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Chapter 18
“It’s all very cute and quaint.” Juliette slipped her sunglasses back into her purse as she and Hunter walked up the front steps of the Outside Inn. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate to revenue unless you’re doing the right marketing. My guess is that this town doesn’t even have a tourism department.”
“They rely on tourism during the summer.” Hunter pulled open the door and stepped aside to let her enter. “But it’s word of mouth, not because of marketing or advertising.”
“That’s their problem, then. Things will change when Imperial moves in. Let’s go over the open space proposal again. Do you have the blueprints with you?”
“Yes, and they’re also on my laptop.”
“Good.” She strode into the foyer, her nostrils twitching. “What is that smell?”
“Tea. Earl Gray, from what I can tell.”
“Hello, Miss Sinclair, Mr. Armstrong.” Mrs. Higgins came flitting out of the dining room with a flowered teapot in her hand. “You’re just in time for tea and cookies.”
Juliette gave her a thin-lipped smile. “I’m afraid we have work to do.”
“Oh.” The older woman’s face fell.
Hunter stepped forward to take the teapot from her. “But we can spare fifteen minutes for a cup of tea and one of your delicious scones.”
“Wonderful.” Her eyes lit up, and she gestured for them to follow her into the dining room.
Juliette slanted him a disapproving look as they sat at the chintz-covered table while Mrs. Higgins bustled around pouring fragrant tea and loading up their plates with enough sugary treats for a party of elves. She chattered on about her garden and taking reservations for the summer, and wasn’t it lucky that she had a room available for Juliette?
“I do not know how you’ve been able to tolerate living here for almost three weeks,” Juliette muttered to Hunter after they’d each had two cups of tea and Hunter had eaten almost a dozen cookies to make up for Juliette’s outright refusal to eat even one.
“It’s not so bad.” He unlocked the door of the Rosebud Room. “If you can get past the sugar rush.”
“What have you done for fun?” Juliette dropped her purse on the bed and walked to the narrow desk covered with papers and plans. “Not that you’re here forfun.”
“No, but I went to the town Artichoke Festival.” Hunter’s blood warmed at the memory of the festival where he and Aria had established their truce. He picked up a roll of blueprints. “They have a local theater, and there are always events going on over at the college. The Vitaphone holds classic movie double features every Wednesday night. Not to mention, there’s plenty to do outdoors. Hiking, swimming, boating, whatever.”
“Well, bring out the Tourism Board.” Juliette lifted her eyebrows. “Sounds like you should write their brochure.”
“It’s a nice town.” Hunter rolled out the blueprint of Oceanview Plaza. “Isn’t that the reason Imperial wants to establish a presence here? Allocating space for a tourism office in Oceanview isn’t a bad idea.”
“No, it’s not.” Juliette came to stand beside him, tapping her manicured fingernail on the blueprint. “I like the way the architect created a direct path to the beach between the buildings. We’ll need to ensure private access for the condo owners as well.”
Hunter studied the plan, pinpointing the spot where Meow and Then was right now. After Oceanview was built, a row of retail shops would take its place. The surrounding trees would give way to a multilevel parking structure, and Destiny’s Moonbeams would become part of the open space plaza, where vertical programmable water jets would shoot out of the concrete-and-brick pavement.
Though the design was precise and well thought-out, the computerized fountains would be nothing compared to what visitors could see if they just drove a couple of miles along the coastal road parallel to Bliss Cove.
Ocean waves rolling and crashing against the rocky outcroppings—maybe even polishing bits of glass under their depths. Birds soaring over the coarse sand beaches, otters swimming on their backs, sea lions lazing about on huge stones.
He took a breath to ease the sudden tightness in his chest. Juliette’s arm brushed against his.
He stepped away and rolled up the blueprints. “We should take these out to the foyer. More room there.”
“Hunter.”
Wary, he turned to face her. She stood with her hands on her hips, her shoulders back and lips slightly pursed.
“I won’t prevaricate,” she said. “Have you given any thought to my offer?”
He pulled a hand through his hair. Heroffercould have led to the completion of another piece of his puzzle. Everything would have been neat and tidy, all parts fitting into place like a smooth-running engine.
Exactly what he’d wanted for his future. No surprises. No failures. Just hard work, acclaim, and enough success that he would never run the risk of sliding back to where he’d once been.
