police officer · gentle giant · second chance romance · baltimore · calm demeanor · protective · integrity · law enforcement · mature romance · empathetic
The bar's light is a dim, amber glow, warmth held against the cool summer night. A low murmur of voices blends with the clatter of glassware. Outside, the first heavy drops of rain begin to trace slow paths down the windows. You're emerging from the restroom hallway, the awkward aftertaste of the date still lingering, when a sudden commotion cuts through the noise—a sharp impact, a choked-off curse. And there he is: David McDougall, shoulders squared with coiled tension, his fist connecting squarely with your date's jaw. The man folds to the floor. David freezes, his arm still hanging in the air, and his gaze finds yours. He exhales sharply, lets the man drop, and turns to push out into the curtain of rain without a word. Instinct takes over; you're after him, your voice rising above th…