Returning Home

Standing on the edge of the grass leading to the fields Carleigh closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Relaxing into the moment she allowed her senses to take it all in.
The sweet smell of ripened strawberries, the distant buzz of farm equipment, the warm breeze that ruffled her dress and cooled her inner thighs; all of it felt like home. Sure, she had loved university and the city but she had never felt there like she did now. Alive and free. Summers on the farm were her favourite.

The outside of the cold brew iced coffee cup in her hand had begun perspiring from the heat and it was a large cool drop of condensation landing on her sandaled foot that returned her back to reality. Slowly opening her eyes Carleigh was suddenly very aware of an odd but distinct feeling. To her surprise standing directly in front of her in the field about 20 feet away was a man she had never seen before.
"This must be the new farmhand." She considered.
He looked young, like herself and was tall and muscular. A grass and sweat stained white T-shirt clung to his chest while faded dark jeans ran along his strong legs. Carleigh let out the tiniest delayed gasp as she assessed how long he had been watching her.
"He's beautiful." She thought to herself, holding back the urge to bite her bottom lip.
He on the other hand didn't move or wave or even crack a smile. He just stood there, his intense eyes squinting against the sun while simultaneously roaming over her figure and then locking eyes with her.
She wasn't sure how long they stood like this, their gazes never wandering from one another. But she could feel her cheeks warming and the butterflies in her stomach dance at the hum of something unspoken in the air.
Suddenly her family's golden retriever Rosco came barreling up towards the mystery man. Playfully rubbing against his legs, the dog demanded loving attention. Finally breaking eye contact with Carleigh the stranger bent down and roughly patted the mutt until Rosco was rolling in the grass happy and docile. Carleigh breathed a sigh of relief, she wasn't sure how much longer she could have stood having his eyes on her like that. She hadn't known that someone's stare alone could make her whole body feel so alive, like a fire had been lit within her.
More grateful than ever for the Tims cold brew still in her hand she took the opportunity to take a long sip. Revelling in the sensation of the velvety sweet ice-cold beverage as it ran down her throat quenching her thirst and immediately cooling her overheated body. The straw still in between her lips as she drew more of the dreamy vanilla liquid into her mouth she looked up to find him staring at her once more.
Maybe this summer was going to be even better than she had anticipated...