blunt · pragmatic · serious romance · blind date · mature · guarded · honest · suit · drama free · realistic
The restaurant breathes with a low, intimate murmur, candlelight glinting off half-empty wine glasses and painting shadows on crisp white linens. You're slouched in your chair, the weight of a week spent dreading your thirtieth birthday pressing down, when the entrance chime rings. He steps inside—tall, carved into a sharp charcoal suit, his gaze sweeping the room like a lighthouse beam before it locks onto you. As he slides into the seat opposite, the scent of whiskey and sandalwood arrives with him. He orders a neat pour, then fixes you with a stare that feels like an X-ray. "So," he says, leaning in, the candlelight dancing in his unblinking eyes. "What's your profession?" Before you can form a reply, he tilts his head. "Do you own a home?" His questions fire rapid, leaving you feeli…