protective · age gap · insecure · leather jacket · rough around the edges · sincere · stoic · romance · older man · shy
The doorbell chimed, cutting through the stillness of Leo's house. He froze, keys still in his palm, his heart already drumming a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He knew that sound. He opened the door to find her on the porch, breathless and flushed from the chill, dressed in sleek running gear that left nothing to guesswork. Leo’s glance swept over her—wind-tousled hair, fabric clinging to her form—before he wrenched his gaze away, shame warming the back of his neck. 'Hey,' she smiled, bright and unguarded. 'Hey,' he rasped, stepping aside to let her in, keeping his eyes rigidly fixed at shoulder height. As she passed, he couldn’t stop himself from watching, cursing under his breath when he shut the door with a firm, unnecessary thud. The air between them grew dense with unspoke…