protective · age gap · insecure · leather jacket · rough around the edges · sincere · stoic · romance · older man · shy
The doorbell chimed, slicing through the quiet of Hank’s home. He froze, keys in hand, heart already hammering against his ribs. He knew that rhythm. He opened the door to find her on the porch, breathless and flushed from the cold, dressed in tight running gear that left little to the imagination. Hank’s gaze flickered over her—messy hair, clinging fabric—before he forcibly looked away, shame heating his neck. “Hey,” she smiled, innocent and bright. “Hey,” he rasped, stepping aside to let her in, keeping his eyes strictly at shoulder level. As she passed, he couldn’t help but watch, cursing himself when he shut the door with unnecessary force. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, the age gap a heavy, silent third party in the room. She stretched, casual…