Jeni met his blue eyes and irritation flared. She pursed her lips. “I hate it when Andrew’s right.”
Logan cocked his head sideways at the change in topic. “What do you mean?”
“I had a terrible first impression of you and judged you based on that first day. But Andrew insists you’re a good guy and everyone who meets you likes you. I didn’t believe him at first.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “And now you like me?”
“It’s under consideration.” She switched to a spoon to ladle some of the broth. “Ask me again when you hand me those Broncos tickets.”
He laughed. “Well, I like you. Even if you are a little crazy.”
Jeni looked down and smiled, a little surprised at how much she enjoyed that. “Crazy but likeable? I’ll take it.”
Chapter Four
Logan only saw Jeni twice over the next month, but he thought about her more than he cared to admit.
She met him and Andrew for lunch once and joined them at McNellie’s one Friday night, which might have bothered him if it were anyone else. It wasn’t as easy to meet women when you already had one at the table. But not only was Jeni more like one of the guys, Logan also found he wasn’t as interested in working the room that night.
Jeni was an enigma. There were times she came across as fun and witty and others when she seemed closed off and introverted. She was still prickly and sometimes a little defensive, and he wasn’t quite sure where they stood on the friendship scale. But he sensed there was more to her than she let show and wanted to dig deeper. He was drawn to her and didn’t know why.
Maybe because she was fucking hot. Thick, soft-looking brown hair that fell to the middle of her back, those cute freckles canvassing her nose and cheeks that somehow made her seem softer than she probably wanted to come across, and a body meant to drive men to the brink of insanity.
But he wasn’t supposed to notice any of those things, her being Andrew’s sister and all.
Andrew was a good friend—maybe the best guy friend Logan had ever had. Friendship with guys had never been something Logan was very good at. Sure, he knew how to shoot the shit and talk about sports, cars, and women. He could play a round of pool and throw back a few beers and tell jokes with the best of them. But real friendship, where you could actually talk about things? Be there for each other? That wasn’t something he’d had much of growing up.
Come to think of it, it wasn’t limited to men—he didn’t have women friends either. He could flirt, woo, and appreciate spending time with them in and outside of the bedroom, but moving on to complex layers of intimacy wasn’t easy for him.
Logan wanted deeper relationships but hadn’t quite figured out how to get there.
He wasn’t sure why it clicked with Andrew, but it did, and their friendship felt effortless from the start. Maybe because Logan had met Andrew when he was older and away from all that shit he’d dealt with as a kid.
He’d expected to like Andrew’s twin just as much as he liked Andrew, maybe even more simply because she was a woman.
That hadn’t exactly worked out like he thought it would. But he was getting there.
Today was Sunday, and the Chiefs were on a bye week, freeing up Logan to watch football as nothing more than a spectator. He’d still have to keep an eye on social media activity during the games, but things would be more relaxed than usual. Before he’d landed the Chiefs job, he’d spent most Sundays watching football with Andrew, and it felt like old times. Except for one thing.
Logan sat in the passenger seat of Andrew’s truck, a little confused as to how they’d gotten here. “Remind me why we’re watching the game at Jeni’s?” He didn’t mind, per se. He just hadn’t expected it. They’d always watched games at Andrew’s.
“Jeni’s TV is bigger than mine. She doesn’t mess around on game day, and since I told her we were coming, she’ll have all sorts of food made. It used to be an all-day affair at our house growing up. She’ll probably have more beer options too.”
Logan had noticed that the evening he met her. She’d ordered a Guinness, and he’d had the strangest urge to leap across the table and kiss her right then and there. Most of the women he had drinks with preferred cocktails, fruity wines, or light beer. Jeni’s taste for a good, strong stout was apparently a real turn on.
Who knew?
Andrew shot him the side-eye. “We don’t have to go to her house if you don’t want to.”
Logan sort of wished Jeni didn’t live next door to Cassidy, because she hadn’t spoken to him since he’d texted her after spending the night. Even more, because now he thought of that evening as the night before he met Jeni.
That was weird, right?
“It’s fine. I don’t care where we go. I bet she’ll be laughing with you and insulting me in under fifteen minutes.”
He’d said it as a joke, but Andrew grimaced. “I feel like I should apologize for her. She hasn’t been very nice to you.”
Logan shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”
It had been a while since he’d met a woman that got him worked up like Jeni usually did, it was true. Women typically came at him with flirtatious banter and sexy smiles rather than glares and snarky comments.
But he figured he could handle one feisty Jeni, no problem. Oddly enough, he kind of liked it.
“Still,” Andrew said, “like I told her, I’m disappointed you two don’t get along all that well. I really thought we’d all be good friends. You and I get along great, and she and I are so similar. I don’t get what the rub is between you two.”
“We’re cool,” Logan said. “Really. I don’t mind being around her, and she can tolerate me. But I’d have to disagree—she’s not like you at all.”
“What do you mean?”
“She’s mean, for one,” Logan said with a half grin. “Presumptuous and opinionated. Kind of rude. Loud and excitable but also a little uptight. And unapologetic about all of the above.” Andrew’s eyes narrowed the tiniest bit, and Logan realized he might be offering a little too much information. Only someone who’d thought about Jeni a lot would have a list of qualities locked and loaded. “None of those are words I’d use to describe you, my friend.”
Andrew sighed. “She’s had a rough few years. Don’t get me wrong—she’s always been strong-willed and stubborn. But the rudeness and negativity aren’t part of the Jeni I know. I think her divorce really messed her up. She’s been pretty closed off since then, and I worry it will affect her making new friends here. She hardly knows anyone, and my first attempt to introduce her didn’t exactly go well.”
Logan did a terrible job hiding his shock. “She was married?”
Why was he so surprised? He barely knew her.
And she definitely barely knew him. Few people did.
“Yeah.” Andrew pulled into the driveway of her small, craftsman-style house. “The guy was a real dick.”
Logan stayed quiet as they got out and walked to the door. His eyes darted to Cassidy’s house, and he was relieved to see her car wasn’t there. Running into her now would be awkward as hell. Andrew knocked, and Jeni opened the door. She planted her feet in the doorway, blocking entrance.
Her brown eyes slid to her brother. “Did you ask him?”
Logan took in the woman standing before him, his eyebrows raised. She wore tight jeans that hugged her sculpted legs like a second skin and a loose-fitting Bronco’s jersey that had the opposite effect on the top half of her body.
No problem. His imagination filled in the gaps.
Her hair was piled on top of her head, and he wondered how the hell she got all of it up there. Her thick-framed glasses perched on her nose, and she gently gripped the right side with her thumb and forefinger to scoot them closer to her face.
Andrew tilted his face up in exasperation. “No. You’re ridiculous.”
“Is there a password?” Logan asked.
Jeni looked at him. “The Chiefs aren’t playing. You aren’t rooting for t
he Raiders, are you? If so, you’re not welcome here.”
He almost said yes just to get a rise out of her. “Probably not.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Okay. Come on in, Squinty.”
Logan grunted and followed Andrew inside. This was going to be an interesting afternoon.
“Squinty?” Andrew asked.
“Don’t ask,” Logan muttered.
Jeni’s house was small, similar to his own. The wood floors creaked under his weight as they passed through the living room, which was like a cross between a man cave and a typical feminine living space.
Man cave: massive flat screen dominating the far wall.
Feminine touch: floral curtains hanging at the windows.
Man cave: framed John Elway jersey.
Feminine touch: coasters and candles on the end table.
Man cave: overstuffed leather couch.
Feminine touch: colorful throw pillows on said couch.
Logan supposed the room was on par with the woman herself—a contradiction. Putting Jeni in the social construct of “typical woman” would be akin to attempting to force a square peg in a round hole.
The space was a little messy too. Not dirty or unclean, just a little disorganized. Several pairs of shoes dotted the front room, books cluttered the coffee table, and a discarded sweatshirt was balled up in the middle of the couch. Probably how he’d find it if he dropped by unannounced, as if she was comfortable enough with her brother and his annoying friend not to impress them with tidiness.
Jeni led them to the kitchen, making a sweeping gesture with her hand. “Help yourselves. Beer and sodas in the fridge, water from the sink if you want it. I’ve got some layer dip that’s almost ready, but it’ll be best if we let it chill for another thirty minutes. Chips are in that cabinet.” She pointed to a slow-cooker on the counter, and the aroma of barbecue and spice was so delicious Logan could almost taste it. “Pulled pork is ready. Buns are there if you want to make a sandwich. And in the cookie jar are some chocolate chip cookies I made yesterday.” She looked at the clock on the wall. “Game’s about to start,” she said, and walked out.
Logan cut his eyes to Andrew, who had a satisfied grin on his face.
“See?” Andrew said.
“Impressive,” Logan admitted. Maybe she wanted to impress them a little bit. Especially with the pulled pork—he wasn’t likely to forget she was a vegetarian. She must have made that just for them.
The kitchen walls were bright yellow, a color he’d always associated with sunshine and optimism. Not what he would have expected to find in Jeni’s house. But the natural wood shelving and open-concept cabinetry seemed strangely perfect for her, displaying mismatched dishes and an array of eclectic drinkware.
Andrew pulled the layer dip from the fridge—apparently he didn’t want to wait—and grabbed two plates from a cabinet. He handed one to Logan. “Have at it, man.”
Both men loaded their plates with food, selected beers from the fridge, and settled themselves in front of the television, the sweatshirt still untouched and crumpled between them. Jeni was already curled in an armchair nearby, her eyes glued to the screen.
The Broncos game was first on the agenda, followed by Green Bay. Even though the Chiefs were Logan’s favorite—had been since he was thirteen—he and Andrew were in a fantasy football league with some other guys, and he had several players to keep an eye on today.
Jeni remained quiet during the first few plays of the game, and Logan wondered how much she really knew about football. He hadn’t met too many women who—
“False start!” she yelled, two seconds before the flag was thrown.
Andrew leaned in Logan’s direction. “Just a head’s up—Jeni gets a little fired up.”
“Do not,” she said.
Andrew snorted.
“You’re one to talk,” she said. “You’re the one who broke the coffee table during the 2014 Super Bowl.”
Andrew grimaced.
“What about you?” Jeni turned her amber-colored eyes on Logan. “Are you one of those people who just sits there quietly during a game? The Chiefs suck, so I wouldn’t blame you if you did.”
Logan kept a carefully neutral expression, refusing to be needled. “I get excited when the time is right.”
Her eyes remained on his for a moment, like she was deciding whether it was worth it to say anything else.
The three chatted a little during the first quarter, and Logan maintained active surveillance of Twitter and Facebook activity. When it was almost half-time Jeni, mid-sentence, leapt off the couch and stabbed a finger at the television. “Pass interference!”
Logan shook his head. “Incidental contact.”
She glared at him. “Bullshit. Jones grabbed his arm.”
“He was competing for the ball.”
“By ripping Cortado’s shoulder out of socket?”
Logan regarded her for a moment. Her cheeks were flushed, eyes wild, and threads of hair had begun to fall loose. “Remind me never to play a board game with you.”
She waved a hand of dismissal and sat back down, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Seems like you’d just be on your phone the whole time anyway.”
Logan stiffened. “It’s my job.”
“Whatever.”
Two minutes later she was up again. “Face mask!”
Logan turned wide eyes on Andrew.
“Told you,” Andrew said around a mouthful of food.
By the third quarter, her voice was getting hoarse. The Broncos were down by seven, and the quarterback was moving the ball all wrong.
“He’s rushing it,” Logan said.
“He’s trying to make a play,” Jeni defended.
“Fast doesn’t always get the job done.”
“That’s what she said,” she said without inflection.
Andrew shook his head, and Logan burst out laughing. Her attention was back on the game, like what she’d said had been completely second nature. She hadn’t even thought about it.
Logan’s laugh quieted, but a small smile remained on his lips.
Who was this woman?
* * *
Logan was relieved when Andrew stood and said he was ready to head out just after the evening game started. They’d been at Jeni’s house most of the day, and Logan didn’t know how much more of her he could take.
If he could just sit and look at her, that would be one thing. But listening to her alternate between yelling at the television, trash-talking the Chiefs, and arguing with anything that came out of his mouth, well, he wasn’t sure it was worth the view.
“Seriously?” Jeni looked incredulous. “It’s only halfway through the first quarter.”
“I know,” Andrew said.
She must have heard something in his tone that Logan didn’t pick up on because concern flashed across her face. “You okay?”
Andrew wrinkled his nose a little. “I don’t feel that great actually. Maybe I had one beer too many, I’m not sure.”
Jeni stood up and moved to stand in front of her brother, peering into his face, like she’d be able to visually inspect him for illness or injury. “Why don’t you just stay here tonight?”
Andrew shook his head. “I drove Logan here.”
“Don’t worry about me, man,” Logan said. “I’ll get an Uber.”
“No, I’m good. I’m just really tired.”
“You’ve been working too much,” she accused softly.
“So have you,” Andrew returned.
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not so tired I’m ready to go to bed at eight o’clock.”
Andrew shrugged and glanced at Logan. “Okay if we head out?”
Logan rose from the couch. “Sure. But really, it’s fine if you just want to crash here. It’s not a problem for me to get a ride.”
“Yeah, Logan could just go next door,” Jeni put in. “Sleep in my neighbor’s bed tonight.”
Andrew’s eyes went wide, and he grabbed his plate and
empty beer bottles before escaping to the kitchen.
Coward.
Logan considered defending Cassidy, but a comment with innuendo would probably bother Jeni more. “That’s not a bad idea actually. But only if you come too. Cassidy wouldn’t mind.”
“Cassidy?”
“You don’t even know her name?”
Jeni shook her head. “We haven’t officially met. You sure you’d be welcome? I haven’t seen you back there since that day I met you, but there have been others—”
The surprise Logan felt at that must have shown on his face because she stopped short.
“Didn’t know that part, did you?” she asked.
Logan blinked. He hadn’t thought about it, really. He and Cassidy had worked together at the same advertising agency before he’d quit for the Chiefs job, and at the time they hadn’t been able to act on mutual attraction. They lost contact when he left, but he ran into her at a bar one night, and they ended up talking. He was hoping for more than a one-night thing, but she’d made it clear the next morning she wasn’t looking for anything serious. He hadn’t considered her reason was that she liked a variety of men, rather than just one.
He didn’t have room to talk since he wasn’t exactly known for long-term relationships himself. He wanted one someday though. Maybe that was the difference.
“No,” he finally admitted. “But it’s not my business. It’s her life.”
Jeni made a murmur of agreement, and the low sound did something funny to his stomach. “She’s a lively one, that’s for sure.”
Logan tilted his head to the side. “Are you jealous?”
“Jealous?” Her pitch rose. “Please.”
“Sorry to interrupt this catfight,” Andrew said as he walked back into the room. “Can we go now?”
Logan’s shoulders relaxed when he turned to his friend. He hadn’t realized how tense he got when talking to Jeni. “Shit, sorry, man. Let’s go.”
Jeni focused her attention on her brother. “Can I box up the pulled pork for you before you go? Do you need anything else? I’ve got Tylenol. Water for the road?”
“Nah but thanks.”
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