Page 35 of Falling for Love

“Hey, girl,” I murmured, scratching behind her ears. “You get me, don’t you? No teasing, no prying questions. Just peace and quiet.”

She flicked her ears, as if agreeing, and I smiled.

I wandered through the barn, checking on the other animals as I let my thoughts drift to Evie.

No matter how much I tried to keep things casual in my head, there she was.

Evie always crept in. There was something magnetic about her strength and quiet vulnerability. I could feel her opening up more and more, but we had a long way to go.

I leaned against one of the stalls, watching as a goat named Sky nudged at her hay. She looked determined and content. I only felt one of those emotions at the moment: determined.

I was determined to show Evie I could be the guy she wanted.

No, needed.

As I thought more and more about Evie, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Whether I daydreamed about her quiet confidence when she worked, especially around animals, or how she handled our horses with such ease, even the ones that were skittish or stubborn—it was like she spoke their language.

But I wanted to speak hers.

And then there was the way she was with Hayden. Her love for her son was pure, raw, and fierce.

Seeing her with him made me admire her even more. Hayden wasn’t just her world—he was her universe—and she managed it all with a grace that most people couldn’t even touch. I wanted to know more about her, though. What made her laugh when no one was watching, what she dreamed about late at night when the house was quiet, what she thought of me when I wasn’t there?

And what made her so guarded?

I sighed, tugging my wool cap lower.

The truth was, I wanted her to let me in. To give me the chance to be a part of her world, even if it was just for a little while.

But I had to be patient.

She had her walls up, and I got the sense they weren’t there for no reason.

I couldn’t blame her for being cautious.

Hell, I’d been the same way for most of my life. Relationships had always felt like a risk, one I wasn’t always sure I wanted to take.

But Evie made me want to freefall with her.

I leaned back against the stall door, briefly closing my eyes. My mind drifted to Violet and Owen and how their story had unfolded.

Watching them go from enemies to something incredible had been a lesson in how unpredictable life could be. I wouldn't have believed anyone if they had told me a year ago that my sister would find love in such a messy, complicated way. But here they were, building a life together, one day at a time.

It made me wonder if I could have that, too. If there was a chance for me and Evie to carve out something real.

Something good.

Perfection wasn’t the goal. Just something honest and pure that we could build a future on.

Honey nudged my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts.

I chuckled and scratched her neck.

“Yeah, yeah. You think I’m overthinking this, don’t you?”

She huffed softly, her breath warm against my cheek.

“I don’t know, girl,” I said, my voice low. “She’s got this way about her, you know? Makes me want to be the guy she deserves. But I can’t push. I’ve got to wait for her to meet me halfway.”

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