Page 27 of Falling for Love

I glanced at him over my shoulder, my heart giving the tiniest, traitorous flutter.

“You really don’t have to do this,” I said, turning back to the stove.

But I couldn’t help the way my eyes flicked to him again. He was watching me, his arms crossed, his gaze steady but full of something I couldn’t quite name.

Admiration?

Amusement?

Whatever it was, it sent a little thrill through me that I didn’t want to admit.

“You don’t like an extra hand around…” his voice trailed off, but his eyes stayed on mine.

“No. It’s not that. I’m just not…used to it.” My chest tightened as I thought about it. “I actually feel kind of guilty.”

“Don’t.”

“That simple?” I laughed.

“That simple.” He shrugged. “I always ask for help, and I get unsolicited help even more.”

“Duly noted.” I poured some soup into a small bowl and felt him move closer.

Not close enough to be in my space but close enough that I was acutely aware of him. I grabbed a spoon and stirred the soup, trying to ignore how my pulse quickened, and my skin felt like electricity was bouncing along it.

“Hayden seems to like you,” I said, glancing at him briefly.

Liam shrugged, his lips tugging into a small smile.

“Kids are honest. If they don’t like you, you know. So I’ll take it as a win.”

I set the spoon down and crossed my arms.

“What about you? Were you always good with kids or is this a recent development?”

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s just say my dating history hasn’t exactly led to situations involving kids. My past relationships…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, let’s just say I’ve got a talent for picking the wrong women.”

I raised an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “Wrong, how?”

“Let’s see,” he said, ticking off on his fingers. “One who thought vacationing at my lodge meant I didn’t have to lift a finger while she was there, so she got mad and left. Another whoswore she loved animals but screamed every time a horse so much as looked at her.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Sounds like you’ve had a string of winners.”

“Oh, there’s more,” he said, grinning. “But I’ll spare you the horror stories. Let’s just say I’m better off sticking to bratwursts and cider.”

“Maybe you’re just looking in the wrong places,” I offered, cutting the sandwich into triangles.

“I think it’s safe to say it,” he said, his gaze flicking to mine.

The teasing fell away for a moment, and something more serious lingered in his expression.

He cleared his throat. “But sometimes, the right person sneaks up on you when you’re not looking, and everything you could ever want shows up in a perfect package.”

“There’s no such thing as perfect.” I swallowed, suddenly finding it very hard to hold his gaze.

“How about my kind of perfect?” His eyes locked on mine, and it was like all the air got sucked out of the room.

“Well, let’s hope your luck turns around,” I teased, brushing past him to grab a tray for Hayden’s lunch. “Sounds like you’ve had a rough run.”

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