Page 36 of Falling for Love

The barn grew quieter as the animals settled in for the night, their calm energy seeping into me. It was precisely what I needed. It made me wonder how I’d unwind once I opened Red Barn Cider. Would I still be able to claim quiet moments like these?

I stood there for a while longer, letting my thoughts tumble over themselves as I replayed my time with Evie.

The way her cheeks flushed when I caught her watching me. The promise she made to meet me for coffee. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And for now, that was enough.

I pushed off the stall door and started walking toward the lodge. The cold nipped at my exposed skin as I stepped outside. The sky was clear, scattering dots of light against the darkness.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and let a small smile creep onto my face.

Maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t the only one who wanted this to work. And perhaps, with a bit of patience, Evie and I could find something worth holding onto.

Until then, I would enjoy every second of our coffee date.

Chapter Eight

Evie

The truth was that I couldn’t get Liam out of my head. I never let men around my son—ever. It was a rule I’d made for myself after Hayden was born. My life was already complicated enough without adding the messiness of relationships and men to the mix.

And rather than sorting the good from the bad ones, it was just easier to avoid dating altogether.

But Liam wasn’t like anyone else.

He made me feel things I hadn’t felt in years.

Okay, ever.

I’d never felt safe in a relationship before or...

Curious…

Hopeful….

Happy…

Ever.

I’d grown up thinking love was all about concessions, giving things up, and ignoring the pain of betrayal and painful words because things would get better next week. I always thought thingswould get better, next time, next week.

But they inevitably got worse.

Until I just couldn’t handle it any longer.

Yet, with Liam, none of those things popped up.

Granted, it was early in the relationship.

Wait. Was it a relationship?

No. That was jumping the gun. We were still in the getting-to-know-you stage.

Whatever.

I rolled my eyes and shook the thoughts away as I parked my truck at the small farm just outside of Buttercup Lake.

The sun hung low in the winter sky, casting long shadows over the snow-dusted fields. I climbed out and grabbed my tools from the back.

Their familiar weight reminded me of what I’d built for my son and me.

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