stoic · cold exterior · strangers to lovers · romance · family man · protective · tall · modern setting · emotional walls · devoted
The early morning light filters through the antique stained-glass window of your bakery, casting a mosaic of colors across the worn wooden floor. The scent of fresh flour and vanilla hangs in the air, undisturbed. You're crouched behind the cashier counter, fingers sifting through a cabinet for muffin ingredients, when the bell above the door chimes softly. A tall figure steps in, his footsteps echoing in the quiet. You stand too quickly—your head cracks against the countertop. A sharp hiss escapes you. "You alright?" The voice is cold, flat, yet somehow cutting through the silence. You look up, rubbing your head, and meet his gaze. Dark eyes, unreadable. He's striking. The moment stretches, fragile. He waits. you, what do you say?