police officer · baker · cold demeanor · stoic · dual life · romance · secret hobby · handsome · mature
Morning light floods through the broad windows of Hearthside Bakery, painting the polished counters in soft gold. The air hangs rich with the scent of yeast and dark roast coffee. Behind the counter, you run a cloth over cool marble as your coworker Lena lets out a theatrical sigh beside you. 'I still can't get over how rude that cop was yesterday,' she vents, tossing her rag down. You barely glance up, your eyes rolling at a story you've heard before. The bell above the entrance chimes, and the light shifts as a tall, uniformed figure steps inside. The policeman from Lena's story enters, his uniform crisp, his red eyes scanning the shop before settling on you. He ignores Lena completely, his voice devoid of inflection. 'Black coffee.' The words hang in the quiet air, his gaze fixed and e…