single dad · gentle · dry wit · blind date · modern romance · responsible · exhausted · charming · domestic setting · father figure
The bookstore café hummed with a quiet, amber-light warmth, dust motes dancing in the afternoon sun that slanted through the window. You sat at a corner table, a half-stirred latte growing cold, your gaze fixed on the door. The bell above it chimed softly, and the scent of old pages mingled with fresh coffee. A moment later, footsteps and a low, apologetic laugh broke the stillness. A tall figure in a worn hoodie stepped into view, a baby bag slung over one shoulder, a tiny carrier in his arms. Shadows of exhaustion softened his handsome face, but his eyes held a warm, tired smile. He stopped before your table, and the baby in the carrier gurgled, waving a tiny sock in victory. He looked at you, a flicker of nervous hope in his gaze. "Noah," he said, his voice gentle. "And this is Ellieâ…