I took a breath to see if my audience seemed invested. Based on their faces, I was downright fascinating.
But that could also be because they were trying to get a read on what the new Mrs. Ashford was like. Not a trophy wife, that was for damn sure. I was ready towork. I pressed on.
“We need a space that encourages creativity and exploration that also acknowledges some of our attendees might struggle with sensory overload. So a quiet, lower-light area for children who can’t tolerate overstimulation as well as a bright and cheerful main area.”
There were hums of agreement. “Then, lots of different activity stations. One for art, obviously,” I gestured toward where Noah was drawing. “As well as other nooks for unleashing curiosity. And space for physical activity, like a mini climbing wall and, I don’t know, maybe some ADA-compliant stuff as well?”
“Love it,” Bev replied. “Our parents with differently abled children would appreciate that sort of attention.”
I was on a roll. “And we could invite local experts in to share what they do and then try crafts with them, like potters and bakers. And those people who do wild animal experiences!”
“Wow, sign me up,” Logan chuckled.
“Seriously,” Bev agreed. “You clearly know what you’re talking about. I guess the next step would be an executive meeting to make sure we’re all on the same page and discuss timing and budget, then a feasibility study with our facilities manager. Logan, your thoughts?”
We all turned to look at the big boss, because at the end of the day, he held all of the power to kick the thing off.
He took a beat before he answered, watching me with a heat in his eyes that sent goosebumps skittering down my arms. For a second, it was verging on inappropriate, but then I remembered that to the rest of the world, he was gazing at his brand-new bride.
Damn. The man wassellingit. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he wanted to strip me naked and have me right there on the conference table.
He finally seemed to shake himself out of his spell.
“I think we’re at the beginning of somethingveryexciting,” he began, the double meaning only obvious to me. “I want to fast track this concept and make sure that Nina is as involved as she can be. The optics of it are too good to pass up.” He turned to me. “That is, if my beautiful bride has the bandwidth to take on a project of this size.”
It was an opportunity the likes of which I could hardly even conceptualize, yet here Logan was, ready to turn my dream into a reality with me at the helm. Though the comment about optics tickled at the back of my mind. Was he agreeing because he truly believed in my vision, or simply because I had become a PR asset?
I would prove to these people, and to Logan, that I was more than just good optics. It was a good, solid idea, and if Logan was going to offer the resources, I was going to take them. “Oh my gosh, ofcourse.” I sighed as I glanced around the room. “This is a literal dream for me. I have so many ideas!”
“Nina has the best ideas,” Noah piped up from the back of the room, and everyone laughed.
“She does,” Logan agreed, his eyes locked on mine. “And the very best one was agreeing to marry me.”
My knees went wobbly at the sincerity in his voice and the warm look he was giving me, as if we were the only people in the room.
I didn’t know what to say as the blush overtook my face. How was it possible that a fake relationship felt more real than anything I’d ever experienced?
18
LOGAN
“What in the…” Nina muttered to herself as we came to a stop in front of my family home.
She turned to me. “You’re joking, right? This is basically an Ashfordresort.”
I chuckled. “Which is exactly why he’s selling it. It’s just too much house for one old man rattling around by himself.”
Saying the words out loud still felt like a gut punch. Yes, selling the property made sense in every possible way, but I couldn’t get past the feeling that we were walking away from our family legacy.
And the memories of our mother.
“I want toswim,” Noah piped up from the back seat.
I smiled at him in the rearview mirror. “You’ll have to talk to your grandfather about that. You know you’ll need to have someone watching you, and Nina and I are going to busy packing up our old stuff.”
I bit my tongue, not wanting him to remember the remote control car tantrum from the cruise.
“Your uncles and aunts are going to be here too. If Papa doesn’t want to swim, maybe one of them will?”
