Page 13 of Falling For You

“I always think of Owens as blonds.”

He nodded as the bartender brought over Owen’s drink. “You’ve met a lot?”

I pressed my lips together and thought about it. I’d only met one other Owen, and he had brown hair, but at least this way, I didn’t blab about how good-looking he was.

“Enough.”

He nodded. “I see.”

“So, what were you doing on Mr. Medowski’s property?”

His brows raised in surprise. “I thought we covered that.”

I shook my head and sipped my pop. “No, we covered that you didn’t have the backbone to tell me what you were doing traipsing around our neighbor’s land.”

He laughed. “I have plenty of backbone. You don’t scare me. I’m just not at liberty to tell you.”

“Whatever makes you feel important.”

Owen slid his tongue slowly along his bottom lip, which made my stomach feel like I’d just plummeted from the top of a rollercoaster.

“You’re used to always getting your way, it seems.” His words slammed up against the side of my head, and I frowned.

“I don’t know where you got that,” I said, shaking my head.

“I’m almost certain the only thing that bugs you about the fact that I won’t tell you is that I won’t tell you. It’s not that you don’t know what’s going on at your neighbor’s house to get you amped up. It’s that I hold an answer that you want to know.”

He was right. The man could read me like the mystery I was binging earlier, but I certainly wouldn’t give him the power of that little victory.

“You thought wrong.”

The server brought over two plates, one with cheese curds and the other with pretzels with cheese dip. It took everything I had not to take both plates, but I had no intention of sharing.

It’s what being single forso long did to me. What could I say?

Owen glanced at my brother and Evie before returning his gaze to me. “They seem to be getting along well.”

“Yup.” I popped a curd into my mouth and sighed in private ecstasy.

“I’d like that for us,” Owen said, cocking his head slightly. “How about we start over?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “First impressions are everything.”

“Then I guess I don’t have much of a shot.” Owen locked his gaze on mine, and my stomach fluttered in a way I’d never felt before, and I knew I was in trouble.

Chapter Four

Violet

“How about this?” Owen said, sipping a beer that the server brought over. “If we’re still talking one week from now, I’ll let you in on the secret.”

I shrugged. “Honestly, I’ll probably find out before then from Mr. Medowski. It’s not like you’re doing me any favors.”

He let out a slow and steady breath as something flicked behind his green eyes. “Why do you care so much?” His enigmatic gaze held a hint of something unspoken, adding to the mystery of his character.

My eyes widened. “I’m human.” I shook my head. “What do you mean, why do I care? What if he’s behind on his payments and you’re with the bank to foreclose? We could help him before it’s too late or, let’s say, his…” The tension in the conversation was palpable, each word adding to the suspense.

He shook his head, interrupting me. “I’m not with the bank, and he’s not in any financial trouble.” Owen’s eyes caught mine and didn’t let go. “Does that make you feel better?”

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