Page 62 of Falling For You

Liam snorted. “Sounds like a reality TV show waiting to happen.”

I shot him a look. “Hey, don’t knock it. Stranger things have happened.”

Fifi dropped the fabric and plopped onto the couch next to Liam. “Honestly, I think you’re going to kill it. The llama thing might be a little… different, but that’s what makes it great. Everyone’s expecting the usual ‘little black dress with a masquerade mask’ or ‘country chic with a veiled cowboy hat’, and here you come in with a full-blown llama outfit. You’re going to stand out in the best way.”

My heart sank. Why didn’t I think of those options?

“Thanks, Fi. You’re right. I just need to embrace the llama.”

Liam raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, if you’re happy, I’m happy. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you when some weirdo bids on you.”

“Liam!” Fifi exclaimed.

“I’m not expecting to meet the love of my life, okay?” I said, grabbing the fluffy llama tail and attaching it to the back ofthe costume. “It’s all for fun. If some guy bids on me, great. If not, at least I’ll have a funny story to tell.”

Liam shook his head. “Oh, I’ll be there, and one of us will have a great story to tell.”

I scowled at him. “I thought you were busy that night.”

He grinned widely and waggled his brows. “What can I say? I might be able to squeeze some time in to watch you up for grabs.”

I stuck my tongue out at him again. “You’re going to feel really bad when I raise the most money out of everyone and become the hero of this whole event.”

“Oh, yeah?” Liam said. “You think you’ve got what it takes to beat out the competition?”

I stood up, holding the llama head in one hand and the costume in the other. “I’ve got heart. And fur. And really, what more could you ask for?”

Fifi burst out laughing while Liam groaned and shook his head. “You’re impossible, Vi.”

“And proud of it,” I said, grinning as I twirled the llama costume around. “Now, if you two are done making fun of me, I could use some help finishing this thing. The auction is a little over a week away, and I want this llama to look its best.”

Liam rolled his eyes but got up from the couch, picking up the glue gun and some fabric. “Fine. But I’m not taking the blame if this costume falls apart mid-auction.”

Fifi stood up and grabbed the llama’s tail, holding it up in front of me. “Come on, Sis. Let’s make you the most glamorous llama that Buttercup Lake has ever seen.”

“Thank you,” I said with a nod, but my thoughts immediately went to Owen.

And I finally let myself feel annoyed.

This was my problem.

I always fell for the emotionally unavailable men.

And here I went again, but this time, I wasn't going to make excuses.

Chapter Sixteen

Owen

I sat in the hotel conference room and stared at the large screen, which was filled with my partners and fellow investors. The men congregated in a sleek conference room in a Manhattan office building.

The city’s skyline stretched out behind them through the floor-to-ceiling windows, and for the first time ever, I didn’t want to be anywhere near the hustle and bustle.

Manhattan was in stark contrast to where I was nestled in the heart of Buttercup Lake. With the double doors open wide to the outside and views of the lake, there was nowhere else I’d rather be.

Right here was what we’d planned to duplicate—a place for leisure or business.

But a sick feeling spread through me.

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