“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” Evie flushed, mortified, but the woman just laughed.
“Don’t worry, I get pretty weak-kneed whenever he fixes something, too.” She winked. “I’m Poppy,” she said, introducing herself. “Sorry for just barging in, but I figured he might need this today.”
She passed Cooper his cellphone. “You left it on the table. Emma helped out by smearing it in honey, so you might want to give it a clean.”
Cooper took it with his thumb and forefinger. “Thanks.”
“Lysol wipes by the fridge,” Evie advised. Once he was gone, she turned back to Poppy. “I really didn’t mean anything—”
“Relax,” Poppy said, smiling. “I proclaim my passion for our pizza delivery guy on a daily basis. And as for the man who gives me back massages? Ours is a love that dare not speak its name—but I’ll admit, I had an ulterior motive coming here: I’m dying to know what you’re doing with the place.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “I watch way too much home renovation TV.”
Evie laughed. “Me too,” she said. “Although I’m finding out it’s different when it’s your own money on the line. I never realized I’d need to have an opinion about sconces, of all things.” She offered Poppy the bakery box. “Want one?”
Poppy looked at it and wrinkled her nose. “Not to be a muffin snob, but we can do better than that. Have you been to Summer’s yet?”
Evie shook her head. “Where’s that?”
Poppy lit up. “Not where, but who. Come on, let me be the first to introduce you to a little slice of heaven we like to call the bakery on Blackberry Lane!”
Sitting at a table by the windows of an adorable bakery just across town, Evie saw the error of her muffin-ordering ways. Poppy had ordered them a pot of tea and a plate of the most delicious pastries Evie had ever tasted, and now they were getting to know each other—as Evie tried not to embarrass herself by gorging on all the baked goods.
“These are delicious!” she exclaimed around another bite of banana-caramel [what?]. “Now I feel bad for inflicting those hockey pucks on the guys.”
Poppy grinned. “They’ll live. But don’t get me started on the cinnamon sugar balls, they’re basically dessert for breakfast.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” Evie looked around. The cafe was busy with the morning rush, a stream of seniors, young moms, and pastry-loving tourists filing through the sunlit room. “Thanks for introducing me to this place, it’s such a cute spot.”
“A Sweetbriar Cove staple,” Poppy agreed, taking another sip of tea. “So, tell me about the inn. Have you ever done anything like this before?”
“Nope,” Evie replied. “But I would always daydream about something like it.—You know, when things got boring at the office and I’d want to be anywhere else in the world. I would imagine opening a little bookstore or a tearoom, somewhere I would really get to know people—instead of just having them hang up on me because their insurance needs are already taken care of.”
Poppy laughed.
“Anyway,” Evie went on, “when I saw the ad for the Beachcomber, I thought I would have to be crazy not to take up an opportunity like that. But now I’m wondering if it was the opposite,” she added with a wry grin.
“That’s Debra for you,” Poppy murmured. “She likes to throw a curveball from time to time.”
“You know her?” Evie asked, curious. “She did everything through a lawyer, so I haven’t been able to talk to her just yet.”
“Oh, everyone knows Debra,” Poppy replied. “I think the inn was actually her mother’s, years ago. Debra always said she’d get it up and running again, but she always had a million other things to do. Then she announced she was selling it off for a dollar.” Poppy grinned. “Everyone at book club thought she’d lost her mind.”
Evie gave a laugh. “Well, they haven’t met me yet.”
“Oh, but they will!” Poppy exclaimed. “We’ve got a meeting next week, and Franny is sure to rope you into volunteering for one of the town committees.”
Evie paused. “I’m not sure I’ll have the time, with everything that needs—”—
“Resistance is futile,” Poppy said. “Take it from me, I wasted way too much time trying to avoid the inevitable. It’s easier just to surrender to Sweetbriar Cove town spirit.”
“You, surrendering?” A blond woman joined them, greeting Poppy with a smile. “Never.”
“This is our genius baker, Summer,” Poppy introduced them. “Evie is the proud new owner of the Beachcomber Inn.”
“I’m not sure how proud I am right now,” Evie said. “But I’ll definitely be ordering our morning pastries from you!”
“Love to hear it,” Summer said, smiling. “How’s your Monopoly game?”
Evie blinked, confused. “I’m … pretty rusty,” she admitted. “I haven’t played in years.”
“You’ll do. The guys got tired of always losing to us at poker night,” Summer explained. “So we’re trying board games instead. Fridays at the pub.”
“I thought Fridays were karaoke,” Poppy said.
Summer grinned. “The machine broke—at least, that’s Riley’s story. But I’m guessing it was Chase Kinsella’s nine-minute rendition of Bat Out of Hell that did it in. Anyway, welcome to town,” she said, glancing back at the long line forming by the counter. “See you there for a game, I hope!”
She headed back to serve the next customer, a strapping, dark-haired man. In fact … as Evie checked out the line, she couldn’t help noticing just how many attractive guys were lined up for their morning muffin fix.
She leaned in closer to Poppy. “Do they put something in the water here?” she asked, only half kidding. “Every man I see around town looks like he wandered straight out of an L.L. Bean ad.”
Poppy hooted with laughter. “They do, don’t they?” She twisted around to follow Evie’s gaze. “Oh, those are the Kinsella brothers. They’re all taken. But I’m sure we could find someone single—if that’s what you’re looking for?” She gave Evie an inquisitive look, but Evie quickly shook her head.
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean that.” She glanced down, fidgeting with her teacup. “I’m just focusing on the inn right now. I’m not looking to get involved with anyone.”
Especially not an arrogant man who looked way too good in his fireman’s uniform …
“Well, you picked the perfect place for the bed and breakfast,” Poppy said, as if sensing that Evie wanted to change the subject. “Sweetbriar Cove is a big tourist destination, and not just in the summertime. We have festivals all year round, and the Christmas holidays are always a big draw. Brooke says they book up a full year in advance—she’s a manager at a hotel nearby.” Poppy brightened. “Ooh, I should introduce you. I bet she’ll have a ton of tips and advice when you’re ready for guests.”