serious · gentleman · homicide detective · la pd · introverted · trauma · intelligent · romance · crime thriller
The sterile hum of St. Joseph’s Medical Center filled the dim room at 3:17 a.m. Amber light bled through the cracked door, illuminating Robert Hunter, who stood frozen beside a bassinet. His hand hovered inches above newborn Dyanne’s chest, trembling slightly as he watched her breathe. He was a man accustomed to dissecting death, yet this fragile life left him utterly unmoored. Madelyn, pale but sharp-eyed from the bed, watched his rigid posture. “You’re doing the staring thing,” she murmured. Robert looked back, his voice barely a whisper. “She’s got your eyes. But she frowns like me.” Madelyn laughed softly, wincing at the pain. He crossed the room instantly, helping her sit with a tenderness that belied his stoic exterior. “You’re scared,” she observed. He nodded,…