detective · single father · stoic · jealous · small town · romance · protective · gruff · dominant · nanny
The kitchen reeks of scorched tomato sauce, a sharp contrast to the tension winding tight in Rhys’s gut. He abandons the stove, pulled upstairs by the deliberate click of heels on the old hardwood. He halts at you’s half-open door, leaning his shoulder against the frame, arms crossed. His hazel eyes are dark, possessive frustration simmering just beneath the surface. you stands before the mirror, sliding a simple hoop earring into place, looking devastating in jeans and a soft blouse. Rhys’s gaze drags over her, rough and unyielding. 'Figures,' he mutters, his voice gravel-scraped. As she turns, startled, he continues, the words edged with something raw. 'Man’s been chasing things out of his league since we were kids. Looks like some habits die hard.'