Page 24 of Just Say Yes

His grin was disarming, but his tone was casual. “Because you haven’t told me to stop.”

I fought back a smile. I hated that he was right.

With a half-hearted huff, I asked, “What do you want?”

His expression softened, the teasing glint in his eyes giving way to something more genuine. “My grandfather is an excellent judge of character, and he likes you. Plus, maybe I just like talking to you.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat as the wind tugged a strand of hair across my face. Before I could brush it away, Logan reached out, his fingers tucking it gently behind my ear. The gesture was quick, but the warmth of his fingertips lingered, and I suddenly felt like the air had been knocked out of me.

Logan was Trent’s best friend. My mind should not be wandering to thewhat-ifs.

His hand dropped, and he stepped back slightly, giving me space. “You’re really easy to fluster, you know that?”

“Maybe stop trying to fluster me, then,” I muttered, though my voice lacked the bite I’d intended.

He chuckled, the sound low and rich, as he stepped closer. “Can’t help it. I find you...fascinating, MJ.”

I held his gaze with a defiant lift of my chin. “Fascinating because I’m not tripping over myself on the way to your bed?”

A laugh shot from him. “I wasn’t thinking about that, but I sure as hell am now.”

I snorted a laugh through my nose and glanced at the table beside us, pretending to study a display of homemade candles. “I promise I am the least interesting person in this town.”

A deep noise rumbled in his throat. “I seriously doubt that.”

Fighting a smile, I kept walking. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, you know that?”

“Nerve,” he repeated, his voice tinged with amusement. “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

I playfully rolled my eyes and scanned a display of fresh flowers. “It’s not.”

“Sure it is,” he said, leaning casually against the table, his eyes never leaving mine. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t still be talking to me.”

I sighed, trying to ignore the fluttering in my stomach as I picked up a small vase and pretended to inspect it. “You’re insufferable.”

I could feel his attention on me. “And you’re adorable when you’re annoyed.”

I shot him a glare, but the heat in his gaze had my pulse racing. “Shouldn’t you be somewhere else? Practicing? Putting that flannel to good use by chopping wood with your bare hands or doing something equally ridiculous?”

He laughed, the sound deep and genuine. “Trust me, I’m exactly where I want to be.”

The sincerity in his voice caught me off guard, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

He wasn’t just casually flirting. Hemeantit. And that was more terrifying than anything he could have said.

I cleared my throat, shoving the vase back onto the table. “Well, enjoy the market. I’ve got things to do.”

Before he could respond, I turned and walked away, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Are you still thinking about coming to a match?” he asked.

I couldn’t help but glance over my shoulder one last time, fighting a grin. “Still thinking.” I tapped my temple.

Logan stood there, watching me with that infuriating smirk, like he knew exactly what he was doing to me.

* * *

I staredup at JP’s secluded house in awe. It was tucked against the tree line, its black siding nearly disappearing into the forest behind it. The large yard was sprawling as it crept toward the sand dune cliff that led to Lake Michigan. Parked on the side of the house was Hazel’s big white skoolie—a renovated school bus she’d used to travel across the country.

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