Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Three

Violet

The Hungry Buck was part bar and part supper club. The locals always considered it a supper club, and the tourists thought it was a great bar with delicious food.

Supper clubs dotted Wisconsin’s small and big towns, some dating back to the 1800s. But the Hungry Buck was one of the best, in my humble opinion, situated just outside of town with a view of Buttercup Lake. They served up a mean Old Fashioned, something I’d missed while living in Chicago.

The exterior looked old and loved surrounded with maples clinging to their last red leavesand limbs brushingagainst the worn wood siding. Mums and pumpkins alongside the stairs ushered in fall like the rest of the town, and a large patio extended to the lake.

My brother’s eyes lit up. “I see her truck.”

He pulled into the packed parking lot, and I hid a chuckle as he parked. “I got this.”

I nodded in agreement. “You got this.”

Climbing out of the truck, I stretched and glanced toward the bright red doors with a life-size buck stenciled on top in black.

Yup. Nothing quite like it in Chicago. The thought made me smile as I followed my brother into the Hungry Buck.

The moment he opened the doors, the loud chatter overwhelmed the music. The dim lighting reflected off the knotty pine walls, adorned with photographs of ice fishing on Buttercup Lake and old fishing rods strung about. The air smelled faintly of woodsmoke mingled with the savory aromas of grilled steaks and oven-roasted prime rib.

A salad bar along the back wall had a line weaving through several tables draped in dark green tablecloths. The bar where we were meeting Liam’s date was through a set of swinging double doors. The place felt like a rustic lodge in the Northwoods mixed with the Wild West, complete with saloon doors.

As we passed through the dining area, my stomach growled from the delicious scents, and I realized I hadn’t eaten anything.

“Ah, there she is,” he whispered, nodding toward the counter.

“You must have it bad if you can recognize the back of her,” I teased, and my brother rolled his eyes as we wove through the tables. Unlike the dining room, these were bare wood.

A long, polished slab of oak, worn by years of use, had become the bar’s centerpiece. It was set squarely in the bar area with a beautiful lake view. The sun had already set when we arrived, but the faint lights dotting the other side of the shoreline glowed softly.

“Evie,” Liam said as we walked up behind her.

She slowly spun around with a beer in her hand and grinned. “Hey, Liam.”

“Good to see you,” Liam said, nodding. “Thanks for taking me up on my offer.”

Evie’s smile grew as she nodded, glancing over at me. “So good to see you, Violet.”

I nodded and smiled. “You too. I’m impressed you can remember my name.”

“You’re memorable,” she said, tapping my shoulder. “Your smile is the most genuine one I’ve ever seen.”

My brother frowned. “What about mine?”

Evie’s brow arched. “Jury is still out on that.”

I snickered and shook my head. “He’s a great brother and an even better boyfriend. He takes me out to run errands and does everything they’re supposed to do.”

Evie chuckled. “You mean everything a boyfriend or a brother should do?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Darn it. I did it again. I’m definitely not dating my brother.”

Let the awkwardness begin!

She laughed and nodded, turning to see Liam. “Should we get a table?”

“I’m starved.” I rubbed my stomach and grinned.

“Me too.” She nodded in agreement and slid off the barstool, holding her beer. “Let’s snag that window booth.”

Liam took those words and ran with them, nearly catapulting over the customers between here and there.

Evie turned to look at me and smiled. “Is he always this perky?”

“Just when he’s trying to impress the ladies.”

Evie smiled even wider. “Good to know.”

As I followed Evie toward my brother, a strange feeling crept over me. It was as if someone were watching me from the counter.

Maybe I still had it going on, after all.

I smiled, glanced over my shoulder, and froze in surprise.

My heart raced, and my stomach plummeted to my feet when I saw the stranger from earlier staring right at me.

He looked as gorgeous as ever and still as out of place. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to him than met the eye, a feeling that had been lingering since our first encounter.

My eyes narrowed on his before turning back to slide into the booth.

The nerve.

Who did he think he was, coming to the Hungry Buck?

This was my place, full of friendly people.

“Hey, Vi.” Liam glanced between Evie and me. “Everything okay?”

My frown deepened. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“You just look a little perturbed.”

“Your sister is probably starving like I am,” she offered.

I nodded at Evie and grinned. “Exactly.”

Sneaking a look back in the stranger’s direction, I noticed him lifting his gaze from our booth at the same moment.

Liam laughed softly and nodded. “Oh, I see.”

My brow lifted as the server came over. “What do you see?”

“You’re playing eyeball tag with the guy at the bar.”

“I am not.”

“Which one?” Evie asked Liam.

He pointed at the stranger, and I scowled harder if that were possible.

“Oh, him.” She nodded and chuckled.

“You know the guy?” I asked, my heart pounding in my chest. “Did he try and hit on you?”

My stomach knotted for no reason.

She shook her head. “Not at all. He seems more into his phone than anything. I don’t think he’s from around here.”

“I saw him driving around our neighbor’s property earlier today.” I shrugged. “But he wasn’t exactly friendly, and he certainly wasn’t forthcoming.”

“His boots are very shiny,” she offered.

“Right?” I laughed. “He hasn’t put them to much use yet.”

She flashed the man a quick look. “And he looks agitated. It’s good that he’s attractive, or his scowl might be a little scary.”

“I know. I totally agree.” I nodded and stretched my legs under the table. I’d scooted in next to my brother so he could have a straight shot at Evie. “He’s got a good body, though,” I added.

“Is this what women do? Pick us apart like we’re meat?” Liam joked.

Evie chuckled. “You poor souls. Men have it so bad, being wrongfully judged.”

I felt the stranger’s gaze on me again, and I looked over to see him studying me. He didn’t even try to hide it this time.

A male server came over with a tray of drinks and set it down at the end of the table.

“Compliments of the man at the bar.”

My eyes shot to the coy stranger, and his eyes smiled more than his lips.

I turned to my brother. “Should we send them back?”

Liam’s eyes widened as he reached for an old-fashioned. “Are you crazy? Wisconsin rule number one—never turn down free booze.”

Evie chuckled and nodded. “I happen to agree.”

“Okay, fine.” I sighed and picked up the drink with a curled orange peel and cherry floating on top. I’d missed this staple when I was in Chicago. Wisconsin’s version is sweeter than Chicago’s and made with Brandy rather than whiskey more times than not, plus a splash of lemon-lime soda. All those little things that added up over time made me miss home.

The cold glass against my fingers sent a shiver through me as my brother raised his glass toward the stranger.

“Thanks, man,” Liam said with a grin. “Much appreciated.”

The man finally cracked a smile, and another delightful shiver ran through me, but it wasn’t because I was cold this time. The look in his eyes made my stomach dip and my toes tingle, which was incredibly annoying, considering his attitude was like all the men I’d left behind in Chicago.

“I don’t know what you two talked about earlier, but it must have made him happy.” Liam beamed and took a sip of the drink.

I eyed my brother and let out a deep sigh. “My guess is that these are apology drinks. He was a brat.”

Evie chuckled and nodded. “I can see it.”

My brother straightened and glanced at me. “Was he a jerk to you?”

Slowly sipping my drink, I looked at the guy staring at his phone.

Figured.

My eyes met my brother’s. “He wouldn’t answer my questions. Just kept telling me things were confidential.”

“What things?” Evie asked.

“I wanted to know who he was and why he was bopping around our neighbor’s land like he owned the place.”

A smile slipped over Evie’s lips, and she nodded. “I knew I liked you.”

“What about me?” Liam teased her.

“We’re still working on that.” She winked at him, and I suddenly wanted to make my exit.

The electricity between these two was palpable, and I was definitely the third wheel.

It was only a matter of time before I really put my foot in my mouth.

I took another sip of my drink and looked over at the guy sitting at the bar.

His strong jawline stayed rigid as he concentrated on his phone. A light scruff of stubble traced his chin, and his gaze intensified with each passing swipe.

He’d changed since this afternoon, dressing casually in a pair of dark jeans and a fitted maroon flannel shirt with rolled sleeves. My eyes rested on his toned arms a beat too long, and he glanced over. His thumb still scrolled through whatever was on his screen as a little smirk rested on his attractive features.

Evie and my brother chatted away, and I wanted to be anywhere but with them. Feeling like the third wheel was starting to feel very uncomfortable as Evie’s giggles got more pronounced and my brother slung one-liners in her direction.

Laughter from a nearby table filled the air, and the man had returned to staring at his phone. It was hard not to recognize how disconnected he was from the world around him.

Except for that pull to him.

I pushed my lips into a frown and drank a little more before our server came by to take our orders.

Liam’s foot found mine and pressed gently against my toes.

I yawned and polished off my drink. “Would you two be upset if I scurried over to that empty booth and read awhile? That drink really made me ready for bed.”

Evie’s brows arched. “It’s only eight o’clock.”

“I’m old,” I explained.

She laughed and shook her head. “We’ll be here if you want to make your way back, but I understand the pull of a good story.”

Liam flashed me a grateful grin as I stood and spotted our server. I pointed to the empty booth, and he nodded, following me.

As I situated myself, I asked him to bring my order of a Diet Coke, cheese curds, and a pretzel with cheese sauce to this table instead. I could have gone big and ordered from the menu in the dining area, but tonight seemed like a junk food night.

I fished my phone back out of my bag and turned on my reading app as the server brought over my drink. He trundled away, and I sighed as I happily slid my book onto the screen.

Just as I got into the chapter I’d left off on, a large figure cast its shadow over me. The flicker from the old lantern dangling over the table did little to help me see my book.

My eyes flicked up to see the man from the bar smiling at me.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“Just saw you working away on your phone and thought we might have something in common.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Work is my hobby, too.” He flashed a knowing smile in my direction.

“Oh, no way.” I shook my head. “Work is definitely not a hobby of mine. Not any longer.” I spun my phone around so he could see the screen. “This, my friend, is called a book.”

He cocked his head, narrowing his eyes on me. “Do you think I don’t read?”

I shrugged. “Beats me, but I gave up my workaholic lifestyle the moment I left the city.”

“And which city is that?”

I caught Liam’s glance in my direction, which deepened my scowl as I returned my gaze to the stranger’s. “Chicago.”

He looked at the empty booth, and his brows raised. “Mind if I have a seat?”

A charge ran through us, and I clamped my fingers into a fist under the table.

He was one giant red flag flapping in the wind since I saw him on Mr. Medowski’s property, and now he wants to shoot the breeze at one of my favorite spots in Buttercup Lake.

I gritted my teeth and slid my phone back into my purse. “Fine. Have a seat. Thank you for the drinks.”

He nodded, sitting across from me.

It felt like my body was insistent on betraying me with every skipped beat of the heart or dip of the tummy when he glanced at me.

“You know my name from earlier. Why don’t you tell me yours?” My brows raised impatiently.

His gaze stayed on mine, and he drew a breath. “Owen Benson.”

Nice name.

“You look like an Owen.”

His left brow lifted. “And what does an Owen look like?”

Dang it. I’d opened myself up wide for that one.

I needed to come up with a cheer for my A-W-K-W-A-R-D encounters.

“I always think of Owens as blonds.”

He nodded as the bartender brought over Owen’s drink. “You’ve met a lot?”

I pressed my lips together and thought about it. I’d only met one other Owen, and he had brown hair, but at least this way, I didn’t blab about how good-looking he was.

“Enough.”

He nodded. “I see.”

“So, what were you doing on Mr. Medowski’s property?”

His brows raised in surprise. “I thought we covered that.”

I shook my head and sipped my pop. “No, we covered that you didn’t have the backbone to tell me what you were doing traipsing around our neighbor’s land.”

He laughed. “I have plenty of backbone. You don’t scare me. I’m just not at liberty to tell you.”

“Whatever makes you feel important.”

Owen slid his tongue slowly along his bottom lip, which made my stomach feel like I’d just plummeted from the top of a rollercoaster.

“You’re used to always getting your way, it seems.” His words slammed up against the side of my head, and I frowned.

“I don’t know where you got that,” I said, shaking my head.

“I’m almost certain the only thing that bugs you about the fact that I won’t tell you is that I won’t tell you. It’s not that you don’t know what’s going on at your neighbor’s house to get you amped up. It’s that I hold an answer that you want to know.”

He was right. The man could read me like the mystery I was binging earlier, but I certainly wouldn’t give him the power of that little victory.

“You thought wrong.”

The server brought over two plates, one with cheese curds and the other with pretzels with cheese dip. It took everything I had not to take both plates, but I had no intention of sharing.

It’s what being single forso long did to me. What could I say?

Owen glanced at my brother and Evie before returning his gaze to me. “They seem to be getting along well.”

“Yup.” I popped a curd into my mouth and sighed in private ecstasy.

“I’d like that for us,” Owen said, cocking his head slightly. “How about we start over?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “First impressions are everything.”

“Then I guess I don’t have much of a shot.” Owen locked his gaze on mine, and my stomach fluttered in a way I’d never felt before, and I knew I was in trouble.