Page 45 of Defensive Desire

Today, though? I’m a disaster zone.

It’s been like this all day. Ever since Logan kissed me last night outside the shop.

Okay, maybe it’s not just the kiss. Maybe it’s the way his lips tasted faintly of beer and winter air, the way his hands felt steady and warm on my waist.

Or maybe it’s how he looked at me afterward.

I grab another milk jug, try to focus.Flat white. One sugar. Not hard, Emma.But my hands are still shaking, and I almost drop the jug entirely.

“Everything okay back there?” Mr. Harrow calls from the other side of the counter, eyebrows raised.

I give him my brightest smile and hope it covers the fact that I’m barely functioning today.

“Just... a busy morning, you know?”

He gives me a grin. “Well, whatever’s got you distracted, make sure it’s worth it.”

Oh, it definitely is.

As if summoned by my mental breakdown, Lucy breezes in, still in her Icehawks work polo, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She makes a beeline for her usual stool at the counter, drops her bag, and gives me one of those knowing smirks that tells me she’s already onto me.

“Hey,” I start, trying to sound casual. “Have you heard from Connor today? I just... was wondering if he mentioned anything about practice?”

Lucy arches a brow, clearly not buying my sudden interest in hockey schedules. “Connor’s probably still at the rink. Why?”

“No reason,” I mutter, totally unconvincing.

“Uh-huh.” She watches me as I pull another shot, this time managing not to overfill the cup. “You look like you’re about to combust. Something happen?”

I shrug, too busy trying not to burn myself with the milk frother to meet her eyes. “Busy day. Lots of orders.”

Lucy leans on the counter, chin in her hands. “Right.Busy. That’s why you’re making heart-shaped foam patterns without even trying?”

I glance down. The latte in front of me has a perfectly formed heart, and I can’t even blame it on artistic effort.

It just... happened.

Lucy’s grin spreads wider. “Spill. Now.”

“There’s nothing to spill!” I say too quickly, fumbling with the next order.

She cocks her head, examining me like I’m a particularly confusing puzzle. “Emma, you’re glowing. Like, borderline radioactive. You don’t usually glow. You just... lightly shimmer. What gives?”

I open my mouth to brush it off, but one look at Lucy’s face and the whole story comes rushing out. “It was just dinner. We went to Ridgeview. Had a burger. That’s it.”

Lucy narrows her eyes. “Uh-huh. And?”

I can feel the blush spreading up my neck. “And... we might have kissed.”

Her eyes widen, and she nearly falls off the stool. “Oh my God! You kissed Logan Kane?! Grumpy, emotionally constipated Logan Kane?”

“It wasn’t just a kiss,” I admit, my voice dropping to a whisper. “It was... perfect. He tasted… good. And like, he was… gentle. And then... he just looked at me like I was the only person in the world.”

I catch myself letting go of the long, dreamy sigh that makes Lucy let out a squeal and clap her hands like a circus chihuahua. A few customers glance our way and I paste a casual smile across my face.

“You’re falling for him!” Lucy announces.

“I am not!” I protest.

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