Page 34 of The Fake Affair

The oven timer beeps, breaking the moment. Audrey pulls out what appears to be lasagna, and the kitchen fills with the smell of garlic and herbs.

“You cooked?” Logan sounds skeptical.

“Definitely not.” Audrey laughs. “I ordered from Giovanni’s. But I did master the art of reheating without burning things.”

“A true culinary achievement,” I tease, helping her plate the food.

“Hey, not all of us can be stress bakers like you,” she retorts.

“Only sometimes,” I defend myself.

“Unlike some people,” she eyes me, “I don’t stress-bake at midnight.”

I nearly drop the serving spoon, remembering that night in the kitchen. Logan’s cough suggests his mind has gone to the same place.

“The cookies were delicious,” he says, voice suspiciously neutral.

Audrey looks between us, eyes narrowing. “Right. Well, dinner’s ready. Dining room?”

The dining room, like everything else in the house, is beautiful. A crystal chandelier casts warm light over the antique table, which Audrey has set with what I recognize as their mother’s china.

“The place settings,” Logan says quietly. “You kept them.”

“Of course I did.” Audrey arranges wine glasses. “Mum would have loved this, you know. Family dinner, her children successful, mostly happy...”

“Mostly?” Logan raises an eyebrow.

“Well, one of us is still emotionally constipated.” She grins at him as she serves the lasagna. “Though he’s staying out of drama. Which reminds me, how’s the board taking your relationship?”

I focus very intently on my wine glass while Logan answers. “They’re... pleased.”

“Especially Victoria,” I add, remembering the elevator incident. “She’s been particularly interested in our history.”

“What history?” Audrey snorts.

“We made something up,” Logan says.

“And she completely bought it.”

“Probably the best romantic meet cute she’s ever heard,” Logan adds.

“We probably made her believe in love again.”

Audrey makes a gagging noise. “Please stop flirting at my dinner table.”

The conversation shifts to safer topics—Louis’s hospital drama, Monarch’s latest acquisitions, and Audrey’s plans for the house. It feels almost normal, except for the way Logan’s hand keeps finding mine under the table or how Audrey’s eyes track our every interaction.

“Louis says the weirdest things happen during night shifts,” Audrey says when her phone buzzes. “Speaking of my wayward husband...” She steps into the hall to take the call.

“You having fun?” Logan asks quietly once we’re alone.

“Yeah. Yeah, I am. It doesn’t feel so weird anymore.”

“You see, I told you you were fidgeting.”

“You were right. Just this one time.”

“I am always right.” He smirks, his thumb traces circles on my palm, and I’m about to say something more when Audrey returns.

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