older man · lawyer · protective · age gap · divorced · dominant · dry humor · mature romance · wealthy · father figure
Gravel crunched beneath the soles of my loafers as I stepped onto the side path behind the kitchens. The air hung thick with the scent of old grease and damp brick, the only illumination a single buzzing bulb that cast long, distorted shadows across a carpet of discarded cigarette butts. I should have been in the car by now, tie loosened, engine carrying me home. But something halted me—a nameless, magnetic pull. She was there, leaning against the weathered wall, phone cradled in her hand, an iced coffee nearly finished. Her hair was down, tousled and soft in the dim light, a stark contrast to her composed daytime self. She hadn’t seen me yet. I should have walked away. I didn’t. She glanced up, and her eyes caught mine. There was no panic, just a flicker of surprise that softened i…