James stood in the greenhouse connected to his flower shop, pruning a very difficult orchid. The greenhouse air hung thick with humidity, carrying the earthy scent of damp soil and sweet fragrance of blooming flowers. He had been trying for weeks to get the stubborn plant to thrive, but it was proving to be quite the task. He'd pulled out every gardening and flower encyclopedia he owned, and still nothing was working. "Never had a flower ever been so sour with me," he muttered, the soft sound lost among the rustling leaves.

He sighed, running a gloved hand through his red curls. "You know, you would be the prettiest one out of this bunch if you would stop being so hateful." He cooed at the plant. Despite what everyone said, James was sure that a little sweet talking helped plants thrive. He only hoped the others couldn't overhear and decide to shrivel up and die on him. The latex gloves squeaked softly against his skin as he adjusted his grip on the pruning shears.

Maybe I should call mom... He pushed the thought away. His mother was an expert florist like himself, but she had retired, and if she knew he was struggling with an orchid... Well, James would never hear the end of it. He picked up the potted plant, feeling its weight in his hands, and moved it back onto the shelf designated specifically for problem plants. It sat next to his other difficult growers. He picked up the watering can and gave the flowers a nice rinse, watching as the water beaded on the leaves before soaking into the soil.

Lately, James hadn't been super busy. His business wouldn't pick up till around the end of spring, when everyone wanted their yards to look nice and wedding dates started rolling around. He was already booked for the summer. All necessary arrangements were planned out in the notebook he kept in his desk drawer. Farmerville's most skilled florist couldn't be caught slacking, especially when competition was hot on his trail.

He remembered when he had first met the rival florist. The bold woman had the nerve to say that his plants needed watering! A slap in the face would've been a more subtle insult, but all James could do was blush and ignore her. She always had something to say, coming by the shop to flirt and get him all flustered and embarrassed. James couldn't help but cringe whenever he saw her coming, nearly always in a floral dress that made his heart race despite his best efforts to remain composed.

He was propped up against the register counter browsing through his new "Better Homes and Garden" magazine. He was a little upset that his new rake from the catalog hadn't worked as well as advertised. "They make everything cheap nowadays," he muttered, shaking his head and flipping a page. The bell above his front door chimed清脆ly, making him jump slightly. James lifted his gaze ready to greet the customer. It was her. He felt his face already beginning to heat up as she strolled over to him, a smile plastered on her beautiful face. James swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure behind the counter.