Page 29 of Just Say Yes

He stepped forward. “What is it?”

My shoulder bounced and my nose scrunched up. “It’s just really far from the field. How does anyone see anything?”

He chuckled. “I guess a lot of people up here would rather have free drinks and a warm room than be close to the action.”

“Oh.” I laughed. “Right.”

His green eyes narrowed. “You’re not happy.”

I shook my head. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt his feelings or seem ungrateful. “I’m happy. This is by far the coolest thing I’ve done all year. Thank you for inviting me.”

Logan playfully rolled his eyes and gripped my hand. “Come on.”

He gently pulled me out of the suite but didn’t let go of me. My hand was swallowed by his, and the warmth of his touch flowed up my arm, spreading heat across my chest.

“You want front row? You’re getting front row.” With a determined line creasing his brow, I struggled to keep up with his long strides as he stomped down the hallway. Players nodded in greeting, but Logan was a determined man.

When we reached a lower level, he stopped in front of a security guard. “Tony, can you get her close? One of the open family seats, preferably. And please send down a team blanket to make sure she isn’t cold.”

Tony smiled at Logan and then at me. “Of course. That’s no problem, sir.” Tony stepped aside to make a call on his radio.

Logan turned to me, gently placing his hands on my shoulders. “I’ve got to get ready, but Tony will take care of anything you need. If you get chilly, head back up to the suite level. Otherwise, there’s a server here for food and drinks. Anything you need. Understand?”

My mouth popped open. “I—this is?—”

Logan grinned. “It’s what you want, and it’s perfect. Have a good time.” With a gentle squeeze on my shoulder, he turned and jogged down the hallway until he disappeared.

“All set, miss?” Tony asked, gesturing at the doorway that led to the field.

I nodded in awe and followed. His massive frame shielded the sun as we walked toward the field. The area at this level was protected by a low wall. The seats were on swivels, and small, half-moon tables provided a place for food or drinks to be set down. There were even small screens to allow viewers to see close-ups of the action.

Tony caught the eye of a small group. “Got room for one more?”

A beautiful woman with long black hair wearing a green-and-gold jersey smiled and waved. “Of course! Send her over.”

I pleaded at Tony with my eyes, but he just smiled. “You’re in good hands.” He stopped by the small group. “Maria, this is Logan Brown’s guest ...” He waited for me to respond.

“MJ,” I said.

“She wanted to be closer to the action,” Tony finished.

Maria patted the seat next to her. “That’s my kind of girl. Have a seat.”

Relieved, I exhaled and sat next to her. “Thank you.”

“So ...” She smiled. “Logan Brown, huh?” Her eyebrows waggled, and I could feel my cheeks heat. “We were shocked he wasn’t competing in the Sevens, but having him on the exhibition team has made all these extra games much more exciting.”

Sevens?I had no idea what she was talking about, so I simply smiled and nodded. Soon, a woman delivered a plush wool blanket in muted Wildhawks colors. Seats around me filled quickly with friends and families of players from both teams. I watched in awe at the friendly camaraderie of the fans. It was apparent that there was a sense of family and community that I didn’t expect.

Maria wrapped an older woman in a fierce hug, and when she sat down, I leaned in. “Aren’t we supposed to hate the opposing team?” I asked.

She smiled and laughed. “We let the men on the field do the battling. Around here, we’re one big family.”

One big family.

I liked that.

With a smile, I settled into my seat, wrapping the Wildhawks blanket around my shoulders just as the announcer started speaking.

---