Page 110 of Falling for Love

I laughed, a real, full laugh that made my shoulders shake.

“But mostly, I just pay attention. You’ve been running yourself ragged, Evie. Somebody has to make sure you’re taken care of.”

The sincerity in his tone hit me like a warm wave. I turned my face to the side again, looking up at him. His eyes met mine, and for a moment, the playful energy between us softened into something deeper.

“You don’t have to take care of me, you know,” I said quietly. “I’ve been doing just fine on my own.”

He smiled, his hands still moving gently along my back. “I know you have. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. But just because you can do it all doesn’t mean you have to.”

I swallowed hard, his words settling in my chest like a comforting weight. I didn’t know how to respond to that, so instead, I let my eyes drift closed again, letting myself soak in the moment.

Liam’s hands moved to my lower back, his touch careful, almost reverent.

“You’re tense down here,” he said, his voice low.

“Occupational hazard,” I muttered, my lips curving into a small smile. “You try lifting hooves all day and see how your back feels.”

“I think I’ll leave that to the expert,” he said, his fingers working out a particularly stubborn knot. “But if it means I get to do this afterward, maybe I’ll reconsider.”

I laughed softly, the sound fading into a contented sigh as his hands continued their magic. There was something so intimate with how he touched me—not just physically, but emotionally. It wasn’t about fixing me or rescuing me. It was about being there, about showing up and making me feel like I wasn’t carrying the weight of the world alone.

Liam leaned down, kissing my bare shoulder, and my heart swelled. For the first time in a long time, I let myself feel safe, cared for, and—dare I say it—loved.

The afternoon light spilled through the curtains, golden and warm. The glow over Liam’s broad shoulders highlighted his muscles as he leaned against the headboard with a lazy smile. The sheets were tangled around our legs from laughing andteasing, the kind of fun that left my cheeks flushed and my heart lighter than it had felt in years.

I rolled onto my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows.

“I can’t believe we’ve been in bed all afternoon.”

“I can,” Liam said, smirking. “Best use of a day I’ve had in ages.”

“Stop.” I swatted at him. “You’re incorrigible.”

He laughed, and just as I was about to tease him back, the unmistakable rumble of a school bus echoed from down the street.

“Oh no,” I whispered, my eyes widening in horror.

“What?” Liam asked, sitting up a little straighter.

The sheet fell from his gorgeous, naked body, but even that couldn’t distract me.

“The bus!” I shrieked, scrambling to the edge of the bed. “Hayden’s bus! I have to get outside!”

In my rush, I kicked free of the sheets but fell flat on my face, with the sheet tangling around my ankles.

“Liam.” I squealed and tumbled off the bed with another shriek, landing in an undignified heap on the floor. The sheets twisted tighter with every move as I looked up at the ceiling.

Liam leaned over, his grin full of amusement. “You okay down there, Captain Chaos?”

“Not helping.” I laughed, wriggling and trying to free myself.

“Hold on,” he said, hopping out of bed. “Let me—”

But before I could warn him, he stepped on the trailing sheet and lost his footing, collapsing right on top of me.

“Liam,” I yelped, laughing and groaning at the same time as his full weight pinned me to the floor.

“Alright, this is... not my smoothest moment,” he muttered, his face inches from mine.

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