Page 96 of The Secret Heir Next Door

There’s something so hot about a man who can’t keep his hands off you.

As I walk through his house naked, I feel a sense of liberation and excitement. Every step I take, I can feel his eyes on me, and it only makes me want him even more.

We go to the kitchen, and he starts preparing a meal. I can't help but watch his muscles flex as he works.

He turns around and grins at me, catching me staring. "You're making me hungry," he smirks.

I blush, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. "You'd make anyone hungry," I respond playfully.

He chuckles, and I can't help but feel a sense of happiness wash over me. This is what I wanted, what I needed—a man who can make me feel desired, alive, and happy simultaneously.

As he finishes cooking, I can't help but feel my stomach grumble with anticipation. The scent of the meal he's prepared fills the kitchen, and the anticipation of our next encounter heightens my senses.

He sets the table and pours us each a glass of wine, the red liquid swirling and deepening the already intense atmosphere. We sit down and begin to eat. The food tastes exquisite, and the wine is smooth and full-bodied. But no matter how much I eat, I just grow hungrier.

Perhaps it’s the way he keeps glancing at me, his eyes dark with desire. Or the way he finds any excuse to touch my skin. I can't help but wonder what he's planning next.

Will he always look at me like this, or is it just because this is our makeup period?

Does it matter?

I blow out a breath and focus on enjoying the moment rather than overthinking everything.

24

LOGAN

We’re both finished eating. I stand and begin cleaning up the mess. Serena follows and starts helping, too. I lean against the counter, trying to decide when the right moment is to ask her. It feels like every second that ticks by is making this more difficult, but I can’t let it go unsaid any longer.

Maybe since we’re both walking around naked, she won’t get mad at me. That’s a thing, right? You can’t be mad when you’re naked

“Have you thought about what you’re going to do if… if we can’t save the store?”

Her hands pause as she puts a dish in the sink, and for a moment, she just stares at the drain, the light in her eyes dimming. Then she turns on the water with a slight shrug.

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it. It’s not exactly my dream scenario, but I’m prepared for it. If I lose the shop, I’ll just run the business out of my place for a while.”

I nod, trying to picture her doing it—her kitchen filled with candy, orders being prepped on the dining table, the hustle and chaos of her creativity spilling over into every corner ofher home. It fits her, but it’s not what she deserves. She deserves better than scrambling to make it work from her small apartment.

“I mean, the website’s doing great,” she continues, forcing a little optimism into her voice. “Sales are up, and it’s sustainable, you know? I’ve got options.”

“Yeah, but running it out of your apartment… you’d need to get it approved by the health department. The permits, the inspections… They’re gonna want to see that you’re up to code.”

She winces, and I know I’ve struck a nerve. “Oh, I know,” she says, rubbing the back of her neck. “I didn’t forget, just… I guess I was hoping it wouldn’t be too complicated. But it’s doable. Annoying, but doable.” She looks at me, her expression softening. “I don’t know why, but I thought losing the store would be like losing a part of myself. A month ago, it felt like a death sentence. Now… It feels more like a detour. Maybe even an opportunity.”

I watch her closely, impressed by her resilience. It’s one of the things that drew me to her from the start. Serena never gives up. She bends without breaking and somehow finds a way to turn a setback into a positive. “You’re handling this way better than I would,” I admit. “I’d probably be punching walls and threatening lawsuits.”

She laughs, and it eases some of the tension. “You’re not wrong. I’ve had those moments. Trust me, I wanted to throw things at a wall when I first found out. But it doesn’t change anything, you know? It just wastes energy I could use to find a solution.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” I say, my voice softer. “But I don’t want you to settle for something that doesn’t make you happy. You’ve built something incredible here, and losing this space… it’s not just losing a building.”

She tilts her head, considering my words. “I know, Logan. But what choice do I have? I mean, short of winning the lottery, I can’t just magically keep my place open. People will see that I was evicted, even though that’s not the case, and it’ll be hard for me to find another space to rent. I don’t have a lot of time to figure it all out either, and I don’t want to put a Band-Aid on any of this. The right space and storefront can make or break you, and I don’t want to choose wrong and then have to move again. One move is a lot…more than that would be detrimental. And it’s not like I have a safety net. It’s just me.”

“It’s not just you,” I say, reaching out to still her hand. Her skin is warm beneath mine, but her eyes are defiant like she’s trying to remind me she doesn’t need saving. “You’ve got me. We’ll figure it out.”

She searches my face, and for a moment, she’s quiet as if weighing my words. “I don’t want you to feel like you have to fix this for me,” she finally says. “I’m used to fighting my own battles.”

“I’m not trying to fix it,” I say. “I just want you to know you’re not alone in this. Whatever happens, I’m with you. Look, I’m used to being the problem solver. But I’m not here to fix everything for you. I’m here to listen and offer solutions—not take over. We’re a team, right?”

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