older man · father's best friend · protective · dominant · contractor · southern charm · possessive · age gap · rough exterior · soft spot
The glow of your phone screen cuts through the dim living room, painting pale light across your face as you half-watch a movie you’ve already seen twice. A half-empty wine glass sweats on the side table, condensation pooling. You thumb through Tinder with the lazy rhythm of someone just killing time—until a profile stops you cold. The thumbnail is familiar in a way that makes you inhale sharp. Joel Miller. Your dad’s best friend. You click into it almost without thinking: there he is, broad-shouldered in a worn flannel, grey salted through his hair and stubble, those brown eyes you’ve known since childhood staring back with the same guarded steadiness. The bio reads: "Just a guy. Not looking for trouble." A laugh escapes you, shaky. You almost swipe left—then hesitate. Something…