Page 28 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

She blanched slightly. How on earth would she manage that?

“No entertaining offers from developers—only families or people interested in keeping the inn. And I want you to be the one showing it. You loved Alana, and she loved this place. I won’t sell to someone who doesn’t love it too. And webothhave veto power. If someone makes an offer and I don’t like it, I can turn it down, and you can do the same.”

She nodded. “That’s fair.”

“My next condition is that you’ve got two months. If it’s not sold by Thanksgiving, then we keep it.” He nodded toward her.“You go back on the road.” Then he pointed at himself. “And I run it. You’ll be my silent partner and leave the day-to-day business to me.”

“Is that it?” she asked.Please, no more conditions!

“Nope. I’m opening up reservations tonight. Every day that goes by without visitors is a day we’re losing money. After I leave here, I’m heading up to my apartment, logging on, and opening the calendar. I’ll accept reservations through Thanksgiving for now.”

“Okay.” She clasped and unclasped her hands. “Anything else?”

“Lastly, you have to promise to consider my and Alana’s vision for what the inn could be.”

“Okay,” she said. “And if I agree to that, will you listen to me about the nonprofit?”

“Sure.” He folded his arms over his chest. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”

Everleigh pushed the heel of her hand against her sternum. Was her heart racing, or was she imagining things? He was her partner, so she had to respect his conditions and his opinion. And in turn, he was agreeing to respect hers. This could be successful if they worked together.

She smiled and held her hand out to him. “I accept your conditions, partner.”

He shook her hand. “It’s a deal, partner. Good luck.”

As he sauntered out of the kitchen, she leaned back against the counter and massaged her forehead. How was she going to sell the inn on her own? What did she know about real estate?

Her phone vibrated with a text, and when she pulled it from her pocket, she found a message from Quinn:

Hi! How are things? Let’s meet for coffee soon and catch up.

Everleigh smiled. She’d been thinking of her friend and meaning to text her. Then hope surged through her. Quinn had worked in real estate! Maybe her friend could give her some pointers on how to sell the inn. She poised her thumbs over her phone.

Everleigh: How about tomorrow?

Quinn: That was quick! I’m working, but I can meet you at the Roast Shack on my break. How’s ten o’clock?

Everleigh: Perfect! See you then.

Everleigh breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe Quinn would be all the help she needed.

***

Everleigh stepped into the Roast Shack’s open-air service area, and the delicious aroma of coffee saturated her senses. She scanned the restaurant, listening to all the customers chatting. One wall featured a gorgeous mural of the beach at sunrise, and the opposite wall had a matching mural of the beach at dusk. She smiled as she recalled Alana sharing how she’d watched the artist working on the sunrise mural while she enjoyed a cup of coffee.

She turned toward the counter and spotted Karis O’Neill. Karis appeared to be in her late sixties by now, and she grinned at a man while taking his order. The brunette with silver roots, bright hazel eyes, and a gap between her two front teeth had owned and operated the coffee shop with her husband, Ted, for as long as Everleigh could remember.

“Everleigh!”

She turned toward the sea of tables, where Quinn waved her over with one hand and held up a cup of coffee with the other.

Everleigh sat across from her, and Quinn pushed a cup her way.

“I took a chance and ordered you an Americano.”

“Thanks.” Everleigh took a sip and smiled. It hit the spot!

The two friends chatted for a little while, catching up on Quinn’s work and family and Everleigh’s recent travels. Then Quinn cradled the warm cup in her hands and asked, “So what’s going on with the inn?”

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