Page 97 of The Secret Heir Next Door

She smiles, and this time, it brightens her whole face. “Yeah, we’re a team. I like the sound of that. I understand, Logan. And I appreciate any solution that smart head of yours can conjure up.”

“Yours is smarter,” I say, turning back to cleaning, but the air between us feels lighter now. We fall into an easy rhythm, pretending like the world isn’t about to shift under our feet. I don’t want to bring up the health department stuff again, but it’s still hanging over us like an itch I can’t quite scratch.

“So… about the health codes,” I say, trying to keep my tone light. “You’ve looked into them, right?”

She gives me a sidelong glance, her smile teasing. “Are you asking as my boyfriend or as a concerned citizen?”

“A little bit of both,” I admit, grinning. “Just want to make sure you’re not going to get shut down before you even get started.”

“I’ve done my homework, Logan. I’ve got a list of what needs to be done, and it’s manageable. Annoying, but manageable. I’ll have to rearrange my entire house to meet the requirements—dedicated storage, prep areas, separate from living spaces. And they’re gonna inspect everything, so it has to be perfect.”

“You can do that,” I nod. “You can make it work.”

“Yeah, I guess. It’s just one more thing to add to the pile, you know? But I’m not giving up. I’ll make it work because I have to.”

I can’t help but admire her. Serena doesn’t just face obstacles; she charges at them head-on like she’s daring the universe to try and knock her down. “You amaze me,” I tell her, and I mean it. “Every time I think you’re cornered, you come up with something else. It’s like you have this endless reserve of ‘I’ve got this.’”

She laughs, shaking her head. “It’s called being stubborn. And maybe a little bit of ‘I don’t have a choice.’ But thanks. I appreciate the pep talk.”

“I know you don’t want me to rush in and save you, but…we could do it here. My kitchen is bigger and probably closer to the codes. Or, I can buy you a new space. We can add a dedicated kitchen here, too. I can remodel and…”

She puts her hand up in the air before she places her fingers over her mouth. I can see the tears in her eyes as she shakes her head.

“I appreciate the offer, but I cannot ask that of you.”

“I mean, technically, we’re engaged. It would look weird to my family if I didn’t do it.”

She shakes her head again.” Maybe this is all happening for a reason. A month ago, I would’ve panicked at the thought of losing the store. It was my identity, my everything. But now, it’s like… maybe this is just another door opening.”

I lean back. “You really believe that?”

She nods, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I’m still pissed. But I’ve been through worse. And you’re here. That makes everything feel… possible, I guess.”

She’s so damn strong, but even the strongest people need someone in their corner.

“Whatever happens, Serena, you’ve got me,” I say again, wanting her to really hear it this time. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She sets down the dishes and walks over, stopping just below my chin. I can feel the warmth radiating off her, and there’s something in her eyes—a mix of gratitude, affection, and a flicker of vulnerability she doesn’t often let show. “You really mean that?”

“Absolutely,” I say thickly. “I’m all in.”

She reaches up and brushes her thumb over my cheek. “You’re something else. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“Right back at you,” I reply, catching her hand in mine. “You’re stuck with me.”

She laughs softly, her gaze drifting down as if she’s trying to hide the slight blush creeping up her neck. I love that I can still get that reaction from her—like we’re brand new, even with everything going on.

“We’re gonna be fine,” she says, almost to herself. “The shop, the business… it’s all gonna work out. I know it will.”

I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close. She relaxes against me, her head resting on my shoulder. “We’ll figure it out, one step at a time.”

She nods, her fingers tracing idle patterns on my back. “And if that doesn’t work, there’s always the lottery, right?”

I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her temple. “Or we could start that underground candy cartel we’ve always joked about.”

She snorts, her laugh muffled against my chest. “Oh, yeah. That’s definitely the backup plan. Black market fudge. No one would see it coming.”

Our laughter fades into a comfortable silence, and I hold her tighter, feeling the steady beat of her heart against mine. In this moment, it doesn’t matter what happens next. As long as we have each other, we’ll keep finding ways to make it work.

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