Page 14 of Defensive Desire

Logan's throat works as he swallows. His eyes trace the line where the dress meets my boots, lingering just a beat too long tobe casual. The intensity in that look sends heat crawling up my neck.

He shifts against the wall, those massive arms flexing as he adjusts his stance.

A camera crashes somewhere behind me, breaking the spell. But when I glance back at Logan, the heat in his stare tells me he hasn't missed a thing. The corner of his mouth ticks up - barely there, but enough to make my heart stutter.

For someone who rarely speaks, Logan Kane sure knows how to make a girl feel seen without saying a word.

"Emma!" Sophia waves me over. "Perfect timing. We're just about ready for your turn."

As I make my way across the room, I nearly trip over a cable. Strong hands catch me before I can stumble, steadying me with a firm grip on my elbow.

"Careful," Logan murmurs, his breath warm against my ear.

I hadn't even seen him move from his position against the wall. How does someone so large move so silently?

"Thanks." The word comes out breathier than I intended. "I, um, brought samples."

I hold up my tote bag, which Logan immediately takes from me.

"I got it," he says simply, carrying it to the table where the crew has set up for our shot.

In the corner, Ryder is messing around with one of the microphones on his set, beat-boxing badly into it while technicians wince and adjust the bass and treble accordingly. His antics stop abruptly when the door opens and a petite brunette walks in—Mia Harper, the veterinary assistant who's apparently his partner for the community program.

"Would you look at that? Never seen the rookie shut up that fast," Logan mutters, unpacking my coffee samples with surprising care.

I giggle and watch as we arrange the display, both sneaking glances at Ryder who's now pretending to be extremely interested in his phone while stealing looks at Mia.

"Alright everyone!" Sophia claps her hands. "Let's get the partners paired up for their shots. The crew will begin moving around and you will get your chance to film your commercial that will air on both local TV and radio. Make it count, you've all got a shot at a prime location for your local business!"

Logan steps closer, his broad chest nearly touching my back. "You nervous about the camera?"

"Me? Never. I'm a natural." I fumble the coffee bag I'm holding, nearly dropping it and spilling beans everywhere.

He catches it before it hits the ground, his arm wrapping around my waist in the process. "Natural disaster, maybe."

"Hey!" I swat his chest, but I'm laughing. "I'll have you know I'm very graceful. When I want to be."

"Sure." His thumb traces a small circle on my hip where his hand still rests. "And I'm a figure skater."

"Now that I'd pay to see. Logan Kane in sparkly spandex, twirling across the ice..."

His low chuckle vibrates through me. "Keep dreaming, Coffee Witch."

"Oh my god," Ryder's voice carries across the room as Mia approaches him. "I, uh, like your... face? I mean, you look... professional today. Not that you don't always look...Shit. I'm gonna stop talking."

Logan and I exchange looks, trying our hardest not to laugh.

"Poor kid," he whispers. "Should we help him out?"

"Absolutely not. This is the best entertainment I've had all week."

Coach Brody pokes his head into the room, his scowl deepening when he spots the chaos of the room. Logan puts his head down and keeps plucking away at our table.

Despite his gruff exterior, there's something meticulous about the way Logan handles things that belong to me.

Like they're precious. Like they matter.

"Alright, let's get started," the director announces when he finally arrives at our table, positioning us in front of the display of all my coffee sachets. "Logan, you'll introduce the coffee blend, and Emma, you'll explain what makes it special. Just be natural and keep it light and fun."