prepared at the inn and then set up out here. You
could even hire musicians – violins or a harp.” Elyse closed her eyes, as if
she could hear the music, and thought about the menu she would prepare. She
could make four courses with a delicate wine and raspberry cheesecake for
dessert. “Can’t you see people getting engaged here?”
“When do you have time to think this stuff up?”
“It’s Pleasure Inn.” She shrugged. “I can envision couples
coming here for all sorts of fantasies from just a weekend getaway to something
spectacular. There is no other place like it, Logan. You can make this place
into anything you want. I think people would come from all over to stay here.”
He retrieved the blanket from the basket and spread it out.
“You sure have a lot of confidence in me.” He took her hand and pulled her down
onto the quilt.
“Is that a bad thing? I didn’t mean to overstep, but you’re
working so hard on restoring this place that I want it to be perfect for you.”
“I’ve been a screw-up most of my life. The rich kid who
could have anything he wanted. When I got into Yale my family was shocked. They
never expected me to finish my degree. When I couldn’t cut it in the business
world, no one batted an eyelash. I decided to go into the remodeling business.
My mother had a ton of friends who wanted work done. It didn’t take me long to
figure out I was getting so much work because of my looks. And I used that to
my advantage.”
“You were young and having fun.”
“A little too much fun.” He handed her a bottle of water. “I
drank all the time, went through thousands of dollars and slept with most of my
customers. When I got caught with a married woman, it was time to reevaluate.”
Elyse saw the remorse in his eyes. He harbored so much
regret.
“I thought I’d travel. Maybe go to Paris or Rome, but my
uncle forced this place on me. I hated it. I think that’s why it took me six
months to renovate my bedroom. I had no desire to reconstruct any of this, much
less be an innkeeper. I don’t think my uncle thought I’d actually get the inn
up and running. My family just wanted to keep me busy.”
“Oh.” Elyse hadn’t realized Logan never wanted to make
Pleasure Inn a success. “You must think all of my ideas are crazy. I thought I
was helping you.”
“You are.”
“You just said you didn’t want to be an innkeeper.”
“I didn’t.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Not until
you showed up and started cooking in my kitchen. I love all of your ideas. With
you here, I actually think I could do this.”
“I know you can, Logan. I believe in you.” She leaned in and
kissed his jaw, rubbing her cheek against his stubble. “You have a gift. The
rooms you’ve already tackled are gorgeous.”
“You think so?”
She cuddled closer to him.
“I’m going to start working on the guest bedrooms tomorrow.
I want to refinish the hardwood floors and upgrade the bathrooms.”
“That’ll keep you busy.”
“At least through Thanksgiving. I was thinking maybe I’ll
have the grand opening in June.” He looked through the picnic basket. “Just in
time for summer weekend getaways.”
“That sounds romantic.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh really? Just what are
your thoughts on romance in June?”
“June is a big wedding month, so maybe you should target
anniversaries. Market that month as a place to come and rekindle the flame.”
He kissed her head. “I’m so glad you’re here. I could never
come up with this stuff.”
“About me being here.” She bit her bottom lip because she
hated to think about leaving. “I need to go back to New York.”
“What?” He turned her to face him. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. But when I came here, I didn’t intend to stay for
more than a week or two. It’s getting colder and I need to get some of my
winter clothes.”
“You want to stay through winter?”
“You’re talking about remodeling
could even hire musicians – violins or a harp.” Elyse closed her eyes, as if
she could hear the music, and thought about the menu she would prepare. She
could make four courses with a delicate wine and raspberry cheesecake for
dessert. “Can’t you see people getting engaged here?”
“When do you have time to think this stuff up?”
“It’s Pleasure Inn.” She shrugged. “I can envision couples
coming here for all sorts of fantasies from just a weekend getaway to something
spectacular. There is no other place like it, Logan. You can make this place
into anything you want. I think people would come from all over to stay here.”
He retrieved the blanket from the basket and spread it out.
“You sure have a lot of confidence in me.” He took her hand and pulled her down
onto the quilt.
“Is that a bad thing? I didn’t mean to overstep, but you’re
working so hard on restoring this place that I want it to be perfect for you.”
“I’ve been a screw-up most of my life. The rich kid who
could have anything he wanted. When I got into Yale my family was shocked. They
never expected me to finish my degree. When I couldn’t cut it in the business
world, no one batted an eyelash. I decided to go into the remodeling business.
My mother had a ton of friends who wanted work done. It didn’t take me long to
figure out I was getting so much work because of my looks. And I used that to
my advantage.”
“You were young and having fun.”
“A little too much fun.” He handed her a bottle of water. “I
drank all the time, went through thousands of dollars and slept with most of my
customers. When I got caught with a married woman, it was time to reevaluate.”
Elyse saw the remorse in his eyes. He harbored so much
regret.
“I thought I’d travel. Maybe go to Paris or Rome, but my
uncle forced this place on me. I hated it. I think that’s why it took me six
months to renovate my bedroom. I had no desire to reconstruct any of this, much
less be an innkeeper. I don’t think my uncle thought I’d actually get the inn
up and running. My family just wanted to keep me busy.”
“Oh.” Elyse hadn’t realized Logan never wanted to make
Pleasure Inn a success. “You must think all of my ideas are crazy. I thought I
was helping you.”
“You are.”
“You just said you didn’t want to be an innkeeper.”
“I didn’t.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Not until
you showed up and started cooking in my kitchen. I love all of your ideas. With
you here, I actually think I could do this.”
“I know you can, Logan. I believe in you.” She leaned in and
kissed his jaw, rubbing her cheek against his stubble. “You have a gift. The
rooms you’ve already tackled are gorgeous.”
“You think so?”
She cuddled closer to him.
“I’m going to start working on the guest bedrooms tomorrow.
I want to refinish the hardwood floors and upgrade the bathrooms.”
“That’ll keep you busy.”
“At least through Thanksgiving. I was thinking maybe I’ll
have the grand opening in June.” He looked through the picnic basket. “Just in
time for summer weekend getaways.”
“That sounds romantic.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh really? Just what are
your thoughts on romance in June?”
“June is a big wedding month, so maybe you should target
anniversaries. Market that month as a place to come and rekindle the flame.”
He kissed her head. “I’m so glad you’re here. I could never
come up with this stuff.”
“About me being here.” She bit her bottom lip because she
hated to think about leaving. “I need to go back to New York.”
“What?” He turned her to face him. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. But when I came here, I didn’t intend to stay for
more than a week or two. It’s getting colder and I need to get some of my
winter clothes.”
“You want to stay through winter?”
“You’re talking about remodeling
Similar Books
