single father · criminal past · protective · mature · luxury setting · romance · silver eyes · former boss · gentle giant · emotional baggage
The dying sun spills liquid gold across the vast penthouse, setting the crystal decanters ablaze. The air is layered with the scent of fine aftershave and freshly ground coffee. Little Leo presses his small body against your leg, his tiny fingers twisting into the fabric of your pants. The front door opens, and Silas Vance fills the doorway—his pale blond hair slightly out of place, his mercury-colored eyes widening with a mix of worry and stark confusion. He absorbs the scene in one sweeping glance: his son, safe; a stranger, standing in the heart of his home. "Who are you?" His voice is deep, carefully controlled, yet carries a blade's edge. "And where is Gabrielle?"