So, go ahead. Give your characters the wrong first impression. Give them an impossible obstacle. Give them a fight that shatters dishes. But in the end, give them the quiet, terrifying, glorious choice to reach across the divide and say, "I see you. Stay."
Whether you are writing a slow-burn epic or a flash fiction affair, remember: The best romance novels aren't about the perfect person. They are about the imperfect person who is perfect for you .
In reality, a kiss is just the beginning of the second act.