Page 31 of The Secret Heir Next Door

“It’s my company. I have to make sure it’s run right, or thousands of people will be without a job.”

“I’m not saying that it’s wrong. Besides, you offered me constructive criticism but don’t handle it so well when it’s turned toward you.”

“You know nothing about running a company.”

“I’m a small business owner. While it’s not the same scale as yours, I still know what it’s like to have everything riding on the work of others. Don’t treat me like a child.”

“I’m not…”

He stops mid-sentence before he blows out a long breath and then walks over to the fudge section. As he stares at the differentconfections behind the glass border, he inhales slowly. I notice that he instantly relaxes.

“I can show you what I have for the party so far. It’s a lot of the same things from when Abby was here. I did tweak the superhero unicorns a bit, though.”

Wesit down at the small table in the corner of the shop. Last night hangs between us, thick with tension, an undercurrent that makes every interaction charged with awkward intimacy.

“You’ll need to finalize the decorations, the cake, and the entertainment.”

“I’ve already done that. I think Abby’s going to be really excited about everything.”

Logan starts swiping and tapping on his phone.

“We should also make sure the magician is confirmed and check the details for the bounce house.”

“Already on it. I’ve spoken to both, and everything is set.”

He leans forward, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “You seem to have everything under control. Impressive.”

I meet his gaze, feeling a spark of the same attraction I experienced last night. “Thanks. I like to be prepared. Even if the shop sometimes looks like a disaster zone.”

“Disaster zone? I thought it had a certain... charm.”

I raise an eyebrow, unable to hide my amusement. “Charm? Or just methodical madness?”

“Definitely charm, and I’ve got to say, it’s not just the shop that has charm.”

I feel a blush rise to my cheeks, and I quickly look away, focusing on the notepad. “Well, I guess it’s good that you’ve changed your mind about that.”

His gaze lingers on me. I can feel the sexual tension between us, a distinct energy that makes it hard to focus on anything else.

“What about the guest list? Do we need to add or change anything?”

“I think we’re good with the current list. I’ll double-check to make sure there are no last-minute additions. Your sister has been great with keeping me up to date.”

“My sister? How do you…?”

“I left my card in the basket I sent. She texted me to say thank you for taking on the party and that Abby couldn’t stop raving about how much fun she had.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that. It was a really nice thing that you did by sending her that basket.”

“It’s not a big deal,” I shrug as I look down awkwardly.

We continue discussing the party plans, the conversation mostly professional, but every now and then, he slips into something flirtatious. Every time our eyes meet, I can feel the lingering intensity from last night, making it hard to stay focused.

“When do you think we can finalize everything? I’d like to make sure we’re ahead of schedule.”

“Let’s aim for tomorrow,” I suggest, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment that the meeting is ending. “I’ll confirm all the details and let you know.”

He stands up, and I notice how his demeanor shifts back to his usual guarded self. “Sounds good. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”