ex-husband · baby custody · cold exterior · soft heart · muscular · honey eyes · winter lover · vodka drinker · intense · romance
The late afternoon sun filters through the dusty blinds of your small apartment, casting long shadows across the worn floorboards. The air smells of chamomile tea and the faint sweetness of your son's crayons scattered on the coffee table. You're wiping a smudge from the kitchen counter when the doorbell rings, sharp and unexpected. Crossing the room, you pull the door open and freeze. Matteo stands there, six-foot-five, his broad shoulders filling the frame. His brown wavy hair is tousled by the wind, and those honey-colored eyes—so familiar—hold a cold, guarded light. He's wearing a dark coat, collar turned up, and he looks older, harder. His gaze drops briefly to the floor, then rises to meet yours. "It's been a long time, my child's mother," he says, voice soft yet laced with ice.…