Page 114 of Falling for Love

“Trying to see how serious this thing is with Liam and Evie.” Beck lifted his brows and laughed. “It’s not like you weren’t pestering me and Vi earlier at the lodge about him.”

A wry grin spread across Fifi’s face. “You better watch it, or I’ll tell Liam the bet you wanted to place with us.”

I chuckled and took a bite of salad. “What bet?”

“I plead the fifth,” she said, chuckling.

The waitress returned with a platter of fried fish, fried cheese curds, and Beck’s steak. The table buzzed with theclinking of silverware and the passing of plates. We focused on the food for a few moments, but Fifi wasn’t done yet.

“Okay, but what about Red Barn?” she asked, pointing her fork at me.

“Fifi,” Violet interrupted, smirking. “Let the man finish chewing.”

I swallowed a bite of fish and laughed. “I don’t think we’re at the point of discussing logistics yet, but I’ve told her about the cider project. She’s been... supportive. Encouraging, even. She gets it.”

“She gets it because she’s a workhorse herself,” Beck said, nodding. “That woman works harder than anyone I know.”

“And her kid’s great,” I added. “Smart, funny. I love hanging out with him.”

“You’ve hung out with him?” Vi’s right brow lifted.

“Yeah. Several times.”

“I’m sensing a,but,” Violet said.

“No buts’” I said quickly. “I just... I want to make sure I don’t mess this up. She’s letting me in slowly, but I don’t want to push too hard. She’s got enough on her plate without me adding pressure.”

“You’re not pressure,” Violet said gently. “You’re support. And that’s what she needs. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Fifi grinned. “And don’t forget to bring her flowers occasionally.”

Beck snorted. “Flowers? This is Liam. He’ll probably show up with a horse.”

“A really nice horse,” I said deadpan, earning a round of laughter from all three.

The conversation drifted after that, but my thoughts stayed on Evie.

No matter how much I tried to focus on the food or the chatter around me, she was there in the back of my mind.

Her laugh, her smile, how she’d looked at me when I told her I wasn’t going anywhere. I could still feel the warmth of her hand when she’d placed it over mine. It wasn’t just her beauty or her strength—it was everything about her.

“You’re falling hard,” Violet said, breaking into my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I admitted, a slow smile spreading across my face. “I am.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Evie

I stood in my kitchen, staring blankly at the mug of coffee in my hands, replaying the events of the last 24 hours like a movie stuck on a loop. I was still in shock. Not just because I’d slept with Liam but because of everything that followed—the tumble, the laughter, and somehow not wanting to bury my face in embarrassment for the next century.

Instead of feeling mortified, I felt... normal. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to fall butt-naked onto the floor in a tangle of sheets and limbs.

It was absurd, yet undeniably us.

I sipped my coffee and glanced out the window at the light dusting of snow that had fallen overnight. The morning sun's reflection cast warm light across the hills. And yet, my thoughts stayed firmly fixed on Liam.

He’d been so patient with me, so understanding. He didn’t even laugh when I crashed to the floor in a flurry of awkward panic.

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