Logan notices my unease and pulls me close in a protective way that makes my heart swell. Despite his stoic nature, he can tell that something is wrong. “Are you alright?” he whispers, his breath warm against my ear.
I nod my head because words are caught in my throat. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the man who just entered.
His gaze locks onto mine like he’s not expecting to see me here. Of course, I didn’t think I’d meet him here.
His eyes have always been my weak point. When I stare into them, I am always lost in those eyes.
They held so many secrets. I remember how my heart pounded loudly in my chest with just a look from him.
He’d been my crush for what felt like forever until he finally asked me out.
But like every fairy tale, I foolishly clung to him, thinking he felt the same way about me.
Even now, thinking about my time with him makes my stomach twist in disgust.
It later dawned on me that I was just a pawn in his game, foolishly in love with someone who never cared.
As Daniel walks closer, I can feel Logan’s grip tighten. He can sense that I’m uneasy with Daniel’s presence.
“Hello, everyone.” Daniel’s smooth, velvety voice pulls me out of my thoughts, bringing me back to the present.
“Hello, Daniel, good to see you,” Logan’s mother walks with poise and grace to greet him.
“Hello, Aunt Florence, good to see you,” he says, kissing her on both cheeks, but his gaze is on me the whole time, stirring emotions I thought I had buried.
I wonder if Logan knows about my past with Daniel because, with him, one can’t be sure with the way he knows about me and my family.
Logan’s jaw clenches as he notices Daniel’s lingering stare. Instinctively, he pulls me closer in a possessive way, as if sending a message for him to back off, marking his territory.
Daniel nods at Logan, and the other guys exchange quick handshakes, while the ladies hug Logan. You can see that they are close.
Logan introduces me to his siblings. “Nadine, meet Laura, Lily, and Lucas, my siblings.”
Then he turns to Daniel and Shane. “These are my cousins,” he adds in an even tone.
“Meet my wife, Nadine,” he announces, and the room stills.
I can see their stares of surprise, confusion, and disbelief.
“Wife?” The word echoes from the guys, while the ladies gasp in shock.
Daniel’s eyebrows shoot up, his gaze shifting between Logan and me. He can’t hold it any longer. “Wife?” he repeats, his voice filled with disbelief. “Since when?”
Logan’s expression hardens, and his stare at Daniel is cold. “Recently,” he says in a steady voice.
“We decided to make it official.”
One of the ladies, Laura, finally speaks up, still in shock. “When you said you were bringing your wife, I thought you were joking!” she says with laughter, but you can tell it is edged with surprise.
Logan doesn’t say anything. He just stands with one hand in his pocket and the other still at the small of my back, with an unreadable expression.
Lily steps forward, her voice soft, looking at me with what I think is a pity. “I hope he’s not forcing you into this. I can’t picture anyone falling for him-he’s like a statue! But I’m happy to have you as my sister-in-law,” she says, pulling me into a hug.
“Lily, that’s enough,” Logan’s voice cuts through the air, sharp with anger.
Lily is unfazed by Logan’s cold tone as she rolls her eyes. She walks up to Logan and wraps her arms around him, smiling as she pulls him into a hug.
I suppress a laugh as a small smile tugs at Logan’s lips, and he kisses Lily’s forehead.
I am happy that the earlier tension is slowly melting away.
But Daniel’s eyes never leave me. His expression is unreadable, but I know he’s trying to figure out what’s going on.
“It’s nice to meet you all,” I say, breaking the silence with a smile. “We’ll have to excuse ourselves for now, but we’ll be back later.”
I loop my arm through Logan’s, and he leads me away, his touch gentle.
I can feel their gazes on us as we head up the stairs, leading to our room.
I sigh in relief as we finally escape their scrutiny, but it’s short-lived.
Then reality sets in when I realize that we’re sharing the same room.
How am I going to stay composed around him? Logan’s presence is magnetic and impossible to ignore. He stirs something in me I’m not ready to face.
The moment we step into the room, Logan corners me, my back against the wall. He stands too close for comfort, his hands pressed against the wall on either side of me. His eyes dilate as if he’s suppressing his anger.
“Who is he to you?” he growls in a low, dangerous voice.
His possessiveness catches me off guard. This side of Logan is new, and it leaves me reeling. I can feel his breath on my skin, his closeness breaking my walls.
I take a deep breath and place a hand on his chest, feeling the tension beneath my fingertips.
“Logan, let me go,” I say softly. “If you want to talk about him, just ask. No need to play the tough guy.”
Logan stiffens at my words, his jaw tightening. “You’re mine, Nadine,” he says, his eyes locking onto mine.
I laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “Logan, I’m not yours. We have a contract, that’s all. But don’t worry, I’ll hold up my end of the deal.”
He lets go, the tension between us dissipating. I sigh, grateful for the space.
I am drained of emotions as exhaustion seeps into my bones. All I need is a moment to myself.
I glance at the bathroom, eager for a bath, but having Logan in the room makes me feel exposed. Sensing this, he steps out, giving me some privacy.
I slip into the bathroom, relieved. Everything I need is neatly in place, and I waste no time sinking into a bubble bath. The warm water soothes me, washing away the tension of the day.
But my mind drifts back to Daniel and Logan. How am I going to survive a whole week with both of them around? Seeing Daniel again stirs up feelings I thought were long gone, leaving me tangled in emotions I can’t put into words.
As the bubbles begin to fade, I reluctantly step out of the tub, wrapping myself in a towel. I open the bathroom door, ready to face the room.
Only to be met with someone crashing their lips against mine.