Page 15 of Claimed By my Fake Husband

I feel the spotlight land square on my chest, but I lean into Logan anyway, into that solid, steady warmth.

"I did." The smile comes easy. Too easy. Something's shifting between us, and I think we both feel it.

Then I remember his mouth on mine last night, and my whole body goes hot.

Dammit, Tess. Focus.

"I'll leave you two lovebirds to it." Bradley winks and heads off. "Don't waste the honeymoon phase!"

My face burns, but Logan's already moving, gathering deadbolts, padlocks, and a biometric panel like nothing happened.

"Come on, sweetheart."

Back at the house, I watch Logan install everything, quick and thorough, testing each piece before moving to the next.

I feel safer. I also can't help but notice how much care he's putting into a house that isn't even ours.

Love of my life.

The words won't leave me alone. It's the kind of thing people dream of hearing. I never thought it'd be said about me—not even as a cover story.

I know none of this is real. But hearing him say it still did something to my chest.

His touch from last night hasn't left me either. I can still feel the ghost of it on my skin.

I've officially become his errand girl too—handing him nails, holding the level steady, learning more about deadbolts than I ever wanted to know.

"That's the last one." Logan straightens, twisting the final bolt into place. "Thanks for the help."

"Oh, sure. I was a huge asset. Held a nail. Go me."

He sets the screwdriver down and looks at me—really looks—and my skin catches fire under it. We've been circling each other all day, and something's about to give.

He's traded the suit for faded jeans and a gray tee, tattoos peeking from his sleeves. No one looks at this man and thinksjust okay.

Chiseled. Tall. A face that shouldn't be legal.

"And look at that," he says, leaning against the island, "you were my good girl the whole time."

Heat rushes through me so fast my jaw drops. Did he really just say that?

He clocks my reaction and chuckles—low, dark, and far too sexy for his own good.

I'm speechless. Rare for me. He notices that too, pushing off the island and closing the distance until I have to tip my head back to hold his stare.

"Cat got your tongue?"

Something's shifted in him. Maybe it's all the hours standing close. Maybe it's the moment my chest brushed his shoulder while he knelt to check a lock.

Oh no. I didn't even see this coming.

"I—"

"What, sweetheart?" His voice drops to a rumble that reaches somewhere low and unguarded in me. "What's going on in that pretty head?"

What is happening? Do I even care anymore? God, I want to feel him again.

"Touch me." My voice comes out small. I clear my throat. "Like before."