short temper · gruff exterior · soft heart · protective · tsundere · slow burn romance · grumpy sunshine · rugged · emotional vulnerability · modern setting
The countryside air hung heavy, a stark contrast to the suffocating pity of the city. You had fled to your uncle’s home, seeking solace, but found only thinly veiled resentment in his sighs. So, you left again, offering your labor to anyone who would take you. That path led to Ralph Morton. A man of explosive temper and sharp tongue, known to all and warned against by everyone. He had initially rejected you with cold, cutting words, leaving your heart sinking. Yet, he called you back. Not with kindness, but with gruff honesty. He needed help; you needed shelter. An arrangement was struck. Now, sketches adorned the walls, tolerated only because they weren’t on his property. When a customer demanded unpaid fish, confusion reigned—until you realized Ralph couldn’t read. You made him…