Page 9 of Falling For You

A salad bar along the back wall had a line weaving through several tables draped in dark green tablecloths. The bar where we were meeting Liam’s date was through a set of swinging double doors. The place felt like a rustic lodge in the Northwoods mixed with the Wild West, complete with saloon doors.

As we passed through the dining area, my stomach growled from the delicious scents, and I realized I hadn’t eaten anything.

“Ah, there she is,” he whispered, nodding toward the counter.

“You must have it bad if you can recognize the back of her,” I teased, and my brother rolled his eyes as we wove through the tables. Unlike the dining room, these were bare wood.

A long, polished slab of oak, worn by years of use, had become the bar’s centerpiece. It was set squarely in the bar area with a beautiful lake view. The sun had already set when we arrived, but the faint lights dotting the other side of the shoreline glowed softly.

“Evie,” Liam said as we walked up behind her.

She slowly spun around with a beer in her hand and grinned. “Hey, Liam.”

“Good to see you,” Liam said, nodding. “Thanks for taking me up on my offer.”

Evie’s smile grew as she nodded, glancing over at me. “So good to see you, Violet.”

I nodded and smiled. “You too. I’m impressed you can remember my name.”

“You’re memorable,” she said, tapping my shoulder. “Your smile is the most genuine one I’ve ever seen.”

My brother frowned. “What about mine?”

Evie’s brow arched. “Jury is still out on that.”

I snickered and shook my head. “He’s a great brother and an even better boyfriend. He takes me out to run errands and does everything they’re supposed to do.”

Evie chuckled. “You mean everything a boyfriend or a brother should do?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Darn it. I did it again. I’m definitely not dating my brother.”

Let the awkwardness begin!

She laughed and nodded, turning to see Liam. “Should we get a table?”

“I’m starved.” I rubbed my stomach and grinned.

“Me too.” She nodded in agreement and slid off the barstool, holding her beer. “Let’s snag that window booth.”

Liam took those words and ran with them, nearly catapulting over the customers between here and there.

Evie turned to look at me and smiled. “Is he always this perky?”

“Just when he’s trying to impress the ladies.”

Evie smiled even wider. “Good to know.”

As I followed Evie toward my brother, a strange feeling crept over me. It was as if someone were watching me from the counter.

Maybe I still had it going on, after all.

I smiled, glanced over my shoulder, and froze in surprise.

My heart raced, and my stomach plummeted to my feet when I saw the stranger from earlier staring right at me.

He looked as gorgeous as ever and still as out of place. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye, a feeling that had been lingering since our first encounter.

My eyes narrowed on his before turning back to slide into the booth.

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