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“I don’t like being on call for the guests. I want to manage it from afar. But I don’t know how long it will take me to find someone or where we’ll live when we do. I’d originally planned on living here rent-free until the B&B turned a profit.”
“You’ll figure it out.” Besides, she could always move in with me.
“I hope so. I hope you’ll be patient while I get everything into place.”
“I’ll wait for you.” That was the difference between Natalie and my other relationships: I was in love with her. I wanted a future with her, and I wasn’t in a hurry to get to the finish line. We’d get there together. Because, for the first time, I was in a committed, loving relationship.
“When I moved here, I swore I wasn’t ready for a relationship. Especially not so soon, but I think you were the man who was meant for me all along. I couldn’t escape the pull of your love, and I don’t want to. I love you, Mac.”
“I love you too,” I said before I kissed her.
EPILOGUE
NATALIE
Ioffered the guests thirty percent off their next booking in exchange for filling out surveys about their visit. I used the information gleaned from the results to offer amenities like daily afternoon beverage and snack service and to increase breakfast offerings by ordering from a local bakery. Thankfully, I found two women who were willing to clean the rooms each day. They were both moms who wanted to work part time, so it worked perfectly, and it lessened my load.
Mac talked to me and Miranda about her baking occasionally for breakfast and afternoon snack time. She loved the idea but only wanted to work a few days a week. The bonus was that the guests loved her.
When the first reviews hit the travel blogs, I added them to my website and increased marketing. Slowly, the bookings increased, and with each new one, I reevaluated how I could continue to fill the rooms.
I decided to offer a discount for those guests who booked their next trip before they left. I offered up a weekend trip in a few local charity events in hopes to increase awareness locally of the B&B.
When a popular travel blogger posted about her stay on social media, it filled the B&B for several months and gave me enough money to justify the extra employees and to get something special for me and Mac to celebrate.
I kept Mac apprised of what was going on with the B&B and me. I wasn’t afraid of asking for help anymore. We couldn’t be in a relationship if we didn’t communicate with each other. It only made our relationship stronger.
Tonight was Mac’s birthday, and I’d cleared the B&B for the night so we could have a party for close friends and family. I could have done it at Mac’s, but it would have been harder to keep it a secret.
It was Sam, Maggie, and Alice’s job to get him here while I finished preparations and the guests arrived. I felt almost giddy as I told everyone to hide outside when I got the notice they were on their way.
Delaney huddled next to me, behind the outdoor kitchen, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Will he be surprised?”
“I hope so.” We’d put a lot of effort into the party, and I wanted Mac to feel special.
In his past relationships, he was taken for granted, and I never wanted to do that. I wanted him to feel like he was our whole world because he was.
Sam texted they were at the front door, and I motioned for the others to be quiet. When the back door opened, we all jumped out and yelled, “Surprise!”
“What’s this?” Mac asked, his eyes wide.
“It’s your party, silly,” Delaney said as we met them on the patio.
“You did this?” Mac asked me as I walked straight into his arms.
“Happy birthday,” I said as he drew Delaney in for a hug too.
“You kept this a secret?” Mac asked Delaney.
“Uh-huh,” Delaney said. “Were you surprised?”
Slowly shaking his head, he said, “I had no idea.”
His family crowded around next to greet him.
“What about the B&B guests?” Mac asked when people moved on to the food table.
“I blacked it out for your party.” It was the first time I’d ever done that, and it was scary but so worth it.
