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Carly supposed business meetings could include alcohol...but she saw her opportunity to put the focus back on the intention of the evening. “Actually, I’m good with sparkling water.”
Sebastian smiled and nodded, looking slightly relieved. “Me too.”
The waiter approached and they ordered their sparkling waters and salads to start. Then Sebastian launched immediately into talk of his plans for the town. “I may not be a resident with long-standing roots in the community, but I think that helps to bring a new perspective,” he said.
Carly nodded slowly, but hesitantly. It could also bring an off-brand perspective, one that could take the town in a direction that could fail or, at the very least, destroy the reputation they’d built over the last three generations. Port Serenity thrived because everyone was usually on the same page. They worked together to achieve goals that were for the greater good of the community, even if that meant sometimes sacrificing individual needs or desires.
Would a city guy like Sebastian understand and, more importantly, appreciate that?
“I have been studying all the material you recommended,” he continued enthusiastically, a welcome change.
Most of the tourism board members were older, had sat on the committee for decades, and, well, they were losing some of their excitement for the position. Sebastian’s energy was slightly contagious and her eyes widened. “All of it?” He’d left the store with quite a lot of material that morning.
He laughed and nodded. “Benefits of being a speed reader, I guess.”
She smiled sincerely, admittedly impressed by the effort. “Well? What did you think?”
“I think that Port Serenity has a very rich and layered history. And that the town has only scratched the surface of the things they could be exploring and offering to tourists.”
Carly leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. This was exactly the kind of thinking that had been lacking on the recent committee. No one wanted to discuss new ideas. Sticking with the old tried, tested and true was safer, even if it was costing them in new generations of tourists. “Such as?”
“The maps of the town and the surrounding areas show a lot of fantastic wilderness that is currently difficult to navigate.”
Her enthusiasm dampened slightly and her gut tightened. “Some of that is on purpose.” They allowed tourists to come and appreciate their magnificent wildlife and everything the backwoods had to offer, but they also wanted to preserve nature as much as possible. As soon as the backwoods were more easily accessible and tourists were given access, the pollution went up and the unspoiled landscape needed to be altered and changed. Paths cleared and marked. Garbage and recycling bins added. Most likely a parking lot and pay booth, if the town wanted to capitalize financially on the developments.
Sebastian nodded, reaching into his pocket for something.
A map.
He had actually brought a map with him. Carly relaxed a little. She had been stressing for nothing. This was obviously a business meeting for him too.
Moving aside the flowers and candles from the center of the table, he unfolded the map and stretched it out. He pointed to several areas along the mountains. “Most of this area is undeveloped and should absolutely remain that way. But what about here?” he said, pointing to the area that led to the falls.
The glacial waterfalls had once been a well-kept secret. In winter, spring and fall, only locals dared to go to them, as the hike in could be treacherous and the frigid water, while breathtakingly beautiful, was too cold to get in...but in summer, the attraction was becoming popular with the tourists. Word of mouth had spread about their beauty and the refreshing plunge from the rocks. Several blog posts from visitors had turned it into an off-the-beaten-path must-see in Port Serenity.
She nodded. “I could see these being a great attraction. People already know about them, so promoting them wouldn’t be jeopardizing any sacred lands or places only locals know about.”
Sebastian looked pleased that he’d gotten something right. “So, I’d have your support in suggesting the falls and this area from the coast all the way inland—” he gestured to the map “—to the committee for developing?”
Carly felt a sense of pride that he wanted her support, that she was involved and getting a bigger say in these things. She’d sat on the tourism board for years, but rarely did it feel that decisions were truly in her hands. They voted as a committee, but with the previous tourism manager, it had always felt so ceremonial, like the real decision had already been made between him and the mayor.
Maybe Sebastian was the right choice for the community.
“You have my support,” she said as the waiter arrived and shot them an annoyed look.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, helping Sebastian clear the map from the table. They put the flowers and candles back in the center as the waiter placed their waters and salads in front of them.
When he walked away, Sebastian raised his glass to Carly and she clinked hers against it. “To one proposal decided...and many more to come,” he said.
Thank goodness they were on the same page. She sipped the bubbly water and relaxed, feeling the uneasiness settle. The town was in capable hands with Sebastian Grant at the helm.
BYNOW,HEsuspected Carly and Sebastian would be enjoying dessert and planning world domination.
Oliver swung the hammer, driving the nail through the plank of wood.
Damn.
He pulled it out and reached for a new one. Despite all efforts to keep his thoughts and hands busy that evening, Oliver couldn’t push the idea of Carly and Sebastian dining out together from his mind.
