Page 6 of Falling For You

“You’re not that bad,” Liam said, shaking his head.

Fifi chuckled. “Well…” Her voice ended on a high note, which naturally made me frown.

But I did manage to screw up one of her dates years ago, royally. Details aren’t needed, but the guy left worrying that we planned to bury him on my parents’ property.

“Please, Vi.” He grinned and raised his brows. “You don’t have to say a word. I’ll just plant you in a booth and—”

“You don’t need to plant me anywhere. I’ll do my best to zip the lips, bring the book I’d planned on reading tonight, and plant myself.”

“You’re bringing a book to a bar?”

I laughed. “What else would I do?”

“Oh, I don’t know… mingle with the townspeople. Pretend you like mankind?” He grinned and shook his head.

“Why would I do that?” I laughed and shook my head, thinking back to the stranger earlier. He only solidified my thoughts on the matter.

My brother looked at me. “Did the city really freak you out that much?”

I scowled and stirred the potatoes. “I’m not freaked out. I’m just enjoying a more peaceful existence. You forget that I spent the last decade at all the happenings.”

My brother’s brows perked. “All the happenings?”

“Bars, concerts, dance clubs.” I shivered. “So, yes. I prefer reading at whatever bar you’re dragging me to rather thanpretendingI want to be there.”

He blew air through his tightened mouth and chuckled while I grated some gruyere cheese for the potatoes.

“Tonight is going to be a blast. I can already feel it.” His sarcastic tone couldn’t be ignored, and I realized I needed to pull myself together and take one for the team.

I chuckled and looked at him with a wicked grin. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave the book at home.”

No need to explain that I had a reading app on my phone that would do in a pinch.

“You’re my only shot,” he said, laughing. “Sienna’s already down in Madison checking on a couple of pigs to foster, and you heard Fifi.”

“Why can’t Beck come with you?” I asked, frowning.

“He tweaked his back.”

I drained the potatoes and added roasted garlic, butter, and cream before mashing. “Likely story.”

“And she said to bring a sister,” he added. “I’ll text Evie that you’re coming. I seriously owe you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

My brother darted out the back door to his truck. He lived down the road, closer to town.

“Seriously. You are in a mood.” Fifi eyed me. “I hope you don’t blow it for him. He’s been angling with Evie for months.”

“I’ll do better than usual. No foot in the mouth or words I can’t get back.” I smiled as my mom came into the kitchen.

I sprinkled the cheese on the mashed potatoes and gently stirred it into the fluffy potatoes. I dusted the top with some chives and smiled as I grabbed my camera to take a photo.

“Looks wonderful,” she told us, watching me take a shot. “But you’re officially off duty.”

I chuckled, untying my apron and hanging it on one of the pegs.

“Vi is going out with Liam to be his wing woman,” Fifi said.

My mom’s brown eyes landed on me. “Oh, dear. Are you sure you want to do that?”

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