Falling For You (Honey Leaf Lodge #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Violet

When Owen’s eyes locked on mine, a familiar warmth rushed through me. It spread from my chest all the way to my fingertips. He took my hand in his firm grip.

His thumb brushed my knuckles, sending a small thrill up my spine. His expression was serious. The intensity of his gaze told me he wasn’t just making casual conversation.

“I can’t keep pretending this doesn’t hurt,” he said, his voice low and raw. “That my life isn’t better when you’re in it.”

I swallowed hard, the emotion in his voice hitting me in a way I hadn’t expected.

I’d been so wrapped up in my own feelings and my own fears about what we were and what we could never be that I hadn’t fully considered what it had cost him, too.

I smiled softly. His words were clear, like the last puzzle piece clicking into place.

The barn around us bustled with activity. The newly matched singles from the auction laughed and mingled, making their plans for the evening.

The scents of hay and warm cider filled the air, mixing with music playing faintly in the background. But despite the lively atmosphere, all I could focus on was Owen.

A smile crept onto my lips. “How about we go back to my place?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His eyes softened, and his hands tightened around mine briefly before he released them. “How about I meet you there in fifteen minutes?”

I nodded, the simple exchange feeling like an unspoken promise between us. It was as if this was the moment when we were both choosing to put the past behind us and start fresh.

Just as I turned to leave, Liam appeared at my side, his presence a comforting reminder of home. His easy grin told me he’d seen the interaction between Owen and me and possibly approved.

“So… what’s going on here?” he asked with a teasing lilt, his arms crossed as he eyed Owen with a knowing look.

I rolled my eyes, but nobody could see under my llama head.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” I said, bumping my fuzzy shoulder against his.

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really? ’Cause it looks like you’re leaving with the guy who outbid the entire town to date you. The same guy who nearly crushed our town. That doesn’t seem like nothing to me.”

I shook my head, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. “He’s just… coming over to talk. That’s all.”

Liam gave me a long, appraising look before glancing at Owen. “Well, if you need me to punch him for anything, just let me know.”

Owen chuckled, stepping forward and offering his hand to Liam. “I’ll try not to give you any reason to.”

“Any more reasons to?” he corrected. Liam took his hand, his expression softening slightly. “Good. Because she’s not someone you mess around with, got it?”

Owen nodded, his eyes flicking back to mine, full of sincerity. “I know. That message has been sent and received.”

Liam released his hand and clapped me lightly on the shoulder. “I’ll let you two get to your talking. Just remember, Violet, if this doesn’t go well, you’ve got a whole town ready to help you out.”

I laughed despite myself, feeling the tension ease a little. “Thanks, Liam. I’ll be fine.”

With a quick nod, Liam sauntered off to join the rest of the crowd, leaving Owen and me standing there in the barn.

The moment between us was still fragile but full of possibility.

“I’ll see you soon,” Owen said softly, his eyes lingering on mine for a second longer before he turned and walked toward the door.

I stood there momentarily, watching him go, before taking a deep breath and removing my llama head.

The drive back to the cabin was short, but my mind was anything but calm. I couldn’t stop replaying the conversation in my head, how he looked at me, and the honesty in his words.

This felt different from before. Maybe we were finally on the same page.

When I pulled into the driveway of my cabin, the familiar sight of the cozy tiny home instantly soothed my nerves. I had always loved this place—the warmth of the wood, the soft glow of the lights inside.

I stepped inside, setting my keys on the kitchen counter and kicking off my shoes. The cabin was warm and inviting. The fire in the woodstove crackled softly. I moved to the window, pulling the curtains aside and peeking into the night, half-expecting to see Owen’s car pulling up already.

But instead, the driveway remained empty, the silence outside almost deafening in its quiet.

My mind raced as I paced the family room, the minutes ticking by slowly. What if this was a mistake? What if I let him back in, only to get hurt again? The doubt crept in, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts, but I pushed it aside. I had to trust that this time, things would be different.

I shimmied the llama costume off my body and sighed in relief. It started to feel suffocating the moment I’d put it on.

A knock sounded at the door, and my heart skipped a beat.

I hurried over, taking a deep breath before opening it to see Owen standing there.

He held out a bouquet of sunflowers and smiled. “I’d like to start completely over if we could.”

I nodded slowly.

“Hey,” he said, his voice low. “My name’s Owen. I can be an ass, but I’m working on it valiantly. Regardless, I have a good heart and can be kind of funny.”

“Hey,” I replied, stepping aside to let him in. “My name is Vi, and I’m learning something about myself daily.”

“You’ll let me call you Vi?” he asked as I motioned him inside.

“Yeah, I think I’m ready for that.”

He removed his jacket and hung it on the peg by the door. The cabin felt smaller with him in it. His presence filled the space, making me hyper-aware of how close we were.

We stood there in silence.

Neither of us was sure how to start.

Finally, Owen broke the quiet, his voice steady but soft. “I meant what I said earlier. I can’t keep pretending that I’m okay without you, Violet. My life isn’t good when you’re not in it.”

I swallowed, the weight of his words settling over me. “I’ve missed you too. More than I thought I would.”

His eyes searched mine, and he took a step closer.

Owen’s hand reached out to gently brush against mine. “Then let me make this right. I want to spend every moment I can making up for my mistakes.”

I looked down at our hands, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin. The warmth of his touch was comforting and familiar, but there was still that part of me that held back.

“I want that too, Owen, but… I’m scared.”

He frowned slightly, his brow furrowing as he looked at me. “Scared of what?”

“Scared that this town will never be enough for you,” I admitted, my voice shaky. “Scared that you’ll get bored of me, that you’ll wake up one day and realize you don’t want to be with the llama. That you’ll leave.”

“I won’t leave. I’ve been here the entire time.”

Surprise bounced off me. “You have?”

Owen’s eyes softened, and he took my hands in his, holding them firmly as if to ground me. “Violet, listen to me. I don’t care if this town is small or slow. I don’t care where I am as long as I’m with you. I’ve spent so much of my life chasing things that don’t matter. But you—you matter. Being here with you, in this town, in this cabin, is enough for me.”

I bit my lip, feeling the tears welling up in my eyes. “But what about your business? Your life in the city?”

Owen laughed softly, though there was no humor in it. “I don’t care about any of that. My partners—” He paused, his jaw tightening slightly. “They can deal with my lawyers.”

My eyes widened. “What? Owen, are you serious?”

“I’m done. It’s not the life I want any longer.” He nodded, his expression serious but calm.

I stared at him, still trying to process what he was saying. He was risking everything—his career, his fortune—all for me. It was overwhelming, and part of me couldn’t believe it was real.

“Why?” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why would you do all of that for me?”

Owen smiled softly, his eyes full of warmth. “Because you make me a better person. And I won’t let fear, money, or anything else stand in the way of our being together. And I did it for me.”

Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them, and Owen gently reached up to wipe them away with his thumb. The tenderness in his touch and the sincerity in his voice felt like too much, but in the best possible way.

“You do the same for me,” I whispered.

Owen’s smile widened, and he pulled me into his arms, holding me close against his chest. I wrapped my arms around him, burying my face in his shirt as I let myself melt into the moment. It felt like coming home, like everything I had been missing was finally back in place.

We stood holding each other for a long time. The fire's warmth and the woodstove's soft crackle filled the room.

“So, what do you say?” he asked, his voice full of hope. “Can we start over? Can we make this work?”

“Yeah,” I whispered. “I think we can.”

Owen leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to my forehead. I closed my eyes, savoring the feeling of his lips against my skin.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I wasn’t scared anymore. I wasn’t worried about the future or about what might go wrong. All that mattered was right now—being here with him, in this cabin and town that we both loved.

And I knew, deep down, that we could make it work.

We had to.

I looked into his eyes and smiled. “Since you’re busy on Christmas, would you like to spend Thanksgiving here with us?”

His gaze locked on mine, and he smiled. “Absolutely. It would be the best Thanksgiving ever.”

I shook my head, laughing. “I still can’t believe your bid was so high.”

“I guess that’s what happens when you don’t return my calls or texts. I had to get your attention somehow. Besides, it was for a good cause.”

I laughed, and for the first time in a very long time, I felt content.