Page 80 of Falling for Love

I nearly dropped my phone. Cloud Nine didn’t even begin to cover it. This was more like Cloud Eleven. Maybe twelve.

Shit. Screw it. I wasn’t in the clouds. I was in heaven.

I grabbed my keys and jacket before hopping in my truck.

Turning on the radio, I belted out some nineties tune like I was the king of the world.

On the way, I stopped by Buttercup Pizza Co. and placed an order for a couple of their classics and, of course, a box of their chocolate chip cannoli.

Although, suddenly, their cannoli didn’t seem so innocent. I thought about licking the sweetness off her body and had to glance out the window.

As the pizzas baked, I kept checking my phone, half-expecting Evie to text again and change her mind.

But she didn’t. And when I finally had the pizzas and dessert in hand, I felt like I was on a mission.

A really fun mission.

When I pulled up, her house looked warm and inviting, the lights glowing softly against the snow-covered yard. Lance barked from the window, his tail wagging furiously when he spotted me. I stepped out of the truck, balancing the pizzas and dessert box, and made my way to the door.

Before I could even knock, it opened, and there she was.

Evie looked effortlessly beautiful in a simple sweater and jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a braid that somehow made her even more stunning.

Her smile lit up the porch, and I forgot how to breathe for a second.

“Hey,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “I see you followed instructions.”

“Always,” I said, holding up the boxes. “Two pizzas, one dessert. I aim to please.”

She laughed, and the sound was like music.

“Well, you’re already off to a good start.”

Hayden bounded into the room, grinning from ear to ear. “Liam! Did you bring dessert?”

I crouched down, showing him the cannoli box. “What do you think?”

“Awesome!” he said, pumping his fist in the air. “You’re the best.”

“High praise,” I said, glancing up at Evie as she closed the door. “Guess that means I’m doing something right.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed firmly in place. “Come on, the project’s in the dining room.”

I followed her, setting the food on the kitchen counter before stepping into the dining room. The table was covered in construction paper, markers, glue sticks, and what looked like a half-finished solar system model.

“We’re making a diorama,” Hayden explained, climbing onto his chair. “It’s supposed to be a rocket ship, planets, and stuff.”

“Ambitious,” I said, nodding approvingly. “I like it.”

“Mom’s not good at rockets,” Hayden said matter-of-factly, earning a laugh from Evie.

“He’s not wrong,” she said, shrugging. “But that’s why you’re here.”

“Ah, that was the change in heart. Not just my devilishly good looks and pleasing company,” I said, pulling up a chair.

Evie laughed, and that was enough for me.

“Where do we start?” I rubbed my hands together.

---