Page 36 of Defensive Desire

He lifts one hand to cup my face, his thumb brushing across my cheekbone. "Can I...?"

He doesn't finish the question, but I know what he's asking. I can see it in his eyes, feel it in the tension between us.

I nod, unable to find words.

Logan leans down slowly, giving me time to change my mind. But I don't want to change my mind. I've been thinking about this moment since... well, since probably the first time he walked into my shop.

When his lips finally touch mine, it's perfect. Soft at first, tentative, like he's afraid I might disappear if he takes too much.

But then I kiss him back, and the entire world shifts.

The kiss deepens, his arms coming around me to pull me closer. I can taste the faint bitterness of beer on his lips, feel the roughness of his jaw against my skin.

Everything about this moment is exactly what I've been imagining and so much more.

When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard. Logan rests his forehead against mine, his eyes closed.

"Jesus, Emma," he breathes.

"I know," I whisper back.

He kisses me again, softer this time, like he's memorizing the feel of my lips.

When we separate, Logan takes a step back, his hands still on my shoulders.

"You should go inside," he says reluctantly. "It's cold."

"Yeah. I should."

But neither of us moves.

Logan reaches up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my skin.

"Goodnight, Emma."

"Goodnight, Logan."

I force myself to turn around and unlock the door to Chapter & Grind. Before I go inside, I glance back one more time.

Logan's still standing there, hands in his pockets, watching to make sure I get inside safely. The sight of him silhouetted against the falling snow makes my heart do funny things.

I give him a small wave and slip inside, locking the door behind me.

Chapter Nine

Emma

My phone buzzes at exactly 6:45 AM, and I groan, blindly reaching toward the nightstand with my eyes still stubbornly shut.

The warmth of last night's memories lingers like a cozy blanket I'm not ready to throw off. Logan's kiss in the snow, his hand in mine, the way he looked at me under the glow of streetlights like I was the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen.

When my fingers finally locate my phone, I crack one eye open, expecting… no,hoping… to see Logan's name.

Instead, "Mom" flashes across the screen.

My stomach tightens as I sit up, running a hand through my sleep-tangled hair.

Shit. It's too early for this. It's always too early for this.