Page 61 of Falling For You

“That is not the point of this auction.” I paused, staring down at the ears in my hand. “Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe some guy who’s really into wool sweaters?”

Liam laughed exaggeratedly, tossing the tail onto the floor and leaning back on the couch. “Yeah, good luck with that. Nothing says ‘dateable’ like a woman covered in faux fur with giant llama ears sticking out of her head.”

I chucked a fabric scrap at him. “It’s supposed to be quirky! You know, like one of those weird icebreakers. Besides, I’m not trying to find Mr. Right.”

“Exactly, because when people think of icebreakers, they totally think of llamas,” Liam said sarcastically.

Fifi snickered. “Don’t listen to him, Vi. I think it’s cute. Plus, it’s all for charity, which is what really matters.”

“Exactly!” I said, feeling a little more confident. “And besides, the whole town’s been buzzing about the auction. It will be fun, and maybe—just maybe—I’ll meet someone who gets my sense of humor. Yesterday, I saw the auction was being held at the Marshalls’ Farm.”

Liam raised a brow. “Why were you there?”

Crap. I’d said too much.

“Just went on a hayride,” I muttered, wishing I could poke myself with the needle and dribble blood everywhere to flee the scene.

“By yourself?” my sister prompted.

“No comment.”

My siblings traded a glance.

“Anyway, you never know what this auction might do for my dating life. It’s already lagging.” I hoped my last statement would distract them from the hayride.

Liam grinned wider. “You think some guy’s going to take one look at you in that costume and think, ‘Now that’s the woman I want to spend an evening with’?”

“Wouldn’t you?” I chuckled.

Liam shook his head, laughing as he stretched out on the couch. “Vi, you’re one of a kind, I’ll give you that.”

I stuck my tongue out at him before turning my attention back to the costume. “I just don’t get why I’m the only one of us siblings who has to do this. Fifi’s the one who’s good at talking to people. And you.” I pointed at Liam. “You should be up there, too. You’d probably raise way more money than me. You and Beck are like the most eligible bachelors of Buttercup Lake.”

Liam smiled. “Says who?”

Awesome. I really did distract my brother and sister.

“Just word on the street,” I informed him.

Liam grinned, leaning back and propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Well, I’ve got this thing called ‘dignity’.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Dignity? You dressed up as a giant hot dog for Halloween last year.”

“Yeah, but that wasn’t for a blind date auction. Big difference.” He shook his head. “That was my choice. My terms.”

“Ah, yes. That makes all the difference.”

Fifi snickered, finally setting down the fabric she’d been cutting and standing up to stretch. “Liam’s just scared that if he went up there, no one would bid on him.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Please. If I were up there, they’d be bidding in buckets. The cash would be overflowing.”

“Buckets of what?” I quipped, smirking as I sewed the ears into place. “Rotten pumpkins?”

Liam grabbed a throw pillow and lobbed it at me, but I dodged, laughing as it sailed past my head. “Watch the costume!I still have to ensure this thing doesn’t fall apart when I’m up there.”

Fifi walked over to the mirror on the wall and held up the half-finished llama body in front of her. “You know, Violet, I think you’re onto something. If this goes well, you could make a whole business out of it—llama-themed dating events.”

I laughed, shaking my head as I adjusted the headpiece. “Yeah, sure. ‘Llamas in Love’ or something like that.”

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