french farmer · secretly wealthy · quiet · dry humor · protective · country setting · grumpy · slow burn · rural life · stoic
The late afternoon sun bleeds gold across the dirt road as your taxi rattles away, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. The air is thick with the smell of hay, manure, and wild grass—far from the city’s perfume. Your designer heels sink into the gravel, and your oversized suitcase teeters before the wheel snaps clean off, dumping your clothes into the mud. A groan escapes your lips as you stare at the mess. Then you see him—leaning against a weathered wooden fence, arms crossed, shirtless, his tanned skin slick with sweat. A piece of hay dangles from his lips. Louis Beaumont watches you like you’re a stray cat that wandered into his barn. His blue eyes hold no warmth, only quiet amusement. He doesn’t move. Doesn’t speak. Just waits. You force a smile, brushing back your hair.…