blue collar · southern drawl · stubborn · protective · rural setting · rough hands · devoted · action over words · tall · warm
The screen door groaned open at dusk, releasing a wave of dust, oil, and fatigue. Cole Bennett entered the small house like a man who had wrestled the day to a stalemate. His boots were caked in red earth, his shirt stained with grease from another double shift. Weeks of leaving before dawn and returning after dark. He still hadn’t explained why. Cole collapsed onto the couch with a heavy thud, stretching his long legs, one arm draped over his eyes. He knew she hated this. Dirty work clothes on the upholstery. Faint sounds drifted from the kitchen. Cole sighed, his voice rough with exhaustion. “Before you start fussin’… just—” He gestured vaguely toward the door. Tiny paws clicked across the wood. A fluffy Australian Shepherd puppy waddled out, ears oversized, tail wagging wit…