Page 35 of Defensive Desire

As Logan flags down Eli, I study his profile. There's something different about him tonight. More open. More... present.

"What about you?" I ask when he turns back. "What do you want beyond hockey?"

Something flickers across his face. Surprise at first, but then… something softer.

"I always wanted to travel," he admits quietly. "See where my mom grew up. Finland. She used to tell me stories about the midnight sun, the forests that went on forever."

"Why haven't you?"

He shrugs, but I catch the tightness around his eyes. "Never found the time. Season, off-season training, other hockey obligations that pay the bills."

"You could still go. You'd look good in a backpack, hiking in the wilderness."

"Maybe." He stares at his beer, then looks up with a self-deprecating smile. "You'd probably find me three days later, lost in the woods with nothing but protein bars and terrible navigation skills."

I laugh, the image too clear in my mind. "Yeah. You do give off real grumpy nomad vibes."

Logan huffs a laugh. "I think I'd last about five minutes before I missed having a proper shower."

"Maybe. But I bet you'd surprise yourself."

Hope or something similar brightens his expression, like I've said something he needed to hear.

"You have a lot of faith in people," he says quietly.

"In the right people."

The way he looks at me then makes my stomach flutter. Like maybe I'm one of the right people.

By the time we finish dinner, the snow is falling more steadily outside. Logan pays the check despite my protests, and Eli sees us off with more grins and comments about "young love."

The walk back to Chapter & Grind feels different than the walk here. Maybe it's the alcohol, or maybe it's the deepening conversation we just shared, but I feel closer to Logan. More comfortable.

When I stumble slightly on an icy patch, Logan's arm immediately comes around my shoulders, pulling me against his side.

"Steady there, Coffee Witch."

I let myself relax into his warmth, my head finding a perfect spot against his shoulder. He's so much bigger than me that walking like this should be awkward, but instead it feels... right.

"This is nice," I murmur, the words slipping out before I can stop them.

"Yeah," he agrees, smiling into the freezing night air. "It is."

We walk slowly, neither of us eager to end the evening. The snow continues to fall, creating a hushed, magical atmosphere that makes the familiar streets of Iron Ridge feel like a winter wonderland.

All too soon, we're standing in front of Chapter & Grind. The warm light from the shop's window creates a golden circle around us, making the falling snow look like glitter.

Logan turns to face me, his hands coming up to rest on my shoulders. His eyes search my face in the dim light.

"I had a good time tonight," he says.

"Me too."

We're standing close, close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating from his body. Close enough to see the snowflakes caught in his dark hair.

"Emma," he says, and my name sounds different in his deep voice. Softer. More... intimate.

"Yeah?"