Page 47 of Just Say Yes

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Twirling Fox wasa brand-new ramen restaurant that had opened over the summer on the outskirts of Outtatowner. I hadn’t had the opportunity to try it out, so dinner with Annie, Lee, and Kenny was as good a time as any.

Sadly, the tonkotsu ramen was the only drool-worthy part of the evening.

Sure, Kenny was conventionally attractive with his swooping blond hair and devilish grin. He was handsome, butboydid he know it. He was also the funniest person in the room—don’t worry, he’d tell you.

Call me too picky, but from the moment I met Kenny, I knew there wouldn’t be anything beyond this pathetic setup.

He was too brazen.

Too loud.

Too ...young.

My mind immediately caught on the memory of the tiny streaks of gray hair that were forming at Logan’s temples. I wondered if he even knew they were there or if they bothered him.

They certainlybotheredme, but not in the way they should.

I shook away the thought. Kenny wasmyage. It was ridiculous to think he was too young for me.

Still, I couldn’t deny that there wasn’t even the tiniest heart palpitation. When it came to Kenny, I was flatlining. Biting the dust. DOA.

Bad girl or not, I needed to feelsomething, even if I was planning to keep any potential relationship casual.

“Am I right?” Kenny’s gentle nudge thrust me into the present. I looked around, having no idea what we were supposed to be talking about.

I hummed and nodded, hoping that was an appropriate response to whatever tale he was telling, and took a hearty bite of ramen so I didn’t have to talk again.

“But you’ve talked to him, right?” Kenny nodded expectantly as I stared, struggling to catch up. “Logan Brown.” Kenny shook his head and laughed. “It’s so cool there’s a gold medal Olympian in our midst.”

I could feel my ears get hot as I swallowed. “Oh, uh ... yes. His grandfather lives at Haven Pines, where I work.” I looked to Annie for help.

She gently cleared her throat and tried to divert the conversation. “So, Kenny, why don’t you tell MJ about the award you received. Chief’s Company is a big deal.”

Pride swelled in his chest as he droned on about the prestigious award he’d been given. As a firefighter, Chief’s Company was a hand-selected group of men and women who received the honorary titles as a reflection of exemplary service.

I forced a smile. “The best of the best,” I said. “Impressive.”

Kenny leaned over, draping his arm casually on the back of my chair. His fingertips brushed against the exposed area at the back of my neck, and I wanted to crawl out of my skin.

“I’m glad you think so.” His voice dipped low, and I fought the urge to instantly recoil. “Most women can’t resist a man in uniform.”

I stifled a gag.Uniforms are great—especially if they come with the ability to stop talking.

I cleared my throat and placed my napkin on the table. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to use the ladies’ room.”

I stood and glanced at Annie. Her brows were up as she nodded, as if to ask,Need me to come too?

I smiled at her and jerked my head, silently letting her know that I was fine. I pushed my chair in and excused myself.

When I turned, I was stunned into place by Logan’s hard, assessing eyes. He was sitting across from a man who, from the back, looked like Wyatt Sullivan, but Logan’s attention was pinned on me. His expression was anything but friendly. A hard line formed between his brows, and my stomach jumped.

The weight of his stare settled on me like a challenge, daring me to look away first. My cheeks betrayed me, heating under his gaze, but I lifted my chin higher.

I’d win this round.

I held his stare as I walked across the crowded restaurant toward the bathrooms in the back. I didn’t break eye contact until I sailed past him and disappeared into the ladies’ room.

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