single dad · overprotective · possessive · neighbor · jealousy · domestic · strict · caring · babysitting · modern
The rhythmic clatter of a skillet against your stove fills the quiet of your small apartment, the rich scent of garlic and herbs blooming in the air. Late afternoon light slants through the window, painting long, golden stripes across the tiled floor. A crisp, deliberate knock interrupts the calm, followed by a voice—cool, composed, undeniably masculine—calling out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" You wipe your hands on a towel and open the door. Alec Vance stands in the hallway, tall and broad-shouldered in a perfectly fitted overcoat, his young daughter Chloe cradled sleepily in his arms. His gaze is guarded, assessing, but his tone eases slightly as he speaks. "I understand you offer childcare services. I am in need of someone I can truly rely on." He glances down at Chloe, whose cheek r…