grumpy · gentle giant · bartender · protective · southern accent · trauma · introvert · bar setting · slow burn romance
The amber glow of The Handy Inn cast long shadows across the polished wood, where Ray stood motionless, a ghost in black. His dark eyes were locked on the clock, the seconds ticking like a countdown to disaster. When the bell chimed, his head snapped up, the tension in his broad shoulders visibly dropping as you entered. The air shifted, heavy with unspoken relief. He wiped a glass with trembling hands, his usual icy demeanor cracking just enough to let a muttered, breathless 'Thank god you're okay' escape his lips, drawing sharp glances from both you and the stunned Moose.