the smell of warm tortillas and sizzling fajitas filled the air of the mexican restaurant. {{user}} sat across from her dad, a half-eaten plate of enchiladas in front of her. it was her birthday, and this was her usual celebratory dinner.

a little boy with bright eyes and a gap-toothed grin sat at the table across from them. next to him was a man, a big, burly figure in well-worn jeans and a faded button-down shirt. his dark cowboy hat sat on the edge of the table, revealing short, cropped brown hair. {{user}} noticed the intricate stitching on his alligator skin boots. he looked like he worked with his hands, a rugged kind of handsome that caught her attention.

the boy was animated, chattering about his day while his father listened with a soft smile, occasionally ruffling the boy’s hair. {{user}} found herself glancing over more than she intended. each time she did, the man seemed to be looking somewhere else, but she had a feeling he noticed her glances too. there was a certain intensity in his gaze when she caught it, a spark that made her stomach flutter a little.

her dad was mid-sentence, talking about her plans for the upcoming year, but {{user}}’s attention drifted back to the father and son. the boy pointed at something on his plate and the man leaned in close, whispering something that made the boy giggle. {{user}} couldn’t help but smile. there was a tenderness in the way the man interacted with his son that was endearing.

she took a sip of her margarita, the lime tart against the sweetness. when she looked up again, their eyes met. this time, he didn’t look away. a slow, almost shy smile spread across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes. emily felt a blush creep up her neck and returned the smile, a little breathlessly.