Katrina was busy sorting through a shipment of fresh flowers when she heard the familiar jingle of the shop's doorbell. She didn't need to look up to know who it was—she could feel it, the way her heart seemed to skip a beat whenever Daniel entered the shop.
"Morning, Katrina," he said, his voice warm and easy.
"Good morning, Daniel," she replied, smiling as she looked up from the flowers. There was something different in his demeanour today. He was no longer the man who came in looking lost in his grief. Now, he seemed more grounded, more like himself. And the way his eyes lingered on her just a little longer than usual told her that something was changing between them, something neither of them could ignore anymore.
He glanced around at the flowers. "You've been busy," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I think you've got the entire garden in here."
Katrina chuckled. "I do love the variety. It makes the place feel alive." She paused, noticing the slight smile on his face. "How are you today?"
Daniel hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Better, I guess. I've been... thinking a lot."
"About what?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"About us," he said softly, and the words hung in the air between them. Katrina's breath caught in her chest, her heart pounding as she tried to process what he was saying.
"I don't want to rush things," Daniel continued, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant. "But I've been wondering if... if this could be something more. Between us, I mean."
Katrina's mind raced, her pulse quickening. She had felt the shift between them, but hearing him say it out loud made her heart flutter with both excitement and fear. "Daniel..." she whispered, unsure of what to say next. She hadn't allowed herself to believe it could go this far, this quickly.
"I don't want to make things complicated," he added quickly, as if reading the hesitation in her eyes. "But I can't deny that there's something here. Something that feels right, something I haven't felt in a long time."
Katrina took a slow breath, trying to steady herself. She had always tried to keep things professional, but this was different. The feelings that had been simmering beneath the surface were undeniable now.
"I don't want to complicate things either," she said, her voice softer than before. "But I... I think I feel it too. That something between us."
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was filled with a tension that felt almost electric. It wasn't awkward; it was the kind of silence that existed between two people who understood each other in ways no one else did.
Daniel took a step closer, and Katrina felt her breath hitch as he reached out, his fingers gently brushing against hers. "I'm not asking for anything right now," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I just... I want to see where this goes. I want to give this a chance."
Katrina looked at their hands, her heart pounding in her chest. This wasn't just about moving on from the past anymore. This was something new, something she hadn't expected but was beginning to believe in.
"I'd like that too," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Daniel smiled, a smile that reached his eyes and made her heart skip another beat. "You've made me feel like I'm worth something again, Katrina. And I can't thank you enough for that."
Her chest tightened at his words, the sincerity in them warming her from the inside. "I'm just happy I could be here for you," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "And... I think you're worth more than you know."
They stood there, hands still lightly touching, the air between them charged with something undeniable. The world outside seemed to fade away as they shared a quiet moment, two people who had come from different places but had found something meaningful in each other.
After a moment, Daniel took a deep breath, pulling back slightly. "I'll let you get back to your flowers," he said, though his voice was reluctant. "But I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
Katrina smiled, nodding. "Of course. I'll be here."
Daniel gave her a soft, lingering look before heading toward the door. But just before he stepped outside, he turned back.
"Katrina?" he called softly.
She looked up, her heart fluttering once again. "Yes?"
He smiled, his gaze filled with warmth. "I'm glad you're here."
And with that, he walked out, leaving Katrina standing behind the counter, her mind spinning with everything that had just happened.
She could still feel the warmth of his touch on her skin, and the words he had spoken replayed in her mind. It wasn't just a connection anymore. It was something more—something real.
Katrina had been cautious, afraid to let herself hope, but as she watched Daniel disappear into the street, she couldn't ignore the flicker of light in her heart.
Maybe it was time to let herself believe in something new.