Matchmaker Mayhem

Ava squinted at the bakery's display case, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the uncomfortable heat of the late morning sun pouring through the storefront window. The aroma of fresh bread and sweet pastries filled the small shop, mingling with the faint scent of cinnamon wafting from a tray of buns cooling behind the counter.

Across from her stood Mr. Arthur Kim, the widower baker who had become Mei's most promising matchmaking client. His round glasses perched precariously on his nose as he adjusted his apron, a slight nervousness radiating off him despite his warm smile.

"So, you're Mei's granddaughter," he said, his voice gentle but tinged with curiosity. "She told me you'd be handling my case from now on."

Ava forced a smile, clutching her clipboard like a lifeline. "That's right, Mr. Kim. She thought it was time for me to, uh, learn the ropes."

Arthur nodded, but his brow furrowed slightly. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

"Well…" Ava hesitated, her mind racing for a diplomatic answer. She glanced at the tray of macarons on the counter and blurted, "Not exactly, but I'm great with people."

Arthur's expression softened. "Good. Because I'm trusting you with something important. Mei said you have her instincts."

Ava's stomach twisted at the words. Instincts? The only instinct she had right now was to run. But instead, she squared her shoulders and nodded. "Of course. You're in good hands."

Arthur's face broke into a smile, and for a moment, Ava felt a flicker of relief. Maybe she could pull this off after all.

The tinkling of the bakery doorbell shattered her fleeting confidence. She turned just in time to see Ryan Kim no relation to Arthur, unfortunately stroll in, looking entirely too smug for her liking.

"Ah, Ava," Ryan said, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. "Fancy seeing you here."

Ava groaned internally. "What are you doing here, Ryan?"

Ryan held up a reusable coffee cup as if it were a VIP pass. "Supporting local businesses, of course. Arthur makes the best coffee in town."

Arthur beamed. "Ryan's a regular. Comes in almost every morning."

"Lucky me," Ava muttered, trying to refocus on her client. "So, Mr. Kim, let's talk about what you're looking for in a match."

But before Arthur could respond, Ryan leaned casually against the counter, his sharp suit and perfectly styled hair making him look absurdly out of place among the bakery's quaint charm.

"Looking for a match, huh?" Ryan said, his tone light but teasing. "Better hope Ava here doesn't accidentally set you up with a clown."

Ava glared at him. "I'm sorry, do you have business here, or are you just here to irritate me?"

"Both," Ryan said with a grin, taking a sip of his coffee.

Arthur chuckled nervously. "Ryan likes to joke. But he's actually helped me out a lot since my wife passed."

Ava blinked, surprised. "Wait, you know each other?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Didn't Mei tell you? Arthur's my uncle."

Ava's jaw dropped. "Your uncle?"

Arthur nodded. "Ryan's late mother was my sister."

Ava felt a sudden urge to strangle her grandmother. "No, she failed to mention that."

Ryan smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. "Looks like you've got your work cut out for you, Matchmaker."

Ava turned back to Arthur, determined to ignore Ryan. "Okay, Mr. Kim. Let's focus on what's important. Tell me about your ideal partner."

Arthur hesitated, glancing at Ryan. "I'm not sure where to start."

"I can help with that," Ava said, shooting Ryan a warning look. "Think about the qualities you admire most. What's important to you in a relationship?"

Arthur thought for a moment. "Kindness, definitely. Someone who values family and has a good sense of humor."

Ryan snorted softly, and Ava shot him another glare. "Something funny?"

"Just wondering if Ava's taking notes for herself," Ryan said innocently. "You could use a little humor in your life."

Ava resisted the urge to throw a macaron at him. "Thank you for your input, Ryan. Now, if you don't mind, we're trying to have a serious conversation."

Ryan held up his hands in mock surrender. "Don't let me stop you."

Arthur smiled awkwardly, clearly torn between amusement and discomfort. Ava took a deep breath and forced herself to focus.

"Kindness, family, humor," she repeated, jotting the words down. "Got it. What about hobbies? Shared interests?"

"Well, I love baking, of course," Arthur said, his eyes lighting up. "And gardening. I grow my own herbs and vegetables."

"That's perfect," Ava said, scribbling furiously. "We'll find someone who shares your passions."

Ryan cleared his throat. "Just make sure they don't have a gluten allergy. That would be tragic."

Ava shot him a withering look. "Are you done?"

Ryan grinned. "Not even close."

Arthur laughed, the tension in the room easing slightly. "You two remind me of my late wife and me. Always bickering, but in a good way."

Ava's cheeks flushed. "This is not bickering. This is..."

"Flirting," Ryan interrupted smoothly.

Ava sputtered, but Arthur just chuckled. "Whatever it is, it's entertaining. Thank you, Ava. I feel good about this."

"You're welcome," Ava said, managing a genuine smile. "I'll be in touch soon with some potential matches."

As Arthur excused himself to tend to a customer, Ava turned to Ryan, her smile instantly vanishing. "What are you really doing here?"

Ryan's expression sobered slightly. "Just checking in on my uncle. He's had a rough few years."

The sincerity in his voice caught Ava off guard. For a moment, she saw a side of Ryan she wasn't used to the protective nephew, the guy who actually cared about someone other than himself.

But the moment passed quickly, and his smirk returned. "Of course, watching you squirm is just a bonus."

Ava rolled her eyes and grabbed her clipboard. "If you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

As she headed for the door, Ryan called after her. "See you around, Matchmaker."

Ava didn't bother replying. But as she stepped into the bright sunlight, she couldn't help feeling like Ryan had somehow managed to get under her skin again.