Page 1 of Sex, Lies, & Techy Guys (Love on the Sunshine Coast)

CHAPTER 1

penny

My oven timer goes off at the exact moment someone knocks on my door. The first unofficial guests for my bed and breakfast should be arriving, and I’d told them the door would be unlocked. If this is them, they’re several minutes early, putting a kink in my carefully laid plans to have the snacks baked and cooled.

With the limited ferry schedule, people tend to end up late, not early.

“Come in,” I call out cheerily, hiding my nerves as I grab the hot pads, check that the herbed cheese wafers are done, and remove them from the oven.

The booking had been a referral—friends of my practically estranged step-brother, Zac. Our parents had told him about my attempt for a fresh start after my divorce, which was the extent of what I’d told them about my troubles.

I hadn’t officially opened my bed and breakfast but his friends hadn’t been able to find a room elsewhere so we made it a friendly arrangement.

The door handle jiggles then a deep voice says, “It’s locked.”

Crap. I must have reflexively locked the door when I got the mail earlier. “Sorry, hold on a second.”

I slide the pan onto the wire rack, toss the potholders aside, hurry to the door, and realize as my hand is on the knob that I still have my apron on. Rather than make them wait longer, I swing the door open.

My other hand is behind my back to untie the apron but my fingers stop working when I feast my eyes on the two nerdy hunks on my doorstep. The taller one has classic nerd glasses on. Since when do nerds know their way around the gym?

I snap out of my trance in time to stop the drool from running out of my mouth, and swallow hard. Stepping aside, I force myself to stop gawking, and look over my shoulder at the sea shell collection on a shelf across the room.

Focus.

Turning back to them, I say, “Come in. Sorry about the door.”

They both nod, the taller of the two steps forward and I accept his offer for a handshake. “I’m Kyle. You must be Penny.”

He cups his other hand over our union and the possessiveness of his grip catches me off guard. So does the use of my assumed name, even if it’s just a nickname. It’s going to take me a hot minute to get used to this new business, not locking my door, and going by my business name.

I’ve insisted on everyone using Penelope for a decade or so. Going back to Penny helps me distance myself from the ongoing problems of my now-defunct marriage. Penny didn’t have such big problems.

“Nice to meet you, Kyle. Please make yourself at home.”

As Kyle steps past me, both of his hands linger on mine. More than a business handshake. Or am I uptight after getting burned by my lying, scheming fuckhole of an ex? I tamp down my bitterness and remind myself to properly greet the other guest.

He steps forward and both of us shift our gaze to him. Kyle lets his finger slide off of mine and I get lost in his friend’s intense gaze.

My mental cheerleader celebrates the flurry of excitement as if these guys and I have a connection, but I don’t need that kind of complication. And I will respect the professional relationship I have with my guests. My first guests, which means I want everything to be perfect.

More importantly, my internal cheerleader hasn’t surfaced in a long time. Almost as long as it’s been since I was an actual cheerleader. Reinventing myself as a business owner could be a good thing.

The second guy, Lance, introduces himself, forcing me to take a deep breath so I can meet his intense, dark brown gaze.

“Hi, Lance. I’m so glad you chose Sunshine Bed and Breakfast.”

“We’re lucky Zac recommended you since Vancouver is in peak tourist season and even the surrounding areas are fully booked.” Lance winks.

A polite smile breezes me past any possible discussions about my step-brother. Nice of him to send his friends to me though.

I’ve read plenty of blogs and have participated in forums for bed and breakfast owners, which encouraged me to have a brief welcome spiel prepared. As it rolls from my mouth, it sounds so much hokier than when I’d rehearsed it alone.

They smile graciously then nod when I cut it short and offer to show them to their two rooms.

Kyle enters the first room and Lance the second, then they pop out and check out each other’s room. I clasp my hands in front of my chest hoping to meet their standards. I’d had to hurry my preparations since I didn’t plan on having guests so soon.

Kyle and Lance meet back in the hallway in front of where I’ve stepped a few paces away.

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