Page 117 of Falling For You

I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Violet

Valentine’s Day had arrived, and despite the cold Wisconsin air, there was an undeniable warmth in my heart. I’d woken up to a quiet cabin, Owen already gone, with a note left on the kitchen counter in his familiar scrawl.

Today is a day of adventure so put on your boots and bundle up. I’ve got a surprise for you. Follow the clues.

I smiled as I read the note. It was so sweet of him.

Our first Valentine’s Day together. I poured some coffee as my heart raced with anticipation.

Owen had a way of making even the simplest things feel like magic. I grabbed my jacket and boots, eager to see what he had planned. As soon as I stepped out the door, I noticed the first clue—tied to the railing of my front porch, fluttering gently in the cold breeze. The paper was folded neatly, with a heart drawn on the outside.

I opened it with a smile.

Clue 1: I’m thinking of an animal that’s fluffy and loud. You’ve seen it before. Do you remember when you fell down proud?

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Of course.

The llama.

The infamous incident where I’d tripped and landed, feet sticking out of a trough. Owen had been there to save me, pulling me out and wrapping me in his jacket. I hadn’t known it then, but that was the moment I started falling for him.

The clue was clearly pointing me to the barn.

Pulling my jacket tighter, I trudged through the snow with my coffee and clue toward the petting zoo.

My breath was visible in the cold morning air, and my feet crunched with each step.

When I arrived, I was greeted by the familiar sounds of the animals. The next clue was tied to the gate of the llama pen.

Clue 2: A tangled affair of lights and limbs, but we made it through with laughter and grins.

I chuckled, recalling the time I’d tangled myself in Christmas lights, and he caught me from smashing my head against the barn floor.

This clue must be pointing me to the lodge. On the porch, we still had white, glowing lights welcoming guests.

The lodge stood proudly in the distance, its warm glow beckoning me closer. When I reached the porch, there was another clue tied to the front railing.

I chuckled and shook my head. Owen was really good at this.

Clue 3: A moment under the stars, where time seemed to stop. It’s where you held my heart, and I realized you were my rock.

I smiled at the memory. It had been late one evening after a snowstorm. After a long day of working at the lodge and on my blog, Owen pulled me out of the back of my tiny cabin, and we wandered to the outlook.

Wrapped in a blanket, we watched the stars twinkle above us in the quiet of the resting snow. The beauty of the frozen lake stretched in front of us. It had been one of those moments when everything felt right, and I knew he was the one.

I hadn’t noticed any footprints in the snow headed inthat direction. Maybe he was spying on me and dashing all over. The thought made me giggle as I looked around sheepishly.

I made my way back toward the cabin and veered toward the lake. My heart pounded with a mix of excitement and love as I climbed through the snow. The view was just as stunning as I remembered when I reached the overlook. The lake stretched out before me, frozen over in the winter chill. The trees surrounding the frozen water were dusted with snow. And there, tied to one of the benches, was another clue.

Clue 4: You’ve been brave, you’ve been bold, and you’ve held your own here. But now it’s time to take a leap, and this treasure will be known.

My breath caught in my throat as I read the words.

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