I’m looking for a slow-burn work romance similar to The Lair by Lisina Coney, Luna and the Lie and Kulti by Mariana Zapata.
I want a story where the male lead is a boss/coach/director/leader type – someone strict, grumpy, and known for giving everyone a hard time. He is extremely grumpy with a strong bossy presence, but underneath it all, he’s a genuinely good man with principles and boundaries who went through a lot in his life. A man who works with his hands.
At some point, his new younger employee catches his attention and because of that, he ends up being even harder on her. Not out of cruelty, but because he’s trying to hide the soft spot he has for her. Not abusive or a bully, just harder on her because he is trying to prevent himself from giving her special treatment. Over time, that soft spot slowly grows into protectiveness and a kind of healthy possessiveness, as he finds himself in many situations protecting her from something or someone, until she becomes his weakness and he can't hide the soft spot he has for her anymore.
The setting can be anything – mechanic shop, hospital, university, sports team, film set, etc. I just want him to be in a position of authority, someone who gives orders and leads, exactly like Travis from The Lair by Lisina Coney.
What I don’t want:
No cocky, over-the-top “hot alpha CEO” types
No mafia romance
No historical romance
No fantasy romance
I want a male lead who is masculine, responsible, and emotionally layered, someone shaped by past trauma that explains his strictness or anger – but who is still kind at his core and opens up very slowly.
Also:
Prefer female POV only (or third person POV, but no male POV)
No insta-lust – I want a true slow burn, with deep, meaningful emotional development
Please don't recommend: The Wall of Winnipeg And Me by Mariana Zapata because it doesn't actually match what I am looking for.
by Arch_Katherine
1 Comment
real