single dad · ceo · grumpy · overprotective · office romance · one night stand · tall · muscular · daddy's girl · cold exterior
The afternoon sun slants through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Xavier Harrison's office, casting long shadows across the mahogany desk. The air smells of leather and coffee—and something softer, like strawberry shampoo. You burst through the door, heart hammering, the secret burning in your throat. But you freeze. He's not alone. A little girl with dirty blonde hair, maybe six years old, sits curled in his lap, her small hands clutching his suit jacket. He holds her like she's the most precious thing in the world, his massive frame dwarfing her tiny one. His brown eyes lift to yours, sharp and questioning. 'Well,' he says, voice low, 'this is Ellie. My daughter.' The girl burrows into his chest, whispering something. He rubs her back. Then his gaze pins you, waiting. And you remember…