He waves before driving off, and you wave back, knowing you've made the right move.
Marisol and Steve knew each other their whole lives, both left their small town running to bigger and better things. Steve's family owned the town they lived in, making him CEO of multiple companies within the town. In college he and Marisol fell for each other. Returning to town for their best friends wedding, well the town is going to get a surprise, when Marisol has a ring on her finger from the towns most eligible bachelor.
