Page 52 of Falling For You

“Hey, a girl’s gotta be prepared,” I said with a grin. “Who knows when I’ll need some leverage. Remember? I lived in Chicago for a very long time.”

Owen leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

His gaze fastened on mine in that way that always made my pulse quicken. “I think you might be trouble, Violet.”

A little flutter surfaced in my chest with how he said my name. His voice was soft but playful as if he were testing the waters.

I cleared my throat. “Oh, I’m definitely trouble, but you already knew that.”

He laughed, shaking his head again. “Here, I thought I would impress you with my firewood-chopping skills.”

“Maybe you still can,” I teased, sipping my water. “If you’re lucky, I just might hand you an axe.”

Before Owen could respond, the server appeared at our table, offering us the specials for the night. I glanced at Owen as the waiter spoke, but his eyes were already back on me, that same teasing glint still there.

It felt so good that I didn’t even know what to do with my body’s response.

Worse yet, I had no idea what the server told us.

“What do you think?” I asked after the server left. “Are you planning to go for something fancy, or will you stick with something safe and boring?”

Owen shrugged, glancing down at the menu momentarily before his eyes flicked back up to meet mine. “I’m not usually into safe.” He bit his bottom lip for a second. “And I’m definitely not into boring.”

His words sent an incredible thrill through me.

“I could see it.”

Owen chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”

“Definitely flattered,” I replied with a grin. “Don’t worry, it’s a compliment. Sort of.”

“Sort of?” he repeated, his voice playful.

“There’s just something about you that constantly surprises me.”

His smile lifted on the left more than the right. “I could say the same.”

“It’s interesting, isn’t it?” I asked, letting my eyes land on grilled walleye.

Nothing said Wisconsin like that dish.

“Which part?”

“We both had to come to some small town to bump into one another.”

“Well, now I’m curious—how would you describe yourself? A small-town girl with a side of city-girl sass, or vice versa?”

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “I’d like to say that the small town put the sass in me, and the city sharpened it.” I placed my napkin on my lap. “But the charm is all me.”

“Oh, I’ve noticed,” Owen said, his tone softening slightly.

There was something in his eyes as if he wereseeing me for the first time. The look made my heart race and my mind feel dizzy with hope.

For a moment, the air between us felt a little sharper and more magnetic, like the teasing banter had shifted into something deeper.

But before I could fully process the change, Owen smirked again, leaning back in his seat.

“But don’t worry,” he added. “I’m sure I can keep up with your charming self.”

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