Page 60 of Defensive Desire

Emma’s already reaching for the spoon, stirring vigorously. “I’m making pasta. I swear I didn’t mean to burn it.”

I snort. “Maybe I should’ve brought takeout from Ridgeview.”

She shoots me a look over her shoulder, but her lips twitch. “I can cook! Just... not always well.”

“Need a hand?”

She hesitates, clearly wanting to prove herself, but finally sighs. “Yeah. Do you... know how?”

“My mom taught me some basics. Nothing fancy, but she made sure I won’t starve.” I grab the cutting board and start chopping the veggies she’s pulled out. “What are we making?”

“Pasta with marinara. I wanted to try homemade sauce, but... as you can see, it’s turned into a bit of a disaster.”

I glance at the pot, where the sauce is thicker than it should be. “Maybe add a bit of water. Thinned-out sauce doesn’t mean failure.”

She huffs, but follows my advice, adding a splash. I keep chopping, feeling more at ease than I have all week. The quiet between us is comfortable, her little hums as she stirs making my chest feel lighter.

“So, how’s the plan for the Arena Experience Day coming along?” I ask.

Her eyes light up. “Great! I’ve been working on the hockey-themed bookmarks, plus some little pucks with stickers to giveaway, and I even found some kid-sized Icehawks jerseys for prizes. You gonna sign them for me, Hockey God?”

I can’t help but grin. “Anything for you. Seems like you’ve thought of everything.”

She shrugs, stirring more gently now. “I just want it to be fun. A chance for kids to see hockeyandbooks from a different angle. Story time, crafts... it’s gonna be adorable.”

I nod, impressed. “You’re amazing.”

Her face softens. “We'll see. I really want that café space.”

I set down the knife and move to wrap my arms around her from behind. I rest my chin on her shoulder, inhaling the light, sweet scent of her.

“I know you do. Like I said, you’re amazing. You put your heart into everything you do. And that’s why I know people love it.”

She leans back against me, relaxing.

“Thanks, Logan,” she whispers. "Really. You're helping so much."

My phone vibrates again in my pocket, and I pull it out to check the screen.

Another message from Nate.Come on, man. It’s tradition!

Emma glances at me curiously. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmur. “My brothers. They want to go on the annual fishing trip up to the old cabin before the season starts.”

Her face lights up. “Oh, Logan! That sounds fun. You should go!”

I snort and nearly bring up the chatter around the locker room. With all this trade talk going on, I'm not sure the timing is right.

“I can’t just take off. Besides... I’ve been... busy. Helping you.”

She turns in my arms, hands on my chest. “You deserve a break, Logan. You work harder than anyone. And family traditions are important.”

I huff. “It’s just fishing. Nothing fancy.”

“I’ve never been fishing,” she admits, biting her lip.

I raise an eyebrow. “Never?”