Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Fifteen

Violet

I sat cross-legged on the family room floor with a pile of brown and beige faux fur draped across my lap. I stared at the mess, trying to figure out how to attach these oversized llama ears to the makeshift headpiece.

I texted Owen a couple of messages yesterday and today.

I hadn’t heard anything back, which surprised me, but I knew not to panic. We weren’t actually seeing one another officially. It was just fun.

So, I did what any sane person would do and threw myself into making a llama costume.

It looked like a craft store had exploded in my cabin—scraps of fabric, glue guns, and bits of thread were scattered everywhere.

Fifi sat nearby, cutting out more fur, while Liam lounged on the couch, twirling the half-finished llama tail in his hands like he’d rather be elsewhere.

“You know,” Liam began, his tone playful, “we really need to talk about your life choices.”

“Mine?” I laughed, shaking my head. “We need to talk about yours. How could you turn Millie down for such a great opportunity?” My brows quirked as I looked at my sister. “And you too?”

“We were busy,” they both said in unison.

I chuckled and shook my head. “Likely story.”

“Hey, I’m trying to make things happen with Evie. It wouldn’t look great if I’m advertising my wares for other females on some stage, now, would it?”

“You’re such a liar,” I teased.

“Honestly, you always get roped into these things.” Fifi laughed. “You need to be quicker on your feetandalways have excuses at the ready.”

I chuckled. “Is that how you operate in life? Always have excuses ready?”

Fifi’s eyes widened. “When Millie or any other kooky Sunshine Breakfast Club membersare around, yeah. I know to stay away, or they’ll use the voodoo on me and match me up when I least expect it.”

I playfully scowled.

“But honestly, Vi. This is probably good for you. I noticed you closed yourself off years ago, and it’s about time you started to open up again. And you always have that type.” He smiled. “You know, the uptight businessmen. You won’t find those types of bidders around here.”

I sighed dramatically, setting the headpiece down to glare at him. “Really? I’m here trying to craft a llama costume for a blind date auction. Do you want to get philosophical about my life choices? Besides, this is light, fun, and all for a good cause.”

Liam smirked, twirling the tail as if it were evidence against me. “I’m just saying, you’re the only one of us who got roped into being auctioned off for charity, and you decided to do it in a llama costume. Maybe that’s something worth discussing.”

Fifi giggled, her scissors pausing mid-cut. “He’s got a point, Vi. Why a llama out of all the themes you could have picked?”

I threw my hands up, exasperated. “Because llamas are funny! And cute! This whole event is supposed to be fun, right? Besides, it’s for a good cause. We’re raising money for Thanksgiving meals, and since Millie caught me off-guard…I had no choice.” I crossed my arms. “Besides, I’m not good at lying.”

“Yeah, but a llama?” Liam repeated, holding the fluffy tail upward like it was some kind of courtroom exhibit. “You could have gone with something elegant that doesn’t make you look like you belong in our petting zoo. I’m just saying.”

I rolled my eyes, grabbing the llama ears and trying again to attach them to the headpiece. “The point of the event is to get people laughing and bidding on us so we can raise as much money as possible. And if a llama costume makes people laugh, then it’s totally worth it.”

Fifi grinned, picking up the other half of the llama’s body and holding it up to her torso like it was high fashion. “Well, you’re definitely going to get some laughs. But seriously, what kind of guy will bid on a woman dressed as a llama?”

Liam nodded. “Nothing screams sex like a llama.”

“That is not the point of this auction.” I paused, staring down at the ears in my hand. “Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe some guy who’s really into wool sweaters?”

Liam laughed exaggeratedly, tossing the tail onto the floor and leaning back on the couch. “Yeah, good luck with that. Nothing says ‘dateable’ like a woman covered in faux fur with giant llama ears sticking out of her head.”

I chucked a fabric scrap at him. “It’s supposed to be quirky! You know, like one of those weird icebreakers. Besides, I’m not trying to find Mr. Right.”

“Exactly, because when people think of icebreakers, they totally think of llamas,” Liam said sarcastically.

Fifi snickered. “Don’t listen to him, Vi. I think it’s cute. Plus, it’s all for charity, which is what really matters.”

“Exactly!” I said, feeling a little more confident. “And besides, the whole town’s been buzzing about the auction. It will be fun, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll meet someone who gets my sense of humor. Yesterday, I saw the auction was being held at the Marshalls’ Farm.”

Liam raised a brow. “Why were you there?”

Crap. I’d said too much.

“Just went on a hayride,” I muttered, wishing I could poke myself with the needle and dribble blood everywhere to flee the scene.

“By yourself?” my sister prompted.

“No comment.”

My siblings traded a glance.

“Anyway, you never know what this auction might do for my dating life. It’s already lagging.” I hoped my last statement would distract them from the hayride.

Liam grinned wider. “You think some guy’s going to take one look at you in that costume and think, ‘Now that’s the woman I want to spend an evening with’?”

“Wouldn’t you?” I chuckled.

Liam shook his head, laughing as he stretched out on the couch. “Vi, you’re one of a kind, I’ll give you that.”

I stuck my tongue out at him before turning my attention back to the costume. “I just don’t get why I’m the only one of us siblings who has to do this. Fifi’s the one who’s good at talking to people. And you.” I pointed at Liam. “You should be up there, too. You’d probably raise way more money than me. You and Beck are like the most eligible bachelors of Buttercup Lake.”

Liam smiled. “Says who?”

Awesome. I really did distract my brother and sister.

“Just word on the street,” I informed him.

Liam grinned, leaning back and propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, I’ve got this thing called ‘dignity’.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Dignity? You dressed up as a giant hot dog for Halloween last year.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t for a blind date auction. Big difference.” He shook his head. “That was my choice. My terms.”

“Ah, yes. That makes all the difference.”

Fifi snickered, finally setting down the fabric she’d been cutting and standing up to stretch. “Liam’s just scared that if he went up there, no one would bid on him.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Please. If I were up there, they’d be bidding in buckets. The cash would be overflowing.”

“Buckets of what?” I quipped, smirking as I sewed the ears into place. “Rotten pumpkins?”

Liam grabbed a throw pillow and lobbed it at me, but I dodged, laughing as it sailed past my head. “Watch the costume! I still have to ensure this thing doesn’t fall apart when I’m up there.”

Fifi walked over to the mirror on the wall and held up the half-finished llama body in front of her. “You know, Violet, I think you’re onto something. If this goes well, you could make a whole business out of it—llama-themed dating events.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I adjusted the headpiece. “Yeah, sure. ‘Llamas in Love’ or something like that.”

Liam snorted. “Sounds like a reality TV show waiting to happen.”

I shot him a look. “Hey, don’t knock it. Stranger things have happened.”

Fifi dropped the fabric and plopped onto the couch next to Liam. “Honestly, I think you’re going to kill it. The llama thing might be a little… different, but that’s what makes it great. Everyone’s expecting the usual ‘little black dress with a masquerade mask’ or ‘country chic with a veiled cowboy hat’, and here you come in with a full-blown llama outfit. You’re going to stand out in the best way.”

My heart sank. Why didn’t I think of those options?

“Thanks, Fi. You’re right. I just need to embrace the llama.”

Liam raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, if you’re happy, I’m happy. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when some weirdo bids on you.”

“Liam!” Fifi exclaimed.

“I’m not expecting to meet the love of my life, okay?” I said, grabbing the fluffy llama tail and attaching it to the back of the costume. “It’s all for fun. If some guy bids on me, great. If not, at least I’ll have a funny story to tell.”

Liam shook his head. “Oh, I’ll be there, and one of us will have a great story to tell.”

I scowled at him. “I thought you were busy that night.”

He grinned widely and waggled his brows. “What can I say? I might be able to squeeze some time in to watch you up for grabs.”

I stuck my tongue out at him again. “You’re going to feel really bad when I raise the most money out of everyone and become the hero of this whole event.”

“Oh, yeah?” Liam said. “You think you’ve got what it takes to beat out the competition?”

I stood up, holding the llama head in one hand and the costume in the other. “I’ve got heart. And fur. And really, what more could you ask for?”

Fifi burst out laughing while Liam groaned and shook his head. “You’re impossible, Vi.”

“And proud of it,” I said, grinning as I twirled the llama costume around. “Now, if you two are done making fun of me, I could use some help finishing this thing. The auction is a little over a week away, and I want this llama to look its best.”

Liam rolled his eyes but got up from the couch, picking up the glue gun and some fabric. “Fine. But I’m not taking the blame if this costume falls apart mid-auction.”

Fifi stood up and grabbed the llama’s tail, holding it up in front of me. “Come on, Sis. Let’s make you the most glamorous llama that Buttercup Lake has ever seen.”

“Thank you,” I said with a nod, but my thoughts immediately went to Owen.

And I finally let myself feel annoyed.

This was my problem.

I always fell for the emotionally unavailable men.

And here I went again, but this time, I wasn't going to make excuses.