4.

We settled into the dining room, an elegant space with soft lighting and a long, polished table set for two, I felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety swirl in my stomach. The meal had been catered, a gourmet arrangement that looked far more exquisite than anything I’d ever prepared in my cramped kitchen.

Logan took his seat across from me, the sharp angles of his jaw illuminated by the soft glow of the candlelight. I could see the tension in his posture, his eyes scanning the room as if expecting an intruder to burst through the door at any moment. The silence hung thick between us, punctuated only by the distant clatter of cutlery as the staff quietly retreated.

“Are you going to eat?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.

“Right,” I replied, my voice slightly shaky as I picked up my fork. “Sorry, I just… I’m not used to this kind of dining.” I glanced at the ornate place settings, unsure of where to start.

Logan’s lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained mostly unreadable. “Just eat. It’s food, not a test.”

“Okay,” I said, trying to sound confident. I speared a piece of the perfectly cooked salmon, but as I brought it to my mouth, my hand trembled slightly. The fork slipped from my grasp, clattering onto the plate and sending a tiny splash of sauce onto the pristine tablecloth.

“Nice going,” Logan remarked, a hint of sarcasm edging his tone.

“Great,” I muttered under my breath, mortified. “Just perfect.”

“Relax, Claire. You’re not on trial,” he replied, his voice still lacking warmth, but I could detect a subtle shift in his gaze as he regarded me.

With a sigh, I picked up the fork again, determined to make it through the meal without further embarrassment. As I took a bite, I felt his eyes on me, studying my every move. It was unsettling, the intensity of his scrutiny making my heart race for all the wrong reasons.

“So, how was your first day in the mansion?” he asked, attempting small talk, though his tone was still clipped.

“It was… overwhelming,” I admitted, trying to push through the nervous tension. “I didn’t realize how big it was until I walked through all the rooms.”

Logan nodded, his expression cool. “You’ll get used to it. Just think of it as a new adventure.”

“An adventure, right,” I echoed, taking another bite of the salmon. “Is that how you view it? Like a game?”

He paused, his gaze sharpening. “Not a game, Claire. It’s serious business. The press will be watching every move we make. This isn’t just about you and me.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily in the air. “I understand,” I replied, my voice softer. “But it’s hard to feel comfortable in a situation like this.”

“Then don’t think about it,” he said, leaning back in his chair, his demeanor still guarded. “Just be yourself.”

As I tried to focus on the meal, my mind raced. What did it mean to “just be myself” around someone like him? I glanced up and caught him watching me again, and this time, the heat of his gaze sent a flush of heat to my cheeks.

“Why are you staring?” I asked, the challenge slipping out before I could stop myself.

“Maybe I’m just trying to understand the woman I’m supposed to be living with for a year,” he replied, an edge of amusement creeping into his voice.

“Or maybe you’re just intrigued by how out of place I feel,” I countered, feeling bolder.

“Perhaps,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. “But you shouldn’t. You belong here now.”

“Belonging is a strong word,” I shot back, trying to mask the unease that fluttered in my stomach.

“Suit yourself,” he said coolly, but there was an undercurrent of something more—an awareness that made the air between us thrum with tension.

As we finished our meal, I felt a strange pull toward him. Despite the chilly exchanges, there was an undeniable magnetism that kept me engaged, a current beneath the surface that I couldn’t ignore.

“Are you done?” he asked, glancing at my plate.

“Almost,” I replied, taking a last bite of my salmon. I wanted to linger in the moment, savoring both the food and the oddly electrifying connection that lingered in the air.

When I set my fork down, Logan stood and began clearing his plate. Our hands brushed accidentally as we reached for the same dish, and an unexpected spark shot through me. I gasped slightly, pulling my hand back, my heart racing.

“Careful,” he murmured, his tone low as he watched me. There was an intensity in his gaze, one that seemed to penetrate beneath the surface of our charade.

“Sorry,” I breathed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Just get used to it,” he said, his voice softening slightly, though the coolness never fully left. “Accidental touches happen.”

“Accidental touches?” I repeated, a hint of playful defiance creeping into my tone. “Are you saying I’m supposed to enjoy that?”

“Depends on how you look at it,” he said, an unexpected smirk crossing his lips.

I narrowed my eyes, feeling a mix of annoyance and excitement. “Well, it’s hard to enjoy anything when you’re so… unapproachable.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to protect you from the chaos that is my life,” he countered, his voice losing some of its chill.

“Protect me?” I echoed, a laugh escaping my lips. “From what? Your riches? Your mansion?”

“From the press,” he corrected, his tone serious again. “From the expectations of being seen with me. They’ll twist everything.”

“Is that all?” I challenged, crossing my arms defiantly. “What if I want to get tangled up in your chaos?”

Logan’s eyes darkened slightly, and for a brief moment, I saw a flicker of something primal beneath his composed exterior. “Just know, Claire, there’s more to this than you realize.”

“I’m starting to get that,” I said, the air crackling with unspoken words. The tension between us shifted, becoming charged, electric.

“Good,” he replied, the corner of his mouth quirking up in that infuriatingly charming way of his. “Now let’s finish up and see what else this house has to offer.”

I nodded, feeling the weight of our earlier conversation linger in the air. As I cleared my plate, my mind raced with possibilities—possibilities that both thrilled and terrified me.