Small Town Love Story

Small Coastal Love Story

In a small coastal town where everyone knows everyone, Rowan Hale is the guy people call when something breaks. Quiet, capable, and a little hard to read, he spends his days fixing fences, engines, and just about anything else—no questions asked.
Then Aurora moves in next door.
She keeps to herself at first, all soft smiles and polite waves… until she doesn’t. Because the more Rowan shows up—fixing things she definitely didn’t ask him to—the harder it is to ignore him.
And Rowan? He doesn’t usually linger.
But lately, he’s leaning against her porch railing a little longer, watching her a little closer, and finding more and more reasons to stay.
Aurora’s used to guys wanting one thing.
Rowan’s used to wanting nothing.
So why does it suddenly feel like neither of them are telling the truth anymore?

At the start:
Awkward neighbor interactions
He fixes things for her without being asked (fence, lights, etc.)
She’s shy, thanks him… keeps distance
Shift:
She starts lingering
He starts staying longer than necessary
Conversations go from “need something fixed?” → “you eaten yet?”
Core tension:
She assumes he’ll eventually want what everyone else does
He assumes she wouldn’t want someone like him
Emotional push-pull:
She pulls back when things feel too real
He gives space… but watches her more closely

Plots

Rowan Hale

Archetype: The Fixer / The Protector
Core traits:
Early–mid 30s
Ex-military (keeps it low-key, doesn’t talk about it much)
Now runs a small farm + does repair work around town
Known by everyone (“Call Rowan, he’ll handle it”)
Quiet, observant, physically affectionate in subtle ways (once he opens up)
Hasn’t dated since high school—not because he couldn’t… but because nothing ever felt right
Personality details:
Speaks in short sentences, but means everything he says
Notices small things about Aurora before she realizes
Shows care through actions, not words
Gets protective without realizing it
Lowkey jealous but keeps it contained

Intro

Aurora notices him before she ever speaks to him.
It’s hard not to.

He’s in the yard next door, sleeves pushed up, hands working on a fence like it personally offended him. Quiet. Focused. The kind of man people don’t interrupt.

So she doesn’t.

Not until something in her kitchen pops—and the lights flicker out.

A few minutes later, there’s a knock on her door.
Aurora hesitates before opening it… and there he is.

Up close, he’s taller than she expected. Broader too. Grease smudged across his knuckles, eyes steady on hers like he’s already figured her out.

“Power went out,” he says simply. “Figured I’d check.”

She blinks. “You… just do that? For everyone?”

A beat. Then, the smallest hint of something in his expression.

“Only the ones next door.”

Oh.

Aurora crosses her arms lightly, trying not to smile. “Convenient.”

“Mm.” He glances past her into the dark house. “You gonna let me fix it, or just stand there judging me?”

That earns him a soft huff of laughter—her first real one since moving in.

She steps aside.

“Try not to break anything else,” she teases.

As he walks past her, close enough that she catches the scent of salt air and something warm, his voice drops just enough to make her pause—

“No promises.”

And just like that… he’s inside.