Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter One

Violet

A soft, high-pitched hum vibrated through the air, a soothing melody that echoed the beauty of the rolling hills, the serene lake, and the vast pasture. The crunch of leaves underneath my rainboots brought a gentle smile to my face as I paused to take in the splendor of my family’s beloved Honey Leaf Lodge. It was a scene of tranquil beauty that I never thought I’d come to appreciate.

Over a decade ago, I left behind this idyllic way of life for the hustle and bustle of the city, a world filled with failed relationships, an overpriced apartment, and the constant struggle to find peace.

It hadn’t been exactly how I’d envisioned my life when I left home in my twenties. I had expected to love the anonymity of the big crowds, the convenience of a small apartment with little upkeep, and the freedom to choose from a variety of men. But the reality was far from my dreams.

Recently, I noticed that my dreams and reality were on opposite ends of the spectrum. When the same bars served up the same men, the same corporate job I held always produced the same problems, and my apartment was bursting at the seams, Buttercup Lake called to me. It all started when I visited my family last Christmas. When it was time to pack my bags and leave the property, I had tears in my eyes. I didn’t want to go back to Chicago.

By the time I returned to my apartment, I knew I needed a change. My family was so happy. Even when problems came their way, they came together and figured things out. I didn’t have that personal fortitude any longer, which I craved now that I was in my mid-thirties. It was like the city had beaten it out of me.

I drew a breath and stuffed my hands into my coat pockets as the chill of the changing seasons skated over me. Yellow and gold flecks dotted the trees’ canopies, and the sweet smell of fall drifted through the air. I glanced behind me to see the roomy lodge constructed of giant logs and an equally large porch, welcoming tourists and locals alike.

It was as if I had finally found my place in the world.

And it was back at home.

Burnt orange, burgundy, and yellow chrysanthemums lined the stairs to the entry, and ornate wreaths hung on each of the double doors. My mom always did a fabulous job decorating the lodge for every season.

Nestled along Buttercup Lake in the heart of Wisconsin, my family had built a little slice of heaven for many to share.

However, now wasn’t the moment to stop and smell the maple leaves. The eerie sounds drifted through the air as I looked toward my family’s petting zoo on the side of the property. I picked up my speed as I jogged toward the pasture, where I saw Liddie, short for Lydia, pacing along the barn.

The llama’s red shaggy fur, slender neck, and large ears made for a very graceful creature sprinkled with a dash of kookiness. There was something about the llama that I felt a kinship with. Plus, the llama and I had an understanding. Liddie wouldn’t spit on me if I promised not to set her up with other llamas.

However, the rest of my family swore that our latest male rescue, Maza, who was short for Maserati, would be Liddie’s ideal mate.

The parallels between Liddie and me were uncanny. I knew exactly what it felt like to have my family watch my every move regarding the opposite sex and be the recipient of all the bright ideas my family had to fix me up. They did the same with the poor llama.

If I were meant to be at Honey Leaf Lodge for any other reason, it was to keep Maza on good behavior around Liddie.

A throaty grumble erupted across the pasture from Maza, and Liddie’s shaggy brows clenched in annoyance.

I chuckled, dug my fingers through the soft fur, and shook my head. “Don’t worry. I got your back.”

Liddie nodded and stood stoically as Maza wandered over. He walked past Benny, the oversized hog, and stood about five feet from Liddie. A deep, vibrating grunt erupted from Maza, and Liddie shook her head.

“Don’t even give it a whirl, Maza.” I scowled at the ivory male llama. He turned and walked along the fence line while relief worked its way through Liddie. He wasn’t the slightest bit defeated, either.

“We girls have each other’s backs,” I assured her with a chuckle and patted her shoulder. “Now, go get some dinner.”

Liddie wandered toward the barn, and I walked along the fence line separating the petting zoo from the rest of the property. This was the only portion of our property that had fencing, and that was to keep all the rescue animals in.

My brothers and dad took care of most of the land’s and animals’ needs, while I mostly helped out my sisters and mom in the lodge.

But today was a beautiful fall day that reminded me how much I loved being outdoors.

The sun sank lower, casting a golden aura on my family’s property. Soon, I’d be inside helping my mom with dinner for the guests, snuggling in bed to finish my latest book, and drifting off to sleep without a clue about my future.

I returned to Honey Leaf Lodge to find direction in my life, but it only made it more apparent that I was lost in a sea of uncertainty about my future.

A grumble of diesel interrupted my thoughts as a massive, black pickup truck drove along the property next door, bouncing and bopping over mounds and careening into ditches. A few of the animals behind me started getting unsettled by the noise.

I glanced at the hog, who snorted before following one of the mules into the barn.

Turning my attention to the truck that finally rolled to a stop, I couldn’t help but notice its shiny new paint job and the fancy, spotless wheels and tires. If the truck was any indication, whoever was inside wasn’t used to being in the country.

The driver finally turned off the growling engine, and I scowled and wandered over to the fencing as the driver’s door pushed open. Two black work boots hung underneath the door before they thumped to the ground in a cloud of dust.

The open driver’s door still blocked my view, but I was curious. Our neighbor who owned this stretch was about seventy and never did much with the land, but maybe this was one of his children.

Judging by the size of the boots, the man was a big guy.

I snickered, wondering if anything else about him might stack up.

And that was when I realized I’d been spending far too much time alone.

The animals behind me calmed as the noisy truck finally sat silent, and the stranger stepped away from his vehicle.

He turned to close the door with a bang and lodged both hands on his waist, scouting the land’s vastness.

The gentle hills stretched in front of him. The horizon was painted with a canvas of vibrant green and rust, speckled with sunlight and shadows from towering pines and sprawling maples.

I wondered if he smelled the same sweetness of maple leaves and woodsmoke as I did.

But something made him stop on the property and climb out of his big truck, and I wanted to know what it was.

My brows pulled into a frown as I watched him.

There was something about him that seemed out of place. Even though he looked the part from behind and had a big, burly truck to bounce across the land, something else seemed… off.

His charcoal flannel tugged at his broad shoulders, and his jeans wrapped his hips enough to show his muscular form. From this angle, he looked pretty darn good, and I hoped the rest of him was as pleasant.

He cleared his throat and turned toward the property line.

My heart nearly dipped to my toes. Even though I was a reasonable distance from the stranger, I spotted the radiant green of his eyes as his gaze swept along the fence separating our properties.

His tousled dark blond hair and scruffy beard were the only unkempt things about him. His chiseled features and strong jawline squeezed my chest a little, and I was impressed by how good-looking this guy was. Something about him told me he knew it. I suppose it was just the way he stood his ground, almost like he owned the place.

I didn’t want to be caught staring, so I looked for an exit plan. It was a little too late, as my boots crunched on a tree limb under my foot and his eyes connected with mine.

A jolt of electricity shot through me when his gaze focused on me as his hand flew to his forehead, shielding the evening sun from his eyes.

“Howdy,” I stammered.

Howdy?

Where did that come from? I never said howdy. What had gotten into me?

A faint smile touched his lips as he nodded in my direction. “Good evening.”

I glanced at the truck behind him and then back at the man when I realized what it was about him that struck me as odd.

Everything was new—his truck, boots, and probably his shirt and jeans, judging by their vivid colors. It was like he was playing the part.

“Are you Vern’s son?” I asked, pretending I wasn’t merely buying time to check him out.

He frowned and took a few steps forward. “No, I’m not.”

“Oh.” I popped my lips into a circle and blew air as I glanced toward the sky. “His nephew or something?”

He shook his head. “I’m not related to Mr. Medowski.”

The man studied me for a few seconds while I tried to figure out what in the world to say to excuse myself from this extremely awkward encounter.

It probably wouldn’t have turned out that way for most people, but I had a real knack for bringing out the uncomfortableness and ratcheting it up a notch or two just for fun. My toes kicked some leaves into the air, and I sighed as I returned my gaze to his.

And that was when I realized he was still watching me.

“So, if you’re not related…” I thought about how best to phrase it without sounding utterly rude and gave up. “What are you doing on his property?”

The man cocked his head and narrowed his eyes on me, and a flutter of something unexpected rattled through me like a maraca.

I didn’t want to be shallow.

I wouldn’t just judge on looks.

But dang it.

The man was easy on the eyes.

“That’s personal between Mr. Medowski and me.” He looked far more amused with his answer than I was.

My brows pinched together in annoyance. I was known for making situations awkward, but this guy was downright rude.

“He likes to be called Vern.” I shook my head, shoving my hands into the back pockets of my jeans. “You must be here on business.”

“Not at liberty to discuss.” He turned toward his truck, but little did he know I wasn’t a woman who took no for an answer.

“Are you from the bank?” I tried again.

The one thing I knew about this town was if Vern were in trouble, we’d certainly come together to help in any way we could.

“A realtor?” I offered.

The man turned around, and his sharp gaze focused on me. “As I said, I’m not at liberty to discuss details about Mr. Medowski.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and frowned. “That’s okay. I’ll find out one way or another.”

His gaze flew over my shoulder as Liddie walked up behind me. She nestled her head on my shoulder as I watched the impossibly attractive man with his barely used boots walk back toward his truck.

Liddie had the right idea. Men were more trouble than they were worth.

The guy opened the door and turned back to look at me. “I’ll let you get back to your sheep, farm girl.”

My eyes widened. “My sheep? Liddie is a llama. How in the heck can you not know that?”

The man laughed and shook his head. “I’m not really a country boy.”

“That’s an understatement,” I muttered to Liddie.

“Pardon?” The man cocked his head and stopped short of getting into his truck.

“I just meant you didn’t have to tell me you weren’t from this area.” I cocked my head back and raised my left brow in a challenge.

His eyes narrowed on me, but he didn’t say anything. It almost looked like he got a kick out of this.

“Who knew we needed labels for our rescue animals?” I rolled my eyes. “Kindergarteners know their animals better than you do.”

That had to have stung. Score one for Violet.

My heart pumped a little faster, but I wasn’t sure if it was from how he looked at me or the feistiness roaring up from deep inside.

The man’s green eyes flicked to mine with a spark of something playful threatening to crack his salty demeanor. “Are you always this friendly to strangers?”

“Are you always this rude to locals?” I pursed my lips together to make things clear where I stood.

His head tilted slightly as he stared at me. “I wasn’t rude.”

“You weren’t friendly, which counts as rude in my book, and you’re acting all top-secret about Vern and his property. He’s our neighbor. He wouldn’t care if you told us.” There was some irritating draw to this guy, so I crossed my arms over my chest to shield myself from stupidity. “And calling me farm girl sounded like a put-down to me.”

A smile stretched across his full lips, and I clenched my jaw in annoyance.

“I didn’t mean anything by it. Just like I said, I’m not really a country boy. I wasn’t putting you down, but you are, in fact, a girl on a farm.”

“Wrong.”

His brows jetted up in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“I’m a grown woman who owns a lodge with my family. We happen to have a petting zoo comprised of rescue animals. We don’t operate a farm. I’ve spent most of my adult life in a cramped apartment deep in the heart of a city. So, you stand corrected.” I eyed him cautiously.

“Then I stand corrected.” He nodded and twisted his lips into a sexy grin.

“Yeah, you do.”

Liddie nodded behind me, and I clung to her neck, feeling my fingers deepen into her coat.

“It was nice chatting with you, miss.” He smiled wider. “Maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”

“Doubt it.”

He looked surprised. “Why’s that?”

Now wasn’t the moment to explain that I was a hermit who preferred my quilt, a couple of pillows, and a good book.

“Because I’m busy.”

His eyes stayed on mine, and my belly quivered from the expression resting behind his gaze.

“I wasn’t asking you out. I merely said I’d see you around.”

“Right. No. Of course, you weren’t. I know that.” I nodded.

See? I had a knack for creating awkward situations.

“What’s your name?”

I swallowed my good sense and answered. “Violet March.”

He parted his lips slowly as if he were about to say something. But after a few seconds, he spun around, climbed in his truck, and drove away.

And that was when I realized I was probably supposed to ask him for his.