Faye's POV
I watched him take the first bite, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. The silence stretched between us like a taut wire, and I found myself holding my breath despite trying to appear indifferent.
"Well?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, betraying my nervousness.
Hardy continued eating methodically, each spoonful deliberate and slow. My patience frayed with every passing second until I couldn't bear it anymore. I shifted forward slightly, my eyes searching his face for any hint of his thoughts.
Without warning, he lifted the spoon again, this time extending it toward me. The gesture caught me completely off guard.
"What are you doing?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
His crimson gaze held mine steadily, the spoon suspended between us like an unspoken challenge. My pulse quickened as I realized he wasn't going to answer, wasn't going to lower his hand until I responded.
