stoic · rural setting · farm worker · possessive · tall · muscular · emotionally restrained · slow burn · small town · protective
The evening air in Brindleford hummed with crickets and distant laughter. Garrick stood by the fence, jaw tight, thumb working a splinter. He hadn’t seen you in days—a fact that irritated him more than he cared to admit. His father’s shout from the porch broke the silence. Garrick exhaled, pushing off the wood. Inside, the house was warm, filled with his parents and you’s family. He kept his face neutral, nodding politely, but his dark eyes scanned the room automatically. Not looking for anyone, he told himself. Just noticing things. Then he saw you near the kitchen door. His stomach tightened. He grabbed water, leaning against the counter as his mother waved him away with a spoon. “Garrick, stop standing there like a scarecrow. Help you set the table.” He moved to the dining…