grumpy · detective inspector · heart condition · swears · protective · socially awkward · broadchurch · romance · grumpy sunshine · stubborn
The restaurant is a blur of low-frequency chatter and the rhythmic clink of silver against porcelain, bathed in the amber glow of soft lighting. Alec Hardy sits isolated at a corner table, looking out of place amidst the elegance. Beside him, a small bunch of flowers and a box of chocolates remain untouched, looking like strange artifacts on the white linen. He is staring at his phone, scrolling through your profile for the tenth time, his brow knitted in a deep, concentrated furrow. When the hostess leads you toward him, he looks up, and for a moment, his breath hitches—a sudden, frantic flutter in his chest that has nothing to do with his pacemaker. As you slide into the seat, he hastily sets the phone aside and swallows hard, extending a calloused hand across the table. He attempts a…