Page 31 of Defensive Desire

"Is this your way of asking me out on a date?" she asks, a hint of humor glistening in her eyes.

My heart pounds against my ribs. The smart answer is no. That's the safe answer. The answer that doesn't complicate everything.

"Do you want it to be a date?"

She considers this, teeth catching her bottom lip in a way that makes me want to lean forward and do the same fucking thing.

"I... yes," she says finally. "I think I do."

I can't help the way my chest puffs out with pride at hearing those words.

"Ridgeview Tavern?" I suggest. "Eli makes a decent burger."

Emma nods. "I'll meet you there?"

"I'll drive you."

She opens her mouth, probably to argue that she can drive herself, then seems to remember our conversation. "Okay."

I walk her around to the passenger side and open the door. As she slides past me, her hand brushes my arm, and that same electricity from the ring toss shoots through me.

This is dangerous. This thing between us is getting out of control, and I'm letting it happen.

But as I close the door and walk around to the driver's side, I realize something:

For the first time in years, dangerous doesn't feel like something to run from.

It feels like something worth fighting for.

Chapter Eight

Emma

Istare at my reflection in the tiny bathroom mirror above Chapter & Grind, trying to give myself a pep talk that sounds more confident than I feel.

"It's just dinner," I tell my reflection. "A simple, casual dinner between business partners."

My reflection gives me a look that saysbullshit, because we both know this is so much more than that.

I check my phone for the fourth time.

Still no response from Lucy.

Of course, when I need my best friend to talk me through the most nerve-wracking date of my adult life, she's MIA. Probably busy making googly eyes at Connor somewhere.

"Okay, Emma. You can do this. You've run a business, survived family dinner with your mother, managed inventory during a blizzard that lasted three weeks. You can handle one date with Logan Kane."

One impossibly gorgeous, funny, protective, grumpy-but-sweet Logan Kane.

I rummage through my closet again, rejecting every option for the third time. Too casual. Too try-hard. Too "I'm definitely not thinking about what underwear I'm wearing under this."

Oh God. Underwear.

The thought hits me. What if he sees my underwear? I mean, probably not tonight, but what if he does?!

Focus, Emma.

I settle on a soft burgundy sweater, paired with my favorite dark jeans and brown ankle boots. It's casual enough for Ridgeview but still makes me feel like I could be the heroine in one of those romance novels I can't stop reading.