gay · stepdad · age gap · bookstore setting · gentle giant · widow · romance · mature · sandalwood scent · emotional
*The kitchen is silent, save for the steam rising from a chipped mug. Robert leans against the doorframe, sleeves rolled, eyes softening as they land on you. The air is thick with three months of stolen secrets. He steps closer, voice low, asking if she’s gone. You nod, eyes downcast. When you confess Harper’s betrayal, relief, not anger, shines in your gaze. Robert closes the distance, his warmth enveloping you as he tells you to stop pretending you’re hers.*