At the end of the street, they paused and Logan looked her over. "Not too shabby. With any luck, you might be able to fit in at the banquet in a few months."
"The what?" Her ears pricked up.
"The annual sports banquet for Sports Informer magazine. I thought you'd be there?"
Sports Informer magazine? They were the biggest name in sports publishing. Beyond big—it was the Vogue of the sporting world. A spread could make or break public image, and every agent in the country would likely be vying for a spot on the guest list.
Which meant, of course, she’d likely not been even close to the list of considerations.
"For sure. Totally going. I just forgot." She nodded, the gears in her mind already whirring. She'd already called in every favor her brother could offer her and—
Her stomach growled. Loudly.
"We should probably eat." His mocking half-grin returned and she surveyed the storefronts surrounding them. There wasn't much this far down aside from a few dodgy shops, but there was one semi-clean-looking sushi place.
"Want to try it out?" He motioned to the doors and she hedged.
A sushi place sandwiched in between a pet store and a cigar bar? It had the potential to go very, horribly wrong, but there was something in the way Logan smiled that made her regular cautiousness fade away.
"I'll give it a shot," she said and hooked her arm around his to cross the street.
The interior was small, but much nicer than she'd expected. One of those sorts of traditional places with low-to-the-ground tables and pillows for seats. Without being asked, she plunked onto a nearby pillow and pulled her heels off, resisting the urge to rub her feet and beg forgiveness of her toes.
A hostess met them and eyed her wordlessly before finally clearing her throat. "Welcome. Two?"
"Yeah," Andy said and stumbled to her feet again.
Not that the waitress heard her. She was already padding in the opposite direction, guiding Logan to a part of the restaurant closed off by a wide, tan screen.
Sprinting after them, Andy caught up just as the waitress ordered them to be seated again.
They did as they were told and the server went on, "This is our couples' room. Made specifically for dates and special occasions. Are you two celebrating tonight?" she asked.
"Oh no, we're not—" Andy started, but cut herself off when she saw the waitress' delighted expression.
Ah, so that was the plan, was it? She wanted to find out if Logan was single?
"Actually, you know, I was going to keep it a secret, but we're celebrating some very special news." Andy shot the waitress her brightest grin. “We just moved in together.”
The other woman responded with an obviously forced smile and offered her congratulations before scooting away and muttering something about water.
When the coast was clear, Logan glanced up from his menu, his eyebrow cocked. “So, I didn’t realize we were moving so fast. Were you planning on picking china patterns after this?”
Andy rolled her eyes. “Don’t be dumb. I’m just…irritated.”
“And lying to waitresses does what? Helps you ease the stress?”
She blew out a breath. “Look, do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be seen in public with you?”
When he lifted his second eyebrow, she rushed to continue. “Not like, you know, you. You’re fine. I mean being around you around other women.”
“This must be making a lot of sense in your head right now.”
The waitress reappeared with a pitcher of water to fill their glasses, and Andy couldn’t help but notice that her make-up looked freshly reapplied. Was it her imagination, or was the hem on her skirt several inches higher, too?
They placed their drink orders, and when the woman left, Andy gestured after her. “I mean that. That is frustrating.”
“Um…ordering?” Logan frowned.