Page 59 of The Secret Heir Next Door

“Ummm, I’m not sure. I…I kind of reacted and…”

“Logan, you just lied to your mother and brought me into your lie. I’m not okay with that.”

“It was the only way to get her to stop. She’s planning a wedding for me and Nikki that neither of us want …”

“That’s not my problem.”

“Serena, don’t be mad.”

“How can you tell me to not be mad? You just brought me into a lie.”

“It doesn’t have to be a lie.”

“It is a lie.”

“Serena, this would actually be the best option for us.”

“Have you been drinking? What’s wrong with you?”

“No, I haven’t been drinking. Seriously, this is genius.”

“Why?” she sighs.

“Because I can buy your building, and you don’t have to worry about the eviction. An engagement to you will make whatever deal my parents have with the Westerheides null and void which means that I don’t get forced into something I don’t want to do.”

“Buy my building? No. You told me that you would be able to get the eviction turned over or whatever if Abby was happy with her party.”

“Turns out I don’t have that kind of power. He’s mostly evicting you because he had a better offer for more rent on that storefront. You were grandfathered in at the old rent rates and…”

“So, you lied to me? Were you going to tell me?”

“I can fix this, Serena.”

“No, because I’m not going to allow you to buy someone so that I can continue to run my store. I won’t be indebted to anyone, especially to a man whom I’ve just caught in two lies.”

“Serena,” I sigh as I take a step toward her.

“I am working right now, Logan. I have things that I need to take care of, and they don’t entail fighting with you or getting pulled into your family drama. Count me out.”

What does that mean?

She turns on her heel and walks away quickly.

I feel their eyes on me before I see them.

Shit. I do not want to deal with the assholeness that is the majority of my family.

The party’s still in full swing, kids laughing, parents chatting, but the air around me thickens with every step my parents take toward me. I know this isn’t going to be good.

My mother’s standing off to the side, her arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. My father is beside her, his expression stony. Chaz, my douchebag of an older brother, is there too, leaning against the wall with that smug, condescending look he’s perfected over the years. The three of them, united in their disapproval, wait for me to join their little tribunal.

My father steps forward, his voice low but firm. “Logan, we need to talk. Now.”

I nod, following them as they lead me away from the crowd to a quieter corner inside the house. The moment we’re out of earshot, my mother turns on me, her voice dripping with disdain.

“What on earth are you thinking, Logan? A party planner? Really? Have you lost your mind?”

My jaw clenches, but I force myself to stay calm. “Her name is Serena, Mom. And yes, I’m thinking clearly. I’m engaged to her because I love her.”