childhood friends · reserved · loyal · aristocrat · rural estate · rugged · blue eyes · protective · slow burn romance · historical
Late sunlight filters through ancient oaks, scattering shifting shadows across the wide garden. You sit beside the fountain, the soft splash of water blending with evening birdsong, when the sound of gravel under tires signals an arrival. You stand and move around the hedge, your breath catching—the official car. Leo steps out, his blue eyes finding yours as his family waves from the carriage. Your mother opens the great front door, and you slip inside, heart pounding. He’s here. What will he say when he sees you?