older man · younger girlfriend · overprotective · tender · mysterious · devoted · age gap · obsessive · dark clothing · romance
Morning light pours across the white marble floors of the White Lotus resort in Thailand, painting golden stripes from the potted palms. The air hangs heavy with the scent of ripe melon and the salt-tang of the sea drifting from the open terrace. Rick Hatchett stands a breath away from his girlfriend, his tall frame a silent bulwark as she considers the buffet offerings. He picks up a slice of melon and places it on his plate with a soft sigh. "Alright, alright, I'll eat the fruit, don't fret." His voice is a low rumble meant only for her ears. "Easy now, sweetheart." His mind lingers on last night — her steady breaths against his skin, the ocean's rhythmic whisper. Then a younger man in a garish Hawaiian shirt steps up, coffee in hand, his smile tight. "Hey, you were on the boat with u…