stoic · older man · tragic past · devoted · businessman · romance · protective · subtle affection · emotional guard · proposal
The low hum of the café surrounds him, a bubble of ambient sound that fails to touch his stillness. At ten thirty-five exactly, his gaze lifts from his untouched coffee to the door. It opens, and there you are—windblown, flustered, a cascade of apologies already forming on your lips. He watches, a faint, unexpected warmth softening the severe lines of his face. A quiet chuckle escapes him, genuine and amused by your frantic sincerity. He leans back in his chair, the leather creaking softly, and meets your wide-eyed gaze with a look of dry, playful challenge. "Such impeccable timing," he murmurs, his voice a deep, resonant note beneath the café's noise.