Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Ten

Violet

This was precisely what I needed in my life.

Stability.

Even though I had even fewer answers than before I chatted with my mom, I felt more at ease and like my world wasn’t spinning in the wrong direction.

Since my sisters were out, I decided to work in the petting zoo area. The new zebra was still in her own pasture, but there was always something to do with our regulars.

The crisp weather was perfect for working outside. I wouldn’t overheat if I shoveled or hauled hay.

It should be a peaceful afternoon. Most of the lodge guests had cleared out for town or excursions a village or two over. The goats were all tuckered out from Liam playing with them this morning, and the hogs usually didn’t do much one way or another. A few chickens clucked their way into their hen house, and I chuckled.

Boy, it was hard to believe that this time last year, I lived in a tiny apartment in the middle of a city where very few even knew who I was or what I did with myself. Now, I smelled the amazing sweetness of fall while tending to animals in the middle of our acreage.

Truthfully, they were probably tending tome.

I wandered to the enclosure with a feed bucket, carefully avoiding puddles from this morning’s rain.

Maza eyed me from the corner of the gated area near one of their water troughs. An unease rippled up my spine. He looked like he meant business as Liddie stood far away from him.

“Ease up, boy,” I said softly. “I’m not mad at you about Liddie. She’s just not ready. You can’t be so pushy about things.”

He nodded as if he understood me but then returned to watching me with his usual mix of boredom and disdain. Maza’s large brown eyes focused on me like I was interrupting his flirting session, but I knew Liddie didn’t want any winks, licks, or calls from Maza today. Anyone could see that by looking at her.

But I wanted to make amends with Maza, so I put my bucket down, grabbed some feed into my palm, and smiled at him.

“Alright, Maza. Be nice,” I muttered, making my way toward the llama. I reached out with a handful of feed, trying my best to appear calm and unbothered by his aloofness.

But Maza had other plans.

Without warning, he took a step forward, right into me. I yelped, losing my footing in the muddy pasture.

His eyes locked on mine, and I swore a grin plastered over his sloppy chops as my feet slipped on the grassy portion. My feet went right out from under me as my hands flailed into the air, tossing the feed far and wide like confetti.

I reached for him, but Maza had other ideas as soon as I stood up. True to his name, he was nowhere to be found. Just like a Maserati, he sped away.

But then he was back.

With a sudden and unexpected push, Maza pushed right into me and shoved me.

Maza’s eyes widened with delight.

It was too late.

My heel caught the edge of the water trough, and for a split second, I thought I could recover. My arms spun like windmills, hands grasping at the air, desperately seeking something solid to grab onto—anything that wasn’t Maza.

Gravity became my enemy.

In what felt like an eternity of slow-motion chaos, I tipped backward, my body bending at an angle that resembled a human pretzel.

My feet left the ground, and I never had a chance. My arms pinwheeled wildly, and with an exaggerated scream, I tumbled straight into the water trough with a spectacular dunk.

The cold, dirty water swallowed me with a splash. The water swirled in my ears as my arms flapped around in the muffled quiet. I heard the faint hum of a llama’s song, and I knew it wasn’t Liddie.

Maza was celebrating.

With my legs sticking straight up in the air and my cheek smooshed against the freezing, wet metal, I started kicking frantically to dislodge myself. Without warning, a giant creature pressed against my legs.

Maza wasn’t helping.

He was literally trying to keep me under.

Waving my hands under the water to push my upper torso away from the bottom, I opened my eyes to see my shoes flailing in a blurred mess before another large shadow entered. The grit from the water forced my lids shut.

Liddie.

My savior.

Two large hands grasped my waist and tightened their grip.

Since when did llamas have fingers?

In an instant, the hands clutched my waist tighter. My body floated up with assistance before being lifted entirely out of the trough as if I were light as a feather.

I attempted to open my eyes, but the dirt and grit burned. “Oh, ow, Liam. Beck?”

“It’s not either of your brothers. It’s Owen. Are you okay?” His voice was riddled with concern, but I didn’t dare lift my lids.

“I opened my eyes under the water and—”

Before I finished, I felt a heavy, soft flannel shirt wrap around me. My teeth started chattering as Owen tugged the oversized shirt on me.

“You’re going to be just fine. Does anything hurt?” His voice was tender but gruff.

I sighed with a chuckle. “Besides my ego?”

“Ah, this type of thing always happens to people.” I could see the grin on his face without having to open my eyes, and my stomach knotted in delight. “Seriously, though… Anything hurt?”

Shaking my head, I felt his large hands rubbing me up and down before taking away the wet flannel and plastering something else over me.

“Here’s my coat.”

“Are you completely naked at this point or…”

He laughed. “You’ll have to open your eyes to find out.”

“I would if I could. Trust me.”

“I have some purified water. Let’s pour some over your eyes.”

I laughed, still unable to see, and shook my head. “Do you just carry that stuff with you or what?”

“I happened to be walking Mr. Medowski’s property and had stopped to get some bottled water at Kwik Trip before I came over.” The sound of the cap coming off piqued my interest. “Now, try to slowly open your eyes as I pour.”

As my nose started to run in an utterly non-embarrassing way, I gently forced my eyelids open as he slowly poured the water over my eyeballs.

“Aah,” I said softly. “That feels amazing. I can’t believe it’s not hurting.”

“Blink a few times, and let’s keep pouring.”

I wasn’t one to argue in this situation and happily opened and closed my eyes a few times since everything around me was extremely blurry.

I was drenched from head to toe, with my clothes sticking to me likesnakeskin. My hair was now plastered against my cheeks, with soggy strands dripping down my body. If I had a shot last night with him, I was pretty certain this just made him count his blessings.

“Okay, just a little bit more,” he said sternly. His hand braced the back of my head as he let the liquid trickle over my face, and I tried to pretend that I didn’t look like I felt.

A completely hot mess with a dash of regret sprinkled on top, possibly?

Oh… Why did I try to make friends with Maza? It felt like this was a euphemism for my life.

“How did you know I needed help?” I asked, fluttering my lids a few more times.

“You mean before or after I saw your legs sticking straight up like upside-down popsicle sticks?” He chuckled and shook his head. “I heard a coupleof yelps and a splash. Thankfully, I was just right over the fence line again.”

“You’re really into that property, huh?” I propped open one lid with my finger, still unable to focus entirely on the figure in front of me.

“I might have been hoping to run into you,” he confessed.

My heart skipped a beat between my teeth chattering as I slowly opened my eyes.

Owen was shirtless, a wet flannel draped over his extremely defined forearm. A dopey smile plastered his face as his head tilted slightly.

“You must be freezing,” I said, shivering.

“Nah.” He shook his head. “You’re the one sopping wet. I’ll be fine.”

I started to shrug off his coat, and he laughed.

“It’s already drenched. I won’t be needing it.” He stepped closer, and my heart raced.

I tugged on his wet jacket and smiled at him. “Thank you for this. I don’t think I would have gotten out in one piece.” I took a step forward and stumbled from the cold into his arms.

“Careful now,” he said softly, wrapping his arms around my waist to steady me.

I glanced up at him, shivering. “I still can’t believe Maza pushed me in.”

He smirked. “You sure you didn’t just trip?”

“Positive.”

His eyes locked on mine, making my heart flutter. “And here I thought you noticed me next door and fell for me… literally.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Too soon?” he joked, neither of us taking a step back.

“Definitely too soon.”

Owen’s eyes stayed locked on mine. “I’m just glad you can see again.”

My eyes flitted to his defined chest, only inches away, and a blush crept up my cheeks. “Me too.”

He laughed, and I realized what it looked like.

“Not because of your body. I mean… I’m not into things like that.” I shook my head, scowling.

Bemusement filled his gaze. “You’re not into what things?”

I frowned deeper. “You know, bodies that look all muscley and defined… like yours.”

“Oh, right. I’m sure it’s a complete turn-off.” His smile only widened as I shivered.

I giggled as he wrapped his arms around me tighter.

“How can you be so warm when you’re half naked?” I muttered into his chest.

“I run hot.”

Yes, he does.

“I honestly never thought my hero cape would fit so well.” He smiled, lifting his brows.

I stepped back and looked into his eyes, seeing them twinkle with mischief. He looked so much lighter and happier than the first day I’d run into him. It was like a complete transformation happening right before my eyes.

“You do wear it well, but don’t get used to it around me. I can take care of myself most of the time.” Another tremble rolled through me.

He nodded, bringing his eyes back to mine. “I don’t doubt it for a minute, but I’m just glad I was here when I was.”

“Honestly, me too,” I said as another shiver skittered over me.

He shook his head, letting go of me. “But let’s get you inside where it’s warm.”

I instantly missed his touch, but I nodded and started before he did, bumping right into the boulder of a man before me.

“Pardon me. Sorry.” I shook my head. “My eyesight is still a little blurry.”

He started to turn away, but his gaze lingered on mine as I pressed my teeth into my bottom lip.

Owen’s gaze dipped to my mouth, and I saw his chest heave from inhaling. He shook his head slowly and drew a slow breath.

“I’m sorry, but I just have to try…” His voice trailed off as his eyes stayed on my mouth.

“Try what?” I asked, feeling warmth finally spread through my entire body.

“This.”

He stepped forward, cradling my chin in his hands as his mouth swept over mine.

Every part of my body lit up, pushing the chill away and replacing it with fiery heat. His mouth pressed against mine as my pulse raced. The softness of his lips made my head spin with so much confusion and need that I could barely stay upright.

Owen’s hands slipped down my back as our kisses slowed, the electricity still charging through us.

He took a step back as his lips left mine.

“Sorry. We need to get you out of the cold.”