Chapter Seven
Liam
I stood against the counter in Honey Leaf Lodge’s kitchen, where the smells of roasting chicken and freshly baked bread filled the air.
My sisters moved about the space swiftly, chatting as they prepared dinner for the evening’s guests.
The kitchen was as familiar as ever—the large wooden island in the center was piled high with ingredients, some open shelving my brother and I installed above the counters displayed neatly arranged jars of spices, and the copper pans hung like trophies on the brick accent wall.
But I wasn’t paying much attention to any of it.
My mind was stuck on Evie.
And Hayden.
It wasn’t just Evie’s quick wit or smile that made my chest feel lighter—it was the whole package. It was her actions in silence, like the way she carried herself with that quiet strength, balancing her farrier work and raising her son, while still managing to bake cookies like a pro and dashing off to the school nurse.
And Hayden? That kid was something else. His boundless energy reminded me of what it felt like to see the world through a child’s eyes, and I was drawn to it.
I’d always known I wanted kids someday, but being around Hayden had solidified it.
He was curious and funny, with a stubborn streak that reminded me of Evie in the best way. I couldn’t help but wonder about their family dynamic, though. I didn’t know much about Hayden’s dad or Evie’s ex—just that whoever he was, he’d missed out.
And if he was still in the picture? Well, that was a complication I hadn’t let myself think too hard about yet.
“You’re doing it again,” Violet said, her voice cutting through my thoughts.
My sister stood at the other side of the island, rolling dough for biscuits, her sleeves pushed up and a knowing smirk on her face. Her phone was propped on a recipe book to take photos for her blog.
“Doing what?” I asked, playing dumb.
“Looking like you’ve wandered into some dreamy Hallmark movie,” she teased, her tone dripping with amusement. “What’s her name, Liam?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I rolled my eyes.
“Oh, come on,” Fifi chimed in, nudging me with her elbow as she passed by to grab a tray of vegetables. “You’ve got that goofy look on your face again. Like you just met Cupid.”
“Cupid, huh?” I said, grabbing a towel to make myself look busy. “You’re all delusional.”
Violet snorted, her hands deftly shaping biscuits.
“Delusional, my foot. You’ve been floating around here like a lovesick puppy since you got back from Evie’s place.”
My head snapped up, and they both grinned.
Great. I was never going to live this down.
“If you knew it’s because I’ve been spending time with Evie, then why all this ribbing?”
“It’s the Harper way.” Vi laughed. “You two were pretty ruthless when it came to Owen.”
“She’s a good friend,” I said with a quick shrug. “And her kid’s great.”
“Good friend,” Fifi repeated with a laugh. “Is that what we’re calling it now?”
Before I could respond, the kitchen door swung open, and Mom walked in, carrying a basket of apples she’d gotten from the cellar.
Her sharp eyes immediately landed on me, and she raised an eyebrow. “What’s this I hear about Liam being in la-la land?”
I groaned, scrubbing a hand over my face. “Not you, too, Mom.”
“Oh, absolutely me too,” she said, setting the basket down and pulling a few sprigs of thyme. “If my son’s head is in the clouds, I’d like to know why.”
Violet grinned, her hands still dusted with flour. “Evie Grayson.”
“Evie Grayson,” Mom repeated, her eyebrows lifting slightly. “The farrier?”
“Yep,” Fifi said with a dramatic sigh. “Apparently, she’s got our big, strong Liam all weak in the knees.”
I shot her a look. “I’m not weak in the knees.”
“Sure, you’re not,” Violet said, smirking. “That’s why you’ve been staring into space like a lovesick teenager.”
Mom chuckled, but her expression softened as she looked at me. “So, what’s the story?”
“There’s no story,” I said, not convincing a soul. “She’s a great mom, and Hayden—her son—is an awesome kid. That’s it.”
Fifi leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Uh-huh. And you just happened to show up at her house with soup and snacks because…?”
“Because her kid was sick,” I said, exasperated. “It’s called being helpful. And how do you know these details?”
“I’ve got my sources.” She grinned. “I just joined the Sunshine Breakfast Club.”
My eyebrows shot up. “The book club?”
She nodded coyly. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“Why would you do that?” I asked, knowing full well that it was more of a matchmaking club than anything. “You trying to find your soul mate?”
She waved her hands in the air. “Don’t deflect. You’re the one all goo-goo over the town’s cutest single mom.”
“I’m not goo goo. I’m not sure what it is,” I said more gruffly than I intended.
“It’s called being smitten,” Violet said under her breath.
I ignored her, focusing instead on the apples Mom was chopping.
“Can we talk about something else?”
“Fine,” Fifi said, though her grin suggested she wasn’t done teasing me yet. “But if you’re planning to bring her to a family dinner, let us know so we can clean up our act.”
“Clean up your act?” I asked, laughing. “That’s unlikely. Let’s just not let Beck know too much, okay?”
“You think Beck is worse than we are?” Vi’s brows quirked.
“Without a doubt,” Fifi answered for me.
Before I could respond, Mom stepped in and smiled.
“If you like her, Liam, don’t overthink it. You’ve always had a way of complicating things that don’t need to be complicated.” Her tone was gentle, but I knew she meant business.
I sighed, leaning back against the counter. “It’s not that simple, Mom. She’s got a kid. And I don’t even know if she’s ready for… anything.”
“Then start with being there,” she said simply. “The rest will come if it’s meant to.”
Her words hung in the air, and I found myself thinking about the way Evie had smiled when she promised to meet me for coffee.
Maybe my mom was right.
Maybe I was overthinking it.
Maybe Evie was overanalyzing it.
Maybe we were just all doomed.
I chuckled and pushed myself away from the counter. “I don’t know. I’ll just take it one step at a time.”
“Well,” Fifi said, breaking the silence with a dramatic clap of her hands. “If Liam brings Evie and Hayden home, we’ll have to step up our game.”
“Stop,” I said, laughing despite myself. “You’re getting ahead of yourself.”
“Just planning ahead,” Violet said with a wink. “You never know when we’ll have a new addition to the family.”
“The same could be said about you and Owen,” I pointed out wryly.
“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.
The kitchen was still buzzing with activity, but I’d had enough of being the target of my sisters’ relentless teasing.
Fifi’s smirk would carry her into dinner, and Violet kept throwing little quips my way about preparing for fatherhood, so it was my time to exit.
“That’s it,” I said, holding up my hands in mock surrender. “I’m going to the barn. At least our rescue animals don’t spend all day trying to dissect my love life.”
Fifi laughed as she sprinkled rosemary over a platter of roasted vegetables. “You mean they don’t talk back to you. That’s the only reason you like them better.”
“Bingo,” I said, pointing a finger at her as I grabbed my jacket from the hook by the door. “I’m out. Don’t burn dinner for the guests.”
“Don’t get lost in your feelings, Romeo!” Violet called as I opened the back door, the sound of her laughter following me outside.
The cold air hit me as I stepped onto the porch, a welcome contrast to the kitchen's warmth.
I pulled on some gloves, shoved my hands in my pockets, and made my way toward the barn. The solidness of snow under my boots and the familiar sounds of the animals settling in for the evening were enough to help me clear my head.
Inside, the barn was its usual cozy self, the scent of hay and the gentle sounds of shifting hooves and soft whinnies welcoming me like an old friend.
Honey, our oldest rescue horse, lifted her head from her stall and released a soft nicker. I walked over, rubbing her nose as she leaned into my touch.
“Hey, girl,” I murmured, scratching behind her ears. “You get me, don’t you? No teasing, no prying questions. Just peace and quiet.”
She flicked her ears, as if agreeing, and I smiled.
I wandered through the barn, checking on the other animals as I let my thoughts drift to Evie.
No matter how much I tried to keep things casual in my head, there she was.
Evie always crept in. There was something magnetic about her strength and quiet vulnerability. I could feel her opening up more and more, but we had a long way to go.
I leaned against one of the stalls, watching as a goat named Sky nudged at her hay. She looked determined and content. I only felt one of those emotions at the moment: determined.
I was determined to show Evie I could be the guy she wanted.
No, needed.
As I thought more and more about Evie, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. Whether I daydreamed about her quiet confidence when she worked, especially around animals, or how she handled our horses with such ease, even the ones that were skittish or stubborn—it was like she spoke their language.
But I wanted to speak hers.
And then there was the way she was with Hayden. Her love for her son was pure, raw, and fierce.
Seeing her with him made me admire her even more. Hayden wasn’t just her world—he was her universe—and she managed it all with a grace that most people couldn’t even touch. I wanted to know more about her, though. What made her laugh when no one was watching, what she dreamed about late at night when the house was quiet, what she thought of me when I wasn’t there?
And what made her so guarded?
I sighed, tugging my wool cap lower.
The truth was, I wanted her to let me in. To give me the chance to be a part of her world, even if it was just for a little while.
But I had to be patient.
She had her walls up, and I got the sense they weren’t there for no reason.
I couldn’t blame her for being cautious.
Hell, I’d been the same way for most of my life. Relationships had always felt like a risk, one I wasn’t always sure I wanted to take.
But Evie made me want to freefall with her.
I leaned back against the stall door, briefly closing my eyes. My mind drifted to Violet and Owen and how their story had unfolded.
Watching them go from enemies to something incredible had been a lesson in how unpredictable life could be. I wouldn't have believed anyone if they had told me a year ago that my sister would find love in such a messy, complicated way. But here they were, building a life together, one day at a time.
It made me wonder if I could have that, too. If there was a chance for me and Evie to carve out something real.
Something good.
Perfection wasn’t the goal. Just something honest and pure that we could build a future on.
Honey nudged my shoulder, pulling me from my thoughts.
I chuckled and scratched her neck.
“Yeah, yeah. You think I’m overthinking this, don’t you?”
She huffed softly, her breath warm against my cheek.
“I don’t know, girl,” I said, my voice low. “She’s got this way about her, you know? Makes me want to be the guy she deserves. But I can’t push. I’ve got to wait for her to meet me halfway.”
The barn grew quieter as the animals settled in for the night, their calm energy seeping into me. It was precisely what I needed. It made me wonder how I’d unwind once I opened Red Barn Cider. Would I still be able to claim quiet moments like these?
I stood there for a while longer, letting my thoughts tumble over themselves as I replayed my time with Evie.
The way her cheeks flushed when I caught her watching me. The promise she made to meet me for coffee. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. And for now, that was enough.
I pushed off the stall door and started walking toward the lodge. The cold nipped at my exposed skin as I stepped outside. The sky was clear, scattering dots of light against the darkness.
I shoved my hands into my pockets and let a small smile creep onto my face.
Maybe, just maybe, I wasn’t the only one who wanted this to work. And perhaps, with a bit of patience, Evie and I could find something worth holding onto.
Until then, I would enjoy every second of our coffee date.