Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Two

Violet

I rinsed the peeled potatoes to remove the excess starch and put them into a pot of salted water. My mom had put in two chickens to roast, and I was in charge of the mashed potatoes while my sister, Fifi, made the salad.

Cooking was more than a hobby. It was a love that brought me back to Wisconsin. I’d always experimented in the kitchen and loved to share my ideas on my blog, but I’d never had much time to be consistent with it. The kitchen was my sanctuary, where I could escape from reality, focus on my creations, and put frustrations out of my head.

And right now, the frustration was the guy from earlier parading around in a fancy truck on our neighbor’s property. I hummed a little louder as I stared at the stove.

“What’s got you in a mood?” Fifi asked.

Fiona was her real name, but she preferred Fifi. She felt it fit her perky personality better, and she was right. She had this way about her that radiated joy and resilience, and she could also detect any mood shift in the room, which had its good points and its bad.

At the moment, it was the latter because I didn’t want to talk about the grumpy stranger. I’d been spending a while trying to forget him stalking around the property, but I couldn’t.

He just looked too… good.

Or maybe the town had gotten too small, and my sense of self and others became warped. Social interactions had always been a struggle for me, and the stranger’s presence only amplified that.

“I’m not in a mood,” I said, smiling as I turned on the stove. “But have you heard anything about Vern’s place?”

Her brows shot up. “Mr. Medowski?”

“Yeah. Some guy was creeping around there this evening and wasn’t exactly friendly about it, either.” I frowned as Fifi chopped some tomatoes for a salad. “I tried to get him to tell me what he was doing there, but it was a definite wall-versation.”

My sister spun to look at me with a knife in hand. “Huh?”

“You know, like talking to a wall.”

“Ah. I don’t know how I didn’t get that one.” She grinned and shook her head. “You’d think I’d finally understand Violet speak.”

“It’s only been thirty-five years,” I teased.

Fifi rolled her eyes. “I was too busy being the upstanding eldest child.”

“How are my favorite two sisters in the world?” Liam, my younger brother, asked as he walked into the lodge’s central kitchen.

Once I mashed the potatoes, I planned on sneaking out to my tiny cabin on the back of the property. My parents always enjoyed serving the guests and spending the evening chatting with those who wanted to make their way to the reading room. But for me, I preferred solitude. I’d had enough late nights to last a lifetime, and I cherished the quiet moments in my cabin for personal reflection.

Fifi chuckled and shook her head. “Don’t let Sienna hear you. You told her she was your favorite this morning when you needed someone to go to town to get you a turkey sandwich with double avocado.”

Liam flashed a wry grin. “In my defense, I bought her one too. Plus, the farrier was about to show up. It was for the good of Honey Leaf Lodge.”

I chuckled as the water boiled and shook my head. “As in the farrier you have a crush on? Evie is her name, right?”

He shrugged coyly. “I can’t help if she’s the best in the area.”

I laughed and nodded. “I suppose you can’t, and I’m sure it doesn’t hurt that she’s a natural blonde with sparkling hazel eyes.”

“I wouldn’t know. I don’t pay attention to any of that stuff,” my brother deadpanned.

Fifi chuckled and shook her head. “So, what do you need this time?”

“I happened to ask said farrier if she’d meet me for drinks and dancing, and she told me she’d only come if I brought one of my sisters.” His eyes naturally landed on Fifi.

Why?

Because I was a horrible wing woman. It wasn’t purely my conversations that turned awkward. I could screw up anyone’s.

“Sorry, Liam.” Fifi shook her head. “I’m actually meeting someone later.”

“Bring him,” Liam suggested.

“No can do.” Fifi laughed. “We aren’t to that stage yet.”

Liam brought in a slow and steady breath while he turned to face me.

“Last resort, huh?” I teased.

“No. You’re my absolute favorite sister in the world.”

“If I tag along, any chance you have with her will go down the toilet. Guaranteed.”

“You’re not that bad,” Liam said, shaking his head.

Fifi chuckled. “Well…” Her voice ended on a high note, which naturally made me frown.

But I did manage to screw up one of her dates years ago, royally. Details aren’t needed, but the guy left worrying that we planned to bury him on my parents’ property.

“Please, Vi.” He grinned and raised his brows. “You don’t have to say a word. I’ll just plant you in a booth and—”

“You don’t need to plant me anywhere. I’ll do my best to zip the lips, bring the book I’d planned on reading tonight, and plant myself.”

“You’re bringing a book to a bar?”

I laughed. “What else would I do?”

“Oh, I don’t know… mingle with the townspeople. Pretend you like mankind?” He grinned and shook his head.

“Why would I do that?” I laughed and shook my head, thinking back to the stranger earlier. He only solidified my thoughts on the matter.

My brother looked at me. “Did the city really freak you out that much?”

I scowled and stirred the potatoes. “I’m not freaked out. I’m just enjoying a more peaceful existence. You forget that I spent the last decade at all the happenings.”

My brother’s brows perked. “All the happenings?”

“Bars, concerts, dance clubs.” I shivered. “So, yes. I prefer reading at whatever bar you’re dragging me to rather than pretending I want to be there.”

He blew air through his tightened mouth and chuckled while I grated some gruyere cheese for the potatoes.

“Tonight is going to be a blast. I can already feel it.” His sarcastic tone couldn’t be ignored, and I realized I needed to pull myself together and take one for the team.

I chuckled and looked at him with a wicked grin. “Okay, fine. I’ll leave the book at home.”

No need to explain that I had a reading app on my phone that would do in a pinch.

“You’re my only shot,” he said, laughing. “Sienna’s already down in Madison checking on a couple of pigs to foster, and you heard Fifi.”

“Why can’t Beck come with you?” I asked, frowning.

“He tweaked his back.”

I drained the potatoes and added roasted garlic, butter, and cream before mashing. “Likely story.”

“And she said to bring a sister,” he added. “I’ll text Evie that you’re coming. I seriously owe you. I’ll pick you up in an hour.”

My brother darted out the back door to his truck. He lived down the road, closer to town.

“Seriously. You are in a mood.” Fifi eyed me. “I hope you don’t blow it for him. He’s been angling with Evie for months.”

“I’ll do better than usual. No foot in the mouth or words I can’t get back.” I smiled as my mom came into the kitchen.

I sprinkled the cheese on the mashed potatoes and gently stirred it into the fluffy potatoes. I dusted the top with some chives and smiled as I grabbed my camera to take a photo.

“Looks wonderful,” she told us, watching me take a shot. “But you’re officially off duty.”

I chuckled, untying my apron and hanging it on one of the pegs.

“Vi is going out with Liam to be his wing woman,” Fifi said.

My mom’s brown eyes landed on me. “Oh, dear. Are you sure you want to do that?”

“No, but he told me desperate times call for desperate measures.” I chuckled. “Hey, do you know if everything is okay with Vern? Some guy was wandering his field today.”

My mom shook her head as she removed the large roasting pan from the oven. “Haven’t heard a word. Hope everything’s okay.”

Fifi frowned. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“It’s just odd to see people roaming someone’s property,” my mom explained, making me feel like I wasn’t overreacting. “I’ll let you know if I hear anything. I’m sure everything is just fine.”

Leave it to my sister to see the positive and ignore any worries. I wished I had even an ounce of my sister’s carefree attitude.

I smiled at my mom and nodded. “Are you sure you don’t need anything else?”

“All set.” My mom smiled, reaching for the dishes to take to the main eating area.

Fifi let out a sigh and glanced at me. “You sure you can handle tonight?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay. Good. Because I need to return to my apartment, change, and prepare for my date.” She gave me a quick hug and dashed out the back door.

It seemed like the entire world was going on dates, and it had gotten so bad that I had to tag along on other people’s dates.

I chuckled and pulled on my jacket as my mind wandered to the man earlier today. If I’d been back in Chicago, I would have gravitated toward him immediately. I was a glutton for punishment—if the man sneered at me, even better.

Groaning softly, I opened the door and felt the chill skate over my cheeks.

Why was I drawn to grumpy and dismissive men? I had to overcome this flaw, which was one of the many reasons I'd decided to move back home to Buttercup Lake. This was my time for self-reflection and growth.

The sun had set, but I knew my walk by heart. We’d cleared a few trails for guests to wander, and the pine trees were lanky at best, letting in plenty of moonlight.

My little cabin came into view, and I smiled. There were actually four cabins in a row that we rented out to lodge guests. However, since I’d only recently moved back, my parents lent me one while I figured out whether I was coming or going.

I still wasn’t sure, which was kind of mortifying since I wasn’t in my twenties any longer, but the one thing I was really trying to do in life was give myself a little grace.

My feet met the crunch of fallen leaves as I walked up my steps and opened the door to my tiny cabin. The place was absolutely perfect for me and had everything I needed.

There was a small kitchen, an eating area, and a family room.

If you stood in the middle, you could probably hop to each area in less than one jump. On the far side toward the front door, a ladder leaned against the loft where a queen bed, two nightstands, and an armoire had been placed.

My parents had recently remodeled all the cabins, and I was secretly in heaven. The bedding was inviting—plaid flannel sheets with plump pillows and matching red- and white-checked cases. The rustic theme continued with the log bed and fluffy down comforter.

My heart sank, thinking that I wouldn’t be crawling under the covers there soon. I chuckled, shut the door behind me, and draped my jacket on the leather couch in front of the woodstove. I glanced at the time right when the horn honked out front, which was technically my out back.

It hadn’t even been an hour, so I walked over to my kitchen window and saw my brother sitting in his truck, grinning. I waved through the window until he saw me and motioned for him to come inside.He gave me a quick nod and turned off the truck, followed by the thud of the truck door.

I watched him circle around my house through several windows until he reached the front. He didn’t bother knocking and just stepped right in.

My brows arched. “You’re early.”

“She said she was in the area and was going to stop by the Hungry Buck in a half hour.” He tapped his phone in his pocket. “Time’s a wasting.”

I smiled and shook my head. “You’ve got it bad.”

“Do not.” He shook his head and smiled. “I’m totally in control.”

Chuckling, I let out a sigh. “The Hungry Buck is like ten minutes away.”

He scowled and sat down on the couch. “I can’t be late for this. She’s incredible at time management. Do you realize she’s never been late to one of her appointments with us?”

“But you don’t have to change who you are,” I teased.

“Are you saying I’m habitually late?”

“I would never say such a thing.” I waggled my brows.

“Aren’t you always telling me how we can grow as people? Well, I’m starting now. I’m turning over a new leaf.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll hurry. Just let me run a brush through my hair, at least.”

The sparkle in my brother’s eyes couldn’t be missed.

“Fine,” he grumbled, stretching back as he grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

I entered the tiny bathroom and reached for my brush to tame my auburn flyaways from the crisp, dry autumn air. It looked like I'd poked my finger in an electrical socket.

“It is what it is,” I muttered to myself as I sprayed detangler on my head and tried to start over.

“Almost done?” my brother called out.

I chuckled and shook my head. “That’s it. I’m winning this.”

Pulling my hair into a quick ponytail, I sprayed it down with some hairspray, tapped some gloss on my lips, and dabbed some mascara on my lashes.

It would have to do.

I scanned my outfit and decided to ride it out. I wasn’t the one showing up for a date with her.

“All ready to go so I can yell at the top of my lungs that you are incredible. The best! The most amazing brother and boyfriend in the world. A woman would be lucky to get you,” I kept hollering down the hall. “So much so that I don’t want to let…”

My brother laughed, standing from the couch and shaking his head. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

“What do you mean? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?” My hands whipped to my hips.

He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t know. Somehow, you made it sound like I was your brother and boyfriend.”

I grinned and patted him on the back. “This is going to be fantastic. What could possibly go wrong?”