Falling For Love (Honey Leaf Lodge #2)

Chapter One

Evie

“Help. He’s after me. He’s after me.” The little shriek rang through the air and sliced through me immediately.

My heart stopped, and I dropped the tinfoil box I’d just used as I darted off the slippery patio to find my son. My heart hammered in my chest like so many years ago.

I rounded the bend and saw Hayden giggling on the snow, rolling around with our rescue pup, Lance.

All I wanted to do was drop into the snow and cry happy tears.

Hayden kicked his legs into the air as Lance licked my boy’s cheeks like he was a popsicle, and all the terror drained from me instantly.

“Mom, make him stop.” His giggles were infectious.

I laughed and shook my head as I dove into the fray of wrestling boys. One just happened to be furrier than the other.

I smiled as Hayden rolled onto me and smooshed snow on my red knit hat.

“You’re the best son ever,” I laughed, feeling his tiny body hop off me and chase after Lance.

I glanced up at the cloud-filled sky and let out a sigh. Someday, I’d hear his calls and wouldn’t immediately panic.

Someday.

I shoved myself off the snowbank and walked back to the grill. It was an exceptionally balmy Wisconsin day in January. We’d managed to hit twenty degrees, and grilling bratwursts seemed like the perfect thing to do to celebrate.

As I walked back to the patio, I found Hayden piling more snow onto an everlasting snowman he’d built earlier in the month. Smoke spiraled through the air as I picked up the tinfoil box, propped it on the grill’s table, and rearranged the tinfoil packet filled with sliced onions.

A chill ran through me, and I let out a sigh.

It was moments like these when having another hand would be nice.

“Mommy, check this out.”

My head whipped over to my seven-year-old, and I stared in shock.

“Hayden, what did you do exactly?”

“I wanted a nose like Henry’s.”

“Henry?”

“The snowman.”

“Get that carrot out of your nostril.”

He reached his tiny fingers up to the piece of orange sticking out and somehow pushed it further up.

“Wait. Nope. Stop,” I said calmly, trying to figure out if I should laugh or cry. “I got this.”

“I can’t breathe out my nose,” he complained, and my heart tugged.

“No. Probably not. We might have to go to the urgent care if I can’t get this out.”

“I’m sorry.”

I kissed his head and tried not to laugh. “Nothing to be sorry about.”

But seriously?

We made it through his toddler years to have him stick a snowman’s old carrot up his nose at age seven.

I pressed my lips together and tried not to laugh while I grasped at the orange sliver.

After several failed attempts, I shook my head.

“Sorry, buddy. We’ve gotta get you to a professional.”

“Ah, Mom.”

Lance came over and sat next to us. I spun around to the grill and turned it off.

“The good news is that dinner will be ready when we come back, " I said to Hayden, who slumped his shoulders.

He rolled his eyes, and I patted his back, trying not to chuckle.

“It’s okay. They’ll pull it right out,” I assured him, grabbing the plate, piling the bratwursts on the platter, and sliding the pack of onions next to them.

We went inside our cozy home with Lance beside us, and I put the food in the fridge before helping Hayden out of his snowsuit and into a fresh pair of jeans and a sweatshirt from the laundry room.

One more task I didn’t quite get to today.

Hayden pulled on his snow coat as I grabbed my purse, and we walked out the front door.

Another day in the life of a single mom, and I loved every second.

Lance howled from the living room window, his tail wagging like he had no idea his best friend had just made the Most Creative Urgent Care Visits shortlist while Hayden groaned in protest.

“Can’t I just sneeze it out?”

I chuckled. “Have at it.”

The brisk air stung my cheeks, but I was too busy keeping a straight face to notice. One part of me wanted to scold Hayden, but the other part was marveling at how typical this was for our life—a mix of chaos, laughter, and unexpected detours.

I’d finished up my last client early today and was thrilled to be in the comfort of my home before the evening had set in. As a horse farrier, my mornings were early, my hours were tough, and my days were long.

“Mom, do you think they’ll have to use one of those vacuum things to get it out?” Hayden asked.

“I hope not, but you’re definitely giving them a good story to tell,” I said.

I tried to sound serious, but my lips kept twitching.

Securing him in the car, I finally let out a little chuckle.

“You’re such a good kid. Don’t let this get you down.”

“I can’t believe I did it.”

I laughed. “Me either.”

“Mom,” he groaned.

I closed the door and glanced at our little house before backing out of the driveway. From the moment I got the keys last year, I’d been so proud.

All on my own.

I glanced at Hayden in the rearview mirror and smiled as he happily hummed to himself while looking out the window.

Thankfully, the drive into town was uneventful, and I pulled into Buttercup Lake’s Urgent Care with a mix of embarrassment and resignation. I’d been here enough times for them to know me by name.

Between Hayden’s daredevil antics and my own work-related mishaps, we were practically VIPs.

Inside, Gwen, the receptionist, greeted us with a knowing smile. “What’s the adventure today, Evie? Kicked in the chops by a mule or twisted your ankle tripping over a saddle?”

“Not me this time.” I leaned on the counter, sighing. “Hayden decided to be twinsies with our snowman and gave himself a carrot nose, but the carrot got stuck. It’s, uh… pretty far up there.”

She chuckled as she handed me the paperwork. “You always keep us entertained. Go ahead and have a seat. We’ll call you soon.”

I took a seat next to Hayden, who was busy poking at the rubber ends of the armrests.

His brow furrowed as he asked, “Do you think it’ll hurt?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. They’ll take it right out, and we’ll be back home before you know it.”

Halfway through the paperwork, I heard a familiar laugh—a rich, warm sound that instantly lifted my mood. It shouldn’t have, but it did.

I glanced up and spotted Liam Harper walking into the waiting area.

My heart fluttered.

My stomach knotted into a coil of unexpected possibilities.

And I slid down in my seat, hoping he didn’t notice me.

I’d been out with him a couple of times, but I’d chickened out the last several times he’d reached out.

I glanced at Hayden, tapping my phone, and slowly breathed. I couldn’t hide behind my phone and voicemail if he stood right in front of me.

Liam looked incredible with his dark, wavy hair, curled slightly at the ends, and light stubble along his jawline.

Gorgeous in all the wrong ways.

Snap out of it, Evie.

He was too good-looking for his own good.

Liam’s broad shoulders stretched his blue flannel to the limits. His jeans hugged his thick thighs and…

Hayden pounded my arm. “Mom, isn’t that your boyfriend?”

Boyfriend?

No!

Went out a few times? Yes!

Liam glanced over, and his blue eyes connected with mine.

A charge of electricity shot through me as I smiled back and pretended Hayden didn’t just say that.

Liam looked slightly sheepish and held his right hand awkwardly.

“Liam?” I called, feigning surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, you know. Just… living my best life.” He held up his hand wrapped in a makeshift bandage that looked suspiciously like a red and white checkered dish towel.

“Poor guy.” I tore my gaze away and tried to ignore the electricity thrumming through me.

Ever since I’d met him at the Honey Leaf Lodge, where I took care of his rescued horses, I couldn’t get him out of my head, but I knew I couldn’t drag him into my crazy world.

He was a single guy without a care in the world, and I was a single mom, piecing things together one hour at a time.

Liam finished checking in and came over to the waiting room.

His dynamite smile nearly did me in.

“And what did you do?” I raised an eyebrow and bit back a grin.

I was doing my best to play it cool even though every part of me was on fire.

He sighed, dropping into the chair across from me.

“I, uh…may have gotten into a fight with my immersion blender.”

Hayden, ever the curious one, sat up straighter. “What’s an immersion blender?”

Liam leaned forward and lowered his voice. “It’s a sneaky kitchen gadget that pretends to be your friend and then slices you when you’re not paying attention.”

Hayden giggled, completely enthralled. “Did it hurt?”

“Let’s just say I wouldn’t recommend it,” Liam said, giving a dramatic wince that made Hayden laugh even harder.

I couldn’t help but laugh and shook my head at the sexy guy sitting across from us.

“Only you, Liam. What were you even making?”

The truth was that I’d been out with him enough to know he was always up to something, and watching him on the farm was always…good for the soul.

“Soup,” he admitted with a shrug. “I was trying to be fancy. Turns out I should stick to grilling. But my sister Violet posted a great-looking recipe on her blog, and I thought I’d try it.”

“Well,” I said, grinning, “looks like you’ve joined the exclusive club of ridiculous injuries today. Hayden shoved a carrot up his nose.”

Liam’s eyebrows shot up, and he burst out laughing. “A carrot? In your nose? Man, you’re already cooler than me.”

Hayden puffed up proudly. “I wanted to match my snowman.”

“That’s creative,” Liam said, nodding approvingly. “And way more interesting than soup.”

Hayden lifted his chin while Liam tilted his head to see the orange peeking from my son’s nose.

Not exactly the first on everyone’s How to Catch a Man list.

“Ouch.” Liam grimaced at Hayden.

He shook his head. “Doesn’t hurt.”

“Does this happen often?” Liam asked me.

Before I could reply, the nurse called Hayden’s name.

“See ya around,” I said, standing and leading Hayden into the exam room.

It didn’t take long for the doctor to work his magic—ten minutes later, Hayden was carrot-free and ready to conquer the world again.

We returned to the waiting area to find Liam still sitting there, now flipping through a dog-eared magazine with one hand.

“Apparently, they didn’t think you’d bleed to death.” I eyed Liam.

“Some guy came in with his foot turned one way and his knee the other. I let him go first.” He looked up as we approached, smiling at Hayden. “How’d it go?”

“Easy!” Hayden said proudly. “They pulled it right out.”

Liam grinned. “Tough guy. You’re making me look bad.”

“Oh, I think you’re doing a great job of that on your own,” I teased, gesturing to his bandaged hand.

The nurse called Liam’s name, and he laughed, standing up.

“Fair enough. Hey, want to stick around and watch me get stitches? It’s the highlight of the day.” He glanced at Hayden, and I couldn’t help but smile.

My little guy glanced up at me for an answer.

“Tempting, but I think we’ll pass,” I said, chuckling. “Good luck, though. Try not to lose a finger.”

“I’ll do my best,” he said with a wink, then turned to Hayden. “Take care of that nose, buddy. No more carrots, okay?”

“But I want to see stitches.” My son eyed me.

“Nah, we’ve got dinner waiting.” I softly squeezed his shoulder.

Hayden giggled. “Okay. Fine.”

As we walked to the car, Hayden looked up at me thoughtfully. The chill in the air made us walk faster than usual. “Mom, do you think Liam’s going to be okay?”

I nodded, opening the car door for Hayden. “Oh, I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s tough, just like you.”

“Do you like him?” Hayden asked, his voice innocent but curious.

The question caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“He’s a good guy,” I said carefully. “Why do you ask?”

Hayden shrugged as I helped him into the booster seat.

“He makes you laugh. And I think he likes you.”

I snickered.

He frowned and shook his head. “What’s so funny?”

I shrugged and let out a sigh. “You’re just too perceptive for seven, but I love that about you.”

Hayden had met Liam briefly when we’d banded together as a town and chased out a big hotel corporation that threatened Buttercup Lake’s charming way of life. But other than that, he hadn’t really even known I’d been out with him.

But apparently, he knew more than I realized since he yelled out the word boyfriend in the waiting room.

Maybe I talked in my sleep.

The thought sent a chill through me.

“I bet he’d rather eat your bratwursts than his soup.” He tugged on my hand and looked back at the building. “Invite him over.”

“Whoa,” I said, laughing.

“Come on. I want to see him get stitches.”

I stopped and looked at the cutest little boy in the world.

“Please?” he tried again.

“Do you want to become a doctor when you grow up?” I teased.

He shrugged, unbuckled himself, and hopped out of the truck.

Before I could really object, he pulled me back to the urgent care.

When we walked back inside, the receptionist looked up and grinned. “You didn’t get hurt again, did you?”

“No. Liam invited Hayden to see him get stitches, and the little guy wanted to watch the magic happen.”

“Oh, right. I heard the invite. He’s three doors down on the left, but you didn’t hear it from me.”

Liam’s laughter drifted down the hall., and my heart skipped a beat.

There was always so much light bubbling from the guy. It was something I didn’t know I’d craved until recently.

“All right, come on.” I squeezed Hayden’s hand, and we walked toward the door.

Before I even had a chance to knock, Hayden opened the door and walked right in.

Liam looked up, and his eyes connected with mine.

My cheeks flushed. “So much for patient privacy.”

“Glad I have some company,” Liam said with a wink. “I was starting to get scared.”

Hayden’s eyes grew wider. “Really?”

“Totally.” Liam nodded as Hayden sat next to him in the empty chair.

“Wanna come over for dinner? We’re having bratwursts.”

I blinked, surprised by Hayden’s boldness. Liam gave me a lopsided grin, one eyebrow quirked as if waiting for me to agree.

My cheeks turned even redder, and I glanced away, fumbling for the words.

“Well, I mean, if you’re up for it…” I trailed off.

“Are you kidding? Bratwursts sound way better than my failed soup experiment,” Liam said, leaning back in his chair, looking far too comfortable for someone about to get stitches. “For all I know, my finger is floating in the soup.”

“No way.” Hayden’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

“Just kidding. I cut my palm.” Liam laughed. “But I can’t pass up a chance to hang out with my favorite troublemaker here. Invite accepted.”

Hayden beamed, clearly thrilled by Liam’s enthusiasm.

“Mom’s bratwursts are the best!”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Liam said, wincing slightly as he adjusted his injured hand. “Assuming I don’t lose my hand to this blender wound.”

The doctor entered the room then, a genial older man who gave Liam a knowing look. He was a different physician than Hayden’s.

“All right, Mr. Harper, let’s see what kind of trouble you got yourself into this time.”

“It’s a kitchen mishap,” Liam said with mock solemnity, holding up his hand wrapped in its towel. “The blender won this round.”

The doctor chuckled as he unwrapped the dish towel, revealing a shallow but jagged cut on Liam’s palm.

“Looks worse than it is. A few stitches, and you’ll be good as new. Try to keep your hands out of kitchen appliances next time.”

“I’ll make a note of that,” Liam said, grinning at Hayden, who was watching with wide-eyed fascination.

As the doctor prepped his tools, I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, trying not to look too amused.

“You’re really taking this like a champ,” I told Liam.

“I’ve had worse,” Liam replied, his tone casual but teasing. “Though I’d feel a lot braver if I had a cheer squad.”

“Go, Liam!” Hayden piped up, pumping his fists in the air.

Liam laughed, glancing at me. “See? That’s the kind of support I need.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to hide my smile. “You’re lucky Hayden’s on your side.”

Hayden peppered him with questions about the process as the doctor began stitching.

“Does it hurt?”

“How do you keep the needle so steady?”

“Can you sew other things, like clothes?”

The doctor chuckled and looked over at my son. “Yes. Yes. And yes.”

Liam winced theatrically with each stitch, and Hayden gasped.

“You’re enjoying this a little too much, aren’t you?” Liam asked Hayden.

“Yup!” Hayden said with a grin. “You’re really brave, though. Like a cowboy.”

“Cowboy, huh?” Liam questioned. “I’ll take it.”

By the time the stitches were done, Hayden had declared himself an honorary medical assistant, and Liam had promised to be more careful with kitchen gadgets in the future.

As we walked back to the vehicles, Hayden skipped ahead, chattering about how cool it was to see stitches up close.

“You’ve got quite the kid there,” Liam said, his voice warm. “He’s smart, funny, and fearless. Reminds me of someone else I know.”

“You mean me?” I teased.

He winked, and warmth spread through me. “Exactly.”

“He’s my whole world.”

Liam nodded, his expression softening. “I can see that. And you’re doing an amazing job with him.”

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say.

“Thanks,” I said finally, my voice quiet. “That means a lot.”

We reached the truck, and Hayden turned to Liam with a hopeful look. “You’re still coming over, right?”

Liam chuckled, ruffling Hayden’s hair. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”