Chapter Eighteen
Liam
There was this buzzing in my chest, this ridiculous, uncontrollable energy that I couldn’t shake.
I wasn’t sure if it was the excitement about the offer on the property being accepted or the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about Evie.
Maybe it was both.
Honestly, I didn’t care. For the first time in years, it felt like things were falling into place—not just with work, but with… everything.
I glanced at my phone, half-expecting and half-hoping to see her name pop up.
Nothing yet. It had been a little quieter between us the past few days, ever since that kiss. I replayed that moment more times than I’d care to admit. But afterward, I could sense her pulling back. She wasn’t as quick to text and wasn’t quite as open.
It wasn’t surprising.
Evie was cautious—understandably so. She had her son to think about and her life to protect, and I wasn’t the kind of guy to bulldoze my way in and demand a spot.
Still, seeing her yesterday had been a turning point. She’d been more playful, laughing at my dumb jokes, her guard slipping just enough to make me believe she was starting to let me in again.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the email on my laptop confirming my offer for the property had been accepted. The place was perfect—tucked near the heart of Buttercup Lake, with enough room for the cider-making operation and a cozy little tasting area. It had been a long shot, but now that it was happening, I felt like a kid at Christmas.
And yet, the first person I wanted to tell wasn’t Fifi, Violet, or my mom.
It was Evie.
That realization hit me like a freight train.
I wasn’t used to this—to wanting to share with someone special a small victory.
My family had always been my sounding board and cheering section, but it was different with Evie. I wanted her to know, to smile that quiet and knowing smile she had, to be the one I celebrated with.
To hold.
I grabbed my phone and hovered over her name. My thumb hesitated. Was it too soon to text her? Would I come off as overeager? Probably. But I didn’t care.
Before I could overthink it, I typed out a message.
Hey, guess what? Big news today. My property offer was finally accepted.
I hit send before I could second-guess myself, then immediately followed up with:
Also, still thinking about yesterday. You looked happy. I liked seeing that.
It wasn’t much, but it was honest. And if there was one thing I wanted to be with Evie, it was honest.
I set the phone down, tapping my fingers on the desk while waiting for her reply. The giddiness was still there, buzzing like static under my skin.
It was ridiculous, really. I was a grown man acting like a teenager with his first crush. But Evie had that effect on me.
The phone buzzed, and my heart jumped as I snatched it up.
Congrats on the property! That’s huge, Liam. I’m happy for you.
I smiled at her response, but it was the second message that really got me:
And yeah, yesterday was nice. Thanks for getting me in my truck and making me laugh.
I stared at the words, a grin spreading across my face. She wasn’t pulling back as much as I thought. There was a softness to her response, an openness that made my chest tighten in the best possible way.
I typed back quickly.
Thanks. You’re making me want to celebrate. Any chance I can convince you to grab dinner? Or I could bring something over.
Her reply came almost instantly:
Hayden’s got a school project tonight, so it’s a quiet one for us. But maybe soon?
It wasn’t a yes for tonight, but it wasn’t a no for forever, either. It was enough to keep the hope alive.
Deal. Let me know when.
I set the phone down again, feeling the buzzing settle into something more grounded, more certain.
More realistic.
Evie was letting me in, piece by piece, and I was willing to be patient.
I swiveled my chair around, looking out the window of my home office at the snow-dusted woods beyond.
Buttercup Lake had a way of getting under your skin. The slower pace and the warmth of the community—it was a far cry from the cutthroat business world I’d dabbled with briefly out of college.
And maybe that was why I was so drawn to Evie. She embodied everything I’d come to love about this town—resilience, kindness, a quiet strength that didn’t demand attention but couldn’t be ignored.
The more I thought about her, the more I realized how much I wanted this to work. Not just the cider business but us. I wanted to be the guy who could fit into her world, make her laugh, and build something solid and lasting with her.
And yeah, I wanted to be there for Hayden too. That boy was something special. Smart, funny, with a spark that reminded me a little of myself at that age.
It was easy to imagine hanging out with him, teaching him how to fish, and watching him grow up.
And the fact that I wanted to be a part of it told me not to let go.
I shook my head, laughing at myself. I was getting ahead of things. Evie wasn’t the kind of person you rushed. She’d been through enough to make her cautious, and the last thing I wanted was to push her too hard.
Still, the thought of seeing her again, of sharing the news about the property and seeing her face light up, was enough to keep me grinning like an idiot.
I pulled up the photos of the property on my laptop, scrolling through the images with a sense of pride. It was more than just a business venture. It was a chance to create something that felt real, something that connected me to this town and its people.
And maybe, just maybe, it was the start of something bigger. Something I hadn’t even dared to hope for before meeting Evie.
For now, though, I’d take it one step at a time. One text, one laugh, one moment closer to whatever this thing between us could become.
The soft vibration of my phone on the desk pulled me from my thoughts. I’d been staring at the snowy woods outside my window, daydreaming about Evie, the property, and everything I wanted to build—both in business and, maybe, in life.
I glanced at the screen, and my heart did that ridiculous little jump again when I saw her name.
You know what? Change of plans. Hayden and I could use an extra set of hands. If you’re up for it, bring pizza, and we’ll celebrate while you help with the project.
For a moment, I just stared at the message, rereading it as though it might change. She’d changed her mind. She wanted me there. Were my eyes deceiving me?
A stupid grin spread across my face as I picked up the phone and typed back:
Does this mean I get extra credit if I bring dessert too?
The reply came almost instantly.
What if I’m dessert?
I nearly dropped my phone. Cloud Nine didn’t even begin to cover it. This was more like Cloud Eleven. Maybe twelve.
Shit. Screw it. I wasn’t in the clouds. I was in heaven.
I grabbed my keys and jacket before hopping in my truck.
Turning on the radio, I belted out some nineties tune like I was the king of the world.
On the way, I stopped by Buttercup Pizza Co. and placed an order for a couple of their classics and, of course, a box of their chocolate chip cannoli.
Although, suddenly, their cannoli didn’t seem so innocent. I thought about licking the sweetness off her body and had to glance out the window.
As the pizzas baked, I kept checking my phone, half-expecting Evie to text again and change her mind.
But she didn’t. And when I finally had the pizzas and dessert in hand, I felt like I was on a mission.
A really fun mission.
When I pulled up, her house looked warm and inviting, the lights glowing softly against the snow-covered yard. Lance barked from the window, his tail wagging furiously when he spotted me. I stepped out of the truck, balancing the pizzas and dessert box, and made my way to the door.
Before I could even knock, it opened, and there she was.
Evie looked effortlessly beautiful in a simple sweater and jeans. Her hair was pulled back into a braid that somehow made her even more stunning.
Her smile lit up the porch, and I forgot how to breathe for a second.
“Hey,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “I see you followed instructions.”
“Always,” I said, holding up the boxes. “Two pizzas, one dessert. I aim to please.”
She laughed, and the sound was like music.
“Well, you’re already off to a good start.”
Hayden bounded into the room, grinning from ear to ear. “Liam! Did you bring dessert?”
I crouched down, showing him the cannoli box. “What do you think?”
“Awesome!” he said, pumping his fist in the air. “You’re the best.”
“High praise,” I said, glancing up at Evie as she closed the door. “Guess that means I’m doing something right.”
She rolled her eyes, but her smile stayed firmly in place. “Come on, the project’s in the dining room.”
I followed her, setting the food on the kitchen counter before stepping into the dining room. The table was covered in construction paper, markers, glue sticks, and what looked like a half-finished solar system model.
“We’re making a diorama,” Hayden explained, climbing onto his chair. “It’s supposed to be a rocket ship, planets, and stuff.”
“Ambitious,” I said, nodding approvingly. “I like it.”
“Mom’s not good at rockets,” Hayden said matter-of-factly, earning a laugh from Evie.
“He’s not wrong,” she said, shrugging. “But that’s why you’re here.”
“Ah, that was the change in heart. Not just my devilishly good looks and pleasing company,” I said, pulling up a chair.
Evie laughed, and that was enough for me.
“Where do we start?” I rubbed my hands together.
For the next hour, the three of us worked on Hayden’s project, cutting out stars, gluing planets into place, and occasionally getting sidetracked by Hayden’s stories about school and his dog, Lance. The pizza was a hit, and so was the cannoli. The evening felt magical and so attainable…if she’d just let me in.
Through it all, I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Evie. The way she laughed with Hayden and concentrated while cutting out construction paper shapes was all so effortlessly her. And it hit me again, that feeling of being exactly where I was needed, and I liked it.
When the project was finished, Hayden stood back to admire our work.
“It’s perfect,” he declared, his chest puffed out with pride.
“It’s definitely rocket-worthy,” I agreed, fist-bumping him.
Evie leaned back in the chair as her smile widened. “Good job, Buddy.”
“You too, Mom,” he said, grinning. Then he turned to me. “And you, Liam.”
“Hey, teamwork makes the dream work,” I said, making him laugh.
It wasn’t long before Hayden’s yawns started creeping in, and Evie suggested it was time for bed. He protested at first, but after a little coaxing—and the promise of another cannoli tomorrow—he headed off to brush his teeth.
I helped Evie tidy up the dining room, stacking the leftover supplies into a neat pile.
“Thanks for letting me crash the project party,” I said, glancing at her.
“Are you kidding?” she said, her eyes sparkling. “You saved the day. That rocket ship and solar system wouldn’t have made it off the ground without you.”
“Well, I do have a knack for making things fly,” I said, grinning.
She laughed, shaking her head. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” I said, stepping a little closer. “But you’re smiling, so I’ll take it.”
Her laughter faded into a soft smile, and for a moment, the room felt smaller and quieter. I wanted to reach out, brush that loose strand of hair from her face, pull her closer, but I held back, letting the moment settle.
“So,” she said, breaking the silence, “should I pack you some leftovers?”
I chuckled, realizing she was undoubtedly direct and consistent. It was my time to exit.
“I think I’ve had my fill tonight. But thanks.”
She nodded, her gaze lingering on mine. “Well, thanks again for coming. Hayden really loves having you around.”
“The feeling’s mutual,” I said, my voice softening. “Both of you.”
Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, tucking that loose strand behind her ear.
She looked back up at me and sighed, walking me to the door. “Good night, Liam.”
“Good night, Evie,” I said, but I didn’t open the door.
Instead, I turned and slowly cupped her face, looking into her beautiful eyes, and kissed her.
Softly, slowly.
And then I stepped back, opened the door, and left.
Maybe, I just needed to leave her wanting more.
Perhaps that was what Evie needed most of all.
A reminder of what she was missing.
Because I thought about it every waking moment.
I was missing her.