Page 25 of Falling For You

Violet looked at her phone. “Well, in about two hours, I need to start preparing the lunches for our guests.”

“You make all those?”

She scowled. “Why does that surprise you? We’re a family-run operation. It’s not like we have a team of chefs on hand.”

“No…” I scratched my chin. “I just don’t know what I thought.”

Violet took a deep breath. “It’s something I love to do.”

“Your lodge gets really great reviews. They always mention how tremendous the food is.”

Her brows knitted together. “What made you look at our ratings?”

My jaw tensed, and I glanced down at my drink.

How could I have been so careless?

“Like I said, I’d considered staying at Honey Leaf Lodge.”

She nodded and glanced out the windows.

Violet brought her gaze back to mine. “Why are you holding out on me? What’s the big deal?”

“I’m not trying to, but I promised Mr. Medowski that I wouldn’t mention anything.”

“Until a week from now.”

I nodded. “Technically, six days now.”

Her smile faltered slightly. “Something just doesn’t feel right.”

Shaking my head, I looked at her closely. “I never should have been so…”

“Salty? Rude? Rigid?” she offered.

I laughed and nodded. “Yes to all the above.”

“It definitely made an impression.”

“Not a good one, I see.”

The left side of her lip curled into a half smile, and she shrugged. “I’m trying to work through it. After all, I do love sunflowers.”

“Maybe under this gruff exterior, I’m just a big softie.”

She threw her head back in laughter, and I scowled. I didn’t think it wasthatfunny.

“Doubtful. That’s a stretch.”

I took a sip of my drink. “I’m offended.”

“I doubt there’s much that would offend you.” Her eyes locked on mine, and that same feeling of intrigue and longing shot through me with a vengeance. None of it made sense. I never fell for the wiles of a beautiful woman.

I studied Violet briefly and realized she’d already summed me up. The worst part was Violet was probably right.

Kindness never got me far.

Hard work and dedication got me plenty.

---