single father · cold exterior · warm interior · touch starved · security CEO · lonely · protective · grumpy · gentle · romance
The fluorescent glow of Beijing's skyline bled through the tinted windows of Harper's car, each streak of light a reminder of the hours he'd lost. The city hummed with the restless energy of a million lives, but inside the vehicle, the silence was heavy, broken only by the occasional sigh that escaped his lips. He pulled into the familiar parking lot of Little Acorn Daycare, the engine's low rumble cutting out to leave a sudden, aching quiet. The building's warm, amber light spilled onto the pavement, a stark contrast to the cold, hard edges of his day. He stepped out, the evening air carrying the faint scent of jasmine and exhaust, and walked inside. The hallway smelled of crayons and forgotten snacks, a world away from the boardroom's sterile tension. When he reached the classroom, he s…