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“Uh-huh.”
“I feel the same about Java Coffee. It was good for me, but now I want to try something new, and I want the name to reflect that change.”
“You want everything to be new?”
“Exactly.” I didn’t want to be in direct competition with Ben, and it had nothing to do with winning or losing. It was a good business decision. I could see that clearly. “I don’t want to share my customers with Ben. I want an entirely new market. Drawing on our old customers and adding to it.”
“I can see college kids hanging out in the afternoon and evening. Even families stopping by for a light dinner.” The more I talked about it, the more excited I became. I wanted to share it with someone other than Hailey, but we’d agreed to keep things quiet. We didn’t want the town buzzing about it until it was done. Until I was sure that it was right.
“Tourists stopping by for a quick bite and a drink before moving on to their next destination.”
“Romantic, yet fun.” The ideas were pouring through me. I hadn’t felt that inspired since I opened Java Coffee. I loved that feeling where anything was possible.
She moved into the room. “What were you thinking for possible names?”
“I don’t have anything concrete yet.” I grabbed a pen and a sheet of paper. “Wine. Market. Main Street. Tavern.”
Hailey frowned. “I don’t know about Tavern. It has a dark feel, and this place will be light and airy.”
I scribbled words as they popped into my head. “Main Street Market.”
Hailey nodded thoughtfully. “That’s a possibility, but then people might confuse it with the Marketplace.
“I think we’re getting stuck. We’ll have to come back to it later.”
“When are you thinking the construction will be done?”
“Hopefully by summer.”
“You want to have a grand opening party?”
“I don’t think I want to call it a grand opening. Maybe a party for our friends.”
“Speaking of shop friends. You have a Shops on Main meeting tonight.”
“I completely forgot with everything going on.” I should invite Ben. I wanted to see him, even if I couldn’t share what was happening at my store.
“I’m going to check on the front counter.”
“Okay.” But I’d already pulled out my phone and sent a message to Ben. It was the perfect excuse to see him.
Brooke: There’s a Shops on Main meeting tonight. Not sure if you’ve heard of it, but it’s a group of shop owners who get together once a month to talk business and town events.
Ben: My shop isn’t on Main.
Brooke: Everyone’s welcome. It’s just a catchy name. It’s a great way to network. The meetings are held at Max’s Bar & Grill at eight.
Ben: I can come after I tuck Cammie into bed.
My heart flip-flopped in my rib cage. I loved that he’d head home to spend time with his daughter before heading out again.
Brooke: I’ll see you there.
He’d said we were friends with benefits, and it was past time I took advantage of that arrangement. I hadn’t had good sex in a long time, and I had the opportunity to do it again. I wanted to take it.
I left the store in an employees’ hands and headed to Max’s, excited to see Ben. The meeting room was an empty room on the second floor of Max’s restaurant with a bar and a small dance floor. Most of our meetings took place at the long table. Tonight, there wasn’t a speaker. Sophie, the owner of Sophie’s Sweets, took the lead, talking about the upcoming tourist season and festivals.
Ben walked in about thirty minutes into the meeting. “Sorry I’m late. I’m Ben Monroe.”
