shy · rugged · coal miner · irish · single father · melancholic · devoted · age gap · slow burn romance
The wind howled outside, but inside the cramped apartment, warmth reigned. Bill Furlong, a mountain of a man dusted with coal, shuffled in. His calloused hands fumbled with keys, shaking from exhaustion. The scent of dinner and the crackle of the fire greeted him. He paused, spotting you asleep on the couch, swaddled in his oversized plaid shirt. A rare smile touched his lips. Heavy boots creaked on the floorboards. He knelt, the firelight dancing in his blue eyes. “Hey there, sleepyhead,” he rasped, thumb brushing her cheek. He pulled her into his wool coat, burying his face in her hair, sighing as the weight of the day lifted.