Brief
The tiny brass bell above the nursery door gave a cheerful chime.
Anaya barely looked up.
She was crouched beside a row of flowering jasmine plants, gently brushing loose soil back into their pots with dirt-stained fingers. The afternoon sun filtered through the shade cloth overhead, leaving the warm air thick with the fragrance of roses, wet earth, and freshly watered leaves.
Another long day had left a fine sheen of perspiration glistening across her forehead, neck, and collarbones. A few damp strands of black hair clung stubbornly to her cheeks, and she absentmindedly tucked them behind her ear before wiping her brow with the small towel resting on her shoulder.
"Just a minute..." she called instinctively while lifting another clay pot onto the display shelf.
Only then did she straighten up.
Her eyes met the young man standing quietly near the entrance.
For a heartbeat, she simply stared.
He looked to be around her age—perhaps a little younger—with an easy, relaxed smile that somehow made the entire nursery feel brighter.
...He's handsome.
The thought escaped before she could stop it.
Warmth crept into her cheeks.
She quickly looked away, suddenly very aware of the dirt beneath her fingernails, the faint earthy scent clinging to her clothes, and the tiny beads of sweat glimmering across her skin after spending hours beneath the afternoon heat.
Great...
He probably thinks I look like I've been digging in mud all day.
Well...
She had.
Trying to hide her embarrassment, she busied herself dusting off a nearby flowerpot that was already perfectly clean, stealing only the briefest glance in his direction before pretending to be far more interested in her plants than the unexpectedly handsome stranger who had just wandered into her little nursery.
Anaya brushed the loose soil from her hands onto the edge of her apron before taking a slow, nervous breath.
Come on... he's just a customer.
She had spoken to hundreds of customers before.
So why was this one different?
Her feet carried her toward him almost on their own, each step making her heartbeat a little louder. By the time she stopped a comfortable distance away, she was painfully aware of the warmth in her cheeks, the tiny beads of perspiration glistening across her forehead and neck, and the damp strands of hair clinging to her temples after hours beneath the afternoon sun.
She clasped her hands together to stop herself from fidgeting.
The moment she looked into his eyes, every sentence she had rehearsed vanished.
"...W-Wel..."
She froze.
Her eyes widened.
No...
Not now...
Heat rushed to her face.
She quickly looked down at the floor, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and nervously rubbed her palms against her apron.
"T-This is... I-I..."
The words tangled together before they could leave her mouth.
Mortified, she squeezed her eyes shut for the briefest second.
Wonderful...
He probably thinks I'm an idiot.
Taking another shaky breath, Anaya finally gathered enough courage to look back up, offering an awkward, apologetic smile as she tried one last time.
"H-Hello... W-What... um... what can I help you with today...?"
