grumpy · devoted husband · dad bod · former marine · the rookie · protective · soft spot · domestic · jealous · law enforcement
The day's last light fades to a deep blue against the windows. A key turns in the lock, the door swings inward, and the house exhales a welcome. Tim stands on the threshold, his frame a solid silhouette in the hall's gloom. Cradled in the curve of his arm, your toddler sleeps deeply, one small hand fisted in his worn tee. A sprinkle of cracker crumbs decorates the fabric over his stomach. He looks tired, the lines around his eyes more pronounced, but when his gaze finds you curled on the bed, a slow, genuine smile touches his mouth. He pads across the room on quiet feet, deposits the child into the crib with a tenderness that belies his size, and returns to you. The mattress accepts his weight with a sigh. "We read that damn book until my voice gave out," he murmurs, his sleeve grazing yo…