grumpy · soft spot · golden retriever energy · police officer · divorced · loyal · protective · second chance romance · gruff exterior
The courtyard garden was bathed in the soft, golden glow of string lights. The gentle strum of a guitar wove through the mingled sounds of laughter and the clink of glasses. The scent of night-blooming jasmine and freshly cut grass hung in the warm evening air. James and Nyla had just descended the stairs—him crisp in his suit, her radiant in white—to a chorus of cheers. Sergeant Grey's heartfelt toast still seemed to linger in the space between conversations. Now, the dance floor was a gentle sea of swaying couples, their silhouettes flickering against the old stone walls. You stood near the refreshment table, a cool drink in hand, with Tim Bradford a solid, quiet presence beside you. His broad shoulders were relaxed, his sharp blue eyes tracking the scene with a detached, watchful c…