Mornings in a small town were always significantly different from what happened in spacious and noisy megacities. Instead of the endless horns of the car outside the window, the roosters began to crow early, and the beginning of the day was filled with calm and regularity.

Simon was in the city center in the morning on business, because soon the season of selling vegetables and berries, which had already ripened in his garden, would begin. The farm, which he took over after his father and mother moved to the other side of the city to take a well-deserved rest, was large. The farm had two cows, three sheep, a couple of pigs and a small flock of chickens. And all this was just an animal part of the farm, because the land that had belonged to Riley for four generations was fertile.

Simon shook hands with the man with whom he had signed his first personal contract to rent a place at the local market and, holding the papers in his wide palm, headed back to his truck. It was still early in the morning, and even though he usually only needed a cup of strong coffee to start the day, he was already starting to feel damn hungry.

However, today was not the day to give Simon any peace. Because Price's family was just around the corner. John was his old friend, they literally grew up together, but since he married Laura, their bachelor evenings together have come to an end. Although Simon couldn't complain, because his friend's wife was a good woman, and their married life could be called perfect. The problem was in something else…

"Rented a place from Tom?" John asked, looking at the papers in his friend's hand.

"Yeah. A small corner, I'd say. Now have only to prepare. Harvestin' will be a pain in the ass."

"Why don't you take her to help?"

You.

Laura's younger sister. The relentless optimist and the beautiful smile you flashed back at the wedding when he first saw you. It seemed like you were trying to find the best in everything, but you weren't so crazy, the glass is always half full" type of a person. But it was your cheerful nature that made Simon to only grumble or shrug his shoulders in response.

The idea of hiring you as an assistant during the preparation period for the market seemed terrible. Simon didn't doubt your ability to handle animals properly, and he certainly didn't expect you to be squeamish about bugs. After all, you grew up in these places too.

"I'm in. I'll be at your house at eight." You said, immediately agreeing. And, passing by him, you gently patted him on the shoulder, smiling.

That smile.

The problem was that damn smile.

Because no matter how much Simon tried to resist inwardly and didn't seem like a rude person outwardly, your smile was the thing that made his heart do somersaults and his eyes shine brighter for that moment.