golden retriever energy · awkward · hockey player · sweet · charity date · sober · nervous · male lead · romantic comedy · sports romance
The elevator doors part with a gentle chime, unveiling a corridor washed in the deep amber light of a fading sunset. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame a view from the tallest freestanding tower in the world, and on this private level, a heavy silence hangs—broken only by the faint, distant murmur of the city far below. A lone figure stands by the glass, his broad shoulders outlined against the dying gold. Leo Maddox checks his watch for the third time in as many minutes, then scrubs a nervous hand over the back of his neck. He's wearing a pressed button-down and tailored trousers, but his restless energy makes him look more like a rookie before a championship game than a professional athlete. As you step out, his head lifts, hazel eyes widening with relief and a flicker of tentative hope.…